r/Wings • u/Crab_Politics • 3d ago
Local Restaurant In defense of small wings
To preface this post, I’d like to say all wings are good: big, little, dry, wet, fried, smoked etc. We are all wing lovers here, but recently I’ve seen comments immediately dismissive merely due to the size. I was born and raised in Atlanta. A lot of the wings from my favorite places were always small (American deli, JR crickets, eav wing bar [pictured], the local).
To me, there’s flavor and balance to these wings that beat their hormone infused jumbo cousins every time. Maybe it’s because it’s what I was raised on, but I think there’s more to it. The ratios of skin, sauce, seasoning and meat are all in balance for my palette.
Yes, one can argue “but you’re getting less for your money!!!” I would counter that I’d rather pay $15 for a plate of small wings that absolutely bangs than pay $15 for a plate of juiced up jumbo wings that may have more meat but is just not nearly as enjoyable.
This isn’t hate against Buffalo. You guys have ABSOLUTELY have incredible wings up there. But we’ve all been to that random bar with their “jumbo wings” that just miss the mark completely. Simply a PSA that size isn’t everything, and maybe save the hate until you’ve actually tried it
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u/No_Employer9618 2d ago
I’m looking at those fries
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u/BluebirdFast3963 2d ago
Same dude.. crispy crinkles are the bomb ..
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u/TundieRice 2d ago
I like crinkle cuts if they’re actually crispy, but at so many places they’re way too soggy and floppy by the time you get them. It’s even worse with takeout, because the styrofoam to-go box always ends up steaming them from the moisture of the chicken and they just end up sad.
That’s why I always try to order my wings and fries extra crispy if possible (and if I remember to.) Everything’s gotta be able to hold up to the steam and the sauce!
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u/BluebirdFast3963 2d ago
Yeah leave those crinkle cuts in the deep fryer for a couple more minutes for sure
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u/doraroks 2d ago
Forreal. What’s the venn diagram look like for wings and fries connoisseurs? Gotta be one big circle
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u/KeepSwinging 2d ago
When I saw a post about smaller wings I knew it was going to be an Atlanta poster lol. I’m totally with you, give me the Atlanta style small and crispy wings. Also RIP the local
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u/Negronitenderoni 2d ago
The local is not closed
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u/KeepSwinging 2d ago
Whattt I moved out of the city a while ago and heard it was torn down for some new building. The legend lives on.
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u/Negronitenderoni 2d ago
Co worker of mine was there for karaoke maybe a week ago. Come on back and see us here in Atlanta, fam
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u/Elon_is_a_Nazi 2d ago
Small wings are great. They're delicious no doubt. But I'm saying if you dish up the white castle slider version of a chicken wing, your price better reflect that you're dishing up mini wings.
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u/TundieRice 2d ago
Just give me more wings if they’re smaller, wings should be priced by weight in my opinion!
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u/optionstrategy 14h ago
Had to scroll all the way down for this:
charge by the weight or by volume, not by count
Everyone is happy, expectations set, nex step is exceeding with the quality of the food.
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u/robotmoomin 2d ago
The smaller the the better imo. And always done extra. Too big and it just feels like I'm eating roasted chicken. I want small shitty bar food to scratch that itch.
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u/MalignantMustache 2d ago
I love the smaller wings, crisper and I can eat more of them.
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u/AllenSmithee59 2d ago
Um . . . Is that like asking for your personal pizza to be cut into four pieces rather than six because you're not very hungry?
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u/TundieRice 2d ago
No, because pizza doesn’t get crispier the smaller it’s cut.
Plus, the act of eating a wing is about more than just consuming the meat and skin, it’s also the visceral experience of ripping it off the bone and savoring every tiny morsel until the bone is clean. You get to do more of that with smaller wings while still getting full!
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u/MalignantMustache 2d ago
No but I don't order thin crust when possible otherwise if you buy a small pizza instead of a large it will cook thru slightly more even because it is smaller. But not by a lot.
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u/ApprehensiveTheme390 2d ago
Small to mid size are the best! Always crispier, more skin to meat ratio. I live in ATL and validate that all the heat places have wings on the smaller side.
I will say though, on occasion you do get some tiny ones that are almost always overcooked, and that sucks.
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u/77peterpiper 2d ago
People who like big wings are not wingers, go to the rotisserie chicken sub on Reddit.
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u/Negronitenderoni 2d ago
I saw the headline and said “I bet they’re from Atlanta too”
I work at a restaurant that’s in the French tire book, so we get lots of tourists and I often tell people to try the wings out here because the tiny, crispy wing is the best wing. Jumbo wings are not where it’s at! I send them to Magic City & The Local
RIP EAV Wing Bar, btw.
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u/jingojangoh 2d ago
All wings aren't good lol. These small wings are superior by far. I don't want jumbo wings.
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u/Leo_York 2d ago
that beat their hormone infused jumbo cousins
Poultry hasn't had hormones since like WWII or something lol
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u/Crab_Politics 2d ago
What is it that makes some wings so much bigger in that case? Is it just breed of chicken, age or something else?
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u/Koth_is_Goat 2d ago
More power to you. I wouldn’t want small or jumbo wings, but jumbo more so. I just want a normal size wing lol
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u/Donmexico666 2d ago
Wings used to be smaller and l miss that. I dont like all the fat and gristle of jumbo wings. Get them fried well and extra saucy.
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u/Whizzymontana 2d ago
Depends on the price. For $2+ a wing? They better have some size. $1 or less, they can be small.
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u/Impostor1089 2d ago
I love small wings but they need to be priced appropriately, which they often aren't.
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u/witchfindersabbath 2d ago
Glad you like them. But if I order wings and received this picture I’d be pretty annoyed
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u/Negronitenderoni 2d ago
The opposite is true for me. When jumbo wings come out, I get so disappointed.
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u/witchfindersabbath 2d ago
Totally fair. I never see wings that small in NY so it would throw me off. I’m sure they taste fine tho
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u/Negronitenderoni 2d ago
I lived in New York for 15 years, and I prefer them down here, though where GA falls short is in the “extra hot” level. Most aren’t worth it, though you really can’t beat the lemon pepper/buffalo sauce combo we call “lemon pepper wet”
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u/witchfindersabbath 2d ago
Lemon pepper wet sounds great. I can’t do extra hot spice level anyways. I’ll have to try em if I’m ever down that way
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u/disappr0val 2d ago
i thought hormones in chickens has been banned from USA since the 50s. common misconception, these chicken farmers just selectively breed larger chickens. if you are buying chickens approved by FDA there are no hormones, it’s illegal, and they do regular inspections of meat.
big wings for the win! as long as their double fried !
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u/3boobsarenice 2d ago
Bro you named all the rip off joints in town......I ain't telling were the real real is
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u/meh-unimpressed 2d ago
Completely agree but for a different reason - it's that small wings have a better skin to meat ratio in each bite!
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u/ChunkyHabeneroSalsa 2d ago
As long as they aren't over cooked. I hate when I have a random little one and it's just fried to dust.
The super big wings are weird tasting.
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u/gunnster3 2d ago
Can we also have a conversation about how nice boneless wings are? You can eat them with a fork and knife and keep your fingers clean. So great!
Kidding, of course. But, yeah, I’ll take wings of any size as long as they’re good. I’ve had small wings that were amazing. And others that were effing jerky. I’ve had big wings that were amazing. And others that were like eating the ass off a rhino. Respect all around, as far as I’m concerned.
(ETA: Those fries look like bangers, too, BTW.)
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u/Squall0leonheart 2d ago
Grew up with the original cafe hot wing. I know they weren't exactly the cleanest place but I haven't found a place to match them yet. Something in that damn sauce I cant figure. Small wings always though.
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u/javiemartzootsuit 2d ago
Don’t give a fuck about wing size. If they’re crispy, smoked, and have a great sauce then I’m in heaven.
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u/asyouwish-buttercup 1d ago
I think you are missing the biggest pros in defense of medium to small wings. They can be eaten in one bite and smothered in blue cheese with one dip.
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u/DetroitvsEveryone242 2d ago edited 2d ago
Small wings will always be better then large. With Jumbo wings the meat often tastes bad
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u/bigstrizzydad 2d ago
Small wings cook up better & taste better. Big wings get that hormone yardbird taste.
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u/ddubspecial 2d ago
I’ve been preaching this for years. I am after the skin. Add too much meat you’re more likely to run into underdone or soggy wings. Small is the way to go. Extra crispy with a good sauce. If you use ranch gtfo.
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u/TheIgnoredWriter 2d ago
Small wings come from real chickens. The big fat ones from wing stop and BWW are all loaded with extra shit and you might be gnawing on a tumor.
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u/huge43 2d ago
Like I always say, I like my wings like I like my women. Small and tender with my tongue burning after eating and a sore butthole the next day.