Podcasts / Arch Eats / Which St. Louis restaurants have the best wings?

Which St. Louis restaurants have the best wings?

‘Arch Eats’ hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr dive into the best chicken wings in town, ranking their favorites and debating the ever-controversial boneless wing.

by SLM Staff February 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM May 19, 2026

Salt and Smoke: dry rub, buffalo trashed and sweet trashed wings. All cherry smoked.

Some like it hot… others it prefer mild, smoked, or even glazed in sweet chili sauce. In this episode of Arch Eats, hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr delve into the seemingly endless world of chicken wings and help you make sense of the city’s best offerings by breaking them down into categories and sharing their top picks. They’ll talk about the usual suspects, but they’ve also unearthed some surprises, including a popular Middle Eastern restaurant that boasts a cult following for its wings and an under-the-radar tea house that just might be the episode’s biggest surprise wing story. Tune in to hear if your go-to makes the cut—or maybe find a new, unexpected favorite.

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George: Boneless wings are not chicken wings. They’re tasty, but they’re wing impersonators. They’re wing wannabes.

Cheryl: They’re wings for the weak.

This episode is sponsored by BelGioioso Cheese and supported by Violet’s at The Train Shed. BelGioioso brings the taste of Italy right to your table with a wide range of artisan cheeses crafted with care and the finest ingredients. Discover the tradition, quality, and craftsmanship of BelGioioso Cheese, and find out where to buy it in St. Louis by visiting belgioioso.com.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Katie’s: 9568 Manchester, Rock Hill, 314-942-6555
EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery: 550 Chesterfield Center, Chesterfield, 636-532-0550
Beast Craft BBQ: 20 S Belt W, Belleville, 618-257-9000
Stellar Hog BBQ: 5623 Leona, Holly Hills, 314-481-8448
Big Chief Roadhouse: 17352 Manchester, Wildwood, 636-458-3200
Syberg’s: Multiple locations
Helen Fitzgerald’s: 3650 S Lindbergh, Sunset Hills, 314-984-0026
Three Kings Pub: Multiple locations
The Village Bar: 12247 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-821-4532
Westport Social: 910 W Port Plaza, Maryland Heights, 314-548-2876
Café Ganadara: 6413 Hampton, St. Louis Hills, 314-802-7044
Chiang Mai: 8158 Big Bend, Webster Groves, 314-961-8889
O! Wing Plus: 10094 Page, Overland, 314-395-0180
Sister Cities Cajun: 3550 S Broadway, Marine Villa, 314-405-0447
Billy G’s: Multiple locations
Fenton Bar & Grill: 701 Rudder, Fenton, 636-305-7041
Salt + Smoke: Multiple locations
Chuck’s Hot Chicken: Multiple locations
The Vine: 3171 S Grand, Tower Grove South, 314-776-0991
Gobble Stop Smokehouse: 1227 Castillon Arcade, Creve Coeur, 314-878-5586
BC’s Kitchen: 11 Meadow Cir, Lake St. Louis, 636-542-9090
Golden Wok: 15941 Manchester, Ellisville, 636-230-8966
Sum Tea House: 8501 Olive, University City, 314-222-1540
Baumann’s Fine Meats: 8829 Manchester, Brentwood, 314-968-3080

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About The Hosts

George Mahe

George Mahe has spent most of his life immersed in the restaurant industry, owning and operating establishments before delving into food journalism. He began reviewing restaurants for St. Louis Magazine 35 years ago under the pseudonym “Arnie Boye” (a tribute to his dog) and became the magazine’s first dining editor in 1992. His fair and balanced approach spawned a local restaurant consulting company, and further ventures in ownership. In 2006, he returned to SLM. George spearheads the magazine’s dining coverage, curates the weekly Dining Out newsletter, and co-hosts the Arch Eats podcast. George lives in University City with his wife, Suzi. Send your dining questions to [email protected].

Cheryl Baehr

Cheryl Baehr has been telling the story of the St. Louis dining scene since 2013, drawing upon her decades-plus experience in the industry and her passion for food and the people who make our city so delicious. A graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis and the University of Denver, Cheryl left a career in government in Washington, DC to return to her hometown to write about food, first as longtime dining critic for the Riverfront Times and now as a staff writer, co-host of the Arch Eats podcast, and editor of the Dining In newsletter at St. Louis Magazine. When she’s not celebrating the St. Louis food scene, you can find this proud Florissantonian and recent University City expat sipping on coffee at her home in Wildwood with her daughter, Coretta, her partner, Nick, her step-dog, Van, and her beloved Great Pyrenees, Chloe.