One of the most common items on restaurant menus across Portland, Maine is chicken wings. But as any good connoisseur of wings will tell you, not all of them are created equal. Certain wings hit different at certain times. There may one night you’re looking for a more refined delivery and taste, another night you just want a wing slathered in sauce with a cold pint. So let us show you the ultimate guide to eating wings throughout Portland.
Extra Crispy – Crispy Gai
If some serious crisp on your wings, plan a trip to Crispy Gai on Exchange Street right now. Their Hat Yai wings ( served with fried shallots) deliver that extra crispy bite over and over again. They’ve also got a couple other options on their menu as well. Gaeng Pet wings (red curry) or Sichuan wings made with numbing spice. Yes, you read that right.
The Whole Damn Wing – Great Lost Bear
When you order a plate of wings from the majority of restaurants, you’re expecting to get flats and drumettes. At Great Lost Bear on Forest Avenue, you get the whole damn wing. GLB has been well known for a very long for their heaping pile of wings served with a soup cup of your favorite dressing. If you want to have a messy yet satisfying wing experience, you know where to go.
Late Night – Tomaso’s Canteen
We’re giving the spectacular wings found at Tomaso’s Canteen the ‘late night’ designation, but you can really grab these gems anytime you’d like. Just like many other places, there’s lot of ‘flavors’ to choose from, from garlic parm to honey simbal. Do yourself a favor and just go straight for the dirt wings at Tomaso’s, you can send us a thank you note later.
Spicy – Po’ Boys and Pickles
While they’re known for their New Orleans style sandwiches that are out of this world, Po’ Boys and Pickles on Forest Avenue doesn’t skimp on the spice when it comes their chicken wings either. If you like them with a kick, grab yourself an order of the voodoo chicken wings and something to cool your month nearby.
Pub – Three Dollar Dewey’s
Since Three Dollar Dewey’s on Commercial Street has found a second life, they’ve been pumping out some really delicious food from their kitchen. That includes a perfect plate of pub wings. Wings don’t have to be fancy if they’re cooked just right and Dewey’s has got it down to a science.
Dry Rub – Gritty McDuff’s
Maine’s original brew pub, Gritty McDuff’s, is still doing it along Fore Street in the Old Port. Gritty’s has a whole menu of pub favorites but if you’re keying in on wings, don’t sleep on their dry rub. Specifically, their salt n’ vinegar dry rub which is a wild burst of flavor with a nice crispy wing. Grab a side of tots and you’ve won the night.
Unique – The Honey Paw
One place to find some of the most unique and flavorful wings in Portland is at The Honey Paw on Middle Street. Their wing preparation includes fish sauce and the flavor profile has hints of lime, chili and coconut. Before you turn away from the idea, you’ll want to try them. The Honey Paw wings have done very well in competitions for a reason.
Dive Bar – Congress Bar & Grill
Sometimes you just want to go to a place where everyone knows your name. It’s possible at Congress Bar & Grill, where the concept feels a little dive bar plus eclectic. The wings are on point though, which makes CBG the perfect place to hide while still eating like a King or Queen.
