foodswings

A chicken wings stall at this year’s Karachi Eat had us curious from the get-go as chicken wings, particularly the classic Buffalo version, are undoubtedly a paragon of American fast food for the multi-cultural foodie generation. However, to find out that the stall was merely a teaser to an entire haven dedicated to this fingerlickin’ staple, chicken lovers felt like their prayers had finally been answered. And so when Wingitt popped up in a quiet corner of Bukhari commercial, a hotbed for new food entrepreneurs these days, a visit was a must!

The interior of this rather small outlet means business. It’s purpose is not to entice you with the aesthetic of heavy wood tables and bare-brick walls, but to serve practical food in an economical way hence, we just have a couple of squeaky clean, no-fuss man-made tables and chairs to make do with. The menu, too, thankfully isn’t a lengthy list of fried chicken dishes as an excuse to add variety. But of course, it does come with a handful of options for add-ons and sidelines, precisely four, to meet the needs of those who don’t feel that wings suffice as a meal. Melt-in-your mouth mozzarella sticks are perfect for a cheese fix but are a tad bit on the salty side. No worries though, the sweet, tangy sauce accompanying them pretty much takes care of that. At the risk of committing French-fries blasphemy, their fries, though thick, top McDonalds’ crispy, fat-laden delights without a doubt (hold on to the gasps! it’s true).

The real shining stars, however, are the wings that come in all shapes and sizes and a diverse set of flavours. We tried five of the types available. The hot and crispy Buffalo wings - juicy, thick-skinned, greaseless and gloriously crunchy - were a particular pleasure followed by the perfectly sweetened and intense Barbecue wings. The Spicy Garlic wings have an admirable complexity to their flavour but are more suited for those who can’t take the heat - we prefer otherwise. Sweet Thai Chilli wings fall in the least favourite category. There isn’t enough heat in them to balance the sweetness of the sauce. These should be your last option. And finally, Hot Pepper need to come with a warning sign - your tongue is going to start blazing fire and eyes dropping tears like they just got rubbed with onions. They have an unsettling peppery kick to them. All chicken is succulent and made with tender loving care.

There is only one dessert option and that’s fine because one doesn’t need anything better than what is offered. The cookie cake is as simple as the name gets. It’s Nutella chocolate cookie made in form of a cake. Just the right amount of chewy with sumptuous bits of chocolate and a layer of Nutella smack in the middle, it offers a divine ending to the whole sinful experience. Calorie counts can go take a hike, this is the real deal, but we suggest to have it warmed before indulging.

And that’s it. Wingitt is good stuff and good value for the money. A filling 8 pieces with meal add-ons cost you about PKR 600 and it’s a meal you can easily share. You’re not paying for the frills and they aren’t offering any either - just plain, fabulous, soul-satisfying chicken that leaves a tasty lingering flavor in your mouth.

Final note: Move over burgers, it’s time for wings to take flight.