Crave chicken and waffles? Palm Beach County restaurants have your fix

Chicken and waffles.

The seemingly unconventional mix of breakfast and dinner, a decadent combination of salty and sweet, all in the form of one of the most delicious dishes to ever grace any table that ever existed anywhere.

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Just ordering this wildly popular dish can begin a level of anticipation that has one watching every swing of the kitchen door. The very thought of that crispy, spicy, succulent chicken juxtaposed against a luscious waffle drenched in maple syrup arriving at your table borders on primal.

Though some historians believe it was the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1600s who started the combination, their version (which involved waffles topped with pulled chicken and gravy) isn’t exactly what people think of today.

Today’s chicken and waffles has serious soul-food roots and Wells Supper Club in Harlem, New York in the late 1930s is cited as one of the first restaurants to serve the dish.

At the time it was the perfect compromise for late-night Jazz musicians, who, arriving too late for dinner, but too early for breakfast, enjoyed the appetizing combination of fried chicken and waffles.

Fast forward to the mid-1970s and the opening of the iconic Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles in Southern California and the craze truly began hitting the mainstream.

Here are five restaurants in Palm Beach County to get your fix of this pinnacle of culinary achievement.

Coolinary Cafe, Palm Beach Gardens

Coolinary’s Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle ($32) is the dish chef-owner Tim Lipman’s kitchen can’t take off the menu. This Palm Beach Gardens gastropub pairs boneless fried chicken, available in white meat, dark meat or a mix of both, with a hearty waffle that balances crisp edges and pillowy softness. The finishing touch is a house-made maple syrup infused with Dijon mustard and red pepper flakes, adding sweet heat to every bite. ~ Diana Biederman

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Details: 4580 Donald Ross Road, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-249-6760; thecoolpig.com

Batch, West Palm Beach

The chicken ‘n’ waffles at Batch is pretty next level and when you taste it you’ll know. Their version features a bone-in, half chicken that’s brined in sweet tea and arrives screaming hot to your table. It’s moist and juicy with breading that has great crunch and an excellent level of spice. Supporting that half chicken is a cheddar, cornbread waffle. Not some delicate flower, Batch’s version is a little denser and the perfect vehicle for their chili-thyme honey butter (that gives it a nice kick) and for soaking up the decadent, sweet thrill of their bourbon-maple syrup. This dish is offered all day at Batch for $29.

Details: 223 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. 561-708-0000; batchlocalkitchen.com

The House, West Palm Beach

The House’s version of chicken and waffles is a beautifully plated masterpiece that practically elevates this comfort food into a work of art. Sitting atop its waffle bed, the boneless chicken breast arrives almost too hot to eat, surrounded by rapidly melting butter, shallow pools of bourbon-maple syrup and flanked by two glistening pieces of glorious bacon. The chicken is mildly spicy and super tender with a breading that adheres perfectly to the chicken. The waffle is a perfect middle ground in terms of not being overly light and crispy or thick and heavy and greedily soaked up the bourbon-maple syrup and butter. For your plan of attack, if you can get a piece of chicken, waffle and bacon in each bite, you will find inner peace. Oh, and if you’re sitting on the patio, overlooking the immaculately maintained golf course, and have the impeccable service we experienced, it’s even better.

Details: 7301 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach. 561-530-3791; thehousewestpalm.com

Benny’s on the Beach, Lake Worth Beach

Arriving at our table like a towering monument to chicken and waffles itself, Benny’s version features three boneless, white meat pieces of chicken stacked high on top of a folded waffle. The spice level at Benny’s is definitely next level and sets it apart. The chicken is glazed with a honey Siracha sauce (but is still crispy) and topped with jalapeño slices. You can opt out of this and just go traditional (our server offered), but if you like some heat, this is the chicken and waffles for you. It will get your sinuses working and, when juxtaposed against the sweetness of the syrup and savory butter, BAM! It’s so good! The waffle is light and crisp and holds an excellent amount of syrup (Benny’s even gives you extra. Score.). The dish is served with a side of piping hot, perfectly seasoned home fries and is a lot of bang for the buck. You could possibly even split this dish with someone… but why would you want to do that.

Details: 10 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach. 561-582-9001; bennysonthebeach.com

Chick-fil-A

This new entry to the popular chain’s menu probably had many people asking the question “what took you so long?” Seriously, they already make a tasty bird and they serve breakfast. Foot dragging aside, how was their foray into this dish fit for Nirvana? It’s an excellent representation in a mobile form. This allows drivers (not that you should eat and drive) the chance at some happiness whether on their way to work or on a road trip. The maple-flavored waffles are good and there’s enough maple flavor that you don’t really need the extra syrup, but… if you’ve got it, it’s a nice touch. The chicken is that perfect Chick-fil-A goodness you know and love and those three pieces of smoked applewood bacon add some welcome porky, salty goodness. Though technically it’s a ‘limited time offer’ that will be available only until Nov. 14, who wants to bet this one becomes permanent.

Details: multiple locations throughout Palm Beach County. chick-fil-a.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Crave chicken and waffles? Palm Beach County restaurants have your fix

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Reporting by Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 5:11 AM.