In 25 U.S. states, from roughly Kentucky and Virginia to Florida, west to Mississippi (and a few others), at nearly every Interstate exit, travelers take comfort in seeing the big friendly yellow and black Waffle House sign (often more than one per exit). For the road-weary traveler, Waffle House, while perhaps not the healthiest option, is a source of 24-hour/day friendly service and consistently good food.
Specializing in breakfast, with waffles (of course), and their signature hash brown potatoes served eight different ways, and ordered in a legendary kind of shorthand that must be in a southern dictionary somewhere, Waffle House is a Down South tradition. But, in addition to these marquee items, always hot coffee served in a classic white diner mug, southern grits, and other breakfast staples, the big yellow and black, glass-enclosed roadside diners deliver steaks, burgers, grilled cheese, chili, pie, and other diner classics.
Waffle House – Friendly Black & Yellow Sign
While Waffle House is a massive chain, and not exactly a “local” joint, for the friendly (always call me “Hon”) service, pecan waffles, patty sausage, and scattered smothered and covered (with grilled onions and melted cheddar cheese) hash browns, on every trip back home I invariably find myself stopping in at one of the 381 stores (according to an article published in 2014) in my home state of Georgia. On this last trip my waitress, clad in a pink camouflage ball cap, offered endless coffee refills as well as extra syrup for my biscuits, and was everything I have come to expect from a Waffle House.
She was fast, friendly, didn’t judge me for the heap of food I’d ordered, and seemed genuinely interested in why I was in town, and what life back in Dublin was like. She’d never been, but knew enough to ask about Brexit, and still never skipped a beat in ensuring that my waffle was perfectly done, and my bacon crisp to the point of brittle.
And, if that level of service and culinary exceptionalism isn’t enough, Waffle House is also good entertainment value for money. As it’s open all day/night, Waffle House is a terrific place to go for people watching. On occasion, if you’re extremely lucky, you’ll catch “the show”.
Waffle House – “The Show”
Waffle House restaurants almost always consist of 8-12 four-person booths and 6-8 counter seats, and an open kitchen. On a day/night when one of the cooks and one of the waitress have been working together a bit too long, and are getting on each other’s nerves, the, normally efficient barking of customer orders turns terse and caustic (“the show”), as the cook smacks his spatula on the griddle in anger at the waitress’ constant questioning about an overdue order of sunny side up, or a charred steak that was ordered medium.
“There goes my tip. I guess little Johnny doesn’t get to eat this week”, she’ll yell mockingly to the amusement of the entire dining room.
“The Show” aside, Waffle House is an American roadside staple with food that is warm, flavorful, filling, and, if not exactly “good for you”, soul-nourishing in so many ways.
Cop Cachet: Not a lot of cops, but very much a local hangout, and a trucker’s and working man’s favorite.
Mug Meter: Sky High – Nice, heavy-in-the-hand white china diner mugs, emblazoned with a Waffle House logo. They’re for sale too.
text and photos by Glenn D. Kaufmann
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The author/editor is indebted to others for the content in this article. While the final product on this page is ours, and we claim full ownership and responsibility for same, what you read here is based on our research, which led us to the following sources of information:
1. Personal Interviews and experience
