The Smoke Shop BBQ’s pork ribs may have earned first place at a national pit-smoking competition once, but at its Boston-area locations (Kendall Square, Fort Point, Assembly Row, Harvard Square, and Hub Hall), it’s the chicken wings that really steal the show. Rightly called the Famous Wings on the menu, these smoky, candied morsels are sweetened with agave and kicked up just a bit with a secret blend of pit spices. For a spicier take, try the habanero and brown butter-coated Hot Wings. 

Buff’s Pub isn’t even in the city (it’s in the nearby suburb of Newton), but for decades, this old-school bar has been the leading answer to the constant question of where to find the best chicken wings in Boston. Buff’s legions of fans are not wrong: Crispy and tender, we particularly love the sweet-heat treat of Buff’s Honey Hot Wings, but classic Buffalo style is always a good choice; after all, the place is named for it. When you’re craving wings and beers, give this low-key local favorite a try.

Korean fried chicken is a unique take on one of the world’s favorite foods: It’s traditionally double-fried and tossed in sauce, so it stays crispy while getting finger-licking sticky. Though Coreanos in Allston isn’t a traditional Korean restaurant—it deals in fusion food like Bulgogi Tacos, Kimchi Quesadillas, and big piles of cheesy, egg-topped Kimchi Fritas—the menu’s Korean Fried Chicken is true to form: fried wings that are flavorful and succulent. We love the sweet-and-spicy Yum Yang and Soy Garlic versions.

Mahaniyom is one of Greater Boston’s ultimate destinations for Thai food, but at its core, the tiny Brookline Village spot is meant to be a welcoming, neighborhood bar. So along with excellent cocktails, it also makes some special chicken wings. A little bit hidden on the menu—look for Kai Tod Had Yai—these wings should not be missed. The southern Thai style of fried chicken starts with an aromatic brine and yields a shatteringly crisp crust. It’s addictive on its own, but when topped with umami fried shallots and served with a sweet chili dipping sauce, we can’t get enough. 

The love of chicken wings is universal, as this Nigerian restaurant shows. The Spicy Suya Wings at Suya Joint hit the craveable notes of the standard bar snack, with a fiery hint of West African flair: Fried then smothered in a rich sauce featuring onions, sauteed red peppers, and an ample addition of fruity habanero pepper. Grab a seat at this Roxbury bar to try them along with jollof rice and a cooling cocktail like the Suya Joint Painkiller, full of Pusser’s Rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple and orange juices. 

Spacious, dark, and pretty raucous during sporting events, Shine Square Pub in Cambridge is a prime place to watch a game and share some wings. The streamlined menu is full of pick-your-flavor possibilities for chicken wings, including dry rubs like Old Bay seasoning, chipotle-cinnamon, and garlic parm. There are also sauced wing options, such as barbecue, Buffalo, chipotle-citrus, sweet chili, and the ominously named Chernobyl (HOT). You really can’t go wrong with whatever your crew chooses: Each order comes with a half-dozen moist and meaty morsels.