I want to let you know that I almost wrote another angsty, wannabe sassy, life-is-so-hard-because-transfer-apps-are-so-ugh post and then I remembered that I recently had really good fried chicken which led me to think about the awesome fried chicken in the bay area and thus, I couldn’t put this off any longer.
Je vous présente chicken and waffles, chicken, and waffles
(HOHOHO NOT A LISTICLE WSUP)
Bless you for reading this.
As a foreward, chicken and waffles are part of a genre of food known as Soul Food. If you have yet to be acquainted with this gift that the south of north america has contributed to us northerners, get to know each other. I swear, your relationship with food will flourish in ways you didn’t dream were possible.
The greatest of all happens to be Brown Sugar Kitchen. Based in West Oakland, borderline Emeryville, is a quaint , red building on Mandela Parkway. I would often go with my lovely Sugar Blossom(whom I miss dearly). In order to avoid wait times( which I guarantee you will encounter), my parents would go for breakfast and write my name on the waiting list so by the time it was lunch, I would arrive with my lovely Sugar Blossom and together, we would dine after an eight to fifteen minute wait as opposed to the average ninety minute wait. That is not to say that the line isn’t worth it -because it most definitely is- I was given an opportunity and utilized it to its full potential( GRACIAS PARENTALS).
So, why them? Why is it #worththewait? Is it reason enough to go into West-Oakland?
Guys, Oakland is kinda the most rad place in the bay area so #plsbechill and just go ye.
Their chef, Tanya Holland, is a goddess of fried chicken mastery. After training at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in France, she came back to the US with a fire and reinvented soul food. Her fried chicken is marinated far in advance, giving every bite even and juicy flavor. The waffles are not sweet nor do they resemble the texture of the great, respected Belgian waffle. Rather, it is quite light with a bubbly crunch. The syrup is also not sweet and is apple in flavor. And before I get carried away with talking about the rest of your menu, I’ll move on…
TO-
Honestly, it’s hard to even try to compare to Brown Sugar Kitchen because everything is carried out with distinct and meticulous care.
BUT ANYWAY-
Hard Knox Cafe has locations on both Clement and 3rd. I’ve been to both buhahaha. Lucky you.
Personally, I go for the corn bread, ribs, and other menu items but their hours are significantly less limited as opposed to Brown Sugar Kitchen so if I really want the waffle and chicken, I’ll get it but it won’t be the same. It’s not the same because they do it classic. This is perfectly fine because they execute it well. But if you go, do yourself a favor and order the meats and corn bread as well as the chicken and waffle.
Lastly, because I have to, 900 Grayson. I know, I know, I knooooowwww. Hype. So. Much. Stinkin. Hype. I, too, cry. The lovely Sugar Blossom and I made a single attempt here and while the service was abysmal, the “Demon Lover” as they call it, is pretty great. I think it’s because of the gravy and I’m a complete sucker for gravy.
It’s good gravy.
OK, so, those are my top three chicken avec waffle places.
Let’s move onto F R I E D C H I C K E N straight up list style
- Bakesale Betty’s- it’s a sandwich and a good sandwich indeed
- Brenda’s French Soul Food- classic
- Miss Ollie’s- classic
- The Bird- competitively good sandwich
- Little Skillet- classic
- Portal- GRAVY GOT ME LIKE
- House of Chicken and Waffles- classic but I recommend the Oakland location seeing as Walnut Creek isn’t as authentic; ya feel me?
I changed my mind. Waffles need their own post entirely. There are too many great waffles and each need to be given justice.
No waffle left behind #vivelaWAFFLE
Ps this list is not comprehensive, definitive, nor is it of expert opinion
collectif de cole 