Buffalo wings don’t have to be delivered by tiny orange shorts. That is, unless you want to head to the Jantzen Beach Hooters. After traveling that far, your best bet would be to get a room in the Red Lion Hotel and contemplate how you took too many wrong turns (in life) for subpar wings and close proximity to Washington. Stick to these seven spots in Portland for killer Buffalo wings. After all, it is that time of the year.

County Cork Public House (1329 NE Fremont St. 503-284-480)
If the atmosphere at County doesn’t do it for you, then the wings surely will. The wings here are tossed in Frank’s Hot Sauce and served with the usual celery and carrots. It’s the side of housemade blue cheese though, that seals the deal ($7.75).

George’s Corner Sports Bar (5501 N Interstate Ave.; 503- 289-0307)
Request that the cook “drown” them to get classic-style Buffalo wings. These addicting little gems have the perfect amount of crisp just under the sauce and that's because they are fried fresh to order. Their street name is "crack." A work of art (addiction) takes time, and these babies take a hot minute (sometimes 30). Eat a cheap cheeseburger and save the best for last ($10).

Nepo42 (5403 NE 42nd Ave.; 503-388-8080)
Smoked and then fried, these wings are then tossed in Nepo42’s special homemade sauce. Go for wings during happy hour, when the wings are discounted to $5, normally $6. Those dollars add up after multiple orders...

Hungry Tiger (207 SE 12th Ave.; 503-238-4321)
Wings or Vings (vegan and made from Ota Tofu located on SE Stark St.) are fried and then tossed in buffalo sauce for $6.50.

Hopworks BikeBar or Hopworks Urban Brewery (3947 N. Williams Ave.; 503-287-6258 or 2944 SE Powell Ave.; 503-232-4677)
Order them by their given name: Warrior Wings. Draper Valley cage-free chicken wings are hand tossed in one of three sauces: Chipotle Pepper, Spicy Buffalo or Velvet ESBBQ sauce. Served on a bed of wedge-cut fries (of course they’re organic, this is Hopworks we’re talking about) and a side of Rogue Creamery blue cheese dressing ($8.75).

Breakside Brewery (820 NE Dekum St.; 503-719-6475)
Breakside’s own Buffalo IPA sauce that coats the jumbo fried wings is so good that you may need to order the Bavarian Pretzel to mop up your excess sauce. On that note, order a side? Chipotle Tamarind BBQ sauce is also available with a side of smoky blue cheese dressing ($8). During happy hour, score six wings for $4.

Fire on the Mountain (three locations)
FOTM undeniably has to make the list, as the brewery and wing spot is often referred to as our local Buffalo Wild Wings alternative. Kid-friendly and sauce laden, FOTM is always creating new flavor combinations. Spicy peanut, raspberry Habanero and Jamaican jerk are just a few of the sauces that keep bringing Portlanders back ($5.95).

Photo by Danya Henninger