Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles

“ Wow this was a cool find! The service and food were outstanding! Small and humble dining area, but the chicken and delicious waffles and sandwiches were memorable. I'm book marking for the next time we're in Tacoma. There was no spice left out of the seasoning in their crispy chicken, and the strawberry shortcake and cookies & cream waffles were huge and pretty . Who needs syrup messing up the work of art created. If you like chicken and waffles, which are so rare to find; go here! The Cali Waffle House has nothing on this spot. ”

“ Some great chicken and waffles. Great service and Ambiance. Place was packed when we went over. But food was made fresh and was served quick. Spicy AF chicken for the win and some great waffles. Loves the lemonade to wash it all down. ”

“ OMG! What a treasure to find in an otherwise forgettable part of Tacoma near Lincoln HS.. My wife and I split a lunch here today. The recommendation from the counter worker was the special: Cheddar Bay Biscuit Waffle with Chicken. It was everything you'd expect. Tender chicken, perfectly spiced and breaded with a buttermilk tang. The waffle was the star of the show. Balanced mix of sweet biscuit batter and savory herbs and cheddar cheese, with a garlic herb butter. It was heavenly. We'll definitely be coming back here. ”

“ Great atmosphere, super friendly staff. Music was kind of loud, making it slightly difficult to hear the girl behind the counter. Food was amazing! Bring some wet wipes We both got the chicken sandwich, husband got it spicy and I got the original. Mouth was starting to catch fire by the end, so keep the in mind if your allergic to spicy foods A slightly more substantial bun on the chicken sandwiches would be nice. Regardless we will definitely make this a regular stop when we are in the area. They are hosting a comedy night at the end of January! ”

“ i made a Yelp account just so i could talk about how good this food is haha. it's hard to make chicken without drying it out, but Buddy has truly cracked the elusive chicken code!! these tenders have all 3 of the properties of good fried chicken: juicy, flavorful, and crunchy. the breading kept slipping off of the chicken tho, so that's why i left 4 stars instead of 5. i got a couple of sauces (ranch and honey mustard) to go with the tenders; both of them were delicious, and the ranch tasted like it was made in house. so good! my chicken came with a chocolate chip waffle. i'm not really a waffle person, but Buddy's is making me question that! The waffles at buddy's are soft, moist, and not too sweet. Which is great because the maple syrup that comes with the waffles definitely packs a punch, but in a good way. oh, and everyone was super nice and welcoming! accessibility note: if you get overstimulated easily or otherwise have a hard time processing loud sounds, you might want to get your food to-go because the music is pretty loud. or bring earplugs! i don't eat inside restaurants anyways, so this wasn't a problem for me. car chicken for the win! ”

“ I've been following Buddy's Chicken & Waffles for a LONG time on social media, cheering them on through all the many travails of opening a brick and mortar. Schedules have yet never aligned when we have come across the water to try theses legendary waffles. Until now. The first day of 2025. The day I FINALLY get to go to Buddy's. First things first, these are the nicest folks you could ever hope to meet. We were greeted cheerfully and given fantastic recommendations on our orders. C had the blueberry waffle with one piece of spicy chicken and one regular. D had the spicy chicken sandwich. Me? I'm going to need a benchmark dish before I go off road. I had the cornmeal waffle with two pieces of regular and a lemonade. Let me tell you, it was worth the almost two year wait. The chicken was the most tender I've ever had. The coating was flavorful and just the right consistency. The waffles? Lord have mercy, was it delightful. The consensus from my family was there dishes were equally as tasty. D was especially pleased with his fries that had a Cajun seasoning, perhaps? We will most definitely be back to start working our way through the rest the menu. Dessert waffles next time! Important to know that Buddy's is cash free. Bring a card if you want a taste of waffle perfection. Also, this might be the cleanest restaurant I've been to in a very long time. There is pride in this place. P.S. whoever the artist is for the pieces that line the dining room? You are amazing. Absolutely wonderful. ”

“ We had an incredible experience at Buddy's! Arriving around 11an on a Sunday, we were pleasantly surprised by how smooth and welcoming everything was. After ordering at the front counter, we were given a number for our table and found seating for our group of three right away--a lucky start to our visit! When the food arrived, we couldn't believe the portion sizes--they were huge! We ordered the strawberry shortcake and banana cream, both of which were fantastic. Each comes with two pieces, but we added an extra piece for each, and it was well worth it. We also tried the Buddy's sauce and hot honey, which were amazing and paired perfectly with the chicken. By the end, we were completely stuffed and still had leftovers--an incredible value for the price! The staff were incredibly kind and patient, especially since it was our first time. The parking situation is great, and we noticed they even host comedy events, which adds to the charm. Buddy's is a true hidden gem in Tacoma, offering delicious food, reasonable prices, and a fantastic vibe. We'll definitely be back! ”

“ everything was so fresh piping hot, chicken sandwich was exploding w flavor fries were perfectly seasoned sweet tea is SO fire and made in-house everyone should come here!!!!! and friendly service :3 ”

“ We have been here several times and each time it has been great. Service is friendly, food is delicious and fairly reasonably priced. I have tried a couple of different things and don't have just one to recommend, although my absolute favorite is their corn waffle, just yum! We have tried a couple of special waffles, chicken, and chicken sandwiches. All great. The hot isn't really that hot, but the seasoning adds a great change in flavor over the regular. They have several delicious dipping sauces, unfortunately their syrup is fake (corn syrup) but would be awesome if it were real maple. If you like French fries, definitely get them here. While they are your standard crinkle cut potatoes, the seasoning makes them addicting! Highly recommend. ”