Editor’s note: July 29 is National Chicken Wing Day, so please enjoy this 2023 look at some of Ocala/Marion County’s top places for wings. As always, please check the restaurants’ social media pages for the latest on hours of operation, menu, prices, specials, etc.
Naked or dressed with sauce, drum or wing (known as a “flat”,) together or separated, chicken wings are available for almost any taste.
Here are five top places in this area to get a serving of wings. Most offer daily and weekend specials; check the restaurants’ websites for details.
Black Sheep on Broadway
128 SW Broadway St., Ocala; (352) 622-1207; Blacksheeponbroadwayocala.com
Advertised as a “cozy take on a Gastropub,” Black Sheep opened in 2019 and offers “Infamous Wings” with a choice of sauces: mild, Buffalo, hot, roasted garlic parmesan, sweet heat or the house “Sheep Sauce,” which is a sweet blend of bacon and bourbon, according to Meigan Sardinia, who is co-owner along with Amy Cannatella.
“All our chicken is fresh, not frozen, and we marinate the chicken overnight and bake it (before) frying,” Sardinia said.
Diners have called the wings “just right.”
Crunchies & Munchies
529 NE 36th Ave. and 8721 SE 58th Ave. (Baseline Road), Ocala; (352) 622-2963 (36th Avenue) and (352) 693-2742 (Baseline Road); Crunchiesandmunchiesinc.com
This outfit is family owned since 1984. Coleson Janey, overseeing operations recently, said the restaurant typically makes about 30,000 wings each week, with a mix of drums and flats.
Sauces range from mild to “thermal meltdown” and include flavors like garlic parmesan, lemon pepper and dry seasonings like mango habanero.
The crew, including Michael Scott , Melanie Lux and Devin Graham, kept the crispy wings coming on a recent day, pleasing customers like Alex Caraballo, who commented on the popularity of the eatery.
Sammy Toby praised the wings at Crunchies & Munchies as the “best wings ever” and “always on time” and never disappointing.
Dugout Family Sports Bar and Grill
6833 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala; (352) 680-0376; Thedugoutfamily.com
This sports bar offers mixed drums and flats or a choice. Wings can be ordered “naked” or dressed and fried or fried and grilled in amounts from six to 20. They are served with ranch or Bleu cheese. A host of familiar sauces like honey BBQ and teriyaki are available. MVP, a spicy blend, is the signature style.
Eatery manager Michelle Charron said the location has been open about 15 years. Customer Chris Hasselkus likes his wings blackened. “Best wings in the world,” he quipped as he ate a few at the sports bar recently.
Haeorum Korean Foods
3045 SE Third Ave.; (352) 622-1899
Wings here are served as a mix of drums and flats. The menu states: “Ain’t no shame in plain or go glaze-y with a tasty sweet and spicy house blend.”
The restaurant is operated by the Ahn family. Sophia Ahn said all wings are marinated and breaded and prepared and served as fried or the “Korean style,” which means covered with a glaze that contains red pepper and then a rub of scallions and sesame seeds is added. The restaurant has a five star Yelp rating.
Jax Snappers
2901 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala; (352) 421-9332; Jaxsnappersfishchicken.com
Wings are available in orders up to 50 pieces. Flavored offerings include Cajun Ranch, Sweet Tangy, Buffalo Sauce, BBQ Sauce and mild sauce. Boneless wings are also available.
Manager Dan Erbai explained the restaurant, which recently opened, offers wings “how you like them,” either flavored flats and drums or whole breaded wings.
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(This story was updated to include additional information)
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: July 29 is National Chicken Wing Day. Here are some top spots in Ocala and Marion County.
Reporting by Andy Fillmore / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
