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Milwaukee and its surrounding suburbs have no shortage of bars and restaurants with top-notch buffalo wings. Whether you tend towards TomKen’s, stan Steny’s, prefer Points East, or love any number of other places I’m probably not mentioning here as a personal affront to you and everything you stand for, you need not travel far in metro Milwaukee if you’re in search of wonderful wings.

Without making any bold declarations regarding “the best” local rendition of something as versatile and opinion-inspiring as chicken wings, I can confidently say one Milwaukee neighborhood that was already the longtime home of one of the city’s favorite poultry preparations has recently become an absolute wing destination with an abundance of offerings to suit all tastes. Yes, Bay View is currently home to four of my favorite wing spots in Milwaukee. Again, I’m a whole-ass different person than you are, so you might like other places and that’s fine. That being said, here are four places I think are seriously bolstering Bay View’s wing reputation right now—including two relative newcomers.

Club Garibaldi

Even if this list wasn’t organized alphabetically, I would start it with Club Garibaldi (2501 S. Superior St., 414-483-6335). Above all else, the long-running bar and venue is renowned for its wings, which are pre-sauced and marinated, then grilled by a bartender in the modest kitchen setup located behind the bar. There’s one type of sauce and one spice level. Why mess with perfection?

They’re $7 for five, $13 for 10, and $18 for 15 wings, with wing-related specials offered on Wednesdays and Sundays. Disagree if you’d like, but they’re my favorite wings in Milwaukee and a must-have for visiting family and friends. Sure, they occasionally ran a little small coming out of the pandemic, but we’re here to say Garibaldi’s wings are back and as good as ever. And before you take to Yelp to cry about it, please note that Garibaldi does NOT offer to-go orders. You’ve officially been warned.

Doh’p Wood-Fired Fare

Next up is the newest wing purveyor in the neighborhood (okay, it’s technically a few steps into Fernwood, but who’s keeping track?). Doh’p Wood-Fired Fare (2509 E. Oklahoma Ave.) might present as a pizza place at first glance, but the new brick and mortar restaurant that opened last month—and its affiliated Hot Box Pizza MKE food truck—also makes exceptional wings unlike anything else you’ll have in the neighborhood.

The wings are dry-rubbed and smoked before being being deep-fried and coated in a buttery sauce. The final product is something that’s crunchy, smokey, and semi-sweet (in a surprising-yet-good way) on the outside and juicy on the insider. For $20, Doh’p will give you 1.5 pounds of plump chicken, which is good for about a dozen wings depending on their size. Whether you’re getting them in-store or off the Hot Box truck at Zócalo, this well-liked pizza place just might make some of your favorite chicken wings, too.

Todd I Believe I Can Fry

I raved about Todd I Believe I Can Fry (2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Unit A1) shortly after it opened in early 2024, and it seems as if things have only continued to improve at the tiny takeout spot—excluding a few interior seats and outdoor tables—that’s situated behind Room Service. You’ll find a few fish-focused options, fries, and a handful of curries on the menu, but chicken is the undisputed star here. The bird can be enjoyed in the form of chicken tenders, boneless (Karaage), or as bone-in wings. Every chicken varietal can be had topped in one of eight different sauces or generously dusted with one of six flavored powders.

Bone-in wings run $10 per half dozen, $14 for nine, $18 for a dozen, and $27 for 21. I recently returned to get a dozen, which allowed me the chance to have two sauces. The Tom Yum (pictured two photos up) is a dry sprinkling of zesty and slightly citrus-y seasoning atop an even split of flats and drumsticks—both of which were meaty and tender. It’s been a repeat order, and will continue to be one in subsequent visits. I then veered in the exact opposite direction with the other six wings, opting for the K-Spice sauce. They proved to be a very messy affair to eat, but worth every wet nap and handwashing trip on account of the delightful blend of heat, meat, and presentation accents. Todd also offers sauces and powders like Soy Garlic, Thai Sweet Chili, Mango Habanero, Thai Larb, Szechuan Spice, and more. Don’t let the name sway you…this place is the real deal.

The Vanguard

Last but certainly not least, we come to The Vanguard. If you find yourself saying, “Wait! Vanguard has wings?” Allow me to answer with a resounding “SOMETIMES!” Yes, the Bay View sausage purveyor serves up its should-be famous Smitty Wings—based on the beloved recipe from the now-closed Smitty’s Bar in South Buffalo—on Mondays only. Meaty and liberally coated in the distinctly buttery and spice-laden Smitty Sauce, the wings—an even mix of flats and drumsticks—run $14 for an order of 10 or $25 for 20. The rich, impossibly thick blue cheese dressing Vanguard makes in house adds even more depth to this already outstanding reason to look forward to Mondays.

Next time you have a hankering for great wings and you’re looking to break your poultry pattern, head to Bay View to try and (or all) of these places!