Gators has won Best of Fest 3 times, 2001, 2005, 2006!

From the Gators Website:

Gators Wing Shack is fast becoming your “one-stop-shack” for fun, food, drink, sports and private parties in Chicago’s northern suburbs. The original Gators Wing Shack opened in Wheeling in 1996, and in 2001 opened a second location in Palatine, IL. This great taste experience quickly expanded to a Gators Wing Shack location in Waukegan, IL where we’ve been welcoming customers since May of 2006.Famous for serving up award-winnings wings for eight years in a row now – including “Best of Fest” top honors at Chicago’s annual WingFest –Gators Wing Shack insists on only the highest standards of quality and freshness for all of its menu items. Appetizers. Salads. Meats. Poultry. Seafood. Did we mention WINGS?

 

After winning WingFest in back to back years, they are back to go for the hat trick!

From Jake’s Website:

WINGFEST REPEAT 2011!

It’s official! Jake’s is King of the Wing…AGAIN! For the second consecutive year, Jake’s took home three big wins from Chicago Wingfest, which took place on Sunday, February27th! The big honors include First Place in the “Spicy”category for our Firecracker Wings made with a sweet chilisriracha sauce and First Place in the “Exotic” category for our Poncho Wings which are marinated in garlic and cayenne and wood-grilled. To top it off, the Poncho Wings took home the honor of “Best of Fest” for the entire event!
Check out Jake’s at Wingfest 2011 on NBCChicago.com

This year marked the 12th annual Chicago Wingfest. Jake’s has participated the past three years and took home three awards in 2010. Taking place at the Bailey Auditorium from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 27th, guests of WingFestenjoy four categories, including Mild, Hot, BBQ and Exotic, all of which are judged by Chicago celebrities and patrons using a blind taste test system.

Check out some photos from the Jake’s team at Wingfest

To celebrate all of Jake’s top WingFest honors, Jake Melnick’sinvited guests to experience the award-winning wings with a limited-time WingFest Flight, featuring a combination of this year’s two winning varieties and also the XXX wing, which was a big winner last year! Each flight featured three of each – Firecracker, Poncho Wings and XXX! This exclusive WingFestflight was available through Wednesday, March 16th.”

 

2011 Second Place Winners of the Hot Category!

from the Buffalo Wings & Rings Website:

YOUR LOCAL CREW

We’re not a wing joint or a wing bar or a wing hangout. We take our wings seriously. It’s surprising how many people don’t know what really great wings taste like. That’s why we’ve made Buffalo Wings & Rings the kind of inviting place where friends and family like to get together, watch a game and share stories over the best wings and rings anywhere.”

 

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL “WING FEST” CROWNS CHICAGO’S BEST CHICKEN WINGS WHILE RAISING FUNDS FOR CHICAGO NEIGHBORS UNITED

(CHICAGO, IL) – Sunday, February 26, 2012, marks the thirteenth year of the now legendary Chicago WingFest. 2000 tickets are now on sale, and WingFest has sold out for the past three years in a row, so get ‘em while they’re hot! WingFest will once again be held at the Bailey Auditorium located at 1340 West Washington in Chicago from 1pm to 6pm.

Each year around 25 local wing-slinging eateries enter WingFest. Participating establishments may enter wings of their choice into two of the following categories: Mild Wings, Hot Wings, BBQ Wings and Exotic Wings. The following were proclaimed winners in 2011, in a double-blind test-taste: Best Mild Wing: Wild Goose, Best Hot Wing: Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, Best BBQ Wing: Bulldogs, Best Exotic Wing: Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap and the coveted Best of the Fest, for the second year in a row: Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap. Chicagoan’s can hardly wait to taste the competition in 2012!

And it is all for a good cause! To date, WingFest has raised over $130,000 for various charities, and once again this year, Chicago Neighbors United [http://chicnu.org/], a community based organization which provides educational scholarships to inner city youth, is happy to be the beneficiary of this top-of-the-line good time.

Returning for his thirteenth year at WingFest is host and celebrity judge, WXRT’s very own, Lin Brehmer. With his ever present sidekick Chicken-Man pumping the crowd, Lin will be providing the play by play for the “Lord of the Wings” eating contest, and one of the most talked about highlights.

In thirteen years, ticket prices have remained the same: $24 for general admission. That price includes all the wings one can eat, live music from Cadillac Dave and the Chicago Redhots, a raffle ticket, continuous sponsor giveaways and loads of surprises. There are also VIP tickets available for $50 which includes all of the above plus a drink package, parking pass, goody bag and access to the VIP area. As this event does sell out each year, event organizers urge those wishing to attend to buy their tickets early. Tickets may be purchased directly at www.WingFest.net. Attendees must be 21 and over.

For more information, enter the Lord of Wings Contest, or to see the every growing list of participating restaurants, please visit www.WingFest.net .