Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over 'Boneless Wings' at Buffalo Wild Wings

Court rules 'boneless wings' is a widely used term that doesn't mislead customers

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A federal judge in Illinois has dismissed a lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings over the chain's use of the term 'boneless wings' on its menu. The judge ruled that 'boneless wings' is a commonly used term that reasonable consumers would understand does not refer to actual chicken wings, similar to how 'chicken fingers' does not mean the dish is made with literal chicken fingers.

Why it matters

This ruling sets an important precedent for food labeling practices, particularly around terms that have become widely accepted in the industry even if they don't perfectly describe the product. The case highlights the challenges of consumer expectations versus common industry terminology.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by customer Aimen Halim, who argued that Buffalo Wild Wings' use of the 'boneless wings' label violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act since the items are 'essentially chicken nuggets' rather than deboned chicken wings. However, the judge ruled that 'boneless wings' is a term that has been used for over 20 years and that reasonable consumers would not assume the dish is made with actual chicken wings, just as 'chicken fingers' does not imply the use of literal chicken fingers.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2023.
  • The judge issued his 10-page ruling dismissing the case on February 18, 2026.

The players

Aimen Halim

The customer who filed the lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, arguing the 'boneless wings' label was misleading.

Judge John Tharp

The U.S. District Judge in Illinois who dismissed Halim's lawsuit, ruling that 'boneless wings' is a widely used term that reasonable consumers would understand.

Buffalo Wild Wings

The restaurant chain that was sued over its use of the 'boneless wings' label on its menu.

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What they’re saying

“Boneless wings are not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth.”

— Judge John Tharp, U.S. District Judge (NBC News)

“A person eating 'chicken fingers' would know that he had not been served fingers.”

— Judge John Tharp, U.S. District Judge (NBC News)

What’s next

The judge gave the plaintiff, Aimen Halim, until March 20 to revise his complaint with more specific facts about his experience that might show a deceptive practice, though the judge was skeptical Halim would be able to do so.

The takeaway

This ruling underscores the challenges of food labeling practices and consumer expectations, particularly around industry terminology that may not perfectly describe a product. It suggests courts will be hesitant to find deception in the use of common industry terms, even if they don't align with a literal interpretation of the label.