High quality ingredients, Meh Tastefulness…read more
I always check Yelp and Google before trying a new place, so seeing consistent 4.4+ ratings definitely had me excited. While my experience didn't quite match the hype, I can absolutely understand why this family-owned restaurant has built such a loyal following.
Let me preface this by saying I consider myself a bit of a waffle connoisseur...and a fried chicken connoisseur.
First, customer service was gracious and excellent. "C" street downtown stinks. But business is business. The eatery is clean, tidy and simplistic decor.
I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich, fries, greens, and the coconut syrup. The flavor is not better than Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. But the quality of food is. Halal. Enough said.
The waffle:
I liked how one side was flattened while the other kept the classic waffle pockets. It was soft, moist, lightly crisp, and not as sweet as most waffles. I added delicious old-fashioned maple syrup from home.
The chicken:
The chicken had a beautiful golden crust, and the white meat was juicy. My only suggestion would be to marinate the chicken itself before it gets breaded. A flavorful coating can only do so much, and I think that one small change would take it to another level.
The fries? They were fantastic. No notes.
The greens:
I also ordered the greens. I haven't eaten pork with greens in probably 20 years, so I'm used to greens with smoked turkey or no meat at all. These were made with halal bacon, which I appreciate, but they were a little too salty, rich, and fatty for my taste. They only had one serving left, so I may have gotten the bottom of the pan where all the flavorful bits settled. I'd be willing to give them another try.
The syrup:
Then there was the coconut syrup. The only coconut I usually use is on my hair and skin...okay, and occasionally in a really good coconut margarita. So this one just wasn't my jam. That said, a family member loved it. If coconut is your thing, I think you'll really enjoy it because it's unique and well executed.
I could tell this food is made with care, and that matters. This just wasn't the flavor profile I personally look for in chicken and waffles.
If I were already downtown and someone said, "Let's eat here," I would choose something.
Would I put it in my personal top five chicken-and-waffle spots in San Diego? Probably not.
But I would absolutely recommend giving this local family business a try and deciding for yourself.
"Supporting good people who care about what they serve is always worth it."