# Chicken & waffles=huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129 "2013-03-27T19:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/21 "2013-03-27T20:45:28Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > See [Chicken and waffles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_and_waffles). > > Yeah, it’s a thing. Someone will be along shortly to sing the praises of [Roscoe’s](http://roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/). (I haven’t been impressed myself, but I know many who rave.) I’ve had chicken & waffles exactly once, at Roscoe’s in Long Beach, in 2008 IIRC. I liked it but not enough to go out of my way to get it. It started popping up here in Boston (maybe about 18-24 months ago?) on the menus of a few restaurants but I haven’t bothered with it yet. As far as I can tell, chefs here do it for hipster-ironic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/22 "2013-03-27T20:49:26Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Let’s just get this out of the way at the start: the Cheesy Garlic Bread flavor is the only one that has the right to win this contest. There’s nothing inherently _wrong_, per se, with the [del]srirachi[/del] [del]sriracha[/del] [del]sirachi[/del] [Rooster Sauce](http://static-l3.blogcritics.org/09/10/09/115849/091006sriracha.jpg) flavor, but they’re just too damn hot for daily consumption. There _is_ something inherently wrong with putting the flavor of maple syrup into a potato chip; I have empirical data that backs up this assertion, and jftr, I couldn’t taste chicken in there at all. > > All of the above aside, chicken and waffles makes a delicious meal. I won’t dunk my chicken into the maple syrup, but neither will I feel obligated to throw it away if some maple syrup gets on it. And it might be nice to try some chicken gravy on a waffle some time. I didn’t think the sriracha ones were particularly hot. They certainly weren’t any hotter than the “Flaming Hot” variety of Lay’s or the competitors equivalent. The complaint I have with those is they’re a tad sweet and just taste like a cross between Flaming Hots and Sour Cream & Onion. And the Chicken & Waffles ones are fine, but, once again, too sweet, and don’t remind me at all of chicken. They just taste like maple syrup to me. Now, and I can’t remember who mentioned this, but someone mentioned mixing the sriracha and chicken and waffles flavors together. That actually sounds like it would be pretty good. At least to me. The garlic ones are obviously going to win because, well, who doesn’t like garlic bread? Boring. ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/23 "2013-03-27T21:05:02Z")
It’s soul food. Never had chicken for breakfast before visiting my great-grandma in Tennessee when I was around 8 or 9. She not only served chicken and waffles for breakfast (chickens from her coop at that), but also “fresh” ham, and biscuits and gravy. Later, when Roscoe’s arrived in Southern California, the combination didn’t seem as odd to me. I haven’t tried Lay’s yet, so I can’t speak on the flavor, but if you get real chicken and waffles done right, it’s an amazing combination. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/24 "2013-03-27T21:10:33Z")
When I used to be able to eat this kind of food, I loved going [here](http://www.loloschickenandwaffles.com). ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/25 "2013-03-27T21:13:28Z")
I have seen chicken and waffles on menus here in Houston, TX as long as I have been alive. It was an African American thing often served on Saturday and Sunday morning in BBQ and Soul Food joints, it is tasty. Hot, peppered fried chicken with a thick waffle and fake maple syrup, nom. I like mine with a couple of eggs over easy. The chips sound gross **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Randvek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a6a055/32.png) [@Randvek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randvek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/26 "2013-03-27T21:26:20Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It may be derived from Southern Soul food traditions but it isn’t a traditional Southern food. I am Southern and I have never seen it or had it. I have only heard of it in the last year. It is a current trendy food some reason so it gets lots of national press and mentioned on places like Facebook. My understanding is that was first popularized by blacks that left the South and moved to the North or California. It suddenly caught on about a year ago and spread rapidly. So many Southerners have complained that it isn’t a “Southern” food that I’ve actually seen a few articles out there explaining exactly where it came from. I foolishly don’t have any at hand at the moment, but the short of it is that it started in New York City by homesick Southerners and gradually worked its way back “home.” How Southern that makes it is debatable. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/27 "2013-03-27T22:37:26Z")
What’s funny is, in my family, we eat turkey and waffles, which you would think would be similar. But it’s off-the-bone turkey meat, and gravy over everything instead of syrup. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/28 "2013-03-27T22:51:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What’s funny is, in my family, we eat turkey and waffles, which you would think would be similar. But it’s off-the-bone turkey meat, and gravy over everything instead of syrup. Yeah, in another thread where this is discussed, a chicken version of what you’re describing was referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch chicken and waffles. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/29 "2013-03-27T23:09:49Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I put this in GQ as there may be a factual answer to it. Factual answers are to be found in Cafe Society as well as GQ. Since it’s food, it’s off to CS. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/30 "2013-03-27T23:35:03Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Are you supposed to put maple syrup and/or butter on the waffles? If so, should the syrup run into the chicken, or should they remain segregated? Last time I was at Sylvia’s (also the only time; except for one six-month period ten years ago it’s never been convenient), it was served with syrup. I like sweet+salt and sweet+savory anyway, so that was fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/31 "2013-03-27T23:48:15Z")
The chips were okay by themselves, but dipped in maple syrup…om nom nom. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/32 "2013-03-28T00:13:31Z")
[I thought this thread tasted familiar.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=683309&highlight=Chicken+waffle) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/33 "2013-03-28T00:25:51Z")
Bunny Berigan recorded a tune called “Chicken and Waffles” in 1935. I couldn’t find it on Youtube, but you can hear a snippet of it [here](http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-And-Waffles/dp/B000W1WP50). Berigan was a jazz musician who would probably have hung out with a lot of black folks, and would have been familiar with what came to be called “soul food” (I doubt the term was in use at the time). My favorite chicken and waffles are from [Brown Sugar Kitchen](http://brownsugarkitchen.com/) in Oakland. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/34 "2013-03-28T03:31:53Z")
> [@Lynnsey](#): > > What you didn’t tell us—were the chips any good? Nah. Chicken and maple syrup is an odd taste. > [@Shagnasty](#): > > It may be derived from Southern Soul food traditions but it isn’t a traditional Southern food. I am Southern and I have never seen it or had it. I have only heard of it in the last year. It is a current trendy food some reason so it gets lots of national press and mentioned on places like Facebook. My understanding is that was first popularized by blacks that left the South and moved to the North or California. It suddenly caught on about a year ago and spread rapidly. I’m glad I’m not the only one who was unaware of this combo. I’ve been to every state and never saw it on any menu, not even in hole in the wall southern eateries I’d been to. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/35 "2013-03-28T03:40:44Z")
You can’t talk about Roscoe’s without checking out [Roscoe’s Rap](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9dBiw7xfVU), from Tapeheads. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/36 "2013-03-28T03:43:28Z")
I actually enjoyed the IHOP version, but I always go with boneless chicken when I have the option. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/37 "2013-03-28T03:47:00Z")
It seems like awesome late-night drunk munchies but other than that, I am having a hard time seeing chicken and syrup and butter and waffles as an appetizing combination. But hey, I’ve never even seen the dish, so I know nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/38 "2013-03-28T04:22:05Z")
We’re not allowed to say black? Popular amongst black southerners and it has spread. It’s very good if unhealthy. Worth having every now and then. As for chips, I still eat prawn cocktail flavoured crisps so no biggie there. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/39 "2013-03-28T04:37:07Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I venture that most Southern Californians has been aware of chicken and waffles for at least the last 30 years. The owner of Roscoe’s brought the recipe to LA from Harlam in 1975. “Chicken and waffles” are mentioned prominently in James M. Cain’s heavily detailed novel _Mildred Pierce_ published in 1941 and set in Southern California during the Great Depression. It is, in fact, the main dish served in the restaurant opened by the the eponymous character. So, while Roscoe’s may have brought their particular recipe to California in '75, it has been aroudn for decades before. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129/40 "2013-03-28T04:49:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Nah. Chicken and maple syrup is an odd taste. Perhaps, but I can’t see any evidence of chicken flavor in the Lays chips. It’s more like maple syrup flavored potato chips to me (unfortunately, as I like sweet/savory/meat combos. Now if they did a sage breakfast sausage and maple syrup chip, I’d be all over that.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-waffles-huh/654129.md?page=3)