Score Hot Deals On National Chicken Wing Day
Your excuse to eat wings guilt-free arrives today, July 29, and restaurants nationwide are ready to feed your obsession.
National Chicken Wing Day started in Buffalo back in 1977 when the mayor made it official, noting that locals were already demolishing thousands of pounds of wings weekly. Fast forward to today, and Americans order more than 1.2 billion servings of wings annually—though that's actually down 1.5% from last year, according to research firm Circana.
The wing game has evolved since the 1960s. What started as buffalo sauce territory now includes everything from bourbon to mango habanero. Boneless wings joined the party in 2003 when Buffalo Wild Wings added them to menus, sparking endless debates about whether they're really wings at all.
Wing prices have crept up 2.4% over the past year, according to restaurant payment platform Toast. But plenty of spots are offering deals to take the sting out of your wing budget.
The Big Deals
Buffalo Wild Wings is going big with six free wings (traditional or boneless) when you spend $10 or more. Works for dine-in or online orders using code FREEWINGS. Their new permanent honey garlic sauce is fair game for the freebie.
Popeyes gives you options through August 3. Buy six bone-in wings in store, get six free. Rewards members score free spicy wings with any wings order online. DoorDash and Uber Eats users get BOGO on six-piece orders through August 4.
Wingstop promises five free wings with a qualifying chicken purchase using code FREEWINGS on July 29. The chain's also stirring up drama by filing for a "National Chicken Tender Day" trademark, even though competitor Raising Cane's already owns it.
More Places to Get Your Fix
7-Eleven hooks up loyalty members with multiple BOGOs on July 29. Buy eight boneless wings, get eight free. Buy five bone-in wings, get five free. Or buy two Red Bulls and score five free bone-in wings. Because apparently wings and energy drinks go together now.
Applebee's keeps it simple with online BOGO wings—bone-in or boneless—for takeout orders through their website or app. No third-party delivery apps allowed on this deal.
Beef 'O' Brady's uses math in your favor. Buy 10 wings, get five free. Buy 20, get 10 free. Buy 30, get 15 free. Blue cheese and celery cost extra because of course they do.
Quick Hits:
Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen: Five wings for $5 (use code BOLAYWINGS)
Bonchon: Five wings for $5, one per person
Buffalo's Cafe: 75-cent wings for dine-in and carry-out
City BBQ: Smoked wings starting at $8.99 for six
Dave & Buster's: 20 wings for $20 all day (in-store only)
The Greene Turtle: BOGO on 10-piece orders (dine-in only)
Hooters: Buy 10 wings, get 10 free any style (dine-in only)
Know Before You Go
Most deals are July 29 only, though Popeyes extends theirs through the weekend. Check if your location participates—not all do. Some deals work only for dine-in, others exclude third-party delivery apps. Read the fine print or call ahead to avoid disappointment.
Loyalty program members often get better deals or exclusive offers. If you're not signed up for your favorite wing spot's rewards program, do it before Tuesday.
The Wing Landscape
Wings have come a long way from bar food afterthought to menu star. The debate over flats versus drums continues. Boneless wing haters still refuse to acknowledge them as real wings. Ranch versus blue cheese remains a regional battlefield.
But on National Chicken Wing Day, none of that matters. What matters is getting your hands on as many discounted wings as possible. Whether you're team traditional buffalo, venture into ghost pepper territory, or stick with honey BBQ, Tuesday’s deals make it the perfect time to try something new or stock up on old favorites.
Local spots often run their own specials, so check social media for neighborhood wing joints. Sometimes the best deals come from places that don't make the national lists.
Stretch your stomach. National Chicken Wing Day only comes once a year, and with wing prices climbing, these deals won't last past Tuesday. Your move, wing lovers.