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By Braden Bell

Though some may cast it off as a dingy, shady restaurant that they just want to drive past in search of something more sophisticated, Waffle House is an American icon that deserves a better reputation than as a subpar breakfast joint. Waffle House has developed its own culture; it is the perfect example of a melting pot, where people from all walks of life can come and share a common interest in tasty, cheap breakfast food. 

Waffle House began in 1955 when two neighbors and friends, Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner, decided to open up a 24-hour restaurant that was focused on good food and an open, social environment. These simple core values of the original establishment still stand strong to this day, even with the company growing to a massive 1,900 locations across 25 states. That is part of what makes Waffle House so special; every time you go into a Waffle House, you get the same homey and welcoming feeling. This allows Waffle House to separate itself from other major food chains, like McDonald’s or IHOP. You feel like you are just another dollar sign to these establishments, and you get treated as such.  

Whenever I eat in a Waffle House, I always notice a different relationship between me and my friends and the wait staff. It is like the wait staff has joined our friend group, where they will have conversations with us and joke around with us, which is an experience that I have found exclusive to Waffle House. Nothing feels better than sitting down and having a meaningful conversation with the server, who calls you “baby” before putting in your order.  My friends and I have come to have favorite servers at the Waffle House on West Broad Street, which we frequent. If our favorite waitress, who served us on our very first visit, is not there, it is always a little bit of a letdown, and the experience is just not the same.        

The social environment does not just end with the staff, and it extends to the other customers sharing a meal with you. Kevin Johnson (‘24) recalls a late-night Waffle House run where he sat down at the counter and had a long, insightful conversation with a stranger in the middle of the night on New Year’s Eve. I have found people’s phones and returned them and had many conversations with people while waiting for a seat.  

However, just because I have had many positive experiences in Waffle Houses does not mean that negative experiences never happen. The internet is littered with stories and videos of fights and brawls breaking out in Waffle Houses across the country. Waffle House is somewhat notorious for being a magnet for late-night conflict and shady characters.  

A screenshot from Austin’s 2022 Waffle House Brawl. Photo credit: Twitter / @rbaylor_74.

A recent, well-known of these stories is the “Waffle House Brawl,” which took place late last year in an Austin, Texas Waffle House. The welcoming, friendly nature of the employees seems to go out the window in this video, as multiple customers and employees fight each other, throwing coffee pots, sugar dispensers, and eventually a chair. Of course, this was all caught on video and spread around the internet.

I personally haven’t experienced anything like this, but I have experienced questionable customer service. On one rainy night after a home football game, my friends and I went to Waffle House to have a filling meal after a satisfying win. We parked our cars and started throwing the football around in the parking lot while waiting for everyone to arrive. Once everyone had arrived, we approached the door when a Waffle House employee came outside and made it very clear to us that they were closed, and that no one was allowed to come in. We were all surprised, because Waffle Houses are famous for being open, even in the wildest of conditions.

This trait goes so far that the disaster relief organization FEMA has created something known as the “Waffle House Index” which gauges the damage done to a neighborhood based on the active menu restrictions and power supply of an afflicted Waffle House. The fact that this exists is a show of the character of Waffle House and the resiliency and grit of the company and their staff.  

The main attraction of Waffle House, the food, is without flaws and redeems any negative reputation that malicious, late-night customers may give the establishment. The food is simple, and the menu small, but it never underperforms and always hits the spot. My personal favorite order is the Texas bacon, egg, and cheese melt, and either one or two waffles, depending on how hungry I am. The sweetness of the waffles balances out the salty and savory sandwich and makes for the perfect breakfast. 

Photo credit: Waffle House.

The hash browns that come with the sandwich are the weakest link of the meal; not because they are unsavory, but because they are just bland and uninteresting when put against the two main courses. Johnson has given me the pro tip of ordering hash browns “Smothered and Covered,” which adds sauteed onions and cheese. He strongly recommends this style for hash browns, and I plan on heeding this recommendation next time I’m at Waffle House.     

Overall, Waffle House is one of the best casual places to eat, at whatever hour, and it deserves a better reputation than it currently gets.  The food is great and the service is usually top tier; what is not to love about Waffle House?    

Featured image credit: Gerry Dincher via flickr.