Food Blog: Buffalo Wild Wings Dubai

If you are a sucker for Buffalo wings, this blog is for you. I love Buffalo wings. The bite-sized-tangy-flavored chicken wings are always on the table whenever I visit any sports bar (legit or not). There is something about Buffalo wings that make them a go-to comfort food on a lazy day (please excuse me those readers who are trying to lose some weight--I hear you loud and clear).

Recently there was a surge of restaurants specializing in serving Buffalo wings here in Dubai and the most recent addition was the newly opened Buffalo Wild Wings along Jumeirah Road.

[caption id="attachment_3382" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Buffalo Wild Wings Dubai Jumeirah[/caption]

I was so happy when I first passed by Jumeirah Road and saw a sign that Buffalo Wild Wings will soon to open in Dubai. I had first tried Buffalo Wild Wings when I was traveling in Dallas, Texas when the motel receptionist suggested if I wanted to taste some great wings and also watch a college football match (collegiate football matches are big in Dallas) I should visit the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings. After one bite, I had fallen in love with them and been craving for them for months now. This explains how excited I was seeing the OPENING SOON sign.

At last, last week, it finally opened. Although still on its soft opening, Buffalo Wild Wings are ready to serve the chicken-hungry Dubai residents!

[caption id="attachment_3372" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Happy staff!!!![/caption]

As expected whenever an American franchise of a restaurant opens in Dubai (examples are: Shake Shack, I-Hop and Five Guys), it will instantly be flocked with patrons who have already tried it during their trips in the US, by American Expats and also by those who are curious to try the new craze in town. Buffalo Wild Wings was no exemption. It was completely packed (even on a work-day). Glad we arrived a little bit early for dinner and we got seated easily.

There were a lot of staff who looked like they are having fun going around table after table. Although there were a lot of them, they told us that at some points it seems they don't have enough personnel on the floor.

The interior of the place is identical to the same restaurants in the US, complete with the bricked walls, color schemes and the hoardes of flat screen TVs showing every sports channel known to humankind.

[caption id="attachment_3373" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Luvin the interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3371" align="aligncenter" width="800"] ....and this funky wall[/caption]

Once seated, we were handed a  menu. Although we knew already what we would be ordering (WINGS!!!), we thought that it would be nice to try some of their other offers as well.

[caption id="attachment_3369" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Feelin all authentic ---looks very promising[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3370" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The sauce scream level!!! Tempting tempting tempting[/caption]

Here's what we ordered:

Traditional Wings (Large- 20pcs) = AED 85

Classic New York- style wings (with a choice of 4 types of sauces)

Spinach Artichoke Chicken Flatbread = AED 35

Crispy, oven baked flatbread pizza crust smothered with rich, creamy spinach artichoke dip, chicken and mozzarella cheese

The Sampler = AED 55

Nachos, onion rings, mozzarella sticks and boneless Buffalo wings

[caption id="attachment_3379" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The Sampler[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3380" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Spinach Artichoke Chicken Flatbread[/caption]

Both the flatbread and the sampler are good for sharing and are very filling. If you visit Buffalo Wild Wings, you may have this idea that it is not really a place to get some dinner just a place to hang out and grab a snack---but even their appetizers are enough to keep you going throughout the night (perfect for lunch as well). However, you don't want to get too full on appetizers if you have also ordered the star of the night, so make sure to leave some room for ------- WINGS!!!!

[caption id="attachment_3375" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Large portion of very saucy wings[/caption]

I love my wings spicy but some of my friends are more into the milder flavor. Good thing there are several sauces to choose from. Because we ordered the large portion, we were given the task of choosing 4 sauces to smother on it. We decided to mix and match some on the spicy side with others of a milder flavor. Upon the recommendations of the staff, we took: Sweet BBQ, Thai Curry, Honey BBQ and Medium sauces.

[caption id="attachment_3374" align="aligncenter" width="800"] This will surely be messy[/caption]

My favorite was the Honey BBQ. Although I like how spicy the Thai Curry sauce was, I thought that the distinct taste of Thai spices doesn't really work with the idea of Buffalo wings. Aside from that, it was messy and fantastic.

The only thing missing now was a pint of beer, which you would normally expect in a sports bar. But Dubai is a special case, unfortunately, as alcoholic beverages are not allowed in establishments without liquor license (and apparently Buffalo Wild Wings have not been granted one). As an alternative, there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available including flavored malt drinks which are a good option for those who want an authentic wing-feast experience. During our visit though, malt drinks were not available and I ended up ordering (a complete opposite option) a cold chocolate drink which I don't recommend (it tasted blah).

[caption id="attachment_3378" align="aligncenter" width="800"] yum yum yum[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3381" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Cold chocolate drink[/caption]

All in all my first experience in the Dubai branch of Buffalo Wild Wings was fantastic. Of course, enjoying it along with good friends really helped. I can't wait for football season to finally kick in, for sure watching it in Buffalo Wild Wings will be on the top of my list.