The Chicken Wing Vortex of Tacoma is official. Buffalo Wild Wings opened earlier this morning near the Tacoma Mall, a neighborhood that already is home to two chicken wings restaurants within a mile (ish). Diners were lined up outside the front door this morning when I did a cruise through the parking lot. Loud music filtered out every time an anxious looking staffer opened a side door to survey the 30-something diners waiting for a late morning breakfast of wings.

Buffalo Wild Wings is a popular national chain restaurant with more than 800 locations. The menu is a dude trifecta of eating — wings, ribs and burgers. Click here to see the menu. The menu looks eerily similar to the menu at Original Winger’s Bar & Grill, located on Tacoma Mall Boulevard, and Hooters, also on Tacoma Mall Boulevard. If Wingstop opens near the Tacoma Mall, that neighborhood will become the South Sound epicenter of Total Wing Domination. However, there’s still no word on when the first South Sound Wingstop is coming here. I’ve asked. No answer.

My challenge to readers: Dine at Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters and Winger’s, then report back here on who has the best wings. I’ll do the same. For the record, Buffalo Wild Wings will have a difficult time beating my favorite wings in town – the Dragon Wings on the happy hour bar menu at Pacific Grill. I’m also eating my way through this list of reader recommended chicken wings from local restaurants. Weigh in and comment below if you’ve got a local favorite.

Buffalo Wild Wings
Where: 4219 S. Steele St., Tacoma (the old T.G.I. Fridays, next door to Adriatic Grill)
Info: 253-473-7699
Hours: Serving lunch and dinner daily.