Make your Super Bowl tradition go global with these ethnic chicken wings
Beer, football and wings will come together on Feb. 12 to celebrate the pseudo American holiday that is Super Bowl Sunday.
Lots of Central Jersey restaurants are bringing global touches to game day by putting an ethnic flair on their chicken wings, whether that means a sweet heat wing inspired a Thai mom or a Jamaican jerk-rubbed wing straight from the island.
Impress your party guests with a wing that hails from much farther than Buffalo, N.Y., this year by ordering internationally-inspired chicken from these ethnic eateries.
Bea Irish wings from Marley’s Gotham Grill, Hackettstown
With 320 wing sauces, Marley’s Gotham Grill has a wing menu offering flavors of the world. But one of its most popular ethnic wing sauces remains the Bea Irish, a sauce made of Jameson Irish whiskey and Irish cream to create “an Irish car bomb on a wing,” described owner Bruno Pascale.
The Bea Irish, named after neighboring Bea McNally's Irish Pub, was added to the menu about three years ago, and it’s especially popular as St. Patrick’s Day rolls around — although it has plenty of year-round fans, said Pascale.
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“It’s on the sweeter side, but if you like Irish cream, it’s just delicious on a crispy wing,” he continued.
Pascale will be plenty busy cooking up wings of all flavors on Super Bowl Sunday. Last year, the wing-focused restaurant made 24,000 wings on the big day. Orders must be placed over the phone. The restaurant recommends ordering by Friday, Feb. 10 (although they will accept orders on Feb. 12). Half trays, which include about 60 wings, cost about $55; full trays, which include about 108 wings, cost about $110. Pickup is on Super Bowl Sunday.
Go: 169 Main St., Hackettstown; 908-852-2446, marleysgothamgrill.net.
Indochinese wings from Clove 12, Iselin
Most Indian restaurants are known for traditional dishes like chicken tikka masala, palak paneer and biryani. But at Clove 12 in Iselin, teenage Chef Arnav fuses international dishes and Indochinese flavors together to create an ever-changing menu — including Indochinese-inspired chicken wings.
The wings, which are coated in a housemade seasoning blend that includes Sichuan peppers, coriander, garlic, scallions and cumin, were one of the first rotating menu additions when the restaurant opened last year. They were so popular they are now on the regular menu.
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“They’re juicy wings that have a little tingling spice with a kick to them,” said co-owner Murali Somisetty.
Wing orders must be placed by Tuesday, Feb. 7, and cost about $40 for a 40-wing half tray and about $100 for a 100-wing full tray. Prices may vary, Somisetty said, depending on supply cost. Pickup is on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Go: 42 Marconi Ave., Iselin; 732-0902-0059, clove12.com.
Jerk wings from Simply Jerk Jamaican Grill, Monroe
It’s not easy to find quality cuisine — let alone authentic Jamaican fare — in some South Brunswick and Monroe areas filled with corporate complexes. However, Simply Jerk Jamaican Grill stands out, partly due to its wings, which are marinated in traditional jerk seasoning for several days before being grilled.
“It’s the number one dish in Jamaica, and the first thing anyone thinks of when they think of Jamaican food is jerk chicken,” said Eleith Menns-White, co-owner of Simply Jerk Jamaican Grill. “They’re not hot, but flavorful, tender and delicious.”
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The wings, one of the restaurant’s best-selling items, also include a sauce made with a secret blend of seasonings, said Menns-White.
Customers can place orders online for $225 for a full tray, which feeds 20 to 25 people, or $138 for a half tray, which feeds 10 to 12 people. Pickup is Saturday, Feb. 11.
Go: 866 Cranbury South River Road, Monroe; 732-641-2420, simplyjerkjamaicangrill.com.
Korean double-fried chicken wings from Roosterspin, New Brunswick and Westfield
Korean fried chicken wings are likely the most adventurous wings that casual diners are familiar with, as the sweet and spicy delicacy is now found throughout diverse Central Jersey. Mihae Cho brought the then-little-known Korean fried chicken to New York City at her former restaurant Mono + Mono in 2006 before she opened Roosterspin in New Brunswick and Westfield.
Roosterspin, a Korean fusion eatery featuring Korean fried chicken as well as karaoke rooms, fries their wings twice in soybean oil to dissipate the fat in the skin, leaving a light, crispy crust and a juicy meat hand-brushed with soy garlic or spicy soy sauce.
The wings are popular year-round, but that demand is doubled on Super Bowl Sunday, when they sell about 5,000.
Takeout orders will be accepted through Super Bowl Sunday, and pickup is throughout the day. Customers can also watch the game on a projector screen at the New Brunswick restaurant.
A 15-piece wing order costs about $29, and a 30-piece wing order costs about $57 — both at the restaurant or for takeout. Customers can opt for a 10-piece cauiflower wing order for $18.
Go: 20 Albany St., New Brunswick, 732-545-4500. 251 N. Ave West, Westfield, 908-233-7333. roosterspin.com.
Sweet Thai chili wings from Kuay Tiew Noodles & More, Somerville
Kuay Tiew Noodles & More co-owner Thana Sermsuwan remembers watching his mother marinate and fry chicken wings when he was young. So, when customers began requesting Thai-inspired wings, he knew just what to do.
“I marinate them using a mixture of fish sauce, pineapple juice, garlic, cilantro root, soy sauce, sugar and other spices, then I deep fry them so you get a little saltiness and sweetness before the sauce,” Sermsuwan said. “The sweet Thai chili sauce that we then put on top is unbelievable.”
The wings will be on the menu all winter.
Customers must place their wing orders by Thursday, Feb. 9, and pick up on Saturday, Feb. 11. Full trays with 80 wings cost $240, half trays with 40 wings cost $120.
Go: 42 W. Main St., Somerville; 908-393-9555, ktsomerville.com.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Central NJ restaurants cook ethnic chicken wings for the Super Bowl
