Chicken and waffles are traditional dishes and one of many people’s favorite breakfast and brunch options. We believe it is one of your favorite meals, too, which is why we chose to list the restaurants and cafes that serve the best chicken and waffles in Nashville.
Let’s take a look at what makes the chicken and waffles different in Nashville, Tennessee and where is the best place to try them!
The Taste of Nashville Cuisine
The overall Nashville cuisine focuses on meat and crispy texture. Among the most popular dishes you can try here are the Meat-and-three and Crispy fried chicken with waffles or biscuits.
Nashville chefs know how to prepare the chicken and make it special, remarkable, and recognizable for this place. Often, Nashville chicken is marinated or spiced with cayenne chili and deep-fried in extra hot oil.
In the local restaurants, you may find a chicken and waffle with a twist – combined with bacon, spiced honey, and peach compote. Sweet, hot, and crispy – the perfect balance of tastes and textures in a single plate.
Fried pickles are another popular appetizer meal in Nashville, so the chances of fried pickles ending besides your chicken and waffles are pretty much possible. The pickles are sliced, dried, and coated with flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper mixture.
If you are thinking about a drink that will accompany your meal, we recommend fruit tea – the popular Nashville drink you must try. The tea is flavored with pineapple juice and citrus fruits like lemon, orange, and mint, sweetened with cane sugar.
Milk and Honey Nashville
In this restaurant, you can find numerous tasty dishes that make it difficult to choose only one. You can find the chicken and waffles dish under the “Other Good Stuff” section on the menu.
You can choose between the classic chicken and hot chicken, which is a version unique to Nashville. A portion of chicken and waffles here costs $16, with an option to choose between home fries and fresh berries as a side.
The chicken is super crispy, placed over fresh buttermilk waffles, and topped with spicy (or extra hot) honey sauce.
Additional information
Location | Milk & Honey Gulch |
Working Hours | Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“Great coffee, fantastic traditional offerings with a locally sourced flair. And I chose to go with their famous Chicken and Waffle – however, I chose to pass on Hot Chicken and went with mild, to which I added their famous honey / hot table sauce. Perfect solution for a morning meal since we had already encountered some very hot chicken choices earlier in the week. The waffle was amazing, light/fluffy, and thick. And their locally sourced maple syrup was perfect.” – Doug.
The Southern Steak & Oyster
The Southern is a restaurant where you can try anything, from wood-fired grills to seafood specialties. The place is warm and cozy, with a rich bar and drinks and a comprehensive brunch and dinner menu.
The restaurant has a happy hour from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on weekends, so don’t forget to try some of the house’s special hour offers.
The things you can find on the menu make your appetite even bigger since every dish is cooked uniquely. The chicken and waffles dish is named “The Highway,” which perfectly describes the taste of the sweet-crispy-spicy notes.
The Southern serves fried chicken breast meat on a Belgian waffle, poured with Milligan’s maple syrup.
Additional information
Location | The Southern Steak & Oyster |
Working Hours | Monday – Thursday: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PMFriday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“We had lunch at The Southern and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the atmosphere and the service. I had the “Highway chicken and waffles,” and it was soo crispy and delicious. My husband had the burger and enjoyed it. Good prices on food, but they are a little expensive on the wine. All in all, a great experience!” – Lynn.
Nashville Chicken & Waffles
Food Trucks often sell the most delicious foods at an affordable price. So, if you are in a hurry and have no time to sit and wait in a restaurant, Nashville Chicken & Waffles food truck is the best option.
These trucks are popular for their amazing waffles and super crispy chicken tenders. The chicken and waffles dish is the best combination of Both Worlds, as described on the menu.
The dish is served with Belgian waffles and hand-breaded chicken tenders with a choice of mild, spicy, and super hot flavors. The price for this amazing and flavorful meal is only $12.
Additional information
Location | Nashville Chicken and Waffles (food trucks in many locations around the town) |
Working Hours | Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 07:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 05:00 PM |
Price Range | $-$$ |
What customers say
“This is the best food truck I ever ate off. The fried chicken is fried to perfection. The crispy white meat is so juicy on the inside, while the waffles are always freshly prepared and super soft. It’s absolutely amazing, you must try it to see what I talk about!” – Jeremy.
417 Union
417 Union is a famous place in Nashville where you can try some of the most delicious homemade pancakes and waffles. Sweet, savory, or a mix of both, the pancakes and waffles are available in numerous combinations so that everyone can find the perfect option.
If you wonder what the “mix of both sweet and savory” looks like, you should opt for the chicken and waffles. You can find this dish in the breakfast (served-all-day specialties) section.
The 417 Union chicken and waffles include Belgian waffles with butter and boneless chicken tenders on top and house-blend syrup. You can also add some extras, like bacon, fruit, or homemade mashed potatoes.
Additional information
Location | 417 Union |
Working Hours | Thursday – Monday: 7:30 AM – 1:30 PMTuesday – Wednesday: CLOSED |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“Highly recommend this place! Great food, great portions, great service, and super friendly staff, loved my overall experience! I opted for the popular crispy chicken and waffles with a side of mashed potatoes, while my friend chose the loaded bagel breakfast.” – Katie.
Nadeen’s Hermitage Haven
The food in Nadeen’s Hermitage is locally sourced and prepared with love. The prices are pretty affordable to everyone who carves something really good, whether for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
The relatively comprehensive menu offers numerous starters, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, and brunch options. The chicken and waffles dish is made with homemade batter, crispy chicken breast, maple syrup, and berries.
The staff is friendly, and the whole place is cozy and welcoming. You can hear this from almost everyone who has even been here!
Additional information
Location | Nadeen’s Hermitage Haven |
Working Hours | Monday – Tuesday: closed Wednesday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PMSunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“Love this place! You can literally close your eyes and pick anything, and you’ll walk away very happy. I had the Rocco wings…spectacular! My wife had the chicken and waffles…the best! A true hidden gem that deserves a stop for a bite if you are ever in the area.” – Mike.
BrickTop’s
BrickTop’s is a restaurant with an excellent location and excellently served food. The place has an online menu, online order, and reservation options.
The lunch, dinner, and brunch menus are pretty rich so that everyone can try something new each other way. The interior is elegant and intimate, allowing you to chat and eat without everyone watching your table.
The prices are slightly higher than other similar restaurants, but the taste is worth every penny you pay. The chicken and waffles are fabulous. This classic costs $20, and for the price, you get a soft malted waffle with crispy chicken and bacon on top.
Additional information
Location | BrickTop’s |
Working Hours | Monday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMThursday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
Price Range | $$$ |
What customers say
“We had lunch at Brick top’s on the patio and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Everything ordered at our table was excellent. The chicken and waffles are fabulous as are the fish tacos. The service is very good. If I lived in Charlotte, I’d make this a regular stop.” – Anthony.
The Diner
The restaurant is located on the corner of 3rd Avenue South and Demonbreun and has a gorgeous downtown view.
The Diner has a full offer, starting from coffee, milkshakes, and pastries to elegant dishes and private events cocktails. The restaurant has a full online menu and reservations option so that everyone can check the menu prices and availability.
The chicken and waffle cost $18, and for the price, you get hot Nashville chicken tinder over a soft Belgian waffle served with traditional maple syrup.
Additional information
Location | The Diner Nashville |
Working Hours | Sunday – Thursday: 7:30 AM – 11:00 PMFriday – Saturday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“My husband and I split the Hot Chicken and waffles. It was fabulous, and my husband liked the grits. Abby from Sidney, Ohio was our server, and she was fantastic. We also spit a bottle of Cava which just made the experience even better.” – Glenn.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s is a place where you can try the most delicious chicken in town. The place offers chicken wings with bones, ½ bird, and boneless chicken meat, deep-fried and garnished with one or two sides.
If you feel really hungry, you can boost the dish by adding an additional waffle (+$3) or additional wing or tender (+$2). The chicken and waffles are served with berries and maple syrup.
The restaurant has an online order feature and delivery or pickup option. Check the website and complete your order by selecting the toppings and sides of your choice!
Additional information
Location | Hattie B’s Hot Chicken – Nashville – Lower BroadwayHattie B’s Hot Chicken – Nashville – MidtownHattie B’s Hot Chicken – Nashville – WestHattie B’s Hot Chicken – Nashville – Melrose |
Working Hours | Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AMSunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“Hattie B’s is amazing and is our go-to for hot chicken. We’ve been to a couple of their locations, but we find that the West location is the easiest to go to and has the best parking. Their hot chicken is always cooked perfectly and is very juicy. The waffles, fries, and mac-and-cheese are incredible, too. There’s plenty of seating inside as well, and it’s a great place overall!”- Juliet.
Sun Diner
Sun Diner is a pretty cozy place in downtown Nashville. The restaurant looks more like a bar and serves breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. Vegans and vegetarians can also find something tasty on the menu without meat or other animal-derived ingredients.
However, most people come here for the chicken and waffles, the Sun Diner’s most popular dish. The dish comes with x3 crispy chicken strips with sausage gravy, and a fluffy Belgian waffle drizzled with unique pecan maple syrup.
The price for the dish is $18, with an option to add extra toppings, like bacon, potatoes, waffle, fries, toast, fruit, etc. The toppings come at an additional cost.
Additional information
Location | Sun Diner |
Working Hours | Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
Price Range | $$ |
What customers say
“The line was long, it’s first come first served seating, but worth the wait! My husband had the chicken and waffles, which was amazing, and I had the short rib hash which was also amazing! The food was fresh, hot, and served promptly. The staff was pleasant, friendly, and very proficient. Well worth the wait if you like a GOOD breakfast!” – Janis.
The Loveless Cafe
Our last choice is The Loveless Cafe, a landmark established in 1951. The cafe serves over half a million guests yearly, which is an incredibly high number for such a place.
What we like the most about this cafe are its country style and free parking. Guests can enjoy nature and fresh air outside the big city, eating some of the best breakfasts in Nashville. Also, we must say that the best chicken and waffles in Nashville are served right in this country-styled cafe!
The chicken and waffles are dishes most people compliment and come here for. The boneless chicken is fried to perfection, keeping the juice inside. The dish comes with traditional maple syrup.
Additional information
Location | The Loveless Cafe |
Working Hours | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PMSaturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Price Range | $-$$ |
What customers say
“Very cute place when in Nashville. Good service, good food with big portions. I enjoy the homemade biscuits and crispy chicken and waffles. Worth the stop if you’re in the Nashville area. Make an online reservation if you plan to visit this place on weekends because it gets too crowded.” – Kim.