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đŸ”„ Denver Wing Watch: The Crowd Is Getting LOUD

3/9/2026 ‱ What's Happenin' Team ‱ Denver
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Denver Wing Lovers
 This List Is Getting Serious

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Happy Wednesday, Denver ! 💖

Our “best wings” question turned into a full-on citywide debate (and honestly, we love to see it). We’re pulling together the Top Wing Spots in the Denver area—and we’ll be visiting them to report back with our honest takes. Ready to help crown the champ? 👑🍗

Looking for more things to do in Denver? Dive into Things to Do in Colorado, Kid-Friendly Hikes, or discover our favorite Colorado Day Trips.

🍗 The Wing Shortlist (So Far) — By Neighborhood

🍗 The Wing Shortlist (So Far) — By Neighborhood

The Piper Inn

Downtown / RiNo / Five Points-ish

South Denver / SoBo Adjacent

  • The Piper Inn (Iliff & Parker area) — the loudest specific order: Chinese Style wings (multiple people swore by them).

  • Vine Street Pub — “order them naked” was the move, with Buffalo + blue cheese crumbles on the side for maximum chaos (in a good way).

DTC / Southeast Metro

  • Peckish Pizza & Wings (DTC) — came up as a serious contender (and yes, we’re paying attention 👀).

  • Golden Flame (Parker) — multiple mentions, especially for those who want that straightforward wing-night energy.

Wheat Ridge / West Denver

  • Rolling Smoke BBQ (Wheat Ridge) — wings described as brined, smoked, fried, and dry-rubbed (translation: these are not messing around).

  • Colorado Hots (Wheat Ridge) — shoutout from folks who know wings and want them bigger + done right.

Arvada

  • CD’s Wings — one of the most repeated names on the entire list. Common order: extra crispy.

  • Resolute / Olde Town-adjacent honorable chatter — wings keep coming up as a go-to move in this zone.

Golden

  • King of Wings — consistently named as a top-tier contender (people were passionate).

  • The Rock Rest Lodge — multiple mentions, including love for full wings (not tiny “sad wing” portions).

Littleton / Columbine / Ken Caryl

  • West Hill Grill (Littleton/Columbine) — “crack wings” got repeated enough to raise eyebrows (and our hunger level).

  • Walter’s 303 (Littleton) — called out as a must-try.

  • Lariat Lodge (Ken Caryl) — the specific hype: root beer hot sauce (we need to investigate immediately).

Morrison / Evergreen

  • Willy’s Wings (Morrison) — strong local love and multiple repeat votes.

  • Cactus Jack’s (Evergreen) — “hands down” endorsement energy.

Aurora

Bonus: Deals + Wildcards

  • Wing Slingers — multiple people called out specific flavors (notably Garlic Hot) and deals.

  • Outlaw Wings — praised for “crazy flavors.”

  • Sha-WING Food Truck — strong “authentic Buffalo-style” energy (you may have to chase the truck).

  • The Taco King 5280 — noted for $1 wings (value hunters, assemble).

Mile High Happenings

Wednesday, March 11

The Smithsonian Bison National Road Trip – Kirk Johnson & Gary Staab - Denver, CO - Mini Wrestling All * Stars @ Viewhouse Ballpark, denver | 7:00 PM | Ticketed
Jim Breuer: Find The Funny - Ophelia's, denver | 8:00 PM | Ticketed
Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls - The Oriental Theater, denver | 8:00 PM | Ticketed

Thursday, March 12

Drag Queen Bingo Roper Romp - Clocktower on 16th Street Mall, denver | 6:00 PM | Ticketed

Want more? See the full calendar → Denver Event Calendar

Real Talk ☕

What’s Happenin’ is 100% free and independently run (yep, it’s just us). If this newsletter helps you discover cool things around town, your support helps keep it going and growing. We truly appreciate any and all love. Thank you for being part of the community.

👉 Contribute to What’s Happenin’

đŸ’Œ Local Jobs Worth Checking Out

You asked for it — we delivered. In our recent poll, a big chunk of you said you want a small job board in the newsletter, so here it is! We believe great communities connect people to great opportunities. Here are a few roles submitted by readers and local businesses:

💘 Date Spot in Denver

Denver makes dating easy—in the best way. Think sunset walks in LoHi, artsy wandering in RiNo Art District, garden strolls at Denver Botanic Gardens, or drinks and people-watching at Union Station. Casual, cozy, or a little romantic—Denver’s got a spot for it.

👉 Vote and we’ll share the top picks—chosen by locals—in an upcoming issue. 💌

đŸœ Not sure where to eat tonight?

Our Restaurant Finder takes the guesswork out of dining by showing you the best local restaurants based on real reviews and vibes, not just ratings. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a date-night spot, we’ve got you. No endless scrolling, no decision fatigue...just solid recs.

🧠 Need a brain break?

Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.

🗳Denver’s Best Pastries đŸ„

We’re opening voting for the bakeries and cafĂ©s turning butter and flour into magic. Croissants, cookies, cakes, Danishes — the ones worth crossing neighborhoods for.

👉 Vote for your favorite pastry spot and help crown Denver’s best.

See You Friday

Denver’s wing game keeps getting better every year. Until then
 keep the recommendations coming. And yes—we’re absolutely taking “extra crispy” very seriously. đŸ—đŸ”„

💬 Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Denver even better?

I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply — I read every message and always respond when I can.

We’ll be back Friday!

— Ben

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