Heading South: Vancouver restaurants for chicken and waffles
The Southern states have known for generations that anything topped with fried chicken is going to taste better. But the chicken and waffles craze has only recently caught on in Vancouver. Many restaurants are now featuring this decadent dish on their brunch menus and, topped with syrup and gravy, we couldn’t be happier to indulge. [Photo credit: iStock.com/zkruger]
Havana
1212 Commercial Dr, Vancouver BC V5L 3X4As the name suggests, this Commercial Drive institution with one of the best people-watching patios in the city skews Cuban in its cuisine but they do offer a more Southern-inspired dish of chicken and waffles as part of their daily breakfast menu, available until 2 pm (the Drive is clearly known for its lazy mornings). It’s simple but good: fried chicken topping a Belgian waffle and served with Canadian maple syrup and fruit compote. Order a Cuba Libra to make it more authentic.
Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar Co
150-1055 Hastings St W, Vancouver BC V6E 2E9Known for their oysters and the pros who shuck ‘em (many are award-winning), Chewies in both Kits and downtown on Hastings leans clearly to a New Orleans style of cuisine. Oysters, of course, are on the menu, as are a variety of succulent po’ boy sandwiches and, at brunch and lunch, chicken and waffles. Crispy fried chicken sits atop housemade waffles drizzled with bacon and chive butter and honey — all for just $14. Southern fried goodness.
Yolk's
1298 Hastings St E, Vancouver BC V6A 1S6Once just a food cart and now a full-service restaurant at East Hastings and Clark, Yolk’s is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the better brunch spots in town. Their chicken and waffles is comprised of organic chicken fried to golden, crispy goodness and a Belgian waffle smothered in chicken gravy and maple syrup. Looking to use more of the animal? Add a poached egg for an extra couple of bucks and you’ve got the breakfast of champions.
Portland Craft
3835 Main St, Vancouver BC V5V 3P1Of course the bar and restaurant whose ode to the Pacific Northwest’s favourite city is apparent in everything from its name to its draught beer selection would put chicken and waffles on its menu and call it Put a Bird On It. The phrase made famous by the satirical show Portlandia is an apt one for this weekend brunch staple at the Main Street pub. Their Belgian is topped with — of course — hop-fried buttermilk chicken and served with gravy and syrup.
Tuc Craft Kitchen
60 Cordova St W, Vancouver BC V6B 1C9The rustic vibe at this restaurant straddling Gastown and the Downtown Eastside evokes the days when loggers and longshoremen stalked the area looking for fuel and fun. That rusticity, though, is accompanied by some fabulous high-end comfort food served up in cast-iron skillets bursting with flavour. Their brunch is no different, with a chicken and waffles offering that features savoury waffles topped with chicken and a rich Dijon cheese sauce. You’ll be set for an afternoon felling trees. Or maybe walking the seawall.
Craft Beer Market
85 1st Ave W, Vancouver BC V5Y 0C4This mega craft beer emporium located in the heart of Olympic Village is guaranteed good times for large groups or just to stop in for a seat at the bar to catch a game. Either way, try to pop in on a Saturday or Sunday between 10 am and 2 pm for their platter of chicken and waffles, which is served simply with syrup and their signature hot sauce. Choose from over 140 beers on tap to wash down this savoury weekend indulgence.
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