Penny's Carryout in Baltimore: Bone-In Wings at Corner-Store Prices
Penny's Carryout is a no-frills takeout spot on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore that fries bone-in wings in batches and sells them by the box at prices that undercut sit-down sports bars by 30 to 40 percent. The operation centers on wings, though the menu includes fried chicken, fish, and sides like mac and cheese and collard greens. It functions as a carryout only, with a small counter and no seating, and draws a steady local crowd during lunch and evening hours.
What You Order and What It Costs
Penny's sells wings in two sizes: a half-pound box for $5.50 and a full pound for $10. Sauces rotate but typically include mild, hot, lemon pepper, and garlic parmesan. Boneless strips are also available at the same price point. A two-piece fried chicken combo with a side and a drink runs $7.49; fish and fries or a fish sandwich costs $6 to $7. Mac and cheese, collard greens, and french fries are $2 to $3 each. Prices are consistent but should be confirmed, as they shift with commodity costs. No tax is added at the register; the total shown is what you pay.
The wing-to-price ratio matters here. A half pound delivers roughly eight to ten pieces depending on size. Most Baltimore sports bars charge $1.50 to $2 per wing when ordered as an appetizer, meaning a dozen wings there run $18 to $24. At Penny's, the same quantity costs $11 to $14.
How It Compares to Other Baltimore Wing Spots
Penny's competes in a different tier than Oriole Park vendors or upscale wing restaurants downtown. For comparison, Sliders Bar & Grill in Fells Point offers hand-sauced wings with a broader sauce menu (including Thai chili and maple bourbon) but charges $1.75 to $2 per wing and requires you to eat in a full bar environment. Nacho Mamas on the Avenue (also West Baltimore) combines wings with a restaurant setting and deeper sauce variety but adds 50 percent to the per-wing cost.
For pure value and speed, Penny's stands alone. If you want a larger sauce menu or a place to sit and watch a game, those spots make sense. If you want bone-in wings fast and cheap, Penny's is the choice.
Who This Place Suits and Who It Doesn't
Penny's works for people ordering lunch or dinner to take home, grab from a car, or eat at a nearby location. It suits groups buying multiple boxes for a watch party or gathering. It does not have a dining room, bar, or screens, so you cannot sit and eat wings while watching a game. Parking on Pennsylvania Avenue is street parking only; there is no lot. The space is small and the counter moves quickly, but during peak dinner hours (5 to 7 p.m.) there can be a wait.
The wing quality is straightforward: properly fried, seasoned to order, not gourmet. If you expect restaurant-grade plating or a wine pairing, this is not your stop. If you want a large volume of crispy wings at a realistic price, it is.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in, wait your turn at the counter, and order by size and sauce. The staff will ask if you want your wings mixed or separated by sauce if you are buying more than one box. Frying takes four to six minutes. Most people pay cash; a card reader is present but cash is standard. Take the box and leave. The whole transaction takes ten to fifteen minutes if the line is short, thirty if it is not.
The wings arrive hot in a hinged cardboard box lined with paper. Napkins are included but bring extra. Sauce clings to your hands, so eat at home or somewhere you can clean up after.
Hours, Parking, and Getting There
Penny's is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (confirm hours by phone, as carryout spots sometimes shift evening closing times). The address is on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore; parking is street only, with typical Baltimore row-house block conditions. The nearest public transit stop is a short walk. No reservation or ordering ahead is available; you order at the counter.
Penny's occupies the carryout-wing niche that Baltimore's market supports: fast, local, and cheap. For someone buying wings to go rather than sitting in a restaurant, it is difficult to beat on value.
