Southern Living names best wings in the South — and a Charlotte favorite made the list

Moosehead Grill in Charlotte has earned national recognition for its blackened wings, joining an elite list of the South’s top wing spots.

Southern Living just released its definitive guide to the best wings in the South, and the Queen City is officially on the map. The list, compiled by food expert Matt Moore, features 20 iconic spots where the sauce, smoke, and crunch define regional tradition.

From Alabama’s white sauce to Georgia’s lemon pepper, the roundup explores how wings have become a culinary cornerstone of the South. Whether it’s a tailgate, a cookout, or even a wedding, these spots represent the pinnacle of wing culture across the region.

While the competition was fierce, one legendary Charlotte dive bar held its own against heavy hitters from Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. For local wing fans, the national recognition confirms what they have known for decades: Montford Drive is home to some of the best poultry in the country.

The Montford legend gets its due

Charlotte’s own Moosehead Grill was named one of the top spots in the South, specifically called out for its unique flavor profiles that stand out in a sea of standard Buffalo sauce. The magazine highlighted the bar’s famous blackened wings as well as the Bee Stings, which are dressed in a spicy-sweet combination of honey and habanero.

A local favorite with national street cred

This isn’t the first time Moosehead Grill has been celebrated for its wings. While Southern Living is giving them a national spotlight, CharlotteFive readers have been championing this Montford Drive spot for years.

In our 2022 Readers Choice Best Chicken wings, Moosehead Grill fought through a field of 16 competitors and tens of thousands of votes to be named the runner-up for the best wings in Charlotte. Loyal fans like Nick Connelly told us at the time that it’s the “only place in Charlotte” to get wings, specifically citing the “Uncle Donnie’s Famous Blackened Wings” as a must-order.

Other regional heavy hitters

If you’re planning a road trip to hit other spots on the list, there are plenty of winners within a short drive of the Queen City:

• Local Cue (Greenville, SC): Known for jumbo smoked wings and a mustard-based SC Gold BBQ sauce.
• The Local (Atlanta, GA): Famous for smoked wings with a “wet” combo of Buffalo and lemon pepper seasoning.
• Noble’s (Nashville, TN): A go-to for wings served in the traditional Nashville “hot chicken” style with homemade mud.

Are you team “Uncle Donnie” or team “Bee Sting”? With the national spotlight now on Moosehead Grill, you might want to head to Montford Drive early before the lines start to look like an Atlanta lemon-pepper joint on a Friday night.

Moosehead Grill

Location: 1807 Montford Dr, Charlotte, NC 28209

Editor’s note: This story was curated and summarized by AI based on recent reporting from CharlotteFive and Southern Living. Read more on our AI policy here.