02/26/2026
John Young (1934-1998), widely known as the Original Buffalo King of Wings, was a pioneering restaurateur who introduced and popularized whole chicken wings served with his signature Mumbo Sauce in Buffalo, New York, in the early 1960s. Operating several successful restaurants along the Jefferson Street corridor, he helped shape the city’s culinary identity and was formally recognized in 1982 by the Buffalo Common Council for his role in pioneering the development of the Buffalo wing.
His contributions have also been documented by the Buffalo History Museum, which featured his story in its publications and exhibits. Organizers of the National Buffalo Wing Festival later honored his legacy with a commemorative plaque recognizing his (foundational) role in Buffalo’s wing tradition.
An innovative entrepreneur, he later launched early mobile food units in Illinois—decades before modern food trucks—and remained committed to business innovation and community empowerment throughout his life.
