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Tucson Wing Expert's Top Wings in Tucson

Guide

Tucson Wing Expert's Top Wings in Tucson

by Chris KochJul 29, 2024Updated Aug 4, 20267 min read
This guide is brought to you by one of the best beverages you could possibly pair with wings–Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea. Follow Ray Ray's on IG at @rayrayssonoran, read our article about Ray Ray's, and ask for a Ray Ray's the next time you order some wings.
Wee-ooo, wee-ooo, wee-ooo! Wing alert, wing alert! Tucson Wing Expert is here with a brand-new guide to my favorite wings in Tucson for the 2024 calendar. As the local wing expert, I started this journey in October 2019, where I reviewed a different chicken wing almost every week on Instagram (@TucsonWingExpert). My friends wanted to know where to get the best wings. Instead of just messaging them in the group chat every week, I created a short video showcasing Tucson’s amazing chicken wing scene. I dove down the rabbit hole, and have reviewed over 150 wings in Tucson alone. Here is a list of my favorite wings in Tucson.

This guide is brought to you by Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea

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12 spots

CP's Wings (Photo courtesy of Tucson Meet Yourself 2023)

CP's Wings

No fixed location

CP’s Wings is a food truck and catering service with two options: sauce or no sauce. I like to describe their sauce as “a sweet heat.” Keeping it simple goes a long way because these wings are crispy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside.

Daisy Mae's Steakhouse (Photo by Jackie Tran)

Daisy Mae's Steakhouse

2735 West Anklam RoadWestside

This Southwest-style steakhouse was established in 1990 and is listed in the book “100 Things To Do In Tucson Before You Die”. They are known for their steaks and ribs — all cooked over their outside open-fire mesquite wood pit. If you’re a grilled wing fan these are the ones for you. Perfectly grilled wings are cooked on the same pit as the steaks and ribs, making for very flavorful and healthier wings. Ask for a side of their housemade barbecue sauce, which has a sweet and spicy kick, and dip it in their housemade ranch or blue cheese dressing.

El Torero Restaurant

231 East 26th StreetSouth Tucson

Family-owned and operated since 1956, this Mexican restaurant will blow your mind with its traditional dishes as well as its wings. Torero’s wings are a hybrid between a sweet chili sauce and a truffalo sauce (truffle and buffalo). Oven-roasted and fried to order, the wings come out garnished with fresh cilantro and green onion, accompanied with fries and a crema dipper. No flavor goes unnoticed. You will taste sweetness and spice from the sweet chili. You will taste acidity and rich earthiness from the truffalo. Dip it in the crema to smooth it all out.

Flaps and Racks

3253 East Valencia RoadSouth Side

This aviation-themed, family-owned restaurant that specializes in pork ribs and chicken wings is sure to delight any food lover with an ever-changing palette. With flavors like chocolate chiltepin, pizza, cinnamon roll, and fresh pineapple al pastor, (yep, these are all wing flavors!) it’s a unique spot for any true foodie! And just like another Tucson staple we all know and love, Flaps and Racks has a new, delicious Flavor of the Month. A must for your restaurant rotation! 

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Mulligans Bar and Grill

9403 East Golf Links RoadEastside

(In Bruce Buffer’s Voice) Coming in at 20+ different sauces and rubs all made in-house, fresh never frozen Jumbo wings! They are baked until cooked through and then fried. Some rubs and sauces include their Angry Hummingbird (honey, hibiscus, and Thai bird chil)i, Rock You Like a Hurricane (scorpion pepper, pineapple, and rum notes), and T-Town (chiletepin, chipotle, lime, and smoke cumin) — all are worthy of a championship belt. 

Pacaw's Wings & Things

No fixed location

Actively participating in the food scene with their food truck, pop-ups, and locally award-winning wings, Jeremiah of Pacaws is pushing the envelope of what wings and community can be. Basing a lot of his flavors on the local cuisine, some of my favorite rubs and sauces are the Pacaws house wings, michelada wings, and home of the “wing boil” that includes corn on the cob, sausage, potatoes, and a wide range of seasoning. Pacaws is 100% go-out-of-your-way-to-try chicken wings.  

PY Steakhouse

5655 West Valencia RoadSouthwest

The wings at this upscale steakhouse are not on the regular menu but can be requested under the “Chef’s Trust Me” menu, which is a five to eight-course dining experience. Trust me, you need to try these bad boys. One of the few times you’ll see me wearing a button-down collared shirt. The chef came out with a clean white plate of wings with a whipped cream canister filled with a blue cheese dressing to dip the gourmet wings in. A memory I won’t soon forget. 

Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria

2555 East Broadway BoulevardUniversity & 4th Ave

Featured on the hit show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives,” you know this place is doing it right. Having cooked for the legendary Guy Fieri, the show featured his deep-dish pizza and wings. If you’re from the Midwest and missing home, this place is a go-to in Tucson. The wings will leave you completely satisfied — they’re a poster child for what we envision hot wings should be. 

The Saddle

820 East University BoulevardDowntown

A newer restaurant and bar near the University of Arizona that fits right in with the college crowd. With drinks served in plastic cowboy boots and bar food that’s kicked up to the next level, like chicken and waffle sliders, this hang-out reminds me of a college house party. A Coca-Cola brined wing produces a wonderful crispy bark around the edges and fall-off-the-bone meat. The homemade sauces, ranch, and blue cheese make these wings the best by campus.

Wings & Rice (Photo by Jackie Tran)

Wings & Rice

5502 East Pima StreetMidtown

Chicken wings and hibachi fried rice — a match made in heaven. With an eclectic menu ranging from Buffalo to the Pacific Rim, this place has been wowing people for years. 23 sauces and rubs to choose from, and if you enjoy flavors of the Pacific as well as all your standard rubs and sauces, you should head there soon. My go-to order is the spicy orange sauce and fried rice. 

Wings y Más

1145 West Prince RoadMidtown

Having picked up 100 wings for my birthday party in eight different flavors (they have more) my party guests were thrilled with them all. Priding themselves on the science it takes to make a perfectly crispy wing, they aim to be consistent with their food as well as their impeccable customer service. My favorite sauces and rubs include sweet and spicy, garlic parmesan, and chiltepin.

Wooden Nickel Tavern

1908 South Country Club RoadMidtown

You might assume the local dive bar doesn’t have great food but you’re wrong. Can’t always judge a book by its cover! This is a must-try for chicken wings and cheap drinks. Listed on their menu under “Best Wings in Town,” there’s no-frills when it comes to presentation or flavors. They know what they have, and that’s damn good wings.   

Frequently asked questions

Tucson has standout wing spots across bars, restaurants, and casual eateries. Many local kitchens focus on house-made sauces, crispy texture, and bold heat levels.

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@Sonoranrestaurantweek is almost here! September 4–13!🌵

This year, Flying V at @loewsventana is featuring a special K4 Ranch Prime Beef Tasting for $55.🥩

Dry-Aged Beef Tartare
Koji-Honey Vinaigrette, Fermented Tomato, Shallot, Pistachio, Fry Bread I *+18 add Flying V Special Reserve Caviar I *Casa Madero - Chardonnay — Valle de Parras, Mexico 

Tournedos of Filet Mignon
Desert Pearl Oyster Mushrooms, Del Bac Demi Glace, Our Beef Garum, Chives I Family Style: Hayden Mills Polenta, Farmer’s Market Featured Vegetables I *Merkin — Chupacabra Red - (Grenache, Mourvédre, Syrah, Petite Sirah) - Willcox, Arizona 

Caramel Butter Cake
Exo Coffee-Toffee Sauce, Bread Syrup, Preserved Jujube Chutney, Bone Marrow Ice Cream I *Flying Leap — Sangiovese – Elgin, Arizona 

See menus and build your itinerary on Tucsonfoodie/srw👈
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonevents@Sonoranrestaurantweek is almost here! September 4–13!🌵 This year, Flying V at @loewsventana is featuring a special K4 Ranch Prime Beef Tasting for $55.🥩 Dry-Aged Beef Tartare Koji-Honey Vinaigrette, Fermented Tomato, Shallot, Pistachio, Fry Bread I *+18 add Flying V Special Reserve Caviar I *Casa Madero - Chardonnay — Valle de Parras, Mexico Tournedos of Filet Mignon Desert Pearl Oyster Mushrooms, Del Bac Demi Glace, Our Beef Garum, Chives I Family Style: Hayden Mills Polenta, Farmer’s Market Featured Vegetables I *Merkin — Chupacabra Red - (Grenache, Mourvédre, Syrah, Petite Sirah) - Willcox, Arizona Caramel Butter Cake Exo Coffee-Toffee Sauce, Bread Syrup, Preserved Jujube Chutney, Bone Marrow Ice Cream I *Flying Leap — Sangiovese – Elgin, Arizona See menus and build your itinerary on Tucsonfoodie/srw👈 #tucsonfoodie #tucsonevents
TOMORROW! An evening of food, plants, and connection returns under the desert sky.🌵✨

In partnership with @salus.healers, join us tomorrow, August 29, at @tohonochul for Desert Magic, a one-night celebration of the edible and medicinal beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Stroll the gardens, drink in hand, and discover chef and wellness stations along the way. 

🌿WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS offering sound healing, massage, somatic therapy, readings, reiki, plant walks, workshops & more: @awakenedwombs | @curavidabodywork | @dharmawellness.center | @drkorigiudici | Ease Bodywork | @itsme.emmav | @healingspiritsoaks | @marie.heartnectar | @innerblissenergetics | @jessi.kyte.bodywork | Medicine Within | @monsoonmystics | @morosomedicalcenter | @intuitive_readings_by_zev | @sugarmelovetucson | @tantricheart_coaching | @gathering_point_ | @thehealinghubaz | The Somatic Sound 

🔥FOOD: @el_chef_padilla (@copperashculinary) | @landofmilknhoney (@tohonochulgardenbistro) | @chefdevonsanner (@sandpcreative) | Chef Gracie Soto (@anita_st_market) | @chefjosetucson (@ameliastucson) | @kenneth.foy | Obie Hindman & @tuckerhartford (@tucsoncityofgastronomy & @solpuebloprovisions) | @archimagirus_cultro (@scratchingtheplate)

🥣 SOUNDS @tucsonmodernjazzquartet | DJ Sets by Rosa Dragona & LaDev

Ticket includes wellness stations, herb walks, workshops, sound healing, & botanical drinks.

Tap the link in bio to grab yours! 🎟️✨ 

Video by @dalton.voss 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsoneventTOMORROW! An evening of food, plants, and connection returns under the desert sky.🌵✨ In partnership with @salus.healers, join us tomorrow, August 29, at @tohonochul for Desert Magic, a one-night celebration of the edible and medicinal beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Stroll the gardens, drink in hand, and discover chef and wellness stations along the way. 🌿WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS offering sound healing, massage, somatic therapy, readings, reiki, plant walks, workshops & more: @awakenedwombs | @curavidabodywork | @dharmawellness.center | @drkorigiudici | Ease Bodywork | @itsme.emmav | @healingspiritsoaks | @marie.heartnectar | @innerblissenergetics | @jessi.kyte.bodywork | Medicine Within | @monsoonmystics | @morosomedicalcenter | @intuitive_readings_by_zev | @sugarmelovetucson | @tantricheart_coaching | @gathering_point_ | @thehealinghubaz | The Somatic Sound 🔥FOOD: @el_chef_padilla (@copperashculinary) | @landofmilknhoney (@tohonochulgardenbistro) | @chefdevonsanner (@sandpcreative) | Chef Gracie Soto (@anita_st_market) | @chefjosetucson (@ameliastucson) | @kenneth.foy | Obie Hindman & @tuckerhartford (@tucsoncityofgastronomy & @solpuebloprovisions) | @archimagirus_cultro (@scratchingtheplate) 🥣 SOUNDS @tucsonmodernjazzquartet | DJ Sets by Rosa Dragona & LaDev Ticket includes wellness stations, herb walks, workshops, sound healing, & botanical drinks. Tap the link in bio to grab yours! 🎟️✨ Video by @dalton.voss #tucsonfoodie #tucsonevent
SPECIAL DINNERS DURING SONORAN RESTAURANT WEEK🌵

@Sonoranrestaurantweek is ONE WEEK AWAY! In addition to prix-fixe menus around Tucson, @sonoranrestaurantweek features a lineup of special dinners and one very special brunch. Here’s the schedule:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 • 6 PM
Inca’s Peruvian Cuisine Special Dinner
📍 @incasperuviancuisine 
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 • 6 PM
Penca Special Dinner
📍 @pencarestaurante 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 • 11 AM–2 PM
Sonoran Restaurant Week Brunch Takeover
📍 Flying V @loewsventana 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 • 6:30 PM
Whole Hog BBQ Dinner
📍 @bashfulbanditbbq 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 • 6 PM
Sunshine Wine Special Dinner
📍 @sunshine_wine_tucson with @queenofcupswines 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • 6 PM
BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon Special Dinner
📍 @bocatucson 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 • 6 PM
Bacio Italiano Special Dinner with @vertigo.wines 
📍 @bacio.italianoaz 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 • 6 PM
Cielos Special Dinner
📍 @cielostucson 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 • 6 PM 
Nana’s Kitchen Special Dinner with @rombauervineyards 
📍 @nanas_kitchen_2008 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 • 6 PM
Wild Garlic Grill Special Dinner
📍 @wildgarlicgrillofficial 

Several events have limited seating and require tickets or reservations, so plan ahead!

Sonoran Restaurant Week runs September 4–13. Tap the link in our bio for menus, tickets, reservations, and more.❤️

#SRW2026 #sonoranrestaurantweek
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodieeventsSPECIAL DINNERS DURING SONORAN RESTAURANT WEEK🌵 @Sonoranrestaurantweek is ONE WEEK AWAY! In addition to prix-fixe menus around Tucson, @sonoranrestaurantweek features a lineup of special dinners and one very special brunch. Here’s the schedule: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 • 6 PM Inca’s Peruvian Cuisine Special Dinner 📍 @incasperuviancuisine SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 • 6 PM Penca Special Dinner 📍 @pencarestaurante SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 • 11 AM–2 PM Sonoran Restaurant Week Brunch Takeover 📍 Flying V @loewsventana SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 • 6:30 PM Whole Hog BBQ Dinner 📍 @bashfulbanditbbq TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 • 6 PM Sunshine Wine Special Dinner 📍 @sunshine_wine_tucson with @queenofcupswines WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • 6 PM BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon Special Dinner 📍 @bocatucson THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 • 6 PM Bacio Italiano Special Dinner with @vertigo.wines 📍 @bacio.italianoaz FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 • 6 PM Cielos Special Dinner 📍 @cielostucson SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 • 6 PM Nana’s Kitchen Special Dinner with @rombauervineyards 📍 @nanas_kitchen_2008 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 • 6 PM Wild Garlic Grill Special Dinner 📍 @wildgarlicgrillofficial Several events have limited seating and require tickets or reservations, so plan ahead! Sonoran Restaurant Week runs September 4–13. Tap the link in our bio for menus, tickets, reservations, and more.❤️ #SRW2026 #sonoranrestaurantweek #tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodieevents
Win 2 tickets to Oktober Foodie Fest! 🍺🥨🌭

Oktober Foodie Fest returns to @corbettstucson on Saturday, September 26th. It’s Oktoberfest, but with a Tucson Foodie flavor all its own!

🎶 Live Music 🍺 Craft Beer Garden 🏋️ Classic Contests 🥨 Authentic German Eats ✚ MORE! 

Here’s how to enter:
1️⃣ Follow @tucsonfoodie & @corbettstucson
2️⃣ Tag 1 friend (Your best brat-buddy🌭) and comment “Let’s go to OktoberFoodieFest!”
3️⃣ We’ll draw our winner for the two passes Friday 8/28 at 9:45AM, just before tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM!

Tickets on sale Friday 8/28 @ 10AM PT
Tickets & more info ➡️ oktoberfoodiefest.eventbrite.com

⚠️ Note for Foodie Insider Members: Check your email for your 50% event discount code!Win 2 tickets to Oktober Foodie Fest! 🍺🥨🌭 Oktober Foodie Fest returns to @corbettstucson on Saturday, September 26th. It’s Oktoberfest, but with a Tucson Foodie flavor all its own! 🎶 Live Music 🍺 Craft Beer Garden 🏋️ Classic Contests 🥨 Authentic German Eats ✚ MORE! Here’s how to enter: 1️⃣ Follow @tucsonfoodie & @corbettstucson 2️⃣ Tag 1 friend (Your best brat-buddy🌭) and comment “Let’s go to OktoberFoodieFest!” 3️⃣ We’ll draw our winner for the two passes Friday 8/28 at 9:45AM, just before tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM! Tickets on sale Friday 8/28 @ 10AM PT Tickets & more info ➡️ oktoberfoodiefest.eventbrite.com ⚠️ Note for Foodie Insider Members: Check your email for your 50% event discount code!