Mi Linh (9737 Manchester Road, Rock Hill; 314-918-8868)
As we recently discovered, the butter-garlic chicken wings at Mi Linh's are no ordinary wings. Served up with green and white onions, these mouthwatering meaty morsels were brought to life by Nelson Tran, who studied under an old Chinese "wok master" in New York City. Nelson's wings emerged after experimenting on his own with the garlic and onion flavors found in traditional Vietnamese cooking, plus a more modern flair infused into in the unique breading that is wonderfully crunchy with peppery spice.
See also: - Mi Linh: The Tran family raises the bar for Vietnamese cuisine
Kirkwood Station Brewing Company (105 East Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood; 314-966-2739)
Kirkwood Station is a brewpub, so of course you've come for the beer, but the wings might be the best reason to come back. We're talking plump, juicy wings here, people. You can choose one of three sauces to coat the crisp wings: traditional buffalo, sweet and tangy, or chipotle barbecue. But if you had to choose just one, we say go with the traditional -- a thick, creamy concoction with a brilliant orange color and plenty of flavor.
O! Wing Plus (10094 Page Avenue, Overland; 314-395-0180)
Turns out that bringing a Korean influence to chicken wings is a pretty great idea. O! Wing Plus offers sauces that are extremely flavorful but add perceptible heat as well. The "Beast Mode" is the hottest sauce on the menu, and it is not for the light-hearted. "Hot Mama!" is a step down -- a bit tamer, with a honey note, while "O's Original" brings together the sweetness of brown sugar with soy sauce for a remarkably pleasant combination.
See also: - Best Chicken Wings - 2011
Southtown Pub (3707 South Kingshighway; 314-832-9009)
Southtown Pub is a friendly south-city hangout with plenty of character. (A sign behind the bar declares, "We don't serve women here. You'll have to bring your own." That's rich!) But what separates Southtown is its secret weapon: a smoker, which means the wings you're wanting oh so badly will be delicious. The wings come jumbo-sized and are therefore ridiculously plump and meaty. The breading is a deep, deep brown and wonderfully crisp, with the barbecue flavor of char and smoke. The meat is tenderized and spiced perfectly with a dry rub that packs heat. Southtown prices its wings by the piece, at 90 cents a pop -- yes, you're going to be eating a helluva lot of wings.
See also: - Best Chicken Wings - 2012
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