Charlie Kang’s wings are more than worthy

If classes are in session, I avoid downtown East Lansing even when I’m in perfect health.

So, when I was under the weather last week and craving Charlie Kang’s, I had to choose the delivery option. I intended just to get soup for my cold and maybe some crab rangoons, but I remembered the chicken wings.

I have become a bit obsessed with chicken wings.

I see them, rightly or not, as junk food that’s slightly less “bad” than other options.

I mean, just think of all the protein!

Of the numerous places to get wings, one does not immediately think of a Chinese/Korean restaurant, but I’d urge you to consider such establishments. I don’t get Charlie Kang’s often, so I had forgotten wings were an option. I quickly added them to my order, which also included rangoons and wonton soup — a comforting spread for a sick day if I’ve ever had one.

The soup was hot and delicious, with a deeply flavorful, oniony broth, ground-pork-stuffed dumplings and fresh strips of cabbage and green onion. The rangoons were reliably crispy and cheesy.

The wings, though!

An order came with six. They appeared to be deep fried, not breaded, and were sauteed with onions, carrots and zucchini in an ambrosial, sweet and tangy sauce of soy, garlic, Sichuan peppers and other delicious ingredients (brown sugar, I think?).

I would highly recommend an order of rice, so you have a vehicle for all the sauce after you’ve devoured the wings. You will not want to waste a drop.

Additionally, I’ve learned there are Korean-style wings (Yang Yum) on the menu, which are at the top of my need-to-try list.

I have been going to Charlie Kang’s my whole life, and I love it for being one of the only places that has remained open since my youth. If you can handle East Lansing parking, it is also a lovely place to dine in, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal there. I don’t know how long it’s had wings on the menu, but it took me far too long to discover them.