The Best Fried Chicken and Waffles Across America

You may think of chicken and waffles as a Southern dish, but it was popularized in Harlem before becoming a staple in the Los Angeles area as well. Nowadays, you can find it all over the country thanks to an irresistible combination of sweet and savory flavors and a satisfying crunch. Here are some of the best renditions of fried chicken and waffles in America, from classic versions with spicy maple syrup to creative renditions with red velvet waffles. 

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Spots for Fried Chicken in Every State

Los Angeles

Roscoe's is a small soul food chain founded by a Harlem native in 1975, and it's since become an iconic part of the city for Hollywood stars and the average joe alike. Though you can get all kinds of Southern specialties like greens and hot water cornbread, the menu centers around chicken and waffles. Most combos are named after people, like the Obama special with three chicken wings and a waffle, or Herb's special with a half chicken and two waffles.

Related: 25 Places to Find Amazing Waffles Across the Country

Miami

Founded in 2011 by a former "Top Chef" finalist, Yardbird and its modern farmhouse style has since grown to six swanky locations in places like Las Vegas and Singapore. It's been recognized by Bon Appetit and Southern Living for its fried chicken and Southern fare. The signature chicken and waffles will cost you a pretty penny — you are in South Beach, after all — but with its perfect fried chicken, sharp cheddar waffle, honey hot sauce, and spiced watermelon, it's worth it.

Related: Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in America

New York

Modern chicken and waffles originated in Harlem, and there are still plenty of great renditions to choose from, like the version at Red Rooster, owned by acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson. They like to change up their chicken and waffles occasionally with different influences, and previous versions have used Asian flavors, for example. But the standard is served with hot honey chicken and maple hot sauce for a sweet and spicy dish.

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Raleigh, North Carolina

Though the pandemic put a hold on the communal seating at Beasley's, the congenial and casual atmosphere remains even with space between the tables. Chef Ashley Christensen's grandmother fried chickens, and her father was a beekeeper, lending the restaurant its name and focus. The buttermilk chicken is pressure fried and served with a Belgian waffle and drizzle of honey.

Richmond, Virginia

The Speakeasy Grill isn't hidden as its name suggests, but it does have an opulent, 1920s feel in its renovated 1907 mansion. The Hippodrome theater next door, which has hosted Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, helps set the mood. There are three chicken and waffles options on the menu, all with super-crunchy, fried-chicken tenders coated with secret seasoning, plus a spicy "hell sauce," or sausage gravy and sweet chili sauce.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Nexus Brewery and Restaurant got the Guy Fieri seal of approval when he visited for his show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." He tried the fried chicken, which is cooked fresh every time it's ordered, so expect to wait 25 minutes. But the crunchy-coated chicken is well worth it, as is the thick Belgian waffle it's served on. You can add pork cracklings, hot sauce, or pecan honey on top, or get a cornbread or Scottish cinnamon waffle for endless variations.

Arkansas, multiple locations 

When a restaurant is only open for breakfast and brunch, you know it probably does chicken and waffles pretty well. The Buttered Biscuit has four locations, and there's often a wait on weekends as people pile in for brunch. The "Kickin' Chicken" and waffles, with spicy fried chicken, bacon jam, and maple syrup, were good enough to convince one local critic that it's a must-order item.

McDonough, Georgia

Anyone who has trouble deciding what to order at restaurants might have a tough time with the endless options at Nana's Chicken-n-Waffles. The straight chicken and waffles come with fried wings and your choice of five flavors of waffles, including red velvet and apple cinnamon. You can also upgrade to a specialty waffle, which includes decadent choices like peach cobbler, cinnamon roll, and bananas foster with a deep-fried cinnamon waffle.

Denver

You'd expect a quirky, no-nonsense metal bar like the Brutal Poodle to have great bar food like burgers and loaded mac and cheese, and they absolutely do — plus chicken and waffles. It starts with a jalapeno cheddar cornbread waffle that's a little spicy, plus battered, boneless chicken strips flecked with pepper. The sweet and spicy sriracha maple syrup is what brings the whole thing together.

New York

The founder of Amy Ruth's, Carl Redding, named the restaurant he opened on Mother's Day in 1999 after his grandmother. He learned to cook at her side in Alabama, and he prepares waffles and soul food the way she taught him. Dishes are named after people important to the Black community, so order the Rev. Al Sharpton for basic chicken and waffles, or the Tommy Tomita for chicken wings and waffles. You can also get waffles with whiting, catfish, or pork chops.

Hawaii, multiple locations

Hawaiians love their brunch, but it's easier to find loco moco and coconut pancakes than it is chicken and waffles. That's why the Hawaii-born husband-and-wife team that opened Pancakes & Waffles Hawaii made sure to make a fantastic rendition on the dish, something they missed from their time on the mainland. There are three versions, all made with crunchy fried chicken thighs on thick Belgian waffles, with your choice of honey butter, country gravy, or brown gravy for an island twist on the classic.

Oklahoma City

While the form of chicken and waffles doesn't vary much — a big waffle topped with big pieces of chicken — Waffle Champion is bucking that trend. Their chicken and waffles dish comes in sandwich form, with the waffle wrapped around buttermilk chicken tenders, crispy fried leeks, and Tabasco honey like a pita sandwich, ensuring you get a little something of everything in each bite. There's also a Buffalo chicken version with ranch slaw and pickles.

Chicago

With a name like Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles, it better make a memorable version of its namesake dish, and it delivers. This Bronzeville gem serves up soul specialties like chicken gizzards, collards, and sweet potato pie. The waffles are thin and crispy, and come with your choice of wings, white meat, or dark meat. Get the whole thing smothered in gravy for a messy feast, or try the catfish and waffles.

Multiple locations

Though it was founded in San Diego, Hash House A Go Go is best known for its multiple Las Vegas locations, where its over-the-top cuisine fits right in with the atmosphere. The menu's "twisted farm food" includes a unique version of chicken and waffles, made with sage and cornflake fried chicken, thick Belgian waffles, smoked bacon slices, and cherry tomatoes. The whole thing is skewered dramatically into a tower with a steak knife and fresh twigs of rosemary.

North Carolina, multiple locations

Dame's Chicken and Waffles has some of the most unusual and interesting versions of the dish in the country. You can choose from a signature creation, like the Orange Speckled Chabo with a fried chicken cutlet on a sweet potato waffle with orange honeycomb smear and honey dijon, or you can create your own. Options include gingerbread waffle, peach apricot or chocolate hazelnut butter, and sweet whisky cream or Asian plum sauce drizzled over the top.

Dallas

It might seem strange to find great chicken and waffles at a Canadian-themed restaurant, but Maple Leaf Diner serves up a mix of specialties from our northern neighbor along with down home Texan favorites. There are two options to choose from, and both eye-catching versions are stacked high on the plate with the help of a skewer. The standard version comes with fried chicken breast, Belgian waffles, slices of crisp bacon, strawberries, and two mini cream puffs, or you can swap the bacon for smoked country sausage.

Portland, Oregon

Louisiana natives opened Screen Door in 2006, and its popularity, especially for its chicken and waffles, has allowed the founders to open a second location. There's nothing gimmicky about the dish here, it's just a fat, crispy Belgian waffle topped with fried chicken breast that are both done really well. You can order it with one, two, or three pieces of chicken, and trust us: you'll want all three of the buttermilk-battered strips. This is a spot for serious chicken lovers.

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