A superb combination of sweet and savoury, these chicken and waffle dishes range from familiar classics to unexpected and exciting takes on the flavours we all love. Despite the variations of this soul food you’ll find across America, these recipes all have one thing in common – customers absolutely adore them. Due to COVID-19, be sure to check local travel restrictions, including state travel advisories and individual websites for dine-in, takeout and delivery options before you visit.

A favourite for brunch, you'll find Five Bar across three locations in Alabama, plus one in Athens, Georgia. Among fluffy beignets and signature Bloody Marys you'll find the reason why diners love this brunch spot –  their chicken 'n' waffles is the standout dish. Fresh chicken thigh and drumstick are covered in the joint's famous batter and fried to perfection, before they're served with honey and walnut waffles, whipped butter and maple syrup.

"The American table reimagined" is the tagline of this modern restaurant that's so much more than just a chicken joint. The chicken with waffle and honey butter is great, but go for the customer-favourite chicken 'n' waffle sandwich and you'll be surprised by this inventive take on the classic dish. The crispy chicken is served with bacon, blistered shishito peppers and brown sugar mayo inside two warm waffles.

With four Lo-Lo's locations in the state (plus one in Nevada and one in Texas), Arizona locals are never too far away from first-class chicken and waffles. The Lo-Lo's Hood Classics menu includes all the firm favourites, from Tre-Tre's (two legs and a waffle) to Lo-Lo's (a Southern-style three-piece plate with two waffles). There's also a good selection of soul food classics, like grits, that can be added to the plate too.

One of the signature dishes at this breakfast and brunch joint, the chicken and waffles is a top-choice among visitors. The chicken has a bit of a spicy kick to it and is served with bacon jam, eggs and syrup, and is finished with icing sugar. It's sweet, savoury and totally comforting. 

If you’re going to focus on just two things, they both need to be excellent. Thankfully Roscoe’s serves superb fried chicken and fluffy, perfectly golden waffles, as fans of this LA favourite know. It was founded in 1975 and now has locations scattered throughout southern California. Be sure to douse your chicken and waffles with lashings of butter and syrup, or go for Obama's Special – three wings with waffle, potato salad or fries.

For chicken and waffles with a bit of heat, look no further than Denver's laid-back joint The Brutal Poodle. Their jalapeño and Cheddar cornbread waffle and hand-battered fried chicken breast dish comes complete with spicy sriracha maple syrup. Customers say the dish is excellent and they all love the spicy twist.

Praised for affordable prices, juicy meat and tasty, thick waffles, Cheek's is the best they've ever had, according to some diners. Customers can choose either three wings or three tenders tossed in a huge range of sauces, from sweet teriyaki to maple honey, which are then served with a waffle covered in icing sugar. Cinnamon sugar, whipped cream and honey butter upgrades are all available too.

Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch in three locations across the state, Metro Diner offers fried chicken in many shapes and forms but it's their chicken and waffle combo that people can't get enough of. The plate comes complete with half a chicken, Belgian waffles topped with icing sugar and sweet strawberry butter. The dish is finished with their signature sweet and spicy sauce, which customers also love.

One of the hottest spots in Miami Beach, James Beard-nominated Yardbird has been serving some unbelievably tasty fried chicken since it opened. While other menu items at this upscale chicken restaurant might distract you, it's the poultry you should look out for. The fried chicken was inspired by owner John Kunkel's grandmother’s recipe and takes 27 hours to prepare. It's then served with honey hot sauce, spiced watermelon, sharp Cheddar waffles and bourbon maple syrup – perfection.

The best place for chicken and waffles in Georgia is Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles. The much-loved dish comes with three golden fried chicken wings and a choice of waffle – options range from blueberry to award-winning apple and cinnamon. The dish is completed with hot butter syrup and icing sugar. Diners say the waffles are moist and fluffy and the chicken is extra crispy.

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Praised for both excellent service and delicious dishes, Forty Niner Restaurant's chicken and waffles has been a firm favourite for a long time. The generous portion combines crispy, juicy chicken and fluffy soft waffles with syrup, but you can swap for ube (purple sweet potato) sauce or upgrade to ube waffles. 

This fab restaurant gets great reviews for its fantastic waffles, and their chicken and waffles is no exception. The golden chicken is served atop tasty waffles with a generous spoonful of white gravy and bacon ladled over. Served with an onion ring, the dish is a big hit that's praised for the tender chicken and perfectly crispy waffle.

With countless reviews praising their fantastic take on chicken and waffles, Batter & Berries is a must in Chicago. Named Cluck-N-Gaufre, the dish comprises of a sweet potato waffle that's stuffed with bits of fried chicken and a buttermilk herb fried chicken breast. There's nutmeg hot sauce served on the side and a generous dusting of icing sugar on the waffle too.

His Place Eatery, a Southern-style restaurant in Indianapolis, is ready to satisfy any of your chicken and waffle cravings with three great options. The classic, which is also favoured by customers, is four crispy chicken wings on a fluffy Belgian waffle, served with two sides such as mac ‘n’ cheese or coleslaw. If you're a dessert person get the Belgian waffles with fried chicken, peach cobbler and ice cream, or the red velvet waffles and chicken drizzled with cream cheese glaze.

Diners rave about the chicken and waffles at the funky 1990s hip hop-themed brunch spot Eggs and Jam. Customers say the chicken is juicy and perfectly fried, and the waffle crisp, soft and almost marshmallow-like. The signature dish is served with a tasty orange mimosa marmalade syrup, which fans say is "mouthwatering".

While chicken and waffles might not be on Doo-Dah Diner's regular menu, the dish appears on the specials menu often enough to become a favourite among diners. The dish is a sweet and savoury flavour explosion, featuring juicy fried chicken, crispy bacon, fluffy waffles, strawberries and homestyle white gravy. Fans say it's a perfectly balanced dish that's packed with flavour.

With a modern, barn-like interior, Joella's Hot Chicken serves equally enticing dishes, including a superb plate of chicken and waffles. A choice of either fried tenders or wings, the chicken is served on homestyle waffles with maple syrup or spiked honey. Diners consistently praise the juicy interior and crispy exterior of the chicken as well as the flavourful waffles.

The must-try on the menu at this Southern soul food restaurant is the crispy fried chicken and Belgian waffle. Choose between juicy, crunchy wings or chicken strips and a flavoured waffle – rum, pralines and cream, banana nut, chocolate and strawberry are just some of the options. The whole thing is then covered with lashings of bourbon syrup and many customers say it’s the best they’ve ever eaten.

A Hot Suppa speciality, the chicken and waffle plate combines juicy fried boneless chicken with a buttermilk waffle and generous helpings of local maple syrup. Diners say the dish is incredibly delicious in its simplicity and praise the service too. The joint itself is perfect for a late breakfast or brunch with an array of much-loved classics on the menu.

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This chicken and waffle shop has a few locations – all of which get glowing reviews. The menu is simple – pick your waffle, from buttermilk and Oreo to chocolate chip and blueberry, and it's then served with two fried chicken breast tenders. Visitors praise the tender meat and the delicious waffle flavours. 

When it comes to Massachusetts, Boston restaurants usually hog the limelight. But the central city of Worcester has a burgeoning culinary scene too. In the kitchen of Maddi’s Cookery and Taphouse you'll find established Massachusetts chef Adam Hicks, who dishes up tasty pub-style meals such as the much-loved fried chicken and waffles with jalapeño-infused maple syrup, fried jalapeños and a fried egg.

Fried chicken lovers will find heaven here as Ma Lou's Fried Chicken offers a mouthwatering menu of all things poultry. Their fried chicken tacos and creative banh mi are both highly rated, as is the chicken and waffles plate served with lashings of syrup. Rated a perfect dish, people praise the juicy and crispy chicken as well as the fluffy waffle. 

There are four Revival restaurants in Minnesota, all serving an incredible array of Southern dishes from shrimp 'n' grits to mac ‘n’ cheese. The chicken is the star of the show though and customers love it with waffles or in a waffle sandwich, when available (pictured). The former comes with honey butter, maple syrup and can be cooked Southern-style or Tennessee hot, while the specials menu sandwich is a real fork-and-knife affair with two waffles, fried chicken and egg, finished with white gravy.

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, this little diner in Jackson is easy to miss. But those who find it are rewarded with the best chicken and waffles around: sweet, salty, soft and crunchy. The tenders are well seasoned with crispy breading and the waffle is incredibly fluffy. It's also worth noting that it's not just the tasty dish that attracts praise, but also the staff serving it.

This creative chicken and waffle restaurant is definitely not the kind of food you're used to. Here, crispy buttermilk chicken gets drenched in queso, signature sriracha-infused maple sauce or sweet BBQ sauce and is served in a waffle cone or bubble waffle. The customer favourite is the Asian Chili with Thai-inspired chilli sauce poured over the crispy chicken and toasted sesame seeds and pickles on top. 

A place to gorge on Southern comfort food in Montana, Roost Fried Chicken has plenty of mouthwatering options on the menu, but it's the chicken and waffles that people keep coming back for. A dish both sweet and savoury, it consists of two juicy fried chicken breasts, a large Belgian-style waffle and lashings of maple syrup as well as honey pecan butter.

With three locations in Omaha, Blatt Beer & Table is a casual restaurant, serving craft beer and pub food. Among the offering is the much-loved chicken and waffle dish, incorporating fried chicken strips, jalapeño cornbread waffle, honey-orange butter, black pepper gravy and maple syrup. Diners say it's simply out of this world.

There are quite a few Hash House locations in Las Vegas (plus elsewhere in Nevada and other states) that serve up Andy's World Famous Chicken and Waffles. The chicken is battered in a mix of corn starch, corn flakes, fresh sage and spices before its fried to perfection and stacked atop waffles with smoked bacon and tomatoes. The dish is finished with lashings of hot syrup reduction. People rave about the large portion and superb flavours.

Thanks to a menu filled with creative options, the chicken and waffles might not stand out, but wait until you've tried them. Customers absolutely love the flavours of The Friendly Toast's dish that combines a fluffy Belgian waffle with a fried chicken breast, coated in Rice Krispies. The portion is made complete with bacon and roasted corn, and then finished with a drizzle of hot honey and a generous dollop of chipotle maple sour cream.

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Diners are still going strong in New Jersey and Tops Diner is one of the most loved of all. It serves absolutely massive portions from the early hours in the morning to very late at night. For breakfast, customers love the huge portion of chicken and waffles. A half bird served with a Belgian waffle and hot honey, the dish is a big hit with many diners saying it's an absolute must-have.

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Nexus Brewery dishes up some really good, down-to-earth food that consistently receives rave reviews from customers. A standout offering here is the Southern chicken and waffles. You can upgrade the dish with some crackling and honey pecan butter, but fans say it's great as it is. Some have even called it the best chicken and waffles they've ever had.

In a city with endless choices, it’s not easy standing out – but Sweet Chick has gained a reputation for serving impeccable fried chicken. With four locations in New York City and one in Los Angeles, this mini-chain chicken joint is consistently rated very highly for juicy yet crispy chicken and deliciously fluffy waffles. You can choose between classic or Nashville hot chicken and upgrade to a vanilla glaze waffle if you wish.

For chicken and waffles that will blow you away, Dame’s in Durham is the place (there are also locations in Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Cary). There's a lot you can customise, from the type of waffle to how your chicken is cooked, but the one dish that stands out is What a Classy Hen. A customer favourite that's said to be seasoned and cooked to perfection, it's a fried chicken cutlet on a classic waffle with vanilla and almond shmear.

Calling itself a "funky eating joint", Brew Bird in Fargo focuses on all things fried chicken. The highly rated chicken and waffles is only available on the weekend brunch menu and the dish comes with two crispy chicken tenders on a gluten-free waffle. There's also a lip-smacking hot honey drizzle and jalapeño slaw on the side, which diners absolutely love.

Soho Chicken + Whiskey serves modern Southern cuisine along with an excellent range of craft beers and cocktails. The fried chicken is brined, breaded and deep-fried before it's served with rosemary waffles, icing sugar and Ohio maple syrup. People consistently praise the wonderful service, great atmosphere and the top-notch chicken. The waffle itself also gets a huge thumbs up thanks to its unusual flavouring.

Focusing on all things waffle, from sandwiches to sweet desserts, Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City is perfect for tasty chicken and waffles too. Fans rate the flavoursome chicken and absolutely love the waffle that's slightly crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside. The dish is finished with crispy leeks and tabasco honey, which customers also rave about. 

Serving brunch seven days a week, Portland's Screen Door focuses on Southern soul food and has received countless accolades since it opened in 2006 (now with two locations). It's famous for the incredibly tender fried chicken that's best eaten with a mountain of their sweet potato waffles and syrup. Customers say the place is always extremely busy, but it's worth the wait once the juicy, crispy chicken and the sweet waffles arrive.

A more unconventional take on chicken and waffles, this superb dish at Green Eggs Café is presented in the style of another brunch classic, eggs Benedict. The Southern fried chicken breast is served on a buttermilk waffle along with two eggs and a side of your choice. The dish is finished with both maple syrup and hollandaise sauce, creating an unusual sweet and savoury taste. Fans reckon it's a phenomenal dish and praise the incredible balance of flavours.

This unique joint serves tasty plates piled high with juicy poultry. You'll find a variety of takes on fried chicken here, but the chicken and waffles dish is simply a match made in heaven. Three pieces of chicken are served with a Belgian waffle and a generous drizzle of maple syrup. The juicy bone-in chicken in particular is a firm favourite among diners.

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The offerings at highly rated Johnny D’s Waffles range from omelettes and steak and eggs to pancakes and skillets yet it's their chicken and waffles that stands out. Cooked to perfection and praised by visitors for the crispy chicken and soft waffle, the dish combines a house-made waffle with fried chicken tenders and cinnamon sugar. To take the sweet and savoury combination even further, upgrade to the 'twisted' version with bacon waffle and maple mustard.

Sometimes all you need is some tasty diner food and Phillips Avenue Diner does exactly that. The dish is a simple but effective combination of buttermilk chicken tenders and fluffy waffles, served with whipped pecan butter and vanilla-infused maple syrup. No fuss, no frills, just really delicious classics customers love and keep coming back for.

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A small chain originally from Nashville, Hattie B's gets top reviews not only for their fried chicken but their chicken and waffles in particular. The chicken is flavoured to your preference, from Southern with no heat to mild and Shut The Cluck Up!!! which comes with a burn notice. It's then served with a fluffy waffle, dusted with icing sugar. Diners enjoy the combination of the juicy chicken with a crispy coating and the soft waffle.

A Canadian diner in the heart of Texas, Maple Leaf is a perfect match for the Lone Star State, with its oversized plates of incredibly delicious food. Thankfully breakfast here is served all day, so you're never too far away from the diner's famous chicken, bacon and waffles. The fried chicken breast is served with crispy bacon on Belgian waffles with a generous helping of strawberries, whipped cream and cream puffs, and customers absolutely adore it.

For a relaxed dinner and delicious comfort food classics, look no further than Provo's Station 22 Cafe. With a good-sized dinner menu and daily brunch, customers keep coming back for the chicken and waffles in particular. The 24-hour brined and fried chicken is served with warm buttermilk waffles, watermelon and house-made buttermilk syrup. The chicken is said to be juicy and perfectly crispy.

A local hit since 1980, Sneakers Bistro serves an unfussy menu of family favourites, but it's the chicken and waffles that stand out. The crispy fried chicken is served on a Belgian waffle with a fried egg and tasty homemade sausage gravy, which people can't get enough of. They say the dish is perfectly cooked and full of flavour.

With multiple locations in Virginia, Hair of the Dog Eatery has been going since 2013, serving Southern-style comfort brunch food alongside craft cocktails. The chicken and waffles here is one of the most-loved dishes by the customers. The generous portion consists of a bacon-infused waffle sitting underneath a juicy fried chicken thigh. There's candied bacon, sausage gravy and bourbon maple syrup too, and its fans say it's a must-try dish.

Witness boasts plenty of elevated Southern comfort food classics on its innovative brunch and dinner menus, but it's the chicken and waffles that's unbeatable. The seemingly simple combination of free-range fried organic chicken, golden waffle and bourbon maple syrup is all about the flavour, which customers say there's plenty of. The joint is also praised for excellent service.

Available on Table 9's brunch menu, served every weekend, the chicken and waffles is one of the joint's top dishes. The chicken is praised for its light breading and juicy interior while the waffle is soft and fluffy, served with bourbon maple syrup and butter. The generous portion sizes and friendly service are also a hit at this popular Morgantown restaurant.

A Sweet Diner signature dish, the chicken and waffles here is something truly special. The homemade cornbread waffle is topped with three Memphis-style fried chicken tenders, which are finished with warm maple syrup, Memphis hot sauce and whipped butter. A perfect harmony of sweet, salty, savoury and spicy flavours, the dish is even referred to as the best they've ever had by some customers.

Located in a gorgeous historic log cabin, Cafe Genevieve is a firm favourite among locals thanks to its friendly service, excellent cooking and daily brunches. A top choice here is the chicken and waffle dish, smothered in pure Vermont maple syrup. Visitors say the waffle arrives at the table warm and fluffy, the chicken has a perfectly crispy coating and the generous portion size is almost enough to feed two. 

Now find out which joint is serving the best fried chicken in your state