It’s winter. It’s Super Bowl season. It’s Wing Fest time.
Atlantic City Wing Fest, which has become an annual tradition thanks to its amazing food and fun vibes, returns — Snow or Shine! – to the Golden Nugget on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Will it snow? Maybe! But we won’t let a little white powder get in the way of more than 1,200 people stuffing their faces with as many delicious wings as they can while simultaneously judging very carefully which restaurant is South Jersey’s ultimate Wing Warrior!
Atlantic City Wing Fest, which we think is in its seventh year or so — who’s counting? — is once again sold out! It will feature a capacity 22 of South Jersey’s best restaurants and pubs — beating last year’s record of 21 restaurants — offering the most creative and finger-licking wings and dipping sauces to go with awesome music, fun contests, awards, craft beer, cocktails and more!
If you were smart enough to get your tickets early — and after consecutive sellout after sellout, it’s your fault if you didn’t buy them early — you will not only be able to eat wings that range from the mild to hot to Asian- and Mexican-inspired to sweet to spicy and everything in between, but The Billy Walton Band, one of the most rocking cover bands in the tri-state area, returns for an encore performance after wowing the crowd in its debut last year!
Those who bought Early Admission Tickets get to arrive at noon, giving them a jump on those with General Admission tickets, who will be able to join the festivities at 1 p.m.
Golden Nugget will offer a stellar bar featuring specialty cocktails and craft beer, and there may even be a few retail vendors to kick things up a notch this year. And, if you were smart enough to pre-order, you can strut around wearing your limited-edition, Mike Bell-designed T-shirt with our KISS-like chicken breathing fire over Atlantic City. A few shirts may be available for purchase on the day of the event thanks to Imprint World of Egg Harbor City.
Please remember to support all 22 contestants vying for Wing Supremacy with wing orders for the Super Bowl. Pay particular attention to our 7 new entries this year: Angeloni’s Club Madrid, Byrdcage and Tony Boloney’s of Atlantic City, the legendary Pic-A-Lilli Inn in Shamong, Rhythm & Spirits Philadelphia, Hank Sauce in Sea Isle City and TacocaT Food Truck.
If you are attending, you can choose your favorite wing of the day since you will also serve as a judge. Attendees will receive a poker chip to vote for your fave. Just drop it in the token box at the restaurant’s wing booth, and they will be counted to see who wins the three Eaters Choice Awards. There are also several special Fat Boy Munch Club Awards by Journalist Ryan Loughlin and Wing Fest Founder, Organizer and Journalist Scott Cronick, and three judges (see sidebar) from the Philadelphia area will rate all of the wings in a blind-judging procedure that will determine the Top 3 Judges Choice Awards.
Sean Patrick, a stellar DJ and personality from 103.7-FM WMGM Rocks, will co-host the event with Cronick and Loughlin, and sponsors for 2024 include Visit Atlantic City, OceanFirst Bank, Paris Produce, Golden Nugget and WMGM Rocks!
Atlantic City Wing Fest will certainly be one for the culinary ages. Here are the record 22 wing contestants and their offerings so you can do a little homework before the big day.
279 Social Kitchen & Craft Bar (Formerly Romanelli’s Garden Café)
Last year, Owner Drew Huggard used Wing Fest as a coming out party for his new concept, 279 Social Kitchen & Craft Bar, formerly Romanelli’s. This year, the Galloway powerhouse is showing off wings that have been an absolute smash at this relatively new concept. Last year, 279 went classic. This year, they are thinking out of the box with their popular Sticky Root Beer Wings. Crispy fried wings are tossed in a root beer soda reduction that is the perfect amount of sweetness and slight heat. For those who love those wings, Huggard is taking it up a notch for Wing Fest, pairing them with a Sweet Vanilla Ice Cream Dipping Sauce — made with real vanilla ice cream — to create the ultimate root beer float fusion! They are as good as they sound. Trust me!
(279 Social Kitchen & Craft Bar is located at 279 S. New York Road, Galloway. Go to 279Social.com)
Angeloni’s Club Madrid
A newbie that is wowing the masses with their Italian food, craft cocktails and classy, creative atmosphere is Angeloni’s Club Madrid. They are pretty confident that their Wing Fest creation could end up a fixture on their already awesome menu. They are throwing down with their Triple B — Blueberry, Bourbon BBQ — Wings with Housemade Ranch. A savory barbecue sauce mixed with fresh blueberries and aged bourbon combined with a homemade creamy ranch shows these rookies know how to play ball.
(Angeloni’s Club Madrid is located at the corner of Arctic and Georgia avenues. Go to ClubMadridAc.com)
Bill’s Bar & Burger at Golden Nugget
Bill’s Bar & Burger always scores well thanks to its traditional approach. This year, they are taking their Traditional Buffalo Wings and adding a little sweetness for good measure. The result: BBQ Buffalo Wings that are sweet and savory and hit the spot. Dunk them in their homemade, straightforward Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce with blue cheese crumbles, mayo, sour cream and some seasonings and you have a perfect combination. Sometimes, a simple, old-school approach with just a little something sweet and tangy — is just what the Wing Doctor — and the judges — ordered.
(Bill’s is located inside Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina. Go to GoldenNugget.com)
Byrdcage
New to the event — and to Atlantic City — this year is Byrdcage, a fantastic bar and restaurant right near the Stockton campus that loves to have fun with its menu names and everything they do. Their submission — Muscle Swingers with Sweet & Tangy Sassy Sauce — certainly lives up to expectations. Golden, ultra-crispy chicken wings dredged in seasoned rice flour and fried to a delicate, shatter-crunch finish, these babies are tossed hot in house-made Sweet & Tangy Sassy Sauce — a bold balance of sticky sweetness, bright acidity and just enough sass to keep things interesting. Finished with a side of their rich, house-made blue cheese dressing, you are in store for the perfect cool, creamy contrast. Here’ a bonus: like all Byrdcage menu items, these are naturally gluten-free deliciousness!
(Byrdcage is located at 3426 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City. Go to ByrdcageAC.com.)
Careme’s Restaurant at the Academy of Culinary Arts
For the past three years, the Academy of Culinary Arts has been part of Wing Fest to show its students the food industry in a different way by introducing them to an event of this magnitude. It has proved so successful, it has become part of their annual curriculum, and the students really look forward to competing against each other to see whose wing and dipping sauce will represent the school at Wing Fest. So, for the fourth straight year, under the guidance of Academy Director Joe Sheridan, student teams once again competed in a wing-off, and this year’s entry will once again not disappoint! Students Jasmine Gonzalez-Alegria, Kenneth Valente and Kaden Boyd came up with Dulce Paralso Wings made with mango nectar, crushed pineapple, honey, ginger, garlic, hot sauce and a lot of other awesome seasonings for a culinary creation worth a taste. Things get even more interesting with their Cilantro Lime Crema dipping sauce that is creamy and zesty. Hopefully these wings will end up on Careme’s menu later in the semester if they win some awards!! While you are there, make sure you pick up some tickets for the Atlantic City Restaurant Gala, a great event that supports the Academy and will have a table in the lobby.
(Careme’s is located at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing. Go to Atlantic.edu/aca/Caremes)
Carmine’s at Tropicana
Returning after a stellar rookie performance is Carmine’s, one of the best Italian restaurants on the planet that offers handmade pastas, salads, meats and desserts at the Tropicana, as well as other locations including their landmark New York City destinations. Carmine’s best-kept secret is their Spicy Scarpariello Wings, some of the most tender and flavorful Italian-influenced wings that will bring a whole new dimension of flavors and expectations to Wing Fest. First off, the chicken is marinated for at least 24 hours in rosemary, oregano, sage, lemon, garlic and some other secret perfection before they are fried and tossed in a sauce featuring roasted garlic, shallots, white wine, rosemary, oregano and other Italian delights. And, if that wasn’t enough, you can dunk ’em in some of the chunkiest, creamy Homemade Fennel Blue Cheese this side of Sicily.
(Carmine’s is located inside The Quarter at the Tropicana Atlantic City. Go to CarminesNYC.com)
Chelsea Five at Tropicana
Only one of the 22 restaurants this year can say there are the Returning Champions, and that’s Chelsea Five at the Tropicana, which won First Place Judge’s Choice with their Honey Sriracha Wings. They would be absolutely foolish not to bring them back to defend their title, and that’s exactly what they are going to do. They are some of the best you will ever have and are exactly as they sound: A little sweet, a little spicy, the sauce is loaded with garlic, onion, chilis, cayenne and secret ingredients, and when you dip them into their homemade Smoked Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce, you will see why they wowed the judges and the entire Wing Fest crowd. Can we say Repeat?
(Chelsea Five is located at Tropicana Atlantic City. Go to Caesars.com)
Dos Caminos at Golden Nugget
Making their third appearance in honor of their upcoming third anniversary, Dos Caminos inside the Nugget will once again showcase its Mexican roots and creativeness, offering their awesome Hot Honey Citrus Wings made with ancho chile, taco seasoning, honey, brown sugar, molasses, hot sauce and even some orange juice to cover all of the bases. Dip them into some awesome blue cheese, and these Mexican-inspired wings will show why our countries are such great neighbors.
(Dos Caminos is located inside Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina. Go to GoldenNugget.com)
Gordon Ramsay Steak at Harrah’s Resort
When it comes to pedigree, there is no bigger name on the Wing Fest 2026 roster than Gordon Ramsay Steak. The most popular chef in the world really brings his A-list name to the event, but his team also brings one heck of a tasty and creative wing, as you would expect. Ramsay’s Atlantic City team is showing its diverse influences once again with their Mediterranean Wing with roasted red peppers, garlic, cumin, coriander, EVOO and sherry vinegar. They will certainly make Chef Ramsay super proud, and the Mediterranean Salsa with pickled cherries peppers, Kalamata olives, garlic, sundried tomatoes, onion, celery, capers and fresh herbs make Gordon Ramsay Steak one of the most out-of-the-box submissions this year.
(Gordon Ramsay Steak is located inside Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. Go to Caesars.com)
Hank Sauce
New to the scene is Hank Sauce, and it’s about time since we always loved their huge assortment of finely made hot sauces. Many years back, Hank’s bottled an original sauce for all attendees, and this year they are using Wing Fest to show off a bunch of them. So, what they are doing is offering Hank’s Baked Wings, which are rubbed with olive oil, various dried spices and then tossed in salted butter. You will be able to choose from a variety of their sauces to complement their moist, tender wings, but which one will they choose to wow the judges? The mystery awaits?!
(Hank Sauce is located at 8605 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City. Go to HankSauce.com)
Holy City Publick House
When Holy City Publick House from Gloucester City made its Wing Fest debut three years ago, they did so with a bang. The out of towners — for the second time Wing Fest has been in existence — came out of nowhere to win the 1st Place Judge’s Award along with some others. Since then, the boys from Gloucester have been winning more awards for their wings around the country, including more hardware from Wing Fest in subsequent years. Owner Richard Dolson is about as competitive as you can get, so he’s not messing around in 2026, hoping to reclaim the Wing Fest championship by bringing his award-winning Chiodi wings back … with a twist! The Chiodi Truffle Shuffle takes all of the great flavors of the Chiodi wing — hot sauce, garlic and parmesan with a smooth pure maple syrup finish — and adds a hint of truffle for ultimate wing perfection. Will Holy City reclaim their title? Not if the other 21 restaurants have anything to say about it!
(Holy City is located at 332 Jersey Ave., Gloucester City. Go to HolyCityPublickHouse.com)
Hooters at Tropicana
Perennial favorite and a Wing Warrior since Day 1 is Hooters of Atlantic City. Hooters’ awesome GM Ronnie Disalvo and his fantastic team always offer something different at every Wing Fest — along with some lovely ladies — whether it was their awesome chipotle honey style or last year’s show-stopping Garlic Habanero Dry Rub Wings. This year, Hooters will feature their Honey Thai Wing with Rockin Ranch, and it may very well be the best yet with touches of jalapeño for heat and flavor and the sweetness of pure honey for that perfect balance. Add some Rockin’ Ranch, and it could mean a match made in Hooters Heaven. Go check them out at the Trop for the full experience!
(Hooters is located inside the Tropicana Atlantic City. Go to NortheastHooters.com)
Il Porcellino Italian Market
The royal family of Wing Fest — the Hettmannspergers — have been part of the event since Day One. And consider Chef Bobby the Mayor of Heat. Last year, Il Porcellino made people run for the milk jug with his super hot wings, winning the Damn! Those Wings Are Hot! Trophy. So, just like you would expect from Bobby, he’s making them hotter with their Hellboy Hot Chicken Wings. First, the amazing Italian market and eatery will slow roast the wings to perfection before tossing them in a five-chili sauce made with Calabrian peppers, finger peppers, long hots, Supreme Peppers and other secret goodness. Then, instead of sensibly cooling them down with some blue cheese or something, Chef Bobby kicks the heat up to 11 with their Gorgonzola Cheese Dipping Sauce that is infused with super spicy pepper oil along with gorgonzola cheese, heavy mayo and sour cream. Ouch … with tons of flavor!
(Il Porcellino Italian Market is located in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center, 6701 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township. Go to Il-Porcellino.com)
King’s Pub
Entering their third year in the competition, the best bar on Tennessee Avenue — and possibly the entire city — King’s Pub — is back to do some major damage this year. Chef David Wong is super stoked about their Fire Glaze Wings tossed in a honey spice glaze with Cooper cheese drizzle and crispy sweet potato crumble. And he should be: That sounds creative and over the top! Loaded with flavor thanks to paprika, scallions, cumin, garlic, onions, chilis, honey and some specialty flour, these amazing creations are only made better when you dunk them in that cheesy sauce and then experience a crunch from the sweet potatoes. Super clever.
(King’s Pub is located at 229 S. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. Like King’s Pub on IG and Facebook.)
Michael Patrick’s Brasserie at Golden Nugget
When it comes to taking home some major hardware at Atlantic City Wing Fest, Michael Patrick’s Brasserie inside the Golden Nugget might be the biggest all-time winner overall. Michael Patrick’s is always a big winner when it comes to audience votes, and they will once again also keep things relatively traditional because if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Their Garlic Buffalo Wings will kick things up in the garlic department while also offering a little sweetness to the mix thanks to some fresh honey. Dip those puppies into the creative and awesome Lime Dijon Aioli with fresh thyme cumin, garlic, cayenne and honey, and you have another winning recipe for MP. They better build a bigger shelf!
(Michael Patrick’s is located inside Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina. Go to GoldenNugget.com)
Pic-A-Lilli Inn
When you talk about the best wings in New Jersey, the Pic-A-Lilli Inn in Shamong is right up there. Between you and me, the Pic is my favorite wing on the planet. That perfect mixture of sweet and just a touch of heat — I prefer the mild — are the dream wing for me. There’s something about sitting in that roadhouse bar and having a cold beer with a bunch of these wings that make life worth living. The Pic uses farm-raised, local young birds, and they serve the whole wing, so there’s no choosing from flat or drum because you get both — and they are attached! The Pic also has an amazing homemade blue cheese that ranks up there with the best of ’em. So, consider it a personal milestone that the Pic is finally at Wing Fest. Now, it’s up to you and the judges to agree.
(The Pic-A-Lilli Inn is located at 866 US 206 in Shamong. Go to PicALilli.com)
Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey
The supergroup of chefs reassemble at Wing Fest 2026 thanks to the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey, which places some of the greatest South Jersey chefs under one banner, kind of like if the Traveling Wilburys got together with aprons. The Professional Chefs Association features some of the best award-winning chefs that represent all restaurants in the area — including some talented retired chefs — generally donating their time to events to help raise money for charities and people in need. This time they are showing off their joint culinary skills to raise awareness for their group, as well as their big Chefs Gala coming up on Feb. 23 at Hard Rock. Chefs Larry Alexander, David Goldstein and the entire Association went to the lab and came out with Hot Honey Slap Ya Mama Wings, which is funny by name but serious as a heart attack with flavor thanks to secret seasonings, smoked paprika, Mike’s Hot Honey and more. Dip ’em in some Habanero Ranch Dipping Sauce and you will see how this chef supergroup rocks and rolls.
(For more information on the Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey and their anniversary gala, go to ACFPCASJ.com)
Rhythm & Spirits Philadelphia
It was a sad day when Rhythm & Spirits shut its doors in Atlantic City on Tennessee Avenue. But we can all be happy again as Creator Lee Sanchez has opened this fantastic concept in Philadelphia, right near City Hall. So, while it’s certainly worth the hour drive to the City of Brotherly Love for their creative cocktails and modern Italian menu, you can get a sample of what they are all about with their Handsome Devil Wings. Fermented, roasted and Smokey Jimmy Nardello Peppers with a whisper of habenero peppers, blended subtle sweetness of golden raisin and black garlic made these wings somewhat hot but not overwhelming … and scrumptious. Dip ’em in some Dill Pickle Buttermilk Ranch, and we’re talking legendary wings.
(Rhythm & Spirits is located at 1617 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia. Go to RhythmAndSpiritsPhilly.com)
South Jersey Smoke House
Last year, Dan and Sandy Greenberg — the awesome and nicest forces behind South Jersey Smoke House — learned how Wing Fest works. As rookies, they observed wisely and still delivered an awesome product. This year, they are shrugging off the sophomore slump and is ready to win this thing. They are taking this competitioашдуЖ…RhythmAndSpiritsPhilly.com very seriously. As expected, they are offering Smoky Wings, which are slow smoked to perfection and nicely and simply seasoned with a top-secret combination of sweet and savory spices. They will be accompanied with a Smoky Wing Dipping Sauce that will deliver Greenberg’s awesome knack for all things barbecue. Expect greatness.
(South Jersey Smoke House is located at 40 Boston Ave., Egg Harbor City, inside Hammerbacher. Go to SouthJerseySmokehouse.com)
TacocaT
When TacocaT was around the corner from me at The Exchange in Linwood and then right over the bridge in Margate, I was in Mexican food heaven regularly. Since taking things mobile as a food truck and catering operation, I have to wait for special events to satisfy my queso and other TacocaT cravings. So, I am thrilled that Mike and Randi Talley are showing off their awesome wings that have that South of the Border character. Their Meow-ch That’s Hot! Wings have a little bit of honey sweetness but pack a powerful heat punch, and their homemade Chipotle Blue Cheese sticks to their brand and is one of the best dipping sauces we have had the delight in sampling. These guys may scratch and claw their way to some hardware.
(To have the Tacocat truck at your next location for a special event or private party, learn more at TacocatSouthJersey.com)
Tony Boloney’s
One of the most exciting newcomers is no stranger to wowing the masses with their incredible menu that offers everything from pizza to mozzarella sticks and, of course, wings, and that’s Tony Boloney’s! Mad Scientist Michael Hauke went to the lab again and came out with ROME IS BURNING, which are Mad Mutz Roman Style Cacio Pepe fresh mozzarella–stuffed wings finished in a crunchy chili crouton crust glazed with Calabrian chili and classic Caesar flavors — anchovy, garlic, and roman umami heat. They shall be dipped in Nero Needs a Pepe Talk Ranch, which is Cacio e Pepe-style ranch that is cool and creamy with sharp cheese, cracked black pepper and savory depth to balance the heat. This is over-the-top insanity! What else did you expect from Tony Boloney’s.
(Tony Boloney’s is located at 300 Oriental Ave., Atlantic City. Go to TonyBoloneys.com)
YouYu Noodle Bar at Hard Rock
Last year was the first year for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and they went home with some major hardware thanks to their slammin’ wing from YouYu Noodle Bar. A joint collaboration from Hard Rock’s team, including YouYu Chef Eddie Fong and Kuro Chef Leslie Daniel, they wlll bring back their Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) wings with housemade Gochuchang Sauce. Judges — and attendees — raved last year about the crunchy, flavorful wings made with garlic, ginger, sesame, soy sauce and other Asian flavors. It’s the special and mysterious “Chicken Dust” — not a dipping sauce — from this Asian hot spot that puts them over the top.
(YouYu Noodle Bar is located inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Go to HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com)
