Chicken wings are essential—sauce stains your shirt like a badge of honor, the first bite tells you everything about a place, and they serve as the unofficial meeting ground for friends to find common ground over spice and cold beer. Just need comfort? How about a dozen flats with extra ranch. The Ravens lost a heartbreaker? Have a wing platter with a stranger eager to debate blue cheese vs. ranch. No matter the craving, there’s a wing spot to match—and we’ve put the best in this guide.
fried and fries, federal hill
$ | (443) 869-2608 | WEBSITE
Fried and Fries is exactly what it sounds like: a fried-food spot tucked into Federal Hill. The chicken is really good, the fries are highly praised, and orders typically come out in under 15 minutes. This all adds up to a good place to grab a quick lunch or satisfy a late-night craving. The calm atmosphere and friendly, relaxed service make it a solid choice for a low-key bite.
Mera Kitchen Collective
$$ | (443) 681-9855 | WEBSITE
The vibe at this Baltimore spot is part-global kitchen and part-community hub, so we don’t understand why it’s named after a collective when it feels so individually welcoming (it’s true). There’s no shortage of flavor on the menu at this walk-to destination, but they showcase standout dishes, like the habanero tamarind burger that’s worth every bite. They bring together a beautiful mix of cultures, so of course, you’ll occasionally catch whiffs of something deliciously unexpected.
This Is Seafood Wings Fish & Steak
$ | (443) 501-3180 | WEBSITE
This Is Seafood Wings Fish & Steak is a typical humble eatery. And by that, we mean there’s a 100% likelihood that you’ll hear someone raving about their shrimp tray within 10 minutes. It’s a little unassuming, but the food is so consistently good that you’ll leave satisfied—like you spent the night in a seafood-themed comfort zone. They have wings, fish, shrimp, and all the usual affordable eats.
It’s all solid, so just stick to the true selling point of this place: well-seasoned fried shrimp coming from the kitchen and forming a lasting bond with a stranger over $12 shrimp trays and unlikely, social media-fueled food influencer stories.
Blacksauce Kitchen
$ | (443) 470-9544 | WEBSITE
You may think that the idea of waiting for your food after you’ve already arrived sounds frustrating, or even inefficient. And in most fast-casual spots, you would be correct. But at Blacksauce Kitchen, it’s somehow the opposite. On Saturday mornings, there’s a biscuit sandwich, a rotating menu, and a friendly service involved (which you can’t rush).
And if you’re not there for the biscuits, there’s fried chicken with honey on offer, a clean small setting, and a couple of spots to sit full of regulars eager for inventive dishes. It’s order ahead for efficiency, but preparation starts when you check in, so you should plan some wait time instead of expecting instant gratification.
BRD
$ | (667) 210-2222 | WEBSITE
BRD has a sign outside that reads, ‘Sometimes A Chicken Wing Is Dinner.’ And it’s easy to disappear into the friendly Baltimore spot for hours and take your meals for the day in crispy form (they’ve perfected their beloved chicken). The brightly lit eatery place has a few $12 options—including the Angry Buffalo Bird sandwich and honey mustard chicken sandwich with fries.
So you’ll likely find groups around the simple tables and counter seats, digging into their generous portions and blaming the spice level for their third straight wing and not the honey mustard goggles.
Delia Foley’s
$$ | (443) 682-9141 | WEBSITE
Look for the tavern tucked into Federal Hill, follow the sound of Sunday football cheers, and you’ve found Delia Foley’s. The well-maintained bar is packed on most nights, but especially on trivia nights, game days, or any evening when friends gather for drinks. The wings are all under $14, the cheeseburger egg rolls pair perfectly with that delicious sauce, and the vibe is solid. With a chill atmosphere where staff treat you like family, inhibitions are low.
American Fish and Chicken
$ | (410) 727-7770 | WEBSITE
American Fish and Chicken perfectly encapsulates Baltimore’s affordable and hearty comfort food scene. The interior of this local spot is clean and bright, with a straightforward layout that feels welcoming from the moment you walk in. In addition to serving classic fried chicken and fish, American Fish and Chicken has options like whiting and tilapia, with fried pickles as a standout side.
They also make a delicious catfish and chicken leg combo, and the friendly staff often offers samples and recommendations. Grab a spot at a table and enjoy the consistently satisfying portions.
Royal Carryout
$ | (410) 945-8430 | WEBSITE
Baltimore may be the birthplace of crab cakes, and the Inner Harbor may be the birthplace of tourist traps that’s stripped us of our last bits of authentic flavor. But more importantly, this neighborhood carryout is the birthplace of the Special Sauce chicken box. It won’t be obvious what decade it is inside, what with the fluorescent lighting, worn linoleum floors, and simple plastic chairs.
Just in case $15 chicken boxes don’t sell you on the place, the friendly service and Thursday night rush will.
Max’s Taphouse
$$ | (410) 675-6297 | WEBSITE
If your usual bar scene is feeling stale, make your way to Max’s Taphouse in Fells Point. This is the sort of spot where you’ll have an evening you’ll be recounting decades from now. Crowds cheer and share massive pretzels while the game plays on the screens, and strangers often end up trading beer recommendations.
You might spot someone a few IPAs in using their cheese sauce-dipped pretzel as a microphone during a classic rock anthem, or a first-timer arriving for the mushroom burger but getting carried away with the craft beer flights. Regardless, they’ll be heading home with a tale to share at the office the next day.
Naz’s Halal Food – White Marsh
$ | (443) 483-0020 | WEBSITE
You’ve had enough of overpriced fusion spots and waiting for a table. Head to Naz’s Halal Food in White Marsh instead. It’s a clean, quick place where you can grab a table or get takeout and discuss why the chicken over rice is so good and life’s other great debates over $10 plates. The combo over rice with white sauce is a daily highlight here, including the seasoned fries and fresh hummus with naan.
Just be careful, because in a place where generous portions get even more generous, and there’s friendly service, your chances of leaving completely satisfied are at an all-time high.
Nash & Smashed
$ | (410) 774-6606 | WEBSITE
Nash & Smashed is where the N. Charles Street crowd heads to grab a quick bite, be surrounded by clean comfort, order a plate of Nashville sauce-drenched chicken, and ignore the kiosk for the counter pickup. The menu here is far more satisfying than you might expect at a fast casual spot, but it’s all pretty skippable (except for the Honey Nashville Chicken and the Double Smashed Mushroom Burger).
Go for any affordable meal and the heavy flavor-to-price ratio for a jolt to your taste buds that reminds you decent food still exists, including whatever you typed in.
Be-One
$$ | (410) 244-5600 | WEBSITE
Be-One is essentially a top Korean restaurant with some pretty great barbecue, which means it’s as filled with people looking for a hearty meal as they are looking for a warm and intimate dining experience. Like most spots, they’re open until late, so you can hang out until your soju runs dry at the cozy tables or in the inviting atmosphere on a busy night.
The $27 all you can eat option is unbeatable, friendly service is consistent, and seeing a plate of perfectly cooked rice in front of every one out of two people is guaranteed.
Wings Town
$ | (410) 558-0484 | WEBSITE
Wings Town is well-known in Baltimore for its hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, generous portions that are so satisfying you’ll be talking to the owner about recipes after one plate. But the friendly cash-only spot also has breakfast items on the menu, a variety of options including pork chops and fish, and the occasional community gathering on the weekend.
There’s no fancy décor, but the home fries, mac and cheese, and collard greens are nearby if you want to eat some comfort food in wing, rib, or yam form and then come in for seconds.
California Pizza and Wings 2
$ | (410) 387-1199 | WEBSITE
California Pizza and Wings 2 looks like your average takeout spot, what with a straightforward counter and a menu board that gets a little blurry around midnight. But along with consistently hot food and friendly staff, California Pizza and Wings 2 offers a few delicious options besides just grabbing a $12 pizza. They also have one of our favorite buffalo wings and a New Yorker pizza that’s great for a satisfying meal with friends before or after a late-night craving.
Kislings Tavern
$$ | (410) 327-5477 | WEBSITE
If extraterrestrials landed in Baltimore and needed to replicate a neighborhood tavern to beam across the cosmos, we’d nominate Kislings on Fleet Street. You’re not heading to this cozy spot for the most refined French onion soup in town. You’re heading here when the Ravens lose a heartbreaker or after slogging through rush hour on I-95.
The bar and wooden booths will be packed with regulars who’ve claimed their stools since the Orioles last won the pennant, or maybe a group of friends who searched “best wings in Baltimore.” Bring an appetite and order a plate of their famous, crispy buffalo wings—perfectly sauced and utterly satisfying.
One Plus One Carry Out
$ | (410) 523-2115 | WEBSITE
When you walk into One Plus One Carry Out on a busy afternoon, you’ll quickly realize that you’ll need to be patient to get your order. That’s because the popular carry-out spot is one of the most crowded places to grab food in the neighborhood. It’s one of those reliable joints where you’ll see regular customers chatting with the friendly staff, people picking up orders for their offices, and others who’ve been coming here for years.
When it comes to food, go for an order of their consistent chicken wings, try the breakfast if you’re feeling adventurous, and briefly consider grabbing extra for later while you wait in line.
Grandma CC’s Wings Fish And Grill
$ | (410) 488-2120 | WEBSITE
Grandma CC’s is exactly what it sounds like: a cozy spot where everyone knows each other’s orders and the catfish platter is $14. In a lot of ways, it’s similar to other Baltimore comfort food joints—fresh green beans, loud praise for the mac and cheese, and a laidback place to grab a family meal with an old friend (or make a new one). The East Baltimore gem is cash only, and there’s no ATM inside.
So show up with $30 in hand for a hearty lunch, order the cheesesteak egg rolls and fried chicken, and be shocked by the fact that you’ll get change.
Bella Roma Pizza
$ | (410) 576-0043 | WEBSITE
This reliable Baltimore pizza spot offers fast delivery and solid food, perfect for those ordering directly from the restaurant. While the NY pizza claim might be a stretch, it’s definitely edible and worth a try when you need something dependable. The veggie wrap, although not fully vegan due to a cheese sauce, is still tasty and can be customized upon request—ideal for a quick $8 lunch that hits the spot.
While some find the sauce and cheese generic, it’s still better than other chain pizzas, making it a go-to for a straightforward meal without any fuss.
Chicago Pizza & Grill
$ | (410) 566-5200 | WEBSITE
Chicago Pizza & Grill in Baltimore is part of a thriving breed of no-frills spots where you’ll see pizza boxes stacked by the door, smell garlic in the air, and overhear conversations about which topping combo reigns supreme. This place is famous for its chicken wings, which is why you’ll see a dedicated wing master tossing crispy drums and flats in buffalo sauce like it’s some kind of sacred ritual. Order a dozen—they’re spicy and satisfying—and count the pizza slices on display.
We lost track at 28.
Kohinoor
$ | (410) 464-9600 | WEBSITE
In many respects, Kohinoor in Baltimore resembles other hole-in-the-wall spots around town: the portions are always generous—they just keep coming until you’re stuffed. You’ll taste spices you haven’t encountered in years, and there’s always a mango lassi on the menu (it’s perfectly sweet and creamy). But unlike the others, this place serves Indian fusion pizza—and it’s an absolute flavor explosion from the first bite.
So if you’re up for triple x spicy lamb curry and an overdressed saag paneer (we’re talking rich paneer cubes and vibrant spinach), this is the only joint in the city to get it.
