Cleveland, OHChicken Wings

Good Company is known for its 72-hour wings. They spend two days marinating in dry spices, are slow-braised on the third day, then are fried to order and tossed in a house sauce or a dry spice blend. The citrus jerk wings bring a bright, punchy twist, while the tavern-style wings keep things classic. This West 76th Street room has a sister location in Akron.

Boss ChickNBeer's wings take up to 24 hours to make, starting with 12 hours in a secret brine before they are seasoned, baked and flash-fried. They come out packed with seasoning, so the scratch-made sauces, from Ghostface Killah Ranch to Sweet Citrus BBQ, arrive on the side. The Right Wing Combo spreads three pounds of wings with fresh-cut fries and three sauces, and cauliflower wings are on the menu too. The Front Street shop in Berea is one of four locations.

Woodstock BBQ is known for its smoked meats and keeps its jumbo wings simple, with just three flavors. Each wing is seasoned with a special rub, smoked over cherry wood, flash-fried and dusted with another dash of seasoning. The original dry-rubbed one-pound jumbo wings are the classic that put the Madison Avenue smokehouse's wings on the map.

This friendly, no-frills Tremont pub has served Cleveland-style comfort food since 1906, along with inventive plates and decadent snacks like bacon-wrapped tots. Its peach-bourbon BBQ wings offer a sweet-and-smoky break from the usual Buffalo, with a bright, fruity finish.

Kim's Wings has built its menu around fried wings and a signature sauce, supported by seafood, sandwiches and soul food sides. The St Clair Avenue shop carries the operation's longstanding neighborhood identity, with a direct counter format suited to takeout or a casual meal.