{"id":916330,"date":"2026-06-29T20:12:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/29\/east-coast-wings-grill-names-top-3-fan-flavor-showdown-finalists-as-voting-opens-and-summer-escape-menu-launches\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T20:12:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:12:04","slug":"east-coast-wings-grill-names-top-3-fan-flavor-showdown-finalists-as-voting-opens-and-summer-escape-menu-launches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/29\/east-coast-wings-grill-names-top-3-fan-flavor-showdown-finalists-as-voting-opens-and-summer-escape-menu-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"East Coast Wings + Grill Names Top 3 Fan Flavor Showdown Finalists as Voting Opens and Summer Escape Menu Launches"},"content":{"rendered":"<article id=\"post-226195\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\">\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n\t\t<center><\/p>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<div id=\"tps_slideContainer_226195\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/East-Coast-Wings-Grill-Fan-Flavor-Showdown-Finalists.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"East Coast Wings + Grill Names Top 3 Fan Flavor Showdown Finalists as Voting Opens and Summer Escape Menu Launches\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/East-Coast-Wings-Grill-Fan-Flavor-Showdown-Finalists.jpg\" alt=\"East Coast Wings + Grill Names Top 3 Fan Flavor Showdown Finalists as Voting Opens and Summer Escape Menu Launches\" width=\"722\" height=\"542\"  ><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Guests Decide the Next Permanent Menu Flavor Ahead of National Chicken Wing Day on July 29<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/East-Coast-Wings-Grill-Fan-Flavor-Showdown-Finalists.gif\" alt=\"East Coast Wings + Grill Names Top 3 Fan Flavor Showdown Finalists as Voting Opens and Summer Escape Menu Launches\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">Winston-Salem, NC\u00a0 (<a title=\"RestaurantNews.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>RestaurantNews.com<\/u><\/a>) \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eastcoastwings.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>East Coast Wings + Grill<\/u><\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0 (\u201cECW+G\u201d) <\/strong>today unveils the three finalists in their Fan Flavor Showdown, the centerpiece of the brand\u2019s summer-long Ultimate Wing Party campaign leading to National Chicken Wing Day on July 29. Beginning today, the three finalist flavors are available exclusively through the ECW+G app, where every order counts as a vote towards which flavor will become a permanent menu item in the fall.<\/p>\n<p>Also launching today is the brand\u2019s Summer Escape limited-time menu, available at locations nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>After receiving close to 80 guest submissions between April 27 and May 8, ECW+G selected three finalists based on creativity, flavor appeal, and fit with the existing menu of 50-plus signature flavors.<\/p>\n<h3>Meet the Top 3 Finalists<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>BBQ Peppercorn<\/strong> (Honey BBQ + Parmesan Peppercorn), created by Natalie Rinehardt in Albermarle, NC<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carolina Ranch<\/strong> (Sweet &#038; Bold BBQ + Ranch Dressing), created by Emma Campbell in Albermarle, NC<\/li>\n<li><strong>Korean Thai<\/strong> (Korean BBQ + Chili Thai), created by Daniel Robertson an employee at the location in King, NC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re proud to involve our guests in the development of our menu, and loved reading the dozens of creative ideas,\u201d said<strong> Sam Ballas, Founder and CEO of ECW+G<\/strong>. \u201cEach of these three finalists brought something different to the table, and now it\u2019s up to our fans to decide which one earns a place in the lineup this fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>How the Voting Works<\/h3>\n<p>From <strong>today through July 28<\/strong>, guests can place their vote by ordering any of the three finalist wing flavors through the ECW+G app. Each order counts as a vote. The flavor with the most orders by the close of voting wins <strong>$2,500 and a permanent spot on the ECW+G menu beginning Fall 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The winner will be revealed on National Chicken Wing Day, Wednesday, July 29, and the winning flavor will be available to add to any menu item for free to guests at participating locations on that day.<\/p>\n<h3>Summer Escape Menu Joins the Lineup<\/h3>\n<p>Also launching today, the Summer Escape menu brings a tropical twist to ECW+G for a limited time. The menu features:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pineapple Shrimp Salad: <\/strong>Crisp chopped lettuce topped with Tajin\u00ae seasoned grilled shrimp, cucumber, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla strips and sweet pineapple salsa.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich: <\/strong>Juicy grilled chicken topped with grilled pineapple, provolone, teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of honey mustard.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hawaiian Flavor: <\/strong>Teriyaki with hints of ginger, sesame and chunks of pineapple. Try it on your wings, burger sandwich, or wrap.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pineapple Jalape\u00f1o Margarita: <\/strong>Sweet pineapple meets fiery jalapeno and tequila, balanced with citrus and a Tajin rim.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pineapple Refresher Mocktail: <\/strong>Pineapple, lime, and a hint of sweetness topped with a splash of soda for a light tropical escape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Building to the Ultimate Wing Party<\/h3>\n<p>The Fan Flavor Showdown and Summer Escape menu are the next chapters in The Ultimate Wing Party, ECW+G\u2019s multi-layered summer campaign building to National Chicken Wing Day on July 29. The day will double as the first birthday of brand mascot Coop and will feature in-restaurant celebrations including Kids Eat Free all day, birthday hats, stickers, and themed activities for younger guests. The brand also has a few additional surprises in store for guests that celebrate in person or want to have a party at home to join in on the fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Fan Flavor Showdown gives our guests a real voice in what shows up on our menu,\u201d said <strong>Ashley Mitchell, VP of Marketing at ECW+G<\/strong>. \u201cPair that with everything we have planned for National Chicken Wing Day, and we have a summer built around the people who love flavor as much as we do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To download the app and cast a vote, guests can visit the App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit <a title=\"EastCoastWings.com\" href=\"https:\/\/eastcoastwings.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>EastCoastWings.com<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastcoastwingsfranchise.com\/?utm_source=RestaurantNews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"East Coast Wings + Grill franchise\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/East-Coast-Wings-Grill-500x62-1.jpg\" alt=\"East Coast Wings + Grill\" width=\"500\" height=\"62\"  ><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>About East Coast Wings + Grill<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>East Coast Wings + Grill (ECW+G) is a full-service, family-dining franchise known for its Buffalo wings, featuring 50+ flavors and seven heat levels, along with a thoughtfully crafted menu designed to appeal to every guest. With locations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virigina and Pennsylvania, the brand has earned consistent recognition for franchisee satisfaction, innovation, culture, system performance and profitability\u00a0from <a title=\"Franchise Business Review\" href=\"https:\/\/franchisebusinessreview.com\/top-franchises\/east-coast-wings-grill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><em><strong><u>Franchise Business Review<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, <a title=\"Franchise Dictionary Magazine\" href=\"https:\/\/franchisedictionarymagazine.com\/2025-game-changers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><em><strong><u>Franchise Dictionary Magazine<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a> and several other notable publications. East Coast Wings + Grill is a member of\u00a0the <a title=\"International Franchise Association\" href=\"https:\/\/www.franchise.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>International Franchise Association<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, with CEO and Founder, Sam Ballas, currently serving as the chair of the association. For more information about East Coast Wings + Grill or its franchise opportunities, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/eastcoastwingsfranchise.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>EastCoastWingsFranchise.com<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Media Contact:<\/strong><br \/>Paige Stark<br \/><a title=\"Fishman PR\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fishmanpr.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><u>Fishman PR<\/u><\/a><br \/><span \n                data-original-string='oTCdgXlE1PtS617If4kFHw==7f49FCo4YLtH6Y1LontW2gWAzEylN7sYeo9EXhdPX7kRXo='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>ps<span class=\"apbct-blur\">****<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>pr.com<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>More from <a title=\"More from East Coast Wings + Grill\" href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/search-2\/?q=%22East%20Coast%20Wings%20%2B%20Grill%22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>East Coast Wings + Grill<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center><\/p>\n<p><\/center>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/east-coast-wings-grill-fan-flavor-showdown-finalists-051926\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guests Decide the Next Permanent Menu Flavor Ahead of National Chicken Wing Day on July 29 Winston-Salem, NC\u00a0 ( RestaurantNews.com ) \u00a0 East Coast Wings + Grill \u00a0 (\u201cECW+G\u201d) today unveils the three finalists in their Fan Flavor Showdown, the centerpiece of the brand\u2019s summer-long Ultimate Wing Party campaign leading to National Chicken Wing Day<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":916331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22625,25696],"tags":[10015,7097],"class_list":["post-916330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-coast","category-wings","tag-coast","tag-wings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=916330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/916331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=916330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=916330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=916330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}