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Local Vibes

Where To Find The Best Wings in New Jersey

By Robyn Lane

Updated: 1/25/24

I love a good meaty wing made with a variety of sauces and rubs. Don’t kill me, but Buffalo wings are my least favorite unless they come with a good chunky bleu cheese dressing. My absolute favorite flavor is garlic parmesan (no dressing or dipping sauce needed), followed by Thai chili. I will try anything you suggest as long as the wings are meaty. I like both flats and drums, so there’s no issue there.

I hate overcooked skimpy chicken wings like some of the national chain restaurants sell. The only national chain wings I like are from Wing Stop. Their Garlic Parmesan wings are made with a dry rub, savory garlic, and buttery Parmesan cheese.

Here at the WRAT, we have two wing experts on staff who I unreservedly trust when it comes to choosing a place that makes amazing wings.

Afternoon Drive guy and the WRAT’S Prince of Production, Jimmy Steal, is the unequivocal “Wing King” of Beasley Media New Jersey. Morning man and WRAT Programming Chief, Carl Craft deserves to share at least a small part of the wing throne with King James. Jimmy consumes more wings annually than all of the employees of Beasley Media N.J. combined.

I sought the opinions of both Jimmy and Carl before I hit up the foodies and wing lovers on my favorite social media food sites to find out where the swingin’ wing kings go to chow down on The best wings outside of their kitchens.

Jimmy favors the Harry’s Smokin’ BBQ food truck on Dover Rd in South Toms River, as well as Beach Haven’s, The Chicken or The Egg, and a place in Cinnaminson called The Jug Handle Inn.

Carl loves the wings at Broadway Bar & Grill in Point Pleasant Beach, as well as wings from Woody’s in Farmingdale, and The Court Jester in Freehold.

A few of their choices were echoed by the folks I asked on the food pages, most of whom listen to the WRAT.

So here we go, soaring into wing heaven with your suggestions.

 

  • Harry's Smokin' BBQ - 240 Dover Rd, Toms River, NJ 08757

    Harry’s wings are so delicious, they’ve earned him awards including the WRAT Shore Award for best wings on the Jersey Shore and recently, several award plaques from the Asbury Park Press Community Choice Awards. These are a favorite of WRAT’s Jimmy Steal and countless others.

  • The Chicken or the Egg - 207 N Bay Ave, Beach Haven, NJ 08008

    This place is an institution! They’ve even been on national television! Back when Adam Richman hosted the Cooking Channel show, “Man vs. Food”, the rest of  America found out about their hot and very spicy “Ludicrous wings”  and other yummy things in New Jersey.  They do have 17 other wing sauces to choose from including my favorite, garlic parmesan. Adam Richman took on Chicken or the Egg’s Ludicrous Wings Challenge — 12 jumbo wings soaked in a spicy sauce and was triumphant in finishing the whole plate. 

     

     

  • The Galley Pizza & Eatery - 1313 Memorial Dr, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

    WRAT’s “The Minister” was the first person to sing the praises of this place to the WRAT crew. We lost count of how many times he and WRAT legend of the Jersey Shore, Steve Hook have dined there. The burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza, and the wings are big favorites.

    The Galley uses organic Bell & Evans wings. The big seller is the Smoked wings, with Mike’s hot honey on the side, or on the wings.

  • Sharky's Wings & Raw Bar - 545 Highland Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011

    Joe W. highly recommends that Shore folk take a drive to Sharky’s Clifton location. They have locations in Boonton and Alpha too, but Clifton is the one he insists we need to visit.  According to Sasha, “The Wings definitely live up to the hype.” They have a boatload of sauces to choose from including Thai chili and boom boom sauce. November’s sauce of the month: Cranberry Buffalo!

     

  • Miracle Pub - 201 NJ-37, Toms River, NJ 08755

    The Miracle is an old-school sports-centric haunt with pizza, burgers & other bar staples.  They have a package goods store up front. This place serves some bangin’ wings! I know from experience, and so do several other wing lovers. You must try the garlic honey mustard wings! Plus, their burgers are on point. If you show up on your 21st birthday, they give you a complimentary cocktail.

     

  • Local Smoke BBQ - 719 NJ-35, Neptune City, NJ 07753

    John D. and Ellen can’t get enough of this BBQ joint!  Their smoked wings are Slow-smoked, then flash-fried. Dry-rubbed or tossed in your choice of Buffalo, BBQ, Spicy BBQ, Teriyaki, Sweet Chili, or Parmesan Garlic sauce and served with Blue Cheese dressing.

     

  • The Jug Handle Inn - 1018 Forklanding Rd, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077

    Jimmy Steal travels over an hour just for the wings. Now that takes real commitment. Most reviews I read mentioned how amazing the wings are. Several other folks on the food socials concurred.

  • Doyle's Pour House - 345 S Main St, Barnegat, NJ 08005

    Before I get to the wings, they have a white garlic clam pizza that I’d go to the end of the Earth just to smell it. Now on to the wings as suggested by wing expert James S, Doyle’s has Jumbo Wings with your choice of Sauce: Buffalo, Teriyaki, BBQ, Soccer: (Captain Morgan & Spicy Garlic), Widow Maker, Spicy Garlic, Bee sting or Old Bay! Served with Celery & Blue Cheese. Doyle’s also has a location in Tuckerton.

  • Chicken-n-More - 2275 W County Line Rd, Jackson Township, NJ 08527 Bennetts Mills Plaza

    I had a handful of people hounding me to include this place. Jessica commented,” Awesome little gem in Jackson. Great ribs, awesome sides, and killer wings.”  She’s not alone, JJ, Pete L., and Miranda enjoy the heck out of the wings here.

     

    chicken n more

  • Ms Heavens Wings - 45 S Broad St, Woodbury, NJ 08096

    Another hidden gem in Gloucester County N.J. Their slogan is, “Food that’s made with love.”  I hear the lady that owns this place earned her angel wings for creating heavenly food. The sauces at this place are Fat Boys (sweet and spicy, with Ms. Heavens garlic sauce); garlic parmesan; Blazing Buffalo (spicy buffalo sauce); Plain Jane (plain fried wings), and lemon pepper. I can’t find any social media pages or websites connected to this place.  I’d head to Woodbury to give Ms. Heaven my business. 

    Ms Heaven wings

  • Court Jester - 16 E Main St, Freehold, NJ 07728

    One of Morning RAT, Carl Craft’s favorite places to devour a plate or 2 full of wings, as well as several members of a few food lover’s pages on socials. They have mango habanero, which tickles my fancy. I’ve eaten here many times, but I’ve never had the wings. That could change soon.

  • Shore House Tavern - 2114 NJ-88, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

    Big Frank and I go way back to the days of the WRAT’s live broadcasts on St Patrick’s Day, what a hoot. The food here rocks, especially the wings. Make sure you get them grilled.  I must give a nod to the Ahi Tuna Nachos. If you’re not doing wings, get the Ahi Tuna Nachos or the cheesesteak egg rolls.

  • Half Moon - 2 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ 07734

    Dean H. is a friend and former co-worker who has spent years in the food industry as a master mixologist. Bartenders know wings, and so do Amanda and Charlie. Others have suggested this place too. Chef Jeremy creates decadent dishes like lobster mac and cheese and comfort dishes like buttermilk fried chicken, but the wings need to be recognized. Get yourself over there for a pound of juicy wings with the choices of a jerk, lemon pepper, buffalo, or garlic parmesan ranch or blue cheese.

  • Marley's Gotham Grill - 69 Main St, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

    Off to Warren County to enjoy quality food, large generous portions, and over 300 varieties of wings. They have Peanut butter maple wings with chocolate sauce, tequila lime, roasted peach and whiskey, salted caramel, and bourbon apple glazed wings as part of their massive wing repertoire.  This is a road trip I must make.  Thanks to Joe W. for this suggestion.

     

  • Boathouse Bar & Grill - 1309 Main St, Belmar, NJ 07719

    This place is within walking distance of our radio station and we’ve tipped quite a few elbows and have plowed through many a plate of wings over the years. The grilled lemon pepper and the Thai chili wings were my favorites.

  • Whistlers Inn - 901 US-130, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077

    Chris R. asked me to include this joint because he insists the wings are yummy. They serve bone-in and boneless wings in a variety of sauces. I did notice they have fried mushrooms and fried cheese balls served with creamy horseradish sauce. I’m actually going to try wings with a side of creamy horseradish sauce next time I dig in.

     

  • Woody's Roadside Tavern - 105 Academy St, Farmingdale, NJ 07727

    The burgers here are juicy, the soups and chili are piping hot and delicious, and the wings are among the best things on the menu. Now you can’t have wings without a frosty cold brew. They have a huge selection of beers, IPAs, and ciders.

  • Jack's Goal Line Stand - 149 Brighton Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740

    Buffalo wings, oven-roasted wings, Goal line wings, and more! The menu says:  Our jumbo chicken wings slow roasted, never fried, then finished on the grill and tossed in your favorite sauce. 

    Jimmy Steal reminds you to get the ribs too or you’ll be sorry.

  • Joe's Rotisseria - 547 Westfield Ave W, Roselle Park, NJ 07204 AND 504 Main St, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

    I’ve been to the one in Roselle Park, but not for the wings, I went for the crazy pizza concoctions I saw online. These creative people are nuts, and I love it. Now I must try the wings in the Asbury Park location.

  • Ellery's Grill & Pub - 701 Lincoln Blvd, Middlesex, NJ 08846

    Ed had this to say: “Really good food the wings were so good !! I was wondering when someone would vote a Middlesex establishment the place to get a good wing. Olga ran into actor Kelsey Grammar at Ellery’s about a month ago. Ellery’s carries Kelsey’s Faith American Brewing Company products.

  • Peck Peck Chicken - 250 Degraw Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666

    I should have included Peck Peck in the favorite places to get fried chicken. Shame on me. However, I’ve been told by several wing lovers that the wings here are equally as good.

  • The Broadway Bar & Grill - 106 Randall Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

    Some call it the ultimate Jersey dive bar, some call it home. Great burgers, and great wings.

  • Cee Gee's Bar & Grill - 400 S New Prospect Rd, Jackson Township, NJ 08527

    I was bombarded by locals who took issue that Cee Gee’s wasn’t on the original list. Cee gee’s wings are pretty famous around these parts. The sauces they offer are: Mild – Hot – XXX – HBBQ – HBJQ – BBQ – Garlic Parm – Garlic Buffalo – Jameson Honey – Teriyaki – Honey Teriyaki – Mr. Q’s Filipino BBQ – Jerk. Stop in, grab a beer and a dozen of these bad boys.

     

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