Who has the best leftover chicken wings in Cincinnati? We tested these 5 | Reheated Eats
Nothing says football season like a tasty chicken wing. But what happens when you order too many and the game is quicker than your appetite?
If you're like us, you likely put your wings in a box and take them home to eat later. And we recently did just that so we could test which restaurant in Cincinnati has the best reheated chicken wings.
As part of our Reheated Eats series, our five wing experts ordered food from Game On, The Hi-Mark, Knockback Nat's, The Pony and Buffalo Joe's Family Restaurant. We then kept them in our refrigerators overnight before reheating them in the office the next day. (Yes, we reheated them in the microwave instead of an oven or air fryer, because we've all been there, and it's always the easiest way to get food from fridge to face.)
Each taster rated each chicken wing out of five, with the final rankings reflecting each average rating.
See how they fared below, as well as some thoughts from the person who brought the specific kind of wings in. Be sure to watch our reactions on TikTok (@cincyenquirer), too.
T-fourth place: Game On
Restaurant address: 5880 Cheviot Road, Green Township.
Price: $15 for 10 wings.
Type of wing: Buffalo.
Notes: The wings had plenty of sauce when they came out fresh, but ordering extra sauce would have helped them hold up better overnight, as it dried up in the refrigerator. However, the side of ranch gave them some extra flavor.
Overall rating: 2.6/5.
Final thoughts: This was a solid reheated wing. The chicken was a little chewy, but that's to be expected when you put it in the fridge for 12-plus hours and then stick it into the microwave. The buffalo sauce was also tasty, but the wings could have used some more of it (that's my fault for not ordering extra). I normally get boneless wings from Game On, as well as one of its many non-traditional sauces (like Parmesan garlic, tropical habanero, Kentucky bourbon, etc.), but I wanted to make sure we had a classic wing to try. Game On's fresh boneless wings (and its food in general) are excellent, so don't let this low ranking deter you from going there to grab some grub during a Bengals game. And if you have leftovers, the reheated wings won't be too bad the next day. Just not as good as some of the others we tried. – David Wysong, trending news editor.
T-fourth place: The Pony
Restaurant address: 1346 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.
Price: $26 for 20 wings.
Type of wing: Medium and parmesan garlic.
Notes: I ordered two different flavors because I'm indecisive. The wings were lightly sauced and came with a side of green goddess ranch.
Overall rating: 2.6/5.
Final thoughts: While many of my colleagues enjoyed this wing, I did not. The key to a good wing lies in the sauce, and these wings had none. Even fresh, this dish was very dry. After 12 hours in the fridge and a minute in the microwave, the wings had lost any ounce of flavor they might've had the evening before. This is usually when ranch comes in to save the day. However, the green goddess sauce only made matters worse. If you're looking to grab a bite at The Pony, I suggest you skip the wings and order the beef on weck instead. – Haadiza Ogwude, trending news reporter.
Third place: The Hi-Mark
Restaurant address: 3229 Riverside Drive, East End.
Price: 6 for $11 or 12 for $21.
Type of wing: Nashville hot.
Notes: I like my wings crispy and Hi-Mark excels at them. The wings are a Goldilocks size – not too small and not questionably large – and come with enough sauce to impart flavor without making a mess of your shirt.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.
Final thoughts: My kids aren't into spicy foods and they love the Hi-Mark's lemon pepper wings. I like mine spicy, so I was a little disappointed with the lack of heat with the Nashville hot. But reheated, the wings kept their crisp and the meat was still tender. – Jackie Borchardt, news director for content.
Second place: Buffalo Joe's Family Restaurant
Restaurant address: 6130 Dixie Highway, Fairfield.
Price: I paid $31.09 for 24 of them. A STEAL! (Go on Tuesdays for 80-cent wing night.)
Type of wing: Hot garlic traditional wings, extra WETTT.
Notes: The wings might be on the smaller side, but that's OK, because it's all about the sauce at Buffalo Joe's. When you order them extra wet, they come out in a bowl with more sauce than you could ever dream of, looking like hot wing soup. Dipping your wing in said sauce between every bite is highly recommended by us, maybe less recommended by your doctor.
Overall rating: 3.9/5.
Final thoughts: The sauce won the other tasters over. Huzzah! That's all I wanted. I was so excited for this moment. Buffalo Joe's has been my go-to wing spot since I was a wee young lad, so it was great to feel vindicated after talking this up to my co-workers for years. Oh, and the extra sauce really helps when reheating as it keeps things moist and gives the wings that ... je ne sais quoi. I have a feeling my fellow tasters might make the trek out to Fairfield to try these puppies fresh. They called me "biased" for giving them a 5/5 rating, but these wings are my truth. Perhaps they can be yours, too. – Rasputin Todd, entertainment editor.
First place: Knockback Nat's
Restaurant address: 10 W. Seventh St., Downtown.
Price: I paid $17.75 for 12 wings.
Type of wing: Smoked.
Notes: I've always preferred smoked wings over saucy ones and the ones at Knockback Nat's are dry-rubbed, smoked, then grilled before serving. That said, I'll have to hand it to Rasputin: The extra wet versions he brought in from Buffalo Joe's almost changed my mind.
Overall rating: 4.6/5.
Final thoughts: First off, I think Knockback Nat's is hands-down the best sports bar in town. If you're ever looking to take an out-of-towner to a place that screams Cincinnati, this is it. The fact that they serve the city's best wings is just a bonus. The smoky flavor of these (very) meaty wings will remind you of a backyard barbecue. And that meat is far juicier and flavorful than any wing I've come across in Cincinnati or just about anywhere else. While the other judges loved the medium-heat buffalo sauce I brought along with me, I'm more partial to the bourbon pineapple, as its sweet, citrussy flavor provides the perfect counterbalance to the wings' powerful smokiness. – Keith Pandolfi, food and dining writer
Reheated Eats
This story is a part of our Reheated Eats series in which we see what restaurants have the best leftover food items in Cincinnati. Check out our past installments below.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: This restaurant has the best leftover chicken wings in Cincinnati
