When I was a wee little insecure girl, there was one restaurant in which I never wanted to set foot. A restaurant where all the servers look like Instagram models, and I look like a prepubescent, awkward gremlin standing in their midst. Where women with more confidence than I could muster in a lifetime sling wings in opaque support hose. I’m talking about Hooters, of course. Now if you, like me, spent the better part of a lifetime avoiding coming face to face with your insecurities in a sports bar, I have good news. There’s something sexy for all of us flying into the supermarket freezer aisle as we speak. Bust out your smallest tank top and finest orange shorty shorts because Hooters wings are coming to stores.
Wow, so some people really do go to Hooters for the wings, huh. What can we expect from the frozen version?
Would you believe me if I told you that the new Hooters wings come in four flavors? Well, I’m not pulling your support hose-clad leg. We’re getting Daytona Beach Style Smoked Wings (which come slathered in BBQ sauce), Texas Style Smoked Wings (which come dry rubbed), Buffalo Style Boneless Wingz (made with breast meat), and Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken (made with thigh meat pieces). A box will set you back between $7.49 and $8.99, depending on the variety—a bargain compared to restaurant prices, although you’re definitely missing out on the atmosphere (unless your roommate is a Hooters waitress).
Hooters suggests that to match the in-store Hooters Wings experience, you should cook these bad boys in the oven or air fryer—we suggest the oven if you like your Hooters wings crispy. If you’re getting excited, I really, really hope you live in the South. For the time being, Hooters frozen wings are only available at Publix Super Markets and via their Instacart affiliates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. But Hootie, much like the sentient Duolingo Owl, has plans for the rest of us. According to Instagram snack sleuth Markie Devo, Hooters is planning to expand to additional retail chains and add more frozen appetizers and snacks later in the year. Whether that means more Hooters wing flavors or maybe some fried pickles or mozz sticks, we can’t say for sure. But what I can promise is that game day at home just got a whole heckuva lot sexier.
