Tucson FoodieCelebrating local food, drink, and community.
Wing Wednesday with the Tucson Wing Expert (December Edition)

Wing Wednesday with the Tucson Wing Expert (December Edition)

Dec 18, 20243 min read

Wee-ooo, wee-ooo, wee-ooo! Wing alert, wing alert! 

Happy Wing Wednesday! Merry Wingmas because mas wings are what I’ve been eating. Here is a look at what I tried this month. 

Big Sexy’s Chicken Wangs and Thangs

Food Truck

If you’re running around town throughout the holidays, so is this chicken wing food truck. Big Sexy provides fried chicken wings in a few different flavors including his homemade and #1 seller, Big Sexy Buffalo Sauce. He has a secret marinade, so the wings come out juicy and crispy without the breading.

Don’t forget to order the waffle fries. Also, keep up with where he’s parked by following Big Sexy’s Instagram. 

For more information, follow Big Sexy’s Chicken Wangs and Thangs on Instagram.

Zyka Twist

621 N. Fourth Ave.

Jimmy Aujla, the owner of Indian Twist (a local favorite of mine for Indian food), has a great spot located right on Fourth Avenue. While walking around the  Street Fair, I searched for wings and stumbled across this absolute gem.

Jimmy invited me back into the kitchen to show me how their wings are made — start to finish. The wings marinade overnight in classic tandoori chicken spices before they’re put into the tandoor oven. After a few minutes, he takes the skewered chicken and puts them into a hot pan of onions, peppers, and garlic. After tossing them around for a minute, he plates them on a smoldering hot cast iron skillet — squirting a little water so the steam and smoke waft through the air as he drops off the epic dish to your table.

Let them cool down for a second and then dig into some of the most flavorful tandoori chicken wings you will ever have. The peppers and onions add to the amazing fall-of-the-bone, delicious wings.

They even have a mint and tamarind sauce to take these wings next level. Hats off to Zyka Twist. They will forever be on my “nice list” every holiday. 

Zyka Twist is located at 621 N. Fourth Ave. To keep up with the latest, follow Zyka Twist on Facebook and Instagram.

Fentonelli’s Pizzeria & Bar

7262 N. Oracle Rd.

The same owners of the beloved Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink opened this restaurant to bring new menu items to the north side of town. Their East Coast Italian-inspired menu has some delicious wings to pair well with their salads, sandwiches, pasta, and pizza.

They also make their own sauces and rubs: Plain, Desert Dry Rub, Buffalo, and Hot Honey Wings. Their Buffalo sauce was terrific — had a touch of Calabrian chilis so it’s a little sweet with a nice zing. One of the best homemade Buffalo sauces I have tried made these wings very addictive.

The meat was great with a slight crispiness. Babbo Natale came a little early this year!  

Fentonelli’s Pizzeria & Bar is located at 7262 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit fenontellispizzeria.com and follow Fentonelli’s on Instagram and Facebook.

This completes my monthly Wing Wednesday, stay tuned for next month’s installment. Follow me on Instagram. Also, check out my Top 15 Wings Guide.

Article written by:

Chris Koch
Tucson Foodie is Tucson's premier food and dining publication, covering the best restaurants, events, and culinary experiences in Southern Arizona.

Get our free Tucson Foodie weekly newsletter

New openings, events, dish recommendations, and guides — every Wednesday. No spam.

Take us with you.

Discover the best local spots, browse the dish database, build and share your to-visit lists, support local, and join the Foodie Club when you're ready.

Advertisement

Follow @TucsonFoodie136.2K followers
IOU Sushi III has closed. The all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant on North Oracle Road announced the news on Facebook after about 10 years in Tucson. “This is the hardest post I’ve had to write,” the owners said. The post continued, “we have met some great friends who have become family to us.” Tucson Foodie first visited the restaurant in 2017, when it operated as IOU Sushi IV. 

Read the full story on tucsonfoodie.com.IOU Sushi III has closed. The all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant on North Oracle Road announced the news on Facebook after about 10 years in Tucson. “This is the hardest post I’ve had to write,” the owners said. The post continued, “we have met some great friends who have become family to us.” Tucson Foodie first visited the restaurant in 2017, when it operated as IOU Sushi IV. Read the full story on tucsonfoodie.com.
THE FALL SOUTHERN AZ HOME SHOW RETURNS OCT. 16-18 WITH TWO BIG CULINARY HEADLINERS🔥 

@Tcctucson welcomes award-winning pitmaster @Sloanrinaldi for an “All Things Brisket” demo at 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a meet-and-greet. 

Three-time Iron Chef Tucson champion @Chef_antbanks of @Obonsushi takes the Culinary Showcase Stage Saturday at noon. 

The show will also feature 200+ vendors, food trucks, pet-friendly attractions, adoptable animals, HGTV’s Matt Blashaw, the Kids Market, and more. 

WHEN: Oct. 16-18 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: TCC 📍260 S. Church Ave.
TICKETS: $8 | $4 with discount coupon | Kids 12 & under free
 
SPECIAL ADMISSION: 
• Friday: Seniors 65+ free; half-price for military, veterans, first responders, police, firefighters & teachers with ID 
• Saturday: Half-price for seniors and the same groups
• Sunday (Heroes Day): Seniors half-price; military, veterans, first responders, police, firefighters & teachers free with ID

ALL DAYS: $2 admission from 3-5 p.m. Free parking in Convention Center Lot B.THE FALL SOUTHERN AZ HOME SHOW RETURNS OCT. 16-18 WITH TWO BIG CULINARY HEADLINERS🔥 @Tcctucson welcomes award-winning pitmaster @Sloanrinaldi for an “All Things Brisket” demo at 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a meet-and-greet. Three-time Iron Chef Tucson champion @Chef_antbanks of @Obonsushi takes the Culinary Showcase Stage Saturday at noon. The show will also feature 200+ vendors, food trucks, pet-friendly attractions, adoptable animals, HGTV’s Matt Blashaw, the Kids Market, and more. WHEN: Oct. 16-18 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. WHERE: TCC 📍260 S. Church Ave. TICKETS: $8 | $4 with discount coupon | Kids 12 & under free SPECIAL ADMISSION: • Friday: Seniors 65+ free; half-price for military, veterans, first responders, police, firefighters & teachers with ID • Saturday: Half-price for seniors and the same groups • Sunday (Heroes Day): Seniors half-price; military, veterans, first responders, police, firefighters & teachers free with ID ALL DAYS: $2 admission from 3-5 p.m. Free parking in Convention Center Lot B.
Anne Rysdale built @sheltercocktaillounge in 1961 with concrete walls, lava rock, and Cold War nerves. Today, owners Pam Santangelo and Kevin Breutzmann keep the Tucson bar exactly as regulars remember it. Inside, martinis share space with JFK memorabilia, a vintage atomic chandelier, and a suit of armor named Charlie. “Tucson is changing so much, but this has stayed the same. It’s a time capsule,” Santangelo said. 

Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
Photos by @sea_lyonAnne Rysdale built @sheltercocktaillounge in 1961 with concrete walls, lava rock, and Cold War nerves. Today, owners Pam Santangelo and Kevin Breutzmann keep the Tucson bar exactly as regulars remember it. Inside, martinis share space with JFK memorabilia, a vintage atomic chandelier, and a suit of armor named Charlie. “Tucson is changing so much, but this has stayed the same. It’s a time capsule,” Santangelo said. Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com Photos by @sea_lyon
Scratch-made Japanese ramen goes far beyond instant noodles, with rich broths like tonkotsu, miso, and shoyu. Tucson has more specialty ramen shops than you might expect. Here’s where to find them around town.🍜

@ikkyu.tucson 
@jaramencurry 
@kiwamiramenbar 
@kukai___ 
@marujapanesenoodle 
@maruplusaz 
@obonsushi 
@raijinramen 
@theramenbartucson 
@tossfriedchickennramen 

More guides on Tucsonfoodie.comScratch-made Japanese ramen goes far beyond instant noodles, with rich broths like tonkotsu, miso, and shoyu. Tucson has more specialty ramen shops than you might expect. Here’s where to find them around town.🍜 @ikkyu.tucson @jaramencurry @kiwamiramenbar @kukai___ @marujapanesenoodle @maruplusaz @obonsushi @raijinramen @theramenbartucson @tossfriedchickennramen More guides on Tucsonfoodie.com