One Brooklyn-based franchise-owner told Forbes Magazine in an interview, "People come in here thinking he owns this all the time. He made Wingstop more popular."
So, what attracted hip-hop's cash king in the first place? Back in Daly City, I notice immediately how limited the menu board is ...
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That's what makes Wingstop so great: It does wings. That's about it. For 21 years, the brand has focused on one niche guilty-pleasure food, and perfected it.
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I step into the kitchen to see how it's done.
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With the exception of football game nights when demand is particularly high, bone-in wings arrive from the warehouse fresh, not frozen. Every batch is cooked to order.
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The boneless chicken wings are frozen en route, and appear to have a thick layer of batter.
Into the fryer they go! The wings cook for 11 minutes, which seems like forever compared to the speedy service at fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle. But they never sit out under a heat lamp.
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Time for the saucing. Wingstop offers 11 unique flavors, including Mango Habanero, Hickory Smoked BBQ, Cajun, and Original Hot, which tastes like a traditional buffalo-style.
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The Lemon Pepper wings are the most popular flavor after Original Hot. Which may be surprising, because, frankly, they sound gross.
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When in fact, the zesty lemon bursts with flavor, and the hearty flakes of pepper cut the acidity. Its a match made in culinary heaven.
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They're Ross's favorite, too. In the song "New Agenda," he says he spent $6 million on a condo and an extra $2 million on the terrace, but, "All I want is that Lemon Pepper."
The equally surprising and savory Garlic Parmesan wings taste like chicken-topped fettuccine alfredo. The owner tells me that Wingstop wants to make wing flavors you can't get anywhere else.
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A spice-lover may graduate from the Original Hot to the Louisiana Rub, a southern-inspired dry rub made with cajun and garlic.
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It is surprisingly hot, and definitely my new favorite.
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Wingstop offers a few sides, including baked beans, potato salad, and freshly baked roles, but none have garnered a following like the Seasoned Fries. This Wingstop location goes through roughly 450 pounds of Idaho potatoes every day.
