The Best Wings in San Diego

With a comfortable climate, extraordinary views, natural attractions and a thriving cultural scene, San Diego has become one of the country's finest and fastest-growing cities. Restaurants with the best wings in San Diego play an integral part of the city's cutting-edge vibe, mixing California styles and tastes with the distinctive cuisine of its diverse population. But where are the city's smartest, savviest diners heading out to when looking for the city's best wings? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. Here, we've gathered information from the city's most in-the-know diners to put together a list of the best wings in San Diego. From neighborhood favorites to experimental downtown spots, the best wings in San Diego offer an excellent meal for everyone. Grab a table and enjoy some wings tonight!

The OpenTable Team

16 Restaurants

Updated 02 December 2019

Restaurants:	Lionfish Restaurant at The Pendry Hotel, The Red Door, Tahona Bar…
Price Range:	$$ - $$
Cuisines:	Seafood, Italian, Mexican…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown / Gaslamp, Mission Hills, Old Town…

Lionfish Restaurant at The Pendry Hotel

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown / Gaslamp

4.6

1409 reviews

After strolling around San Diego's beloved Gaslamp section, pop into the Lionfish Restaurant at the Pendry Hotel for a cocktail and a bite to eat. This celebrated restaurant also features some of the best wings in San Diego. Stop in for some of the small plates and "fresh catch" coastal cuisine at this warm, engaging spot. Try some of the coal-grilled local yellowtail, pan-seared St. George scallops, or roasted ora king salmon. For a unique "hot plate" at Lionfish, try the duck confit tostadas with charred scallion and savoy cabbage.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

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The Red Door

$$$$

Italian

Mission Hills

4.8

2613 reviews

Right amid Mission Hills, The Red Door is one of San Diego's prime Italian spots. Stop in after a day strolling around the city to try some of the Red Door's cashew-crusted wings with red curry glaze and cilantro cream. A hearty "meat lover's macaroni" features bacon, Gruyere, fontina, and much more. Don't miss the hand-crafted pasta at the Red Door. Pappardelle features a slow-braised red wine meat ragu, and farm-to-fork cavatelli boasts tomato and fresh pecorino.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Tahona Bar

$$$$

Mexican

Old Town

4.5

463 reviews

"The Spirit of Agave" is the slogan at Tahona Bar, one of the finest Mezcal bars in Southern California. The restaurant's extensive selection of tequilas and spirits pair perfectly with their tamarind and pineapple wings. Stop in during the daily happy hour to try the wings at a special price, alongside specials on Mexican lagers and "slushee" cocktails. The signature cocktails are must-haves on the Tahona Bar menu. Try the Tahona margarita with house triple sec, Milagro tequila, and lime. The "diabolito" features Mezcal, butterfly tea, lime, and soda.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Barrio Star

$$$$

Mexican

Banker's Hill

4.5

1051 reviews

Barrio Star is a prime spot in the city for some of San Diego's best "Mexican Soul Food." It also features some of the best wings in San Diego. Start the trek to this upscale local favorite with some of the chipotle chicken wings, made with lime wing sauce, cotija cheese, and cotija ranch. For dinner or lunch, the menu's highlight is the Chile Relleno. This hearty dish includes a roasted Anaheim chile with either chicken or carnitas, stuffed with cheese and on top of Mexican rice pilaf. Stick around for dessert and try the coconut flan or the flourless chipotle chocolate cake.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Farmer's Table - Little Italy

$$$$

Farm-to-table

Little Italy

3.9

958 reviews

This "food to fork" restaurant boasts some of the best wings in San Diego. Farmer's Table emphasizes local ingredients and creative preparations on its eclectic menu. Start with the signature duck wings with spicy and sweet jalapeno tangerine sauce. Bison tartare with a sunny-side-up quail egg is another appetizer standout. For dinner, try one of the flatbreads fired on the restaurant's authentic Italian oven. Go for the roasted chicken flatbread, with fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic, pesto, and cherry tomato. Local ahi tuna comes pan-seared with Cajun spices, organic rainbow carrots, and broccolini.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

$$$$

Sushi

Oceanside

4.7

1142 reviews

This unique seafood restaurant in Oceanside is only a short walk away from the water and features some of the best wings in San Diego. The Wrench and Rodent is a creative, colorful restaurant that boasts "wings of the sea" on its menu. This dish features kama and Korean barbecue wing sauce. Don't miss some of the restaurant's other appetizer favorites, like crispy fish skin, spicy squid, or fish rib karrage. For dinner, try some of the Wrench and Rodent house rolls. Try the Del Mar with shrimp tempura and krab, or the "hedgehog" with seared yellowtail and roasted garlic.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Kairoa Brewing Company

$$$$

Brewery

University Heights

4.5

103 reviews

One of the more colorful restaurants in San Diego, the Kairoa Brewing Company is a fun and lively spot for great beer and great food. This restaurant takes its culinary and design inspirations from the styles and flavors of New Zealand. Start with the signature "chook wings," made with buffalo, lemon-garlic-cilantro, or salt and vinegar. Try the "eat like a Kiwi" version of the "Yanks burger," featuring a fried egg, tomato chutney, and marinated beets. A roasted turkey New Zealand pie includes yams, gravy, and cranberry sauce. For beers, go for one of the Alesmith pale ales or the Kairoa "Acid Fog" hazy double IPA.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Craft & Commerce

$$$$

American

Little Italy

4.6

926 reviews

For memorable decors and some of the best wings in San Diego, Craft & Commerce is the place to go. This classic spot on the heart of San Diego's West Beech Street has walls lined with taxidermy, ancient books, and other odds and ends. Start with the Korean barbecue chicken wings, with scallion ranch and cilantro. Look to the "wood-fired" menu for favorites like charred eggplant dip, bone marrow, and grilled octopus. One of the highlights of the entree menu? The chili-garlic half chicken, with ginger fried rice and an eel sauce glaze.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Gravity Heights

$$$$

American

Sorrento Mesa

4.7

971 reviews

Gravity Heights is a stylish location in Sorrento Heights with some of the best wings in San Diego. The "Munchies" menu is full of fascinating favorites. Try the Sichuan, blackened rub, or house-hot chicken wings or the "Mexican Street" roasted cauliflower with Cotija and lime. Wood-fired pizzas are another menu standout. For a spicy pie, go for the "Shrimp Diablo" with mozzarella and Calabrian chili. There's a daily happy hour from 3-6 in the restaurant, and Sundays showcase traditional and "KFC" (Korean fried chicken) favorites. Gravity boasts one of the city's best beer lists. Be sure to try the "Hoplimentary" IPA from San Diego favorite Pizza Port.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

LAVO Italian Restaurant - San Diego

$$$$

Italian

Downtown / Gaslamp

4.5

310 reviews

The downtown location of the San Diego favorite Searsucker restaurants boasts some of the best wings in the city. Searsucker is a cutting-edge, comfortable place for prime "New American" cuisine with a California twist. Try the chicken wings with house-made adobo and jalapenos or the chardonnay-braised artichoke hearts with spinach and olives. Head to the "ocean" menu to try the pan-roasted sea bass with summer succotash and pickled jalapeno. On the "farm" menu, try the braised lamb neck hummus, with tomatoes, pickled onions, and herbs.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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UNION Kitchen & Tap

$$$$

Contemporary American

Encinitas

4.6

941 reviews

Right off the South Coast Highway, the UNION Kitchen and Tap is a sun-splashed restaurant with plenty of pub favorites. Grab a seat at the bar or in the dining room with family and friends for a full menu of celebrated California-accented tavern staples. Start with the UNION dry-rubbed wings, made with smoked cherry barbecue, buffalo, or sriracha maple glaze. Head to the sea for some of the UNION standout entrees. Try the local rockfish and chips made with house Kennebec fries and baby kale slaw. Shrimp and grits includes andouille sausage, roasted tomato, and green onion.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Benihana - San Diego, CA

$$$$

Japanese

Mission Valley

4.3

5987 reviews

For a fun experience out dining, it doesn't get much better than one of the Benihana restaurants. The San Diego outpost of this national-favorite chain features plenty of lively fun at the table-side "Teppanyaki" grilling. Start with some of the restaurant's spicy diablo wings for an appetizer. Move on for the plates of traditional Japanese vegetables and eggs, cooked by always-entertaining chefs at Benihana. Pair the meal with a selection from the restaurant's fine sake and light lager menu.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

JRDN Restaurant

$$$$

Californian

Pacific Beach

4.6

2156 reviews

Only a few steps from the water in Mission Beach, JDRN presents visitors and locals some of the best of Californian cuisine in a light-filled, comfortable restaurant. JDRN also offers some of the best wings in San Diego. These jumbo wings feature garlic-ginger vinaigrette, green onions, Fresno chilies, peanuts, and buttermilk ranch. They're perfect as an appetizer or a meal. For those that are still hungry, stick around to try some of the seafood specialties on the JDRN menu. Alaskan halibut features melon gazpacho, stone fruit, and summer vegetable falafel. A local rockfish boasts coconut broth, charred asparagus, and salmon roe.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Mission Valley

$$$$

American

Mission Valley

4.4

21 reviews

Mission Valley boasts the San Diego-area outpost of this nationally-beloved chain. B.J.'s is a fun and colorful spot to enjoy some wings, some beers, and a sporting event on the television. Head in with a group of friends or some family to enjoy the traditional bone-in or boneless wings, or spice it up with the new "bacon jam" wings. There's also a full pizza menu at B.J.'s. Try the hearty "five meat" pie or the chicken bacon ranch pizza. Finish off the meal with one of B.J.'s sweet "pizookie" treats.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

King's Fish House - Mission Valley

$$$$

Seafood

Mission Valley

4.5

1861 reviews

A three-generations old hot spot for seafood in the Mission Valley, King's Fish House is one of the more celebrated restaurants in San Diego. Before diving into the seafood selections, stick on land with the restaurant's buffalo wings served in Frank's Hot Sauce with house-made blue cheese. Be sure to try one of the restaurant's California spiny lobster dishes or the sauteed Carlsbad mussels in fresh tomato broth with house marinara. For another house favorite, go for the California roll with Krab salad, cucumber, and avocado.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Blind Burro

$$$$

Mexican / Southwestern

Downtown / Gaslamp

4.4

629 reviews

The best of Baja Mexican cuisine comes to San Diego with the Blind Burro. A colorful restaurant in the Gaslamp District, the Blind Burro is a rustic and engaging spot for a meal with friends and family. Steps away from Petco Park, Blind Burro is also an excellent option for a meal before or after a Padres game. It also features some of the best wings in San Diego. Start with the Asada marinated jumbo wings with buffalo salsa verde and serrano ranch. For the main course, go for the restaurant's seafood enchiladas. These favorites mix in crab, shrimp, scallops, and more with candied jalapeno and roasted poblano cream.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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