This seems like a truly bizarre combination to us. And yet when we were looking for pictures of waffles a while back, every other picture had fried chicken on the plate. Can anyone enlighten us?
From what we can tell (mostly thanks to Wikipedia), the trend of combining fried chicken with waffles originated at the Wells Supper Club in Harlem around 1938 when late-night patrons couldn't decide if they wanted dinner or breakfast. The dish then spread to (or created) restaurant chains like Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles and Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken and Waffles.
Despite it's apparent popularity, we still have trouble imagining how this pair would, well, pair. Sweet buttermilk waffles drizzled in syrup alongside tender deep-fried chicken? We like both things separately, but eating them together doesn't really appeal.
Then again, maybe it's not so far-fetched if you consider the fact that biscuits smeared with honey is another classic accompaniment to fried chicken. Biscuits or waffles, who's to quibble?
In case you want to try it at home...
• Fried Chicken and Waffles from Emeril Lagasse
• Chicken and Waffles Southern Dinner from Better Homes and Gardens
Are you a fan of chicken and waffles?
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Absolutely a fan! And since I recently moved from LA to Atlanta, I've been lucky enough to experience both Roscoe's and Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's chicken and waffles.
The waffles I have had paired with fried chicken are not as sweet as regular waffles, but more savory.
It's amazing. End of story.
Growing up in central Pennsylvania, this meal was made with diced or sliced chicken in gravy, poured over savory waffles. I wasn't aware of the fried chicken version until I moved to Los Angeles a year or two ago.
I live in LA and eat at Roscoe's too. I never knew fried chicken and maple syrup could go so well together! Sometimes I throw in some hot sauce to spice things up. It's surprisingly tasty.
I live in Harlem, and let me tell you, this is the best hangover food in the world. It tastes like heaven.
Classic Southern soul food! Out here, we have a place called Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles (http://www.loloschickenandwaffles.com/). It's a tiny little converted house. Take a bite of chicken, a bite of dressed waffle (dressed with butter and syrup), and you have one of those "perfect bites" I love so much. Mmm. Crispy waffles with a hot melt-in-your-mouth center, with crispy fried chicken. Yowzas.
I love Roscoe's. It's really an experience worth having.
Snoop and Larry King love it. (YouTube link)
I think you maybe just have to go actually try it. I recommend Amy Ruth's, on 116th.
I used to dip my chicken nuggets in honey and loved it, so this pairing seems really delicious. I'd like to try it soon!
Heaven on a plate, but I like cane syrup.
Oh yeah. I used to live in ATL. It was all over the place. It's great stuff.
dude Roscoes is OVERRATED. It's meh/pretty ok at best. Not worth the price. Roscoes is along the lines of Pinks, the Pantry and other wait in line places. MEH
I've never had it but salty food with sweet (especially real maple syrup) is darned good. I guess it's not so different from dipping your bacon or sausage in syrup, after all. I'd definitely give it a try.
Once, for a friend's birthday dinner, my husband made sage waffles with confit chicken legs, served with a drizzle of pure maple syrup- it was amaaaaaazing!
My husband and I frequent a soul food place (Sandra Dees) in our hometown and they have this on the menu on the weekends only. We've never ordered it but have always been tempted. It's not for not thinking it would taste good but rather how we would feel afterwards. I'd love to try but don't think my jeans would thank me aftewards.
yum. never had it, always wanted to.
Now I'm going to have that song from "Tapeheads" playing in my head all day.
Swanky Modes!!!
I always used to think it was a strange combo...until I tried it a couple of months ago. Absolutely delicious!
If you haven't had a plate of chicken & waffles yet... get on it! It is the most amazing salty/sweet/greasy combo I have ever put in my mouth. As so many here have said, Roscoe's in L.A. is one of the best in the biz. A really delish spin on it is featured on the menu of new Brooklyn NY restaurant, Buttermilk Channel... Fried Pork Chops and Cheddar Waffles... YUM!!!!!!
I can't put my hand on it now, but a couple years ago I came across a recipe for savory waffles (with curry and other spices in them) and pan friend chicken. Yum-o. The waffles were less like breakfast and more like exotic breads.
Seriously - the BEST!!
Chicken and waffles is the ultimate comfort food combo. I'm going to be thinking about them all day now.
And way to go for the Tapeheads reference!
Alton Brown offered up a variation on this:
Marinated Steak Tips on Pancakes.
Oh. My. God.
I thought fried chicken on a waffle was good- IMHO, it's got nothing on this.
hat tip mytwowinters! pennsylvania dutch chicken and waffles is the best!!! It's a great way to use leftover roast chicken
it seems to be an african american soul food staple. i never saw it among white southerners when i was growing up in tennessee, but saw it often in harlem.
I'm a native of the deep South, and although I have never seen this delicacy in person I think it sounds like a pretty natural (and awesome!) match. I can't wait to try it someday.
Around here, a lot of people eat biscuits with maple or cane syrup alongside fried chicken, which is a pretty similar concept.