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Is Buffalo Wild Wings Halal?

Short answer Not certified

No. Buffalo Wild Wings is not halal certified in the United States. The certifier HMS lists it as not verified and cannot confirm its chicken is zabiha [1]. The chain also runs as a sports bar that serves beer [2]. It has branches in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman, where local rules differ. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Not certified No chain-wide halal certification. HMS lists Buffalo Wild Wings as not verified and flags shared fryers, sauces and wine used in cooking as common concerns at full-service restaurants. [1]
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman Not certified Buffalo Wild Wings operates in these countries. We could not verify a published halal certificate, so check the certificate shown in the restaurant. [2]
Canada Not certified Buffalo Wild Wings left the Canadian market in June 2023, so there are no Canadian branches to check. [2]

Why Buffalo Wild Wings is not halal in the US

Buffalo Wild Wings has more than 1,300 restaurants across all 50 US states [2]. It does not hold a halal certificate and does not publish a halal statement for its US menu.

The US certifier HMS (Halal Monitoring Services) lists Buffalo Wild Wings as "Not Verified" [1]. HMS has not inspected or certified the chain, so it cannot confirm that the chicken is zabiha or that the wider menu meets its ingredient standards [1].

That does not prove that every item is haram. It means no one has checked the chicken supply or the kitchen for you. For the US, the honest answer is "not certified."

Sauces, fryers and a sports bar setting

Wings are only part of the question at Buffalo Wild Wings. HMS points to several concerns that are common at full-service restaurants [1]:

  • Marinades and sauces. A sauce can contain animal-based or alcohol-based ingredients. Read the ingredient info for the sauce or dry rub you plan to order.
  • Shared fryers and grills. Wings, boneless wings and other items may share fryers and equipment.
  • Wine used in cooking. Some full-service kitchens cook with wine. See our page on cooking wine for the main views.

Buffalo Wild Wings is also a sports bar, and beer is one of its core products [2]. Some Muslims prefer not to eat where alcohol is served. That is a personal and scholarly question, so if you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

Buffalo Wild Wings outside the US

Beyond the US, the chain serves India, Mexico, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Panama [2]. Its first UAE branch opened in Dubai in 2015 [2]. It left Canada in June 2023 [2].

In Muslim-majority markets, the local franchise partner chooses the suppliers, so the halal answer there is not the same as in the US. We could not find a published certificate for these branches. When you visit, look for the halal certificate in the restaurant and check that it is current.

The UK is not on its list of markets [2].

How to check, and halal wing alternatives

  1. Ask for the certificate. It should name the certifier, the address and an expiry date.
  2. Check the certifier's directory. HMS says it would list any certified location in its directory [1].
  3. Ask what is covered. A certificate may cover the chicken only, not the sauces or fryers.

For halal wings, compare our pages on Wingstop, Wing Snob and Atomic Wings. Some of these have halal-certified locations or halal chicken in certain areas. Our chicken guide explains zabiha and machine slaughter in plain terms.

Frequently asked questions

Are Buffalo Wild Wings wings halal?

Not in the US, as far as anyone can confirm. HMS has not inspected or certified the chain and cannot confirm the chicken is zabiha [1]. Sauces and shared fryers are separate concerns.

Is Buffalo Wild Wings halal in Saudi Arabia or Dubai?

The chain operates in Saudi Arabia and the UAE [2]. We could not verify a published halal certificate, so ask to see the certificate in the restaurant before you order.

Does Buffalo Wild Wings serve alcohol?

Yes. Buffalo Wild Wings is a sports bar, and beer is one of its main products [2]. Some sauces or dishes at full-service restaurants may also use wine in cooking [1].

Is Buffalo Wild Wings halal in Canada?

There are no Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in Canada now. The chain left the Canadian market in June 2023 [2].

Sources

  1. Is Buffalo Wild Wings Halal? · HMS (Halal Monitoring Services) · accessed
  2. Buffalo Wild Wings · Wikipedia · accessed