5 Popular Restaurants That Have Become Buffalo Icons

When you think about restaurants in Buffalo, which ones come to mind that can be described as icons?

Buffalo is really known for a couple of things.  We're known for our blue collar attitude, sports teams that have come up short, and cold weather.  Food should really be one of those things though.  We've got some incredible dishes here and some restaurants that have made them popular.

Icons are symbols of the things that they represent.  When you think of San Franciso you might think of the Golden Gate Bridge.  In New York City it's the Statue of Liberty.  Chicago has that big metal bean looking thing called Cloud Gate.

So when you think of iconic restaurants, they should represent the hard working, salt of the earth people that live here.  It doesn't mean they're the best restaurants (although some of them could fit the bill) but they're the ones that you think of when you think "Buffalo."

We asked you what you thought on Facebook and here are some of the answers that  you gave us:

1.  Anchor Bar

When people think food in Buffalo, there's no doubt that they think about wings.  The story that's known around the country about the origin of the "Buffalo Wing" is that it came from Anchor Bar late one night, so when people come to Buffalo they all want to go to the place where wings were born.  When they think Buffalo they think Anchor Bar.

2. Chef's

How many celebrities have been to Chef's?  The answer to that question is all over the walls as soon as you walk in.  The pictures of people holding jars of Chef's sauce proves just how iconic Chef's is.

3.  Salvatore's Italian Gardens

Salvatore's Italian Gardens has been one of Buffalo's nicest restaurants for decades.  The name Russ Salvatore is synonymous with hard working, salt of the earth, and service to others.  Between the original Salvatore's and Russ's newest restaurant, Russel's Steaks, Chops, & More I'm not sure which is more iconic.

4. Bar-Bill

This one is iconic thanks to the Bills.  How many times have you heard people talking about how it's Josh Allen's favorite place to get wings?  It's kind of become the place to go to try wings in Buffalo.

5.  Mighty Taco

I know, it probably doesn't fit in with the rest of the restaurants above but it's hard to argue that Mighty Taco isn't an iconic restaurant in Buffalo.  It's a chain restaurant that was born right here in Western New York, and it hasn't left Western New York.  There are almost 20 locations here.  People love Mighty Taco and it's one of those restaurants that people are willing to get into an argument about.  When people think Buffalo restaurants, a lot of Western New Yorkers think Mighty Taco.