Whoever’s keeping up with the Memphis must-eats list these days needs to know about the chicken wings at Good Fortune Co. 

The Downtown restaurant’s co-owners Sarah Cai and Arturo Leighton joined me on this week’s “Sound Bites” episode, and I wasted no time in asking them to spill their chicken wing secrets.

“Since we’ve been open, we’ve probably sold hundreds of thousands of orders,” Cai said. “That’s not even (individual) wings; that’s orders. And every single wing needs to be hand-dipped.”

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A highlight of their Asian-fusion menu, the GFC wings are immaculately crispy and coated in a mouthwatering sticky Sichuan honey sauce that’s practically caramelized. The meat has been moist and tender every time I’ve ordered the wings, and the flavor has been a consistent balance of tart, lightly sweet and peppery.

The two were surprisingly open in sharing their wing-cooking method, so be sure to listen for that at the top of the interview.

On the Good Fortune Co. menu you’ll also find ramen bowls brimming with luscious, savory broths and house-made noodles; there are hand-formed dumplings filled with crawfish and cream cheese, Impossible beef or even birria beef. Yes, that is the taco trend in dumpling form.

In the conversation, Cai and Leighton talked about their dedication to consistency, quality and homespun food inspired by their upbringings and cultural heritage.

Cai said she went to middle and high school in China and traveled extensively in Asia.

“I was really exposed to such a vibrant collection of flavors and watching people connect through food, especially when language wasn’t always universal,” she said. “And so I really think that around that time is when I started falling in love with food and culture and wanting to learn more about that and bring those experiences back to back to Memphis — Memphis specifically.”

Leighton said his parents are both Chilean immigrants and he was raised in Florida where he also went to culinary school and gained experience working in restaurants.

“So I’m a crazy alligator boy,” he said.

The two said they found their way to Memphis through family connections and a vision to provide something new among the dining options in the city. 

“I think one of the reasons ... that we came to Memphis is that we saw kind of like a void in the type of foods that we wanted to eat,” Leighton said.

At this point, Cai and Leighton are also TV vets. Good Fortune Co. has appeared on the Food Network on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” and the two have appeared separately on “Guy’s Grocery Games.” Last fall, Leighton stayed up all night for the Food Network’s “24 in 24: Last Chef Standing” in which 24 chefs cooked for 24 hours straight in the same kitchen.

It’s all led up to their most recent adventure, a competition food truck tour along the East Coast, filmed for a yet-to-be-announced show. On the podcast, they shared stories about that experience and what it’s like being on TV and working with Guy Fieri. We also talked about their numerous pop-ups and special events and their cooking philosophies. 

In a bonus part of this extended episode, Cai and Leighton offer specific recommendations for where to eat and what to order around town.

Listen for the full interview.