Lemon pepper wings were invented in Atlanta, Georgia, where people began addinglemon pepper tobuffalo wings to reduce their spiciness.[1][2][3] The popularity of lemon pepper wings in the mid-2000s has been attributed to their being less likely to dirty clothes than buffalo wings, making them preferred by rappers who commonly wore white t-shirts at the time.[4]
The dish is strongly associated withAtlanta cuisine.[5][6] Future Atlanta mayorKeisha Lance Bottoms commented that "Lemon pepper wings are Atlanta" in 2017.[7] In 2022, Eric Kim ofThe New York Times wrote that "in Atlanta, lemon pepper is queen" and described the wings as "central to [the city's] social fabric."[8]
Lemon pepper wings are frequently served in the city'sstrip clubs.[7][8][14] Chris Kirschner ofThe Athletic observed that high-quality food was often a hallmark of Atlanta strip clubs, particularly wings, and their food was known to draw celebrity guests.[15] The dish is also served throughout the United States by chain restaurants.[16][17]
The dish is prepared by roasting unbreaded chicken wings. After cooking, they are tossed in lemon pepper, a seasoning made withlemon zest andblack pepper as well as other ingredients such as sugar.[18][8] Many recipes use premade lemon pepper.[19]
A platter of lemon pepper wings, buffalo wings, and sliced vegetables
"Lemon pepper wet" is a variation in which the wings are coated in a sauce. They may be tossed in a lemon sauce instead of a dry rub. This version of the dish was invented at the American Deli in Atlanta.[19][20] Other versions of this dish involve coating the wings with butter or buffalo sauce and tossing them in dry lemon pepper seasoning.[21][22]
Lemon pepper wings are commonly referenced in music and television related to Atlanta.[23] The2 Chainz song "Hot Wings" (2018) includes the verse "She just want her 20-piece/ All flats with the lemon pepper".[24] They are mentioned in theDrake song "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" (2021) featuringRick Ross. Ross, who owns severalWingstop locations, has mentioned them in numerous other songs including "Buy Back the Block", "Dope Dick", "U.O.E.N.O." and "Thug Cry".[25] They have also been mentioned in songs by rappers likeGucci Mane and the groupMigos.[26]
They appeared in thesecond episode of the television seriesAtlanta,[27] in which a character receives "lemon pepper wet" wings from the real life restaurant J.R. Crickets.[22] The scene went viral on social media and popularized the dish online.[28] At the time, "lemon pepper wet" wings were not on the restaurant's menu although they had a similar dish called "Fester" wings which customers frequently referred to as "lemon pepper wet". The "lemon pepper wet" depicted in the show was actually inspired by a dish served at the American Deli, a different restaurant in Atlanta.[22] WriterStephen Glover explained that he wanted the character to be "hooked up" by receiving an item that was not on the menu at J.R. Crickets. In 2017, J.R. Crickets added "lemon pepper wet" to the menu in honor of the show.[29] Mike Jordan ofEater Atlanta claimed that the episode had popularized the dish.[27]
In 2020,Lou Williams of theLos Angeles Clippers was nicknamed "Lemon Pepper Lou" on social media when it was reported that he ordered lemon pepper wings withJack Harlow at theMagic City strip club during a trip outside theNBA Bubble.[30][31] Williams was previously known for frequenting the club to purchase its wings,[4] where the dish "Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ Wings" was named after him.[32][33] He objected to the nickname but later trademarked it.[34]
