The chicken and waffles dish has flown the coop, having migrated from the south and made a large nest egg in Toronto. What can we say about this winged delight except that we adore all things fried, some down-home cookin’, and breaking the rules when it comes to eating something sweet and savoury at any time of the day. Whether it’s for brunch, lunch, or dinner, here’s our list of favourite places for chicken and waffles.
The Stockyards
To create juicy, tender meat, the chicken is given at least a 24-hour brine as well as a long bath in buttermilk; it is then dredged in a mixture of flour and secret spices. A dip into the fryer and the golden brown goodness is crowned king of the castle as it sits on its savoury rosemary waffle throne. As the staff there chuckle and remark, it is breakfast and dinner rolled into one; so at all hours of the day, there’s no shortage of line-ups for this addictive dish.
White Brick Kitchen
Known for its generous lumberjack portions, you won’t leave hungry when you order the chicken and waffles here. An overnight brine keeps the meat tender and more flavour is injected into the chicken with a seasoned flour dredge. It is served with a crunchy cornmeal and scallion waffle and some homemade red pepper jelly. The winning elements on this plate will make many tastebuds jump with delight.
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The Gabardine
Tender chicken with a crispy, crunchy crust is what whets many appetites for those that frequent The Gabardine. Offered during dinner, the boneless leg and thigh meats are given a dip into a mixture of buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce. It also gets a dredging of their seasoned dry mix which includes flour, cornmeal, garlic and onion powders, paprika, thyme, and oregano. A tangy buttermilk dressing is drizzled on top to echo the flavours of the chicken. A cornmeal spiced waffle is partnered with the deep fried tenders as well as some creamy collard greens.
Harlem
Described as soul comfort food, the battered, deep fried chicken uses Cajun spices and offers three different homemade sauces to compliment the dish: creamy gravy, peppery hot sauce, and sweet chili lime syrup. It’s a bit of a choose your own adventure game, each choice culminating in its own taste sensations. The chicken is marinated in milk overnight, and then cooked twice – first it is deep fried and then finished off in the broiler to complete the cooking process as well as give it a rich, golden brown colour. It is served on a delicately sweetened buttermilk Belgian waffle.
The Drake Hotel
It’s been a staple on their brunch menu for a couple of years now and there’s no wondering why: it’s decidedly decadent and offers layers of sweet and savoury elements. The boneless chicken get a bath in BBQ spices and buttermilk. An herbaceous waffle composed of parsley, tarragon, and chives becomes the bed for the fried chicken to rest upon. The dish is topped with a white cloud of creme fraiche and a dollop of sweet and tart Niagara cherry jam.
