Cánh gà chiên — Vietnamese fried chicken wings — are a sleeper hit on Vietnamese menus across NYC. Unlike Buffalo wings or Korean fried chicken, Vietnamese wings are marinated in fish sauce, garlic, and sugar before being fried to a shatteringly crisp finish. The result is a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and umami, with a deep caramelized flavor from the fish sauce. In New York City, the best Vietnamese wings are found at Chinatown noodle houses, Sunset Park delis, and East Village Vietnamese gastropubs. They're the ultimate drinking food — ideal for sharing with a cold beer.
Mắm top-pick
Mắm's "Madame's Chicken Wings" are legendary—the wings are marinated in a rich, sweet, salty, and umami-flavored garlic fish sauce. The wings are deep-fried until crispy, then coated in the sauce, clinging tightly to each wing. Plenty of garlic is added, and the fish sauce creates a rich, savory flavor that will leave you wanting more. The dish is served with pickled vegetables to balance the richness. At $18, they're not cheap, but they're one of the best chicken wings in the city.
Phở Bằng best-value
Pho Bang's chicken wings are a classic Chinatown dish—crispy and coated in a simple fish sauce and garlic dressing, delivering a pure, unadulterated umami flavor. The wings are meaty, the skin is crispy, and the seasoning penetrates deep into the bone. The price is reasonable (around $10-12), and the lively atmosphere of the eatery on Mott Street enhances the experience. It's the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of pho.
Thanh Da hidden-gem
Thanh Da's fish sauce chicken wings are a favorite at Sunset Park — crispy, sticky, and full of flavor. The wings are double-fried for maximum crispiness, then coated in a homemade fish sauce with a perfect balance of sweet and salty. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the simple ambiance allows you to focus on the food. This is the type of chicken wings you'll order for the whole table while choosing your main course.
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