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Simply beautiful.
Simply beautiful.

Duff’s Famous Wings may not be the original wings, but they sure do have a reputation. Nearly everyone from the area agrees that Duff’s has earned the distinction of best wings in Buffalo, and after trying out a couple other local wing spots, I felt it was my duty to make my way to Duff’s. There are a few locations around town, and I opted for the one on Orchard Park Road.

I knew I was going to get some classic hot sauce, but the menu was somewhat intimidating. There was a warning that “Medium is Hot! Medium Hot is Very Hot! Hot is Very Very Hot!” and as someone who likes it hot, I was confused. Because of this I went for 10 Medium Hot and 10 Spicy BBQ as a buffer flavor in case things got too rough.

Kinda scrawny, huh?
Kinda scrawny, huh?

It turned out my fears were somewhat unwarranted. Medium Hot was not as hot as billed, although it certainly had a bite. I could have handled a bit hotter, but most importantly the Medium Hot had great flavor. It was a delicious combination of spicy and buttery to go with well-fried wings. Yet, the chicken itself was a bit disappointing. These weren’t nearly as meaty as other wings I have had in the area and while the sauce was the best, I expected better from the meat.

Getting sauced up.
Getting sauced up.

As for the buffer wings, I liked the Spicy BBQ. The sauce also had a nice kick, but not as much as the Medium Hot. Somehow the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and the heat of the spice combined for a nice change from regular hot sauce. As with the other wings, the meat left a bit to be desired, but the sauce did its best to overcome that weakness.

In a battle of sauces, Duff’s is the clear winner of Western New York chicken wings so far. But in the battle of meats, I have to say Duff’s could stand to improve. After all, it has a reputation to uphold.