Mild. Hot. Honey Mustard. You can’t go wrong at this affordable Phenix City wing spot.
After a nearly yearlong search, I think I might have found my wing place in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Earlier this week was the first time I ate a chicken wing from Wing City in Phenix City. But it was not the first time that I smelled the establishment’s delicious hot sauce.
Tandra Smith, the Ledger-Enquirer’s breaking news reporter, has brought Wing City back to the office several times. As soon as she opens her container, the smells flood the office, and I become distracted and hungry.
Her experience and expertise are valued. So, Smith joined me and Ledger-Enquirer video extraordinaire Mike Haskey for this Foodie Friday journey.
As soon as Smith parked the car outside the restaurant, I could smell the hot wing sauce. We made our way inside a little after 1 p.m., and the line at the front register was long. We still got our food quickly.
Haskey ordered a 10-piece, bone-in combo with the wings crispy and tossed in a medium sauce. Smith ordered a 10-piece, bone-in combo tossed in their hot sauce. Once at the table, Smith sprinkled lemon pepper seasoning on her hot wings — a nod to the Atlanta area’s famed Lemon Pepper wet.
I ordered a 10-piece, bone-in combo. Five of my wings were tossed in hot sauce, and the other five were tossed in honey mustard. I also ordered a 4-piece Catfish plate. I wanted to test menu items that were not wings on the off chance someone wanders into the restaurant and decides wings won’t do it for them.
The meal was served in a foam container. My wings were separated by sauce and sat inside aluminum foil. The wings were medium-sized and a healthy mix of drums (one bone) and flats (two bones). I prefer them a little bit larger, but other Columbus establishments have served me much smaller wings that just made me angry and left me hungry. That wasn’t a problem here.
Wing City’s hot wing sauce starts spicy but finishes with sweet undertones. The taste builds gradually, and I was impressed. The wings were just a little wet — the perfect amount.
My fingers weren’t completely coated in sauce, but I did have to take a break or two to wipe them off. Picking up fries with sauced fingers is the best way to make sure no spicy goodness goes to waste.
The honey mustard wings were much wetter, but I have a soft spot for mustard-based wing sauces. I dipped those wings in a hot sauce that gave them a new spicy element that I enjoyed.
Wing City serves the fries in a small white bag separate from the wing container. Our best guess: it keeps the fries from getting soggy from the steam of the wings. The fries are covered in seasoned salt. You’ll eat the whole bag without realizing it, and they are best with ranch dressing.
The surprise of the meal was the catfish. The fish was hot, flaky and well-seasoned. I didn’t need any tartar sauce, and if I hadn’t been full, I would have eaten all four pieces.
Haskey and Smith spent about $9 each. I spent $17 on my wings and fish.
I left Wing City full and pleased. If you’re still looking for your wing place, head over to Wing City.
I only wish it was closer to my home.
If you go:
Wing City
2700 US Highway 80W, Phenix City
11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m., 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.