Josh Allen’s love for Buffalo chicken wings has helped make him a familiar figure in the city’s restaurant scene. (Getty Images)
Josh Allen’s connection with Bar-Bill Tavern dates back to April 2018, when the Bills brought him to Buffalo for a pre-draft visit. There was another version of his wing preference that he shared publicly in 2022. Then, in September 2025, Allen offered another ranking.
In a 2020 interview with The Ringer, Allen recalled that first experience and said, “It’s a spot that I fell in love with,” before adding, “I had the best wings I’ve ever had. Speaking on Mad Dog Radio, Allen said, “I go Bar-Bill,” before explaining, “I get ten hot. Speaking after practice, he said, “I think everybody knows that Bar-Bill is probably my favorite,” before adding, “I think Mulberry’s has some sneaky good wings, and then obviously Wing Nutz is pretty dang good too. “There’s a lot of good options,” said the Bills quarterback.
He had dinner at the East Aurora restaurant with two Bills scouts and two members of the team’s football operations department. What began as a meal during a visit that could shape his NFL future eventually turned into a regular habit. The quarterback found something he liked immediately. I just, kind of, knew that it felt right here. And then to soothe that out, I get ten lemon pepper. He also praised the restaurant for adding lemon pepper to its menu, calling it “freaking fantastic. He also encouraged visitors to explore the city’s food options. “Any chance that you can go and try some new wings here, you should probably jump at the chance to do it. There is a personal side to this relationship, too. The restaurant became part of his early experience of the city. Years later, his food preferences are familiar enough to feature in conversations about the local dining scene.
Allen’s first Bar-Bill visit came before the Bills drafted him, at a point when Buffalo was still one of several possible NFL destinations.