Cuisine Scene: Wings

In a city with as much sports cred as Long Beach–scads of pro and Olympic athletes were born and raised here–it figures it would also be a haven for that pinnacle of cuisine for sports spectators: chicken wings. And, like so much of the Long Beach food scene, the wings here are not only delicious but daring, ranging in taste profile from traditional to mango, sriracha to curry. Here are a few places–some new, some legendary–to try when you feel like wingin’ it.

LEGENDS

The nation’s first sports bar–with more than 30 HD TVs and two massive projection screens–is equally well known for its wings, which are, well, legendary. Legends (5236 E. Second St) not only has wings that define the dish for many people, but also features a wide selection of flavors, ranging from original Buffalo to lemon pepper to Thai sweet chili, habanero-BBQ, sea salt and pepper and Cajun. Have fun deciding.

SHLAP MUAN

Shlap Muan (2150 E South St)–Khmer for chicken wing–has a lot of interesting features to its menu. Its wet and dry sauces range from orange habanero (wet) to Cambodian Dirt, i.e. lemongrass pepper, (dry). They have meal deals that include wings, rice, fried egg and salad. And then there’s the Elvis, featuring wok-tossed wings that come out tasting sweet and smokey with a caramel finish.

BROKEN SPIRITS

Broken Spirits Distillery (300 The Promenade N) burst onto the food scene with its speakeasy-inspired combination of innovative menu items and artisanal spirits. Among the most delicious offerings are its chicken wings that include Buttery Buffalo, Chipotle Cherry BBQ, Tamarind Habanero and, perhaps the most popular, the Thai Chili, a bold, savory wing with a sweet, spicy kick.

SoCAL WINGS

SoCal Wings (1800 Atlantic Ave.) offers more than 20 wet wing varieties, featuring the likes of mango tango, chili garlic soy, red curry, etc. The menu also boasts more than a half dozen dry rubs – garlic parmesan, jalapeno pepper, etc. – as well as six dipping sauces. Looking for a topper? Try their SoCal Fries, where chicken wings lie atop fries, cheese, ranch, green onions and your choice of wing sauce.

EL BARRIO CANTINA

Now, be advised, El Barrio Cantina (1731 E. Fourth St) doesn’t just serve delicious, savory, spicy wings, they serve WINGS, i.e. quite large, like two or three times normal sized wings and with all the flavor to match. Its very interesting Spicy Alitas are whole chicken wings that come prepared with butter, lime, and salsa piquin and are served with a yummy yuzu aioli. Big wing. Big flavor. Big fun.

RANCE’S CHICAGO PIZZA

This Belmont Shore mainstay is well-known for making the best Chicago stuffed pizza around. Of course, anyone who’s been to Rance’s Chicago Pizza (5258 E Second St) is also soon to discover that the same could be said for its tasty wings and their full depth of flavor. Whether Buffalo, Bourbon Maple Bacon or Spicy Thai Peanut, they are delicious, having been prepared from scratch as everything on the menu–from sauce to salad dressings.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.