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A Nutella, banana and sweet cream waffle as built by the Waffle Bus.: Brett Coomer : 29-95
Is it hip to be square?
It is if you are into waffles.
The gridded hot cakes are showing up on menus all over Houston, not to mention on the streets.
Shiny and firetruck red, the Waffle Bus has been serving waffles, both sweet and savory, for less than a month, but it’s already finding a loyal following.
On a recent Saturday, the truck was drawing a crowd at BoConcept, a furniture store just west of Highland Village. Al fresco diners waited patiently for smoked salmon-and-pulled-pork waffle sandwiches, as well as waffle sliders and sweet waffles topped with Nutella and sliced banana.
Phi Nguyen prepares a chicken and waffles sandwich aboard The Waffle Bus.: Brett Coomer : 29-95
Waffle Bus owner Phi Nguyen says his food is drawing a diverse crowd, including lots of families with kids who appreciate his desserts.
“Everyone can relate to waffles,” Nguyen says. “It’s something we all grew up with.”
Known for its wings and waffles and long lines of regulars, The Breakfast Klub celebrated its 10th anniversary in October. Two recently opened businesses only hope they’ll find themselves with Klub-like lines: Resie’s Chicken and Waffles and New Orleans Famous Chicken and Waffles.
The star plate at Recie's Chicken and Waffles.: Syd Kearney : 29-95
Resie’s opened its second location earlier this month in the Greenspoint area. (Its first location opened in September on Mangum Road near the Northwest Freeway but is temporarily closed because of a fire in early January.)
The soul food restaurant decorated with music memorabilia offers specialty waffles such as oatmeal and raisin, peanut butter chocolate chip and buttered pecan.
The signature dish at New Orleans Famous Chicken and Waffles.: Syd Kearney : 29-95
In northwest Houston, just off Tomball Parkway, New Orleans Famous Chicken and Waffles opened in September with an extensive menu of Cajun fare, including fried alligator and po’ boys. But its the signature wings — love the extra crispy bits — and waffles that pack the place for Sunday brunch.
Want more waffles? Here are some options:
Jus' Mac
Chicken and Waffle Mac — served with spicy honey or maple syrup — is an off-the-menu special at Jus’ Mac. So call before you head out to one of these comfort food emporiums.
2617 Yale, 713-622-8648; 16525 Lexington, Sugar Land, 832-886-4757
Donut Waffle, a brunch item at Shepherd Park Draught House.: Syd Kearney : 29-95
Shepherd Park Draught House
This rock ’n’ roll themed spot offers brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. On the menu: the Donut Waffle. It’s a slim waffle topped with two Shipley’s glazed doughnuts, bacon, whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Enjoy with a Mimosa served in a barrel-size glass.
3402 N. Shepherd, 832-767-1380
Waffle fries with blue cheese fondue at Barnaby's.: Syd Kearney : 29-95
Baby Barnaby's
These busy but cheerful cafes offer fries three ways. None is more decadent than the waffle fries topped with a blue cheese fondue. The dish is available as a shareable appetizer or as a sandwich side (with a small up-charge).
Find the nearest location at barnabyscafe.com
The Hay Merchant
The spanking-new craft-beer joint offers a menu by executive chef Antoine Ware that is devoted to house-butchered local meats. Ware’s playful take on chicken and waffles is crispy chicken livers served with molasses butter atop a buttermilk waffle.
1100 Westheimer, 713-523-9805
A Liege-style waffle at Flora & Muse: Melissa Phillip : 29-95
Flora & Muse
For breakfast, this bistro/floral shop offers traditional “Liege-style” waffles, which are sweeter than traditional waffles. The crisp cakes are served with seasonal fruit and whipped cream.
12860 Queensbury Lane, 713-463-6873
Hubcap Burger Grill
Ricky Craig has dreamed up a lot of specialty burgers (Sticky Monkey, anyone?), but the sandwich that gets the most social media love is a periodic special: the Waffle Burger. Yes, there’s syrup involved.
1133 W. 19th, 713-862-0555; 1111 Prairie, 713-223-5885
An extra fluffy waffle at Omelette Waffle: Syd Kearney : 29-95
Omelette & Waffle Restaurant
If you’re just looking for a well-made, fairly priced waffle, you won’t do any better than those at this sweet family-owned restaurant near Sharpstown. The airy concoction is served simply, with sliced fruit and warm syrup.
8533 Beechnut, 713-774-0970
Oreo Cookies n Cream Waffles at Outback.: Courtesy photo
Outback Steakhouse
For a limited time, this steakhouse chain is featuring the Oreo Cookies ’n Cream Waffles. The dessert features warm chocolate waffles served with vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie crumbles and chocolate sauce.
outback.com
Also mentioned
Waffle Bus: Find its ever-changing location at facebook.com/
thewafflebus
The Breakfast Klub: 3711 Travis, 713-528-8561
Resie’s Chicken and Waffles: 233 W. Greens, 281-248-4392
New Orleans Famous Chicken and Waffles: 173735 Tomball Parkway, 281-970-0531
The waffles look good...But I never eat food from one if those roach coaches............
I agree with you David. I never eat out either. I don't trust them at all.
Why are either of you reading reviews just to post that you never eat out? Haters.
"Why are either of you reading reviews just to post that you never eat out? Haters."
"Haters" term/word.
Proof to me that the user of said word/term is a well-indoctrinated politically correct citizen-sheep bleating the knee-jerk rhetoric so often used by the PC mob apparently unable to access enough acquired wisdom to articulate their own distaste for other's OPINIONS that can only be subjectively judged.
Such silly inane ill-educated stalkers of message boards across the Web.
But, verily verily I babble unto thee that MY opinion is just that and about as worthless as a bleating brainwashed citizen-sheep but at least I can spew out some verbiage that is not implanted by others who indoctrinated me.
Carry on.
@David @Standstill do you really think restaurants are all kosher? Guess ignorance is really bliss. Trucks are required to follow all the rules and regulations that restaurants do. If anything, health inspectors visit trucks more frequently than dining establishments.
i'm pretty sure standstill was mocking the original poster
Interesting article, but the photo of the "thing" from Barnaby's looks as if the dog ate it first.
I've never understood the appeal of chicken and waffles, especially when you're using wings. I can't conceive of them as "two great tastes that taste great together." Probably because syrup and chicken don't mix.
I do love waffles, though. Light, fluffy, fresh out of the waffle iron. (Waffle was my nickname back in fifth grade because I could imitate Wallace the Waffle Whiffer on the old Aunt Jemima Waffle commercials.)
you obviously don't know what you're talking about. chicken wings and waffles are great. you've never enjoyed something salty and sweet?
Dude, how do I not know what I'm talking about when I say I don't understand the appeal? Are you a complete moron or are you just having a bad day?
" Probably because syrup and chicken don't mix."
that's how i know you don't know what you're talking about. if they didn't mix, it wouldn't be as popular as it is.
clearly everyone is eating something disgusting because it's popular.
yes smoking cigarettes are good I know cause so many people do it and claim to enjoy it,so there must be something good about it.
I love the food trucks. Very glad to see them become so popular. A great way to serve food without the cost of traditional restaurant.
@Bill - Don't knock the combo of chicken and waffles 'til you try it! It sounded odd to me too...until I tried it. There's something about that sweet/savory combination and the textural differences. If you're not a sweet/savory fan then it may not appeal to you. Of course growing up we used to eat fried chicken and occasionally biscuits with it and honey. I always loved when a little honey got on the crispy, salty flavorful chicken. Yummo!
I'm not knocking it. I simply don't understand the appeal. That's it. Thank you for being nice about it, as opposed to the other guy.
Waffle Fries are NOT WAFFLES! Due Diligence was ignored or you have been misinformed.
I saw the link above this one from the Chron's web site. Looks like another "trend" has hit Houston and as usual, we're jumping all over it. I really wish we'd be more "leader" and less "follower."
This city has restaurants from every friggin' country on Earth, and yet Houstonians jump on every trend that comes down the pike. Last it was roach coaches (err, food trucks), before that it was sliders, and so on.
Is it a low level or civic pride? Poor self-esteem? What?
Set a trend, don't follow them.
And now I'm off to grab some Persian lunch.
I'll tell you what it is.
Houston is nowhere near as hip, trendy, young, funky and cool as Austin which is just a 90-minute drive from here, but the whole country seems to have adopted it as its favorite Texas city.
But here in boring Houston, we have twice the jobs and 1/3 the cost of living.
So, as long as the economy is strong enough to support it, we accept that we follow the trends rather than set them.
Austin is 2 1/2 hours from Houston not 1 1/2 hours, unless you are flying in an airplane. Austin isn't that great. I will take Houston any day.
The donut waffle? Why am I reminded of the chip butty?
Does anyone remember the Kaldi Cafe waffle in the heights back in the 90s?
Nice advertisement for the Waffle Bus there Chron! It was very subtle how you put 70% of the content for the Waffle bus, and sprinkle in a few other places that happen to also sell waffles. Subtle
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