I have to admit, I was a little late to the chicken and waffle meal phenom (hush, no judgement!), but after having a quick bite at Waffle Mania (located at 6712 Winchester Road), I’m fully committed to making this meal a part of my brunch rotation.
Located in the heart of Hickory Hill, many people may be familiar with Waffle Mania from seeing their food truck around the city. Owner Courtney “C-Bo”Temple’s physical location is very laid back, but the employees are friendly, so if you wanted to just kick back and watch a game you can, but you can also order to go and not wait long. It’s not fast food (everything is prepared to order so that it’s hot and fresh, which takes about 15 minutes), but it’s definitely worth the wait.
What makes Waffle Mania’s chicken and waffles standout so much is the seasoning. The chicken is seasoned well (almost how they would be if you got wings from the club, which taste completely different from regular restaurants) and fried crisp but not hard, which is how I like it. The waffles are firm enough to hold butter and syrup without being mushy, but they still melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite. There is also a secret seasoning blend that I can’t quite break down (I know there’s a little bit of nutmeg + cinnamon but I’m stuck beyond that); this combination of flavors creates that familial taste of food that’s prepared with love like what your grandma used to make vs. what you’d get at any other restaurant. There’s no pretension here, just delicious, filling food.
There are additional menu options outside of chicken and waffles so if that’s not your thing, no worries. If you do want to try it there are various combinations that you can choose from (some with chicken tenders instead), but I went the traditional route and had the Mania Special (3 whole wings 1 waffle). This was more than enough food, and the pricing is very reasonable.
Next time you’re in the Hickory Hill area, pop in for a bite-you won’t be dissapointed!
Waffle Mania
6712 Winchester Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38115
901.690.8050