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Published By: Lisa Huff |Created On:  |Updated: | 12 Comments
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Wondering where chicken and waffles originated? Read on for some quick history on the fun food combo!
Where Did Chicken and Waffles Originate?
Oh how I love Chicken and Waffles don’t you? Talk about comfort food! My Chicken Stuffed Waffles Pops has always been a super popular chicken and waffles appetizer.
Bud did you ever wonder where did chicken and waffles come from anyways? Where did chicken and waffles originate?
I thought it would be a quick and clear answer, but apparent it is not. Recipes tend to evolve and change over time so sometimes hard to track down the original origin for sure.
There are some different theories and stories about the chicken and waffles origin. I did some online research on chicken and waffles history and was a little surprised at all the conflicting information and different theories. Interesting stuff though!
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The history of chicken and waffles may have started in the southern United States. Some say African Americans in the south started the recipe a very long time ago. Other say some restaurants in NYC (more specifically Harlem) is where chicken and waffles started. Some theories also give the credit to the Pennsylvania Dutch for starting the chicken and waffles craze.
Some believe Southern African Americans ate chicken with pancakes many years ago, and the pancakes eventually evolved into waffles which may be some of the earliest chicken and waffles recipes.
Others think modern versions of chicken and waffles originated in the African American community of Harlem, New York. In the 1930’s chicken and waffles was served at various locations like Tillie’s Chicken Shack, Dickie Well’s jazz club, and Wells Supper Club.
Then there’s the Pennsylvania Dutch. Although the Pennsylvania Dutch version is a little different than what you may think of chicken and waffles today. The Pennsylvania Dutch version generally contains a plain waffle with a pulled stewed chicken on top with gravy. It doesn’t have fried chicken pieces like other popular restaurants today.
So as you can see who invented chicken and waffles and the chicken and waffles origin is a bit of a mystery. What’s your opinion? I personally think it may have been a combination of all of the above since recipes change and evolve over time.
Where to Find Chicken and Waffles Near Me?
So even though no one knows for sure where did chicken and waffles originate, I think we can all agree it’s delicious!
Are you in the mood for chicken and waffles now?
Are you wondering now “Where to find chicken and waffles near me?”Lots of popular places to try the delicious dish!
Now there are many popular places serving up chicken and waffles. Some of the most well known are:
- Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles (Los Angeles, California and other California locations)
- Lo-Los Chicken & Waffles (currently in Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, and Texas)
- Dame’s Chicken and Waffles (North Carolina)
- Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles (Atlanta, Georgia)
Do you have a favorite place? Let me know in the comments below!
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Comments
SUZANNE ROBERTS says
I grew up in Texas. I am now 75 years old. I never heard of chicken and waffles until recently. The whole idea of that combination repels me. I think what they are is some Yankee version of what they think people eat in the south. I hear it referred to as ‘southern food’ all the time. People need to get their facts straight.
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Nancy says
I grew up in the south and never heard of chicken and waffles together. Only in the last 10 years have I even heard of them
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John Higgins says
Lived in Fl for the last 35 years and I grew up knowing chicken and waffles was a thing, maybe only those who ate it knew about it until a few years ago it caught some traction in the wide world lol but yes I’d say for awhile at least it was an urban legend just not you’re typical urban legend as defined ..
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Larry says
I too am 60 years old lived in Georgia born in Georgia lived in North Florida most of my life still trying to figure out this chicken and waffle dilemma never heard about it until just a few years back
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TM Denmark says
Fried chicken and waffles isn’t folklore and it didn’t start on a restaurant menu. Versions of it organically appeared in various places in the U.S. but the one commonality is that it was eaten by African-American musicans after a late night of playing at a venue. After finishing their gig, musicians would stay at the establishment they were playing to relax, drink and eat after the customers were gone. Fried chicken was something that every lounge, juke joint or speakeasy would serve and have on hand. The musicians would eat whatever leftovers there were, laugh, talk, drink and in a few hours they were hungry again. By this time it was morning and those same establishments would be getting ready to serve breakfast. The leftover cold fried chicken would get heated up in the same oven as the biscuits if the establishment served biscuits for breakfast. There were some establishments that would fry their biscuits so the cold fried chicken would get refried along with the fried biscuits they would eat and there were other establishments that would serve pancakes with their fried chicken. It’s not surprising that chicken and waffles would have been served as well. It isn’t something widely known outside of the African-American community. You’ll still find people who have never heard of it before.
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Archie Mayo says
I am 68 years old & grew up in S GA surrounded by incredible Southern cooks. Have lived in GA, SC, MS, FL, & visited most Southern states and have eaten in hundreds of restaurants in these states. I never heard of chicken & waffles until a few years ago. It is an Urban Legend like Brunswick Stew.
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Chem Smith says
I too have lived in many southern states and have only in recent years heard about chicken and waffles. I like fried chicken and I. Like waffles, just not together.
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Lisa Huff says
Definitely not for everyone :)
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denise says
wells nyc( no longer open)
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Stephen Dobbins says
KFC Restaraunts serve a great menu item that includes waffles with butter and syrup with your choice of white meat or dark meat. Check it out. It’s fabulous!
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Lisa Huff says
Sounds great, thanks for sharing!
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damon holton says
Deez nuts! Moultrie,ga
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