Sometimes the best food comes from the most unexpected places. Just outside Madison, tucked in the middle of some farm fields, sits a building that looks like it could be someone’s house. There’s a small sign outside announcing that you’ve found Chicken Lips and though that might not mean much to you, you’ve actually found chicken wing Valhalla. Chicken Lips is super nondescript and looks like a hundred other rural Wisconsin pubs, but don’t let that fool you. The menu is small and simple, but the food is out of this world.
You'll see the small green sign and that's about the only notice that you've found this amazing spot just outside of Madison.
The building looks a bit like it might house apartments, but trust us, you want to head on in. You'll find a simple and sparse Wisconsin bar full of regulars and those who were smart enough to make the trek here. In a lot of ways, it's no different than local bars that dot the Wisconsin landscape from Beloit up to Superior. But Chicken Lips is anything but cookie cutter.
The tap beers are around $5 and the menu is small enough to fit on a single, old-school sign. It doesn't change and it doesn't need to. You came here for the wings and there's no reason to go off book.
Folks come here from far and wide just for these amazing wings. Chicken Lips uses a dry rub that makes these wings out-of-this-world good and keeps folks coming back for them over and over.
Chicken Lips sells thousands of pounds of wings each week. There are four options - nude, sauced, dry rub and buffalo. A plate will cost you $10 and comes with some celery and your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing.
The blue cheese is house-made and is nearly as thick as cream cheese in its consistency. It also helps coat your tongue and protect you from the heat of the wings.
Chicken Lips is one of those places that those in the know, know. But the rest of you need to be clued in to the fabulousness of this spot that is the epitome of local watering hole as community gathering spot. The staff is super friendly, the feel is relaxed and kind of a throwback - and you can even play the vintage jukebox for free.
The saying here is "Come out and get clucked" and there's just something so very Wisconsin about the fact that this place is just across the street from a farm. It feels like the middle of nowhere but is just a few miles from town.
You'll fall in love with the deliciousness of these wings full of flavor that is anything but simple. These folks focus on one great thing and they do it well. The owner started frying up wings more than 30 years ago and he's perfected the simple complexity of these wonderful treats.
Chicken Lips is located at 5508 County Hwy N #3, Sun Prairie, WI 53590. They don’t have a website, but you can call them at (608) 837-6721. They’re open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
