Overview
If you've ever been stateside and tasted real buffalo wings, you've probably gone out of your way to find something similar upon your return to Melbourne. However, finding a restaurant or bar that gets all the flavours exactly on point has proved a difficult task for many wing lovers.
Unless you know where to go. Lucky for us, a few Melbourne eateries go above and beyond to prove they make the greatest buffalo wings this side of upstate New York. We've picked out five of the best in the city, which thankfully means you won't need to fly out to the US to feast on them once again — enough for a tram fare will be enough.
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Prahran is a world away from the west coast of America, but The Silverlake Social helps bring a touch of the States to our streets. Named after the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Silver Lake and fitted out to look the part, you’ll be sucked in by the American soundtrack and its wealth of awesome craft beer. However, the buffalo wings are also first-rate, coming marinated in a blend of cayenne pepper and topped with traditional blue cheese sauce ($14). There’s also a sizeable list of tasty beers and cocktails to choose from, however, The Silverlake Social highlights the slight citrus flavour offered by a bottle of Blue Moon Belgian White Ale as the ideal pairing to their wings.
Image: Griffin Simm.
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When it comes to experiencing the glory of American and Canadian bar food, The Kodiak Club almost always comes out on top. Founded in 2010, it’s become a hallmark of Brunswick Street, offering regulars a tight-knit community vibe that’s always open to newcomers. It’s also apparent that The Kodiak Club’s awesome reputation has been built on serving top-notch free-range buffalo wings, which come slathered in either American hot sauce or smokey barbecue. At $12 for six wings or $22 for a full dozen, for an extra buck you can choose another deliriously good sauce, including blue cheese, ranch, chipotle or an in-house secret burger sauce.
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You might already know Father’s Office as one of the go-to places for a knock-off drink in the CBD, but the prohibition-inspired speakeasy also serves up some special buffalo wings. The ‘famous’ chicken wings are indeed a popular option with a six- ($8) or 12-piece ($15) offering coming complete with your choice of buffalo, southern fried or Jack Daniels barbecue sauce. If you choose Father’s Office as your spot for a wing-fest, head down on Wednesday night from 5–9pm for an all-you-can-eat situation. For $22, all you can eat wings (along with a schooner or wine) sounds like a pretty good deal to us.
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With a name like Fried and Tasty (F. A. T.), you probably already have a good idea about what you’re getting yourself into. While the menu is rife with American favourites — like fried chicken burgers and chicken-topped buttermilk waffles — when you’re looking to add a few extra calories to your life, the buffalo wings simply can’t be ignored. They’re served hot, crispy and topped with chopped pickle. There are a host of sauces to choose from, including spicy hot sauce mayo, house-made barbecue and sweet peach and cayenne hot sauce.
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A German-style beerhall isn’t where you’d expect to find good buffalo wings, but, hey, nothing is sacred. Munich Brauhaus — that big beerhall at South Wharf owned by the Rockpool Dining Group — serves up half a kilo of wings slathered in a moderately spicy buffalo sauce for $19. You’ll have to get your hands dirty — all wings comes with blue cheese dipping sauce, as well as celery and carrot sticks to balance it all out. Get there between 4–7pm any day of the week and all wings are just one buck.