Tampa Welcomes Award-Winning Chicken Wing Chain in 2026

Wing It On!, an outstanding chicken wing chain, will open its first location in the Tampa Bay Area at 6602 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. in mid-2026.

The chain has won four awards at the National Buffalo Wing Festival. In 2025, it took first place again for "America’s Best Sauce" in the Medium Traditional Buffalo category. It also secured first in Savory with its Garlic Parm-fredo, second in BBQ, and third in Hot. This year marked the chain's debut in every flavor category it entered.

The Tampa location will be the second in Florida after a successful start in Mt. Dora. Craveworthy Brands supports the expansion plans. Jignesh Patel, a local leader with over two decades in the food service industry, will manage the Tampa eatery.

Founded in 2011 by Matt Ensero in Waterbury, Connecticut, Wing It On! started from dissatisfaction with soggy takeout wings. Now, the brand boasts nine awards from the National Buffalo Wing Festival and continues to grow under Ensero and partner Justin Egan.

The menu features 20 sauces and rubs, including Medium Buffalo and new options like Wings of Prey and Red White ’N Blues. Other menu items include chicken sandwiches, tenders, wraps, and sides such as loaded fries. Customers can choose from dine-in, takeout, and delivery services.

Wing It On! also embraces technology-friendly setups, offering mobile ordering and virtual kitchens for takeout and delivery in the 813 area. Customers will enjoy crispy wings paired with flavorful sauces and house-made dips.

At the 2023 festival, Wing It On! claimed first place for its Medium Buffalo sauce, outranking traditional favorites like Anchor Bar - creators of Buffalo sauce - and Buffalo Wild Wings. The new flavor LavaBerry Pop Rocks Dry Rub placed second that year, boosting the brand's recognition.

James Webb contributed to Wing It On!'s successes in 2024, winning the U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship by eating 236 wings in 12 minutes. This achievement emphasized the brand's ability to excel in contests.

Originating from a homegrown idea, Wing It On!'s evolution into an award-winning business highlights a strong relationship with Craveworthy Brands for expansion. The opening in Tampa represents another significant step in the brand's story.