In which city were Buffalo wings invented?

Buffalo wings were invented in Buffalo, New York. The dish is named for the city, not for the American bison, and its name became shorthand for chicken wings tossed in a buttery, vinegar-based cayenne-pepper sauce.

The most widely circulated origin story places the invention at the Anchor Bar on March 4, 1964. Teressa Bellissimo is credited with deep-frying chicken wings and coating them in a spicy sauce for hungry customers. At the time, wings were inexpensive and were often discarded, used for stock, or reserved for soup.

The exact invention story is debated, and Buffalo’s John Young also deserves recognition for popularizing seasoned chicken wings in the city before the Anchor Bar’s claim. Still, Buffalo, New York, is the accepted birthplace of the Buffalo-style wing. Traditional servings usually include celery and blue-cheese dressing.