Xidan Chiku 西单翅酷

Staffed by young Beijingers with boisterous hairstyles, this is perhaps the only other contender to Wu Ge for the best wings in Beijing. Difficult to find: Red lanterns emblazoned with Chiku (翅酷) mark a pair of narrow black doors, which leads to a cluster of rooms around a central courtyard. Their “BT” wings takes the prize for being the spiciest we’ve tried, but a tangy radish salad (liangban xinlimei) will cool you down.