Finding good wings in Waikiki is harder than it should be. Most bars on the strip either don't serve them, serve the small frozen-and-reheated kind, or charge resort prices for a handful of mediocre drums and flats. If you want jumbo wings with real sauce, made fresh, at a price that doesn't make you question your choices — Skybox Taphouse is where you go.
Upper-Cut Wings: Jumbo, Not the Small Ones
The first thing you'll notice about Skybox's Upper-Cut wings is the size. These are jumbo wings — the kind where each piece is a legitimate bite of food, not the tiny, shriveled wings you get at places that buy the cheapest case from their supplier. They come as 8 pieces with celery sticks and dipping sauce, and they're enough to share at the table or keep as your own meal.
The second thing you'll notice is that they're tossed to order, not pre-sauced and sitting in a warming tray. The sauce coats every wing evenly, and the outside stays crispy underneath. That matters. Wings that sit in sauce for twenty minutes turn into soggy, sad versions of themselves. These don't.
Three Sauces, All Worth Trying
Skybox offers three wing sauces, and each one works differently:
Buffalo — The classic. Tangy, vinegar-forward, with just enough heat to make you reach for your beer but not so much that you can't taste the chicken. This is the wing sauce that every sports bar should get right, and Skybox does. If you only order one flavor, this is the safe bet.
Honey Sriracha — Sweeter than Buffalo with a slow-building heat from the Sriracha. The honey glaze caramelizes slightly on the outside, giving you a sticky, glossy wing with some kick on the back end. This is the crowd-pleaser when your table can't decide between sweet and spicy.
Hawaiian BBQ — The island option. Smoky, sweet, and tangy with a distinctly Hawaiian profile. If you're visiting and want wings that taste like they belong in Waikiki rather than a chain restaurant in Ohio, this is your flavor.
Can't decide? Order two baskets with different sauces for the table. At a group dinner or during a game, having two flavors to go back and forth between is the move.
Wings and Game Day
Wings and sports go together the way beer and sunshine go together — it's just obvious. And Skybox is built for both. Over 20 TVs with state-of-the-art picture and sound cover NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, UFC, NCAA, and more. Sound is on for the big games. During NFL season, the early morning kickoffs start at 7 AM Hawaii time, and Skybox opens early on weekends to catch them. Your wings-and-football Sunday can start at 7 AM and wrap up by late afternoon.
The venue seats 275 on the third-floor Grand Lanai of International Market Place, with open-air seating, two full bars, and sightlines from every seat. Whether you're at the bar, a table, or posted up in the outdoor section, you can see the game and eat your wings without craning your neck.
What to Drink with Your Wings
The drink menu has the obvious pairing covered. The Skybox Blonde — one of two house-brewed beers on tap — is a crisp pale ale that cuts through wing sauce perfectly. The Skybox Hazy IPA has mango and guava notes that pair especially well with the Hawaiian BBQ wings. Local drafts from Kona Brewing (Longboard Lager, Big Wave), Maui Brewing (Big Swell IPA, Pineapple Mana Wheat), and Ola Brew's Dragonfruit Lemonade round out the tap list.
During happy hour (Monday through Friday, 3-6 PM), you're looking at $5 domestic pints, $7 local drafts, and $11 signature cocktails. Wings plus a $7 pint of Longboard during happy hour is one of the best deals in Waikiki — and if there's a game on, which there usually is, it gets even better.
Beyond Wings
The full kitchen menu goes well beyond wings, though the wings are the reason a lot of people come back. Hand-crafted pizzas (whole pies or by the slice), Triple Play nachos, fish tacos, Kalua pork sliders, cheese curds, burgers, quesadillas, and more. The kitchen runs until 1 AM every night, and the late-night menu starting at 10 PM means you can get wings after midnight — which, in Waikiki, is harder to find than it should be.
Wings for Groups and Parties
If you're planning a watch party, birthday, or group outing, wings are always part of the plan. Skybox handles private events with custom food and drink packages — and a few platters of Upper-Cut wings in mixed sauces are a staple on every group menu. The 275-seat venue with two bars, 20+ TVs, and nightly karaoke from 9 PM to 2 AM means the party doesn't have to end when the wings run out.
Getting There
Skybox Taphouse is at 2330 Kalakaua Ave #302, third floor of International Market Place in Waikiki. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM, kitchen until 1 AM. Happy hour Monday through Friday, 3-6 PM. Walk-ins welcome, or save a table for game day or groups. You can also order online for pickup if you want wings to go.