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 influence in Buffalo extends beyond the football field, and his reputation as a fan of chicken wings has become part of the city’s restaurant culture. The Buffalo Bills quarterback has shared his favorite wing spots, discussed his preferred flavors and helped put local businesses in front of a wider audience. For one restaurant owner, Allen’s order has even become an unusual way to judge new employees. It is a small detail, but it says plenty about how closely the city connects its football star with one of its most familiar food traditions.
Josh Allen’s Bar-Bill order has become part of the Buffalo routine
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. 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. 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. I just, kind of, knew that it felt right here.”His regular order became almost as well known as his preference for the restaurant itself. Allen’s combination included 10 Cajun honey-butter BBQ wings, 10 hot wings and shoestring fries with extra blue cheese. That is a fairly specific order, especially for someone who could easily visit a different restaurant every week.There was another version of his wing preference that he shared publicly in 2022. Speaking on Mad Dog Radio, Allen said, “I go Bar-Bill,” before explaining, “I get ten hot. 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.”The change in his preferred flavors is worth noting. Allen has never appeared particularly interested in making his food choices complicated. He likes a mix of heat and milder flavors, with blue cheese alongside his wings. For a city where people can have strong opinions about how chicken wings should be served, that makes him a familiar kind of customer.His reputation also gives the restaurant a connection to one of the biggest names in Western New York sports. A regular customer recommending a restaurant is one thing. When that customer is the Bills’ franchise quarterback, the recommendation carries a different level of attention.
The order has become a small test of restaurant knowledge
For the restaurant, Allen’s popularity has created an interesting situation. His order is no longer just another ticket coming through the kitchen. It is familiar enough to serve as a practical test for new hires. Knowing what the Bills quarterback likes gives staff an easy way to show that they understand the restaurant’s regular customers and the details that make its service personal.That might sound like a simple exercise, but it reflects how much attention a familiar customer can bring to a local business. A new employee does not need to know the quarterback personally. They need to understand the order, get the details right and recognise why it matters to the people who come through the door.Allen has also given Buffalo’s wing scene attention beyond Bar-Bill. In January 2025, he appeared on former Bills centre Eric Wood’s The Buffalo Pod and discussed his favourite places. Bar-Bill remained at the top of his list, with Mulberry Ristorante second and Wingnutz third. He had previously included La Nova in his top three, making Wingnutz the notable change.Then, in September 2025, Allen offered another ranking. 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.”He also encouraged visitors to explore the city’s food options. “There’s a lot of good options,” said the Bills quarterback. “Any chance that you can go and try some new wings here, you should probably jump at the chance to do it.”That endorsement carries value for Buffalo’s restaurant owners. Allen has spent years building a connection with the city, and his willingness to talk about local food gives businesses exposure that conventional advertising cannot easily replicate.There is a personal side to this relationship, too. 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. 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.For a restaurant owner, having the quarterback’s order remembered by employees is a useful detail. It turns a celebrity connection into something tangible at the counter. And in Buffalo, where football and chicken wings share a place in everyday conversation, Josh Allen has managed to become part of both.
Dining and Cooking