Who has the best wings in Georgia? That was the topic of a recent Twitter Poll of the Day.
And it didn’t take long for the responses to start pouring in.
Several local spots were mentioned by a handful of those who responded — J.R. Crickets, American Deli, Taco Mac and the kitchen at Magic City.
J.R. Cricket’s opened in 1982 near Georgia Tech. Thrillist, an online blog covering food, travel, music and more notes that 35 years since the opening, the wings remain the stuff of legend.
“A mention on Donald Glover’s Atlanta for a mythical flavor called ‘lemon pepper wet’ only enhanced the profile,” Thrillist notes. “The classic Buffalo are unfailing, the fries are nice and salty without overkill. The skin holds up to the sauces, whether it’s the thick BBQ, wet teriyaki, or lemon pepper dry.”
As for American Deli, it’s been up and running around Atlanta for years, too. The first store opened in 1989.
“Get lost in the sauce by getting your wings smothered in BBQ, garlic parmesan, sweet chili sauces, or the Atlanta favorite, ‘lemon pepper wet,” Thrilist notes.
Taco Mac opened in Atlanta more than 40 years ago. It now features more than 25 locations around the Atlanta area.
“It all started back in 1979 when a couple of guys from Buffalo, NY, made a pit stop in Atlanta on their way to Florida,” the company’s website notes. “After touring the city and enjoying the weather, they decided to stay and bring their favorite food, buffalo wings, to the sunny South.”
Magic City is one of Atlanta’s most popular strip clubs. The Magic City Kitchen is inside the club. Its wings made national headlines in 2020 when the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams got caught picking up some on an excused absence from the team and had to serve a 10-day quarantine because of it. In his defense, the eatery does have a flavor named in his honor, the Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ.
Some people even offered some insider tips.
One other tip: order now for the Super Bowl. Some local spots will stop taking orders long before Sunday, once they reach capacity.