Buffalo wings were first served at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo in 1964.
The widely repeated origin story says that co-owner Teressa Bellissimo deep-fried chicken wings and coated them with a hot sauce and butter mixture. The dish was served at the Anchor Bar, helping establish the preparation now known internationally as Buffalo wings.
The exact circumstances of the invention have been debated, including who requested the wings and why they were cooked that way. Despite those variations, 1964 and the Anchor Bar remain the standard historical reference associated with the dish.
Buffalo wings are not named after the animal. “Buffalo” refers to Buffalo, New York. They are also distinct from general hot chicken wings: the classic style is usually tossed in a cayenne-pepper hot sauce mixture and served with celery and a cooling dip.