Anchor Bar

"In 1964, a bartender at the now-famous Anchor Bar threw together a creative dish for some friends with the munchies. Using chicken wings that were typically discarded for stock, he deep-fried them and tossed them in a secret sauce made of cayenne, vinegar, and butter. The wings were an instant hit and became a Buffalo legend, rippling into every bar and pizzeria in the city. Legends deserve respect, and Anchor Bar is undeniably an institution in Buffalo. While its reputation has been diluted by national expansion—and many locals might tell you to skip it, and go to these spots instead—there’s still value in visiting the original location to see where it all began. The wings here lean vinegary and may lack some juiciness, but hey, you’re here for the history and the vibes. Skip the rest of the menu (no need for spaghetti and meatballs) and stick to what you came for: wings and a cold beer. And if you can, avoid the airport location entirely. photo credit: James Pici photo credit: James Pici photo credit: James Pici" - David Neimanis

"In Buffalo, New York, in the 1960s, the Anchor Bar supposedly received a shipment of chicken wings— at that time practically given away as a throwaway cut. However, fried and served with hot sauce, they became a hit, and the city's name would forever be associated with buffalo wings, beloved in sports bars across America." - MICHELIN Guide Thailand

"No trip to Buffalo would be complete without a stop at Anchor Bar. Open since 1964, this is where Teressa Bellissimo served the city’s very first chicken wings. While the restaurant also offers a full menu of salads, sandwiches, and fish fries, you’re here for the wings, which come in mild, medium, hot, and barbecue varieties, plus a suicidal sauce for spice fiends. Good news if you’re craving them when you’re home—Anchor Bar has more than a dozen locations and even ships its wings country-wide."

"Boneless Chicken Wings at Anchor Bar: It caused some excitement when Buffalo’s famed Anchor Bar announced plans to open a branch on 57th Street. Anchor Bar, you see, is the place that claims to have invented the country’s foremost bar snack in 1964. I tried these wings in their hometown a few years back and found them superb. But when I visited our new branch, the food needed some work. The boneless wings — which were served because the restaurant ran out of the bone-in variety — were gooey and covered with thick breading. Real Buffalo wings are fried without breading. The steak fries were chalky, too." - Robert Sietsema

"Anchor Bar, a historic buffalo wing chain originally from Buffalo, New York, has opened a new location in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. The new venue features sports bar vibes with 150 seats, 20 big flat screen TVs, and memorabilia from the original restaurant. The menu highlights their famous buffalo wings available in various flavors and also includes classic sports bar appetizers and other dishes like spaghetti, strip steak, burgers, and pizza. This marks the 11th location for the company, which has expanded across the U.S. and Canada, driven by its buffalo wing origin story." - Serena Dai