Chicken ‘N Waffle Medellín Review: Real Chicken and Waffles in El Poblado

• Takeout travels well. Foil wrap kept chicken crispy and the waffle tender with a light “flop.” 📦

• Flavor checks out. Seasoned bird, breading stays on, waffle sweet but not cloying. 🍗🧇

• Bring your preferred hot sauce and syrup if you’re picky, or grab Louisiana and Aunt Jemima locally. 🌶️🍯

• Easy access. Late hours, wide Rappi radius, right off Calle 10 in El Poblado. 📍

I never want to be the guy that only recommends to eat foods that you are comfortable with. I like what I like, and honestly, it's a mix of cuisines, and I'm happy that I have such varied tastes, ranging from Colombian (yes, I do actually like it), Mexican food, Italian, Indian, Asian and even US staples.

While there are plenty of options here for all of the above, they're not always quality options. We can have a whole article about the small number of quality pizza restaurants in Medellin for starters. But I'm here to spread positivity today. Yesterday, I had a meeting at Cafe Dragon and I took my dog with me. Side note, Cafe Dragon's fries... A WHOLE NUTHA LEVEL. She ran around as the life of the party for over an hour and I thought she was going to be tuckered out after that, because she's 15. Well she wasn't, so I had the plan of taking her for a bit more of a walk and when I crossed Calle 10, I saw that familiar yellow building on the corner that I had walked by 10+ times with the giant letters that read "Sweet & Salty" that belongs to the restaurant aptly named "Chicken 'N Waffle", not plural.

I hadn't tried it, so since I had a feature to write about the Philadelphia Union's MLS playoff opponent, the New York City Football Club, I wasn't going to feel like cooking. This is as good a time as any to try it out. Now let me start by saying, chicken and waffles are a big thing to me. My grandmother was from the south, and before they were a big cultural thing, we used to eat it as kids, and it's a core memory for me. She'd also serve grits too, so this was all part of life. So, when someone air fries some bagged chicken nuggets and microwaves an Eggo waffle, then tries to pass it off as 'chicken and waffles' my Georgia roots are offended, an offense that has been a frequent thing in my decade here in Medellin.

I went in with equal parts skepticism and hope, and luckily for me, I went in when they first opened so I can get in and out immediately, because I had my MLS assignment to write, and I wanted to take it to go. Since I was the only one there at the time, I got a real chance to soak in the ambience, and I have to tell you, they nailed the diner aesthetic. They went with yellow and black, a nod to the Waffle House chain in the US, but they also recreated a roadside diner impeccably well. The seats are comfortable and spacious, and have the shiny vinyl texture that lets you think feel like you're stopping to eat during a cross-country trip. There is even a bar to eat at, which faces the kitchen so you can see the cooks in action. To say they nailed it is an understatement. The workers there were also incredibly friendly, which in this sector of the city isn't a given. They also got my to go order out fast, so that is a huge plus. They also have 90s rock playing, making the ambience complete.

With that said, the star of the show is always going to be the food. That is almost as important as location for determining success for a restaurant. They have possibly the best location in that area, they nailed the aesthetic, but if the food is bin-worthy, then what's the point? My test would be a trial by fire for them, because fried foods tend to not travel well, so this would be an important test for them.

I'll start with the packaging, they used a very big bag for my Chicken N Waffle order (that's what I got, not the possessive in this case), and the chicken and waffle were both wrapped in aluminum foil, which is a unique thing here, and honestly a bold choice. But one that paid off. This allowed the chicken to stay crispy and maintain moisture without getting soggy in the process. The Waffle is the bigger concern here, and it had the right amount of 'flop' to it without being soggy. This tells me that they cooked it a little crispier and put the foil on while it's hot, essentially steaming the waffle a bit, which if you know, you know - This is the right move. What's truly important is how the flavors are alone and mixed, and this is where they killed it. The chicken wasn't dry, which is an issue with fried chicken here in Colombia, but the flavor - a chef's kiss here. It has the a of herbs and spices that flavor the chicken perfectly, incredibly similar to the unique flavor of the Waffle House chicken. They've mastered the art of keeping the breading on the chicken, which is a challenge to anyone that makes fried chicken. HUGE win.

The waffle was in my opinion the perfect waffle. I'm also not someone that likes waffles overly sweet on their own. By the time you put the syrup on them, it's overkill. These waffles nailed it because they have a definite sweet flavor, but just the right amount so you can put on syrup and not catch the itis after. When you combine the waffle, the chicken, the syrup with the under current of hot sauce, it's magic.

Nothing is perfect, and there is some room for improvement. I'll listen to the argument that I'm picky, maybe so. But I love the flavor profile of Louisiana Hot Sauce and Aunt Jemima syrup on chicken and waffles. Again, core memory. But we only used Louisiana Hot Sauce ay my Memama's house. It was one of the few splurges she insisted on. The hot sauce they use falls short, which isn't really a knock on them, it's more a indictment of the hot sauces here. To call it hot sauce feels like a hate crime to begin with. The syrup is good, really good, but I opted to use my own sauces. I import in Louisiana Hot Sauce, and Aunt Jemima is at Pricesmart. It made the experience better. I used their syrup on my oatmeal today, and it worked well.

So what's my verdict here? This is a must. They are open late, the food is very well done and the chairs are all bolted down so you won't get the additional "Waffle House Late Show" you might get to see back home. I say this is a must try, and if you get that late night craving, they're there for you. I encourage you to give them a shot!

To get in touch with them:

• IG - @thechickenandwaffle

• Rappi - They have a big delivery area on Rappi

• Go to see them - GOOGLE MAPS

Make sure to tell them we sent you!