Every worthwhile sports bar appetizer, ranked by pure personal preference

Credit: Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap / Facebook

13. Chicken tenders

I thought long and hard about whether chicken tenders fell into the “actually just a lost entree” category, but ultimately I decided they were solidly an appetizer, appearing far more consistently on appetizer menus than flatbreads or quesadillas.

It’s hard to go wrong with any form of fried chicken and, as with all the successful sports bar appetizers, bars really elevate chicken tenders as an app with sauces.

12. Chips and salsa

On one hand, chips and salsa is free at most Mexican places worth their tequila salt. On the other, chips and salsa still shows up on the menu of generic sports bars. And, as an appetizer, chips and salsa is an extremely classic choice.

As anyone who has absentmindedly put back a bowl of chips without realizing it can attest, they are delicious, addicting and a strong start.

11. Chips and guac

Everything from the above but with guacamole. Look, I know it’s incredibly basic and very millennial to laud the virtues of avocado and its various forms, but so be it.

Guac is very good. Chips and guac is a very good appetizer.

10. Spinach and artichoke dip

Dips, generally, good appetizers. Spinach and artichoke dip — which should always feature a (un)healthy and unspoken quantity of cheese — is one of the best. While it won’t appear on every sports bar menu, like hummus, it immediately raises the caliber of the sports bar you are in and immediately warrants your consideration.