The Best Waffle Restaurant in Every State
Updated: Apr. 09, 2024
Warm the syrup and ready your butter pads. We've turned over every iron for the top waffle restaurants—including trucks, trailers and an Airstream—across the country.
No need to waffle about—America is absolutely bonkers for Belgium’s beloved treat. Here, we’ve rounded up the best waffle restaurant in each state, from New Hampshire to New Mexico, giving you at least 50 reasons to prepare for serious powdered sugar consumption. Plus, you’ll get a rundown of European waffle styles (Liège vs Brussels, for example), and discover plenty of all-American variations, too.
Alabama
Foxy’s Waffle Bar and Sugar Den, Dauphin Island
It’s tough to top the topping selection at Foxy’s Waffle Bar and Sugar Den in Dauphin Island. Here you can pick between multiple syrup flavors (maple, chocolate, caramel and condensed milk) as well as fresh fruit, pecans, chocolate chips, ice cream and more.
For truly gobsmacking garnishes (pork chops?!), check out the best waffle toppings you’ve never heard of.
Alaska
Waffle Rush, Anchorage
Eureka! Strike gold – as in discs of batter cooked to golden perfection – at Waffle Rush, an Anchorage outpost run by husband-and-wife duo Alex and Deb. Chef Alex is so devoted to the dish, he mined 18th-century recipes to find the perfect flavor and had to translate the winning technique from French.
Arizona
Original Breakfast House, Phoenix
With a name like Original Breakfast House, you’d expect a traditional take on waffles. And while you can get a beloved Belgian here, you’ll also find some creative spins at this Phoenix restaurant. Indulge in an apple fritter waffle, banana split waffle or the morning meal that will remind you of camp: the s’mores waffle.
Arkansas
Ceci’s Chicken & Waffles, Little Rock
They say “all you need is a fork” at Ceci’s Chicken & Waffles in Little Rock. But you’ll also want to bring a good-size appetite so you can try all the waffle flavors here: 20 in total. Take your pick of blueberry, turtle or red velvet, among other sweet selections, or go savory with the Baconator, which is piled with pork.
California
Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, Los Angeles
Almost as famous as the Hollywood sign itself, Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles dates back to 1975. That’s when Harlem native Herb Hudson introduced the City of Angels to the sweet-and-savory combo.
Colorado
The Waffle Lab, Fort Collins
A facility devoted to iron-pressed genius, The Waffle Lab in Fort Collins specializes in Liège waffles. Pop quiz: what’s a Liège waffle? This style is made from a yeast-leavened dough (rather than batter) and Belgian pearl sugar that caramelizes when baked. The Brussels is the other type of Belgian waffle, and it’s a lighter take with a fluffier inside.
Connecticut
Elm Street Diner, Stamford
If there were a social media star of the waffle world, it would be the Wow Waffle Tower at Stamford’s Elm Street Diner. Waffles are piled high with over-the-top ingredients like full slices of cake, donuts and even ice cream cones!
Delaware
The Perfect Blend, Newark
Liège waffles are the style of choice at The Perfect Blend in Newark, where you can get the carmelized confection with a variety of candy toppings or spreads (apple butter, cream cheese or fluff). And for even greater alchemy, waffle fanatics can have their birthday party at this homey cafe.
Florida
Ms. Cheezious, Miami
There are a slew of breakfast places with out-of-this-world waffles, but we’re giving props to this Miami spot for making our beloved dish a lunch item. Ms. Cheezious serves a Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle Melt sandwich loaded with cheddar and smothered in country gravy and maple syrup. Make your own sweet sammies with these BLT Waffle Sliders.
Georgia
Waffle House, Decatur
Dine at the Waffle House on College Ave and you’ll be soaking up syrup in the presence of greatness. Down the street in Decatur is the Waffle House Museum—the site of the first restaurant of the chain, which got its start in 1955. Call ahead to get an appointment for a tour and pore over six decades worth of memorabilia.
Hawaii
The Nook Neighborhood Bistro, Honolulu
Tourists say they travel to Hawaii for the beaches, but the mochi waffles at The Nook Neighborhood Bistro in Honolulu are a close second. Sure, miles of white sand surrounded by lush tropical foliage is nice, but these waffles made with sweet rice are truly worth traveling for.
Idaho
Waffle Me Up, Boise
What started as a mobile business with a single grill has now grown into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Boise. Waffle Me Up worked its way into the hearts of locals with its Liège-style delights and both sweet (strawberries and Nutella) and savory toppings (havarti cheese and fried egg). Speaking of breakfast on the go, try these homemade Easy Morning Waffles.
Illinois
Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles, Chicago
For many restaurants, chicken and waffles is a single dish—but not at Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles. On this menu, you’ll find eight different chicken and waffle pairings, plus you can customize your waffles further with pecans, cheese or other toppings.
Indiana
Milktooth, Indianapolis
Indianapolis’ award-winning diner from an award-winning chef serves a sourdough pearl sugar waffle that’s equally deserving of accolades. But because Milktooth‘s culinary innovation doesn’t stop at using sourdough, they also top the dish with local nectarines. Pair this with some heirloom blue corn grits for a brunch that can’t be beat.
Iowa
Eggs and Jam, West Des Moines
Pump up the bass with brunch at Eggs and Jam, a diner with a 90s hip hop theme in West Des Moines. Portraits of Biggie, Tupac and Jay Z line the walls and the menu is just as funky (in a good way) as the atmosphere. Waffles fall under the “Suge Delights” category, along with Phat Stacks pancakes and Toast Face Killah French toast.
Kansas
Little Lion Cafe, Wichita
The vibe at Wichita’s Little Lion Cafe is more dessert destination than breakfast spot. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a waffle sundae, waffle parfait or stroopwafel—cinnamon and caramel pressed between two waffle discs.
Kentucky
Liège & Dairy, Louisville
Treat your tastebuds to a trip to Belgium without ever reaching for your passport (just a ride to Louisville). The bites at Liège & Dairy are made in the style of European street waffles. The ice cream, however, is 100% Louisville. Add a scoop of butter pecan, cookies and cream or strawberry—all handmade and small-batch—to your internationally-inspired pastry.
Louisiana
Elizabeth’s Restaurant, New Orleans
If you’ve tried chicken and waffles already it’s time to step up your sweet-and-savory game in New Orleans. Elizabeth’s Restaurant serves duck waffles during weekend brunch. That’s sweet potato and duck hash atop a bed of pastry made from corn bread batter. A dollop of pepper jelly is the perfect final touch.
Maine
Hot Suppa, Portland
Hot Suppa in Portland specializes in Southern food, which means you can count on chicken and waffles here. But you can also get plenty of the Northeast’s most beloved fruit: blueberries. Prove Maine is your main squeeze of a state with waffles covered in blueberry compote and drizzled with local maple syrup.
Maryland
Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Baltimore
At Baltimore’s Miss Shirley’s Cafe, a family-owned restaurant with three locations, get griddle cakes with cream cheese icing, fresh fruit and chocolate syrup. Or, go for a house favorite with chicken and cheddar green onion waffles. Want to add cheese to another breakfast staple? Try Savory French Toast Bake.
Massachusetts
Zinneken’s, Cambridge
Trust that the Belgian waffles at Zinneken’s in Cambridge are the real deal… because they’re made by Belgians. Owners Nhon and Bertrand are childhood friends who moved to Massachusetts from Europe, saving the state from waffle wannabes. Now with multiple locations and a food truck, they serve both authentic Liège and Brussels-style bites.
Michigan
Sweet Magnolia’s, Southfield
Sweet Magnolia’s in Southfield doesn’t just serve waffles, they serve waffles combined with your favorite sweet treats. You’ll find caramel apple, cinnamon, banana nut and red velvet waffles on the menu. And yes, before you ask, the red velvet waffles are topped with cream cheese icing and fresh strawberries.
Minnesota
Groundswell, St. Paul
Go ahead and sleep in. Breakfast is served all day at Groundswell, a cafe and coffee bar in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood in St. Paul. The creative concoctions here, such as the Earl Grey Waffle (a cornmeal batter mixed with bits of black tea) and the Sweet Potato Waffle Poutine, will eventually lure you from bed.
Mississippi
Fill-Up with Billups, Biloxi
You’d be hard-pressed to find fluffier fare than the waffles at Fill-Up With Billups in Biloxi. The bananas Foster version—topped with whipped cream—is especially tantalizing. For a similar taste, whip up Bananas Foster Baked French Toast at home.
Missouri
Belgian Waffle and Pancake House, Branson
Since 1976, the Belgian Waffle and Pancake House has been treating the people of Branson to authentic waffles, made from an old European family recipe. Riffs on the syrup-covered classic include pecan waffles, fruit waffles (served with a strawberry, blueberry, cherry, peach or apple compote) and cinnamon and sugar waffles.
Montana
Caramel Cookie Waffles, Billings
Looking to expand your waffle repertoire? If you’ve tried both Liège and Brussels from Belgium, give Dutch stroopwafels a go. At Caramel Cookie Waffles in Billings, a cafe and bakery with gift boxes to go, you’ll find this distant cousin of the fluffier confection. A tradition in the Netherlands, stroopwafels are two honeycombed cookies pressed with a caramel filling.
Nebraska
Harold’s Koffee House, Omaha
Some things never change, like the comfort of an old-school diner and the appeal of both salty and sweet bites for breakfast. Enjoy both at Harold’s Koffee House in Omaha, a family-run restaurant for over 60 years. The Waffle Special, which comes with an egg and choice of meat, never goes out of style.
Nevada
Waffles Cafe, North Las Vegas
The best thing since sliced bread… waffles! At Waffles Cafe in North Las Vegas, layer your turkey, lettuce, tomato and other sandwich fixings between two iron-pressed pastries. More of a pizza person? Get your cheese and pepperoni on a bed of waffles here, too. If you’re feeling inspired, whip up Waffle Monte Cristos at home.
New Hampshire
Purple Finch Cafe, Bedford
Breakfast lovers flock to Purple Finch Cafe in Bedford, where waffle wonderment reaches new heights with two dishes: the Banana Split Waffle and the Sugar Shack. The first is fresh fruit, walnuts, whipped cream and chocolate syrup on a bed of golden goodness. The second is a waffle grilled with candied bacon bits and served with eggs and additional bacon or sausage.
New Jersey
Grid Iron Waffle Shop, South Orange
Why limit your Liège intake? Grid Iron Waffle Shop in South Orange serves waffles all day long and works both Belgian styles (Liège and Brussels) into sweet and savory dishes. Here, waffles make an appearance in soups, sandwiches, paninis and as the base of Benedicts.
New Mexico
Tia B’s La Wafflería, Albuquerque
The irons at Tia B’s La Wafflería may come by way of Belgium, but the dishes that follow have a decidedly Mexican flair. Add a side of avo to your waffles rancheros, tostadas or benitos. All the batters here are made from scratch and include gluten-free and vegan options.
New York
Sarabeth’s, New York City
Sarabeth’s is practically synonymous with “brunch” in NYC. The legendary spot started as a small bakery back in 1981 and now has five locations and a full menu of American cuisine. But breakfast is still the biggest draw, and the pumpkin waffles have a lot to do with that.
Explore more scrumptious pumpkin breakfast recipes.
North Carolina
Cast Iron Waffles, Charlotte
Go naked in North Carolina—as in your waffle, obviously—with a simple Liège carmelized to perfection at Cast Iron Waffles. Or, cover your confection in bacon (the Lumberjack), brown sugar cinnamon (Cinnamon Roll) or a berry blend (Slowberry Cobbler). If you can’t get enough, this cafe and coffee shop also sells frozen waffles for your personal stash.
North Dakota
Copper Dog, Mandan
Named for a beloved family pet as well as the ideal color of everyone’s favorite fluffy treat, Mandan’s Copper Dog serves waffles with North Dakotan distinction. The batter is made with the state’s wheat and flour, and toppings are sourced from local ingredients.
Ohio
Butter Cafe, Dayton
With a name like Butter Cafe, you can bet the waffles here are indulgent. They’re also gluten free at this Dayton diner, so even eaters with dietary restrictions can get in on the powdered sugar party. Add Nutella and strawberries as toppers for a real taste bud celebration.
Oklahoma
Waffle Champion, Oklahoma City
Do you keep in shape by dunking waffle bites into chocolate, blueberry and caramel dipping sauce? Are you game for a double header of chicken and waffles followed by a dessert tiramisu waffle? Can you keep up with waffle fries? If yes, then you are a waffle athlete and Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City is your training ground.
Oregon
Puffle Waffle, Happy Valley
Delight in the divergent sensations of a warm waffle with ice cream at Happy Valley’s Puffle Waffle. Inspired by egg waffles, the popular street snack in Hong Kong, these textured cones are loaded with toppings like pineapple, rainbow mochi and chocolate Pocky. You can even get the waffle itself in different flavors, including green tea, chocolate and original.
Pennsylvania
Waffles Incaffeinated, Beaver
At Waffles Incaffeinated, you can get a classic Belgian waffle (gluten and dairy-free) or a waffle topped with berries (also known as the Megaberry), but we encourage you to dive deeper into this brunch spot’s menu. Try a sausage gravy waffle or a waffle stuffed with chocolate chips, bananas, peanut butter, and fudge sauce. If you’re unsure of what waffle you’re feeling, try their “Waffle Frolic,” to sample two savory and two sweet waffle combinations.
Rhode Island
The Burgundian, Providence
Catch The Burgundian, a pop-up waffle service and food truck, at farmers markets, cafes and breweries around Providence. The menu here, which includes a waffle-churro combo and a dish dedicated to Elvis, is worth chasing. Plus, word has it a brick and mortar location is on the horizon.
South Carolina
Early Bird Diner, Charleston
The early bird gets the pecan-fried chicken and cinnamon waffles served with a side of honey mustard BBQ sauce and maple syrup. But actually, the late risers get the same, as Early Bird Diner in Charleston serves breakfast all day. Locals also flock here for the cheesy grits, which have earned celebrity status all their own.
South Dakota
Phillips Avenue Diner, Sioux Falls
Some call it hump day, but at Phillips Avenue Diner in Sioux Falls—a 1950s-style eatery built into a silver Airstream—the middle of the week is reason to celebrate. Stop in on Waffle Wednesday for discounted waffle prices when you also buy a drink.
Tennessee
The Loveless Cafe, Nashville
Look for the neon sign on Highway 100. The Loveless Cafe, a Nashville landmark that dates back to 1951, started as a humble roadside stop for fried chicken and later grew into a motel. Today, the guest rooms have been converted into shops, but the cafe remains and serves chicken and waffles worthy of legendary status.
Texas
Seabrook Waffle Company, Seabrook
At Seabrook Waffle Company, you’re in for a “traditional Liege waffle” made from dough over the typical waffle batter, and a variety of toppings from ice cream scoops to Jalapeños, cinnamon maple powder, and even green onions!
Utah
Bruges Waffles & Frites, Salt Lake City
Plating is more like a sculptural art at Salt Lake City’s Bruges Waffles & Frites, where the Chicken Waffle actually looks like its namesake animal and the Waffle Monster (Liège waffles stuffed with speculoos cookie spread, vanilla ice cream and strawberries) resembles the most tasty troll you’re likely to encounter. Bruges operates a mobile fleet, including a truck and a waffle bus.
Vermont
Sneakers Bistro, Winooski
In a state known for its syrup, you better believe you can get some decent waffles. More than decent, the delectable Belgians at Sneakers Bistro in Winooski will make you wanna lace up your trainers and run, not walk, over for breakfast. You’ll know you’ve made it when you see the oversized shoes hanging above the entrance.
Virginia
Brabo, Alexandria
Bagel abstainers will appreciate the smoked salmon waffles at Brabo, a brasserie in Old Town Alexandria. In addition to lox, these savory bites come with whipped cream cheese and pickled onions. The other savory waffle option here is Korean-inspired with fried chicken and an orange glaze.
Washington
Sweet Iron, Seattle
Liège the day! That’s the advice at Seattle’s Sweet Iron, where the caramelized take on waffles rules the menu. Owner Adrienne wanted to bring the lesser-known style to America after spending time in Belgium as a teenager and noticing that Brussels waffles seemed to monopolize breakfast here.
West Virginia
Blue White Grill, Martinsburg
Partake in one of the most comforting American pastimes: sliding into a diner banquette and deciding between sweet and savory for breakfast. For over seven decades, Blue White Grill in Martinsburg, a family-run operation, has been providing exactly that experience. As for what to pick, you may as well get both with the Belgium Waffle Combo, which comes with eggs, bacon and sausage.
Wisconsin
Belgiis Waffle Bar, Wisconsin Dells
As it turns out, the waterpark capital of the world also knows waffles, thanks to Belgiis Waffle Bar. The specialty here is gourmet sandwiches called Waffle Handers—forkless fare made with Belgium’s best pastry in place of bread. Biting into smoked bacon, fresh-cracked eggs and Wisconsin cheddar stuffed between two warm wedges is certainly as thrilling as any water park slide.
Wyoming
Corbet’s Cabin, Teton Village
Feast on waffles with a side of alpine adventure. The only way to get to Corbet’s Cabin in Teton Village is by aerial tram. This sugar-friendly shack sits 10,450 feet above Jackson Hole. After you’ve gobbled up your made-to-order waffle, it’s up to you how you’ll descend. Take the tram or, if you’re a daredevil, ski down to the bottom.
Originally Published: July 10, 2020
