# Can you buy one chicken wing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253 "2012-01-12T04:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/21 "2012-01-12T18:15:04Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > You must try this. > Then show up the next night and order four fried chickens and a coke. šŸ˜ƒ Actually, a DIET Coke šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/22 "2012-01-12T18:35:07Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNQRqAoT-2c](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNQRqAoT-2c) This is exactly what came into my head when I saw the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/23 "2012-01-12T19:21:27Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I want the small order of chicken wings. Hold all of them but one, bring me the check for the entire order and you havenā€™t broken any rulesā€¦ You want me to hold the chicken wings? ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/24 "2012-01-12T22:46:03Z")
Almost 3 1/2 hours and no one? No one? I guess itā€™s up to me. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You want me to hold the chicken wings? I want you to hold them between your knees. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/25 "2012-01-13T02:17:57Z")
In places that sell them individually priced (as in you could order seven as easily as you could order six) Iā€™m sure you could just order one. In fact, if such a place exists Iā€™m sure it happens. I could see someone who is on a diet ordering a salad but getting a wing to satisfy a craving. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/26 "2012-01-13T02:32:49Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Almost 3 1/2 hours and no one? No one? I set up a Freak Brothers quote in another poultry-related thread and it sat there overnight before anyone picked it up. Kids today. They just donā€™t know the classics. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/27 "2012-01-13T06:54:32Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Almost 3 1/2 hours and no one? No one? > > I guess itā€™s up to me. > > I want you to hold them between your knees. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/28 "2012-01-13T23:21:58Z")
Somewhat related: You can buy just one nacho. Or at least you could at the taco stand I worked at in high school back in Texas. It was one big round nacho chip with a layer of cheese and other toppings. That confused many customers who asked how many nachos came with the order, even though it was clearly ā€œNacho,ā€ singular, on the menu. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/29 "2012-01-14T04:04:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I set up a Freak Brothers quote in another poultry-related thread and it sat there overnight before anyone picked it up. > > Kids today. They just donā€™t know the classics. Chicken wings (preferably plural) will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no chicken wings. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/30 "2012-01-14T20:35:20Z")
At Buffalo Wild Wings, at least, thereā€™s a minimum order (I think itā€™s 4). Your order doesnā€™t need to be a multiple of that (you can get 5 or 6 or 7), but it has to be at least 4. In fact, if you get multiple kinds of sauce, itā€™s a minimum of 4 for each sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/31 "2012-01-14T20:41:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > At Buffalo Wild Wings, at least, thereā€™s a minimum order (I think itā€™s 4). Your order doesnā€™t need to be a multiple of that (you can get 5 or 6 or 7), but it has to be at least 4. In fact, if you get multiple kinds of sauce, itā€™s a minimum of 4 for each sauce. Do they advertise as "_X_"cents/wing? And do they include this 4-wing minimum in this advertisement? If not, it would seem like false advertising to me. ---
**Author:** ![MarkD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@MarkD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkD)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/32 "2012-01-14T20:46:59Z")
Have you heard of the ā€œChicken Wing Conspiracyā€? Restaurants and pizza shops are GUILTY of ripping off the public. BIG time. All of them separate the wings at the joints and charge you as if each piece is A WHOLE WING! ( I am not counting the feathery part at the end) Anyone who buys prepared wings at a pizza joint or restaurant is paying TWICE as MUCH as advertised! $.70 cent wings? NO youā€™re going to pay $1.40 plus tax per wing. Someone should be investigating this scheme; but the government is in on it for the tax revenue. Chicken wing eaters must rise up and take back the savory buffalo style or the sweet and spicy teriyaki style or even choco-peanut butter. I propose starting an organization: WWWATCWC. WORLD WIDE WING EATERS AGAINST THE CHICKEN WING CONSPIRACY. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/33 "2012-01-14T22:47:28Z")
I managed a wing bar in the early '90s and yes we would sell you one single wing during ā€œHappy Hourā€. We had 15 cent wings and 50 cent beer. You ordered the number of wings that you wanted. I counted them out, fried them and put them in a basket. Glad I am not doing that any longer. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/34 "2012-01-15T05:50:27Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > I managed a wing bar in the early '90s and yes we would sell you one single wing during ā€œHappy Hourā€. We had 15 cent wings and 50 cent beer. You ordered the number of wings that you wanted. I counted them out, fried them and put them in a basket. Glad I am not doing that any longer. What if I order 1 wing and water? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/35 "2012-01-15T07:22:35Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > I managed a wing bar in the early '90s and yes we would sell you one single wing during ā€œHappy Hourā€. We had 15 cent wings and 50 cent beer. You ordered the number of wings that you wanted. I counted them out, fried them and put them in a basket. Glad I am not doing that any longer. Ahh, thank you. A real answer. Anybody ever order just one? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/36 "2012-01-15T18:42:50Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Ahh, thank you. A real answer. Anybody ever order just one? šŸ˜ƒ Yes. Back in the 1980s, before chicken wings went national. It was actually delivered on its own plate with celery and carrot sticks. Bars in Buffalo during the time often had 5 and 10 cent wing nights. I saw many, mostly women, order just three or four wings. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/37 "2012-01-15T18:57:53Z")
> [@MarkD](#): > > Have you heard of the ā€œChicken Wing Conspiracyā€? Restaurants and pizza shops are GUILTY of ripping off the public. BIG time. All of them separate the wings at the joints and charge you as if each piece is A WHOLE WING! ( I am not counting the feathery part at the end) Anyone who buys prepared wings at a pizza joint or restaurant is paying TWICE as MUCH as advertised! $.70 cent wings? NO youā€™re going to pay $1.40 plus tax per wing. Someone should be investigating this scheme; but the government is in on it for the tax revenue. Chicken wing eaters must rise up and take back the savory buffalo style or the sweet and spicy teriyaki style or even choco-peanut butter. I propose starting an organization: WWWATCWC. WORLD WIDE WING EATERS AGAINST THE CHICKEN WING CONSPIRACY. Bullshit. Wings were separated into drums and flats even back in the 1970s, long before their fame spread beyond the border of the City of Good Neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![MarkD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@MarkD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkD)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/38 "2012-01-17T01:11:56Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Bullshit. Wings were separated into drums and flats even back in the 1970s, long before their fame spread beyond the border of the City of Good Neighbors. ? That doesnā€™t change the fact that they take one wing, break it apart and charge you for two. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/39 "2012-01-17T05:36:44Z")
IME, you have to have a minimum order (usually tenā€¦ they arenā€™t very big) and some places have a drink to order ratio that must be met (for every order of wings you have to buy one drinkā€¦ yeah we didnā€™t go back to that one). Darnit I want wings now. I wonder if itā€™s wing night tomorrow at any of the places I likeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253/40 "2012-01-17T09:46:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > ā€¦ > > My mother will often buy one uncooked chicken wing as one of the ingredients for her stock. This is very common, the butcher will no more raise an eyebrow at someone asking for one chicken wing than at those who want a whole lamb. Agree. My mother-in-law asks her (Kosher) butcher simply for ā€œa bunchā€ of chicken feet every week. Getting him to cut the nails off requires a little wheedling. Iā€™ve got it! Buffalo chicken feet! Or let Buffalo keep the upper appendages and call it the NY feet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-buy-one-chicken-wing/609253.md?page=3)