Absolutely amazing hole-in-the-wall halal spot. This is easily my favorite chicken place in all of Southern California, and we make a point to stop here anytime we're coming down from LA. Our go-to order is the loaded fries and the spicy chicken sandwich with extra sauce, both are insanely good. We tried the waffles once and they weren't really our thing, but everything else is so good that this is still a strong 5/5 for us. The neighborhood isn't the nicest and parking can be a bit tight, but it's definitely worth it. We usually grab our food to-go and head somewhere nearby like Kate Sessions Park to enjoy it. read more

Ordered for the first time Togo. The food was just okay, nothing to rave over. Waffles were very underwhelming. Tastes like the hotel breakfast waffles. The chicken portion was good, but mildly seasoned. Greens were disgusting. Tastes like the lid fell off the black pepper seasoning can. Also ordered the shrimp which had no taste. Didn't even taste fishy. Partner had the chicken sandwhich & said it was the best thing he ate out of all the food. Can't speak to service or ambience bc my partner picked up the order, but food was promptly ready. I wouldn't return, but was nice trying a new spot. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Combo #2 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Portions for combos are pretty generous. Fries are decent but could use more seasoning. Now for the chicken part: I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and the chicken is super unseasoned. You need sauce for it for sure! But on the upside, Ali's sauce is so good almost like a better seasoned Chick-fil-a sauce. Unfortunately though (seeing as you need it to make the chicken sandwich) they charge you 50 cents for it. I used my classpass credits to order here and they don't see it before you get there - so maybe call and place your order and it will be ready for you. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - shrimp plate with fries and waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Ali was so kind and made great conversation. The establishment is clean and well kept. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and fries with a drink. The sandwich was CRISPY, like you could feel the texture through the soft toasted bun. This is a slow burn type of spice, warms you up from the inside out and suddenly you wonder why your eyes and nose are watering! LOL. I loved it. The herbed mayo was fragrant and creamy. Paired perfectly with the Thai chili oil. The fries are excellent, whatever seasoning he puts on it makes them super addicting. The house made ranch is thick and creamy, nice zing to it. I really enjoyed my meal. Highly recommend. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

The best chicken and waffles I've ever had! First time I had these was over pandemic when we ordered for take out. It took over an hour but when we opened the box, I was surprised that the waffles were not soggy from all the steam. It retain its texture, the flavor was semi sweet and I didn't need to use syrup. That's how I like my waffles and to me, that's a major bonus. The chicken was juicy even though it's white meat. The flavor in the breading was on point as far as spice levels. Fast forward, post pandemic, we've revisited several times and this past weekend, it was just how I remembered it. The location shares a space with the donut shop. Parking in that lot is tight, you would be lucky if you found one. It's also not the best area. There are a few tables inside to dine in. We ate it fresh and took 30 minutes for our order to come out. Recommend to call in your order. Prices are reasonable, the combo #1 came with 2 tenders, waffle or fries and a side. The mac and cheese wasn't super creamy. It was a perfect mix of cheddar and Parmesan. Ali's fries were also a nice treat. Similar to carne asada fries with all the toppings. We got chicken instead of shrimp. The spicy chicken sandwich was not spicy. They said next time, to let them know that we want it higher than Thai spice I also got sambusas, which are similar to empanadas or samosas but different shape. Choice of filling, I got savory. This was not my favorite because of the dried texture. The chicken curry just needed dipping sauce. Overall, we would come back here again and again. read more

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I finally tried Ali's Chicken & Waffles and OMG the food was SO good. The chicken was crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, and the waffles were soft, buttery, and hit the spot. The fries were hot and fresh too. Everything tasted made-to-order and full of flavor. Definitely comfort food done right I can already tell I'm going to be craving this place again soon. 10/10 experience! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and waffles, baby - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Today all I wanted was some good fried chicken. Searched yelp and took a chance with Ali's. At first glance you won't find it but keep looking the food is great. The spicy chicken was all that it lived up to its hype. Chicken slice is generous with a smaller toasty bun. Their thai chile is fantastic super spicy. I got an extra side. The mac n cheese was also delicious. Nice cheese pull for sure. Shrimp was so good I just had to try a side. Nice size shrimp too to pair with my coconut syrup it was finger lickin good. The waffle was just okay It was a little to hard for my liking. It wasnt horrible just a tad over cooked. Can't wait to come back and try their chicken strips. I would suggest extra herb mayo. Service was great super helpful and willing to make suggestions. Place is small so you might need to go if your a larger party. Enjoy. read more

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Wow! I'm impressed! My cousin ordered Ali's from uber eats. I'm not a chicken sandwhich type girl but had the chicken sandwich, mac and cheese, waffle and grits. Everything was so fire! The chicken sandwich was real chicken breast. The waffles came with this coconut syrup that I swear tastes just like the Cambodian coconut sauce. 10/10 The mac and cheese is the best one I've ever had. It was saucy, thick and had a cheesy pull when I scooped it up with my fork. 10/10 Also, I loved the grits! It was so smooth like a rich, creamy rice grits. 10/10 All in all, I really loved the food here. My cousin said this was his go to spot and I'm happy he ordered for us! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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The waffles were very good. The chicken tenders were tasty as well. It was our 1st time visiting this spot & will be returning. The customer service was very commendable. They took time with us on menu selection. The location is shared with a donut spot & it is well maintained. Friendly environment but not much room to dine in. A good spot to try! read more

Good service, small location, but the owner was there and treated very well and it's combined with a donut shop

Hole in the wall, located by a 7-11 and not the best area, but totally worth the trip from Del Mar. When I get the urge, (or when my wife is feeling generous), we make the trip down to pickup some chicken à la carte. We have had the chicken and waffles (and fries) dish as well as just plain ole chicken tenders. The meals are great and of appropriate size.. decent bang for the buck, but I'm simply hooked on the chicken. I like spicy food, so Thai hot and "medium" (pretty spicy) is my fav. The service is always done with a smile and people here are kind. No complaints, and if you're in the mood you can grab a donut or three from the shop colocated with Ali's. Overall 4.5/5, closer to 5 than 4 for yelp purposes. read more

I tried the spicy chicken sandwich along with the french fries. The fries were cooked a little too hard for my liking, but the chicken sandwich was pretty good. Parking can be scarce in that area, but I got lucky on the day I went. Seating is limited, but this place does have fast, friendly service. I do recommend giving it a try if you haven't already. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

This is the best fired chicken you could get in San Diego. I'm genuinely craving everything on this menu everyday. I go once a week and it hits the spot every time and makes me hate life less. There are friendly workers and I love the donut shop in there too. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Ali's spicy loaded fries and Combo #1 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Finally got to try Ali's and I will definitely be back! The prices for how much food and the quality of food is unmatched. The chicken is very flavorful and juicy. You can get a la carte pancakes, waffles and French toast as well. I will definitely be back! Ali's is located within Donut Star. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

The chicken and waffles are whatever but you gotta get the breakfast burrito. Those things are actually fuckin GAS

Don't have pictures but everything was delicious! Chicken Sandwich: the chicken was crispy and thin, had a good kick to it. Paired nicely with the refreshing herb mayo. Even the bun was good. Devoured on the drive home! You can also hear them pounding the chicks in the back, making the tenders fresh. Didn't mind the 15ish mins wait. Chicken tenders, fries, and waffle Combo: shared with my partner and he said the chicken had a nice tang and kick to it. Fries had Cajun seasoning which was a nice surprise. The waffle was thick and sweet, had notable cinnamon in it which was also unexpected but was a great addition. Overall very happy with everything! read more

Best chicken sandwiches by far. This location is in a shared space inside of a donut shop, limited parking, very limited seating, but their staff is friendly and they're super fast. read more

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Absolutely loved this spot. The chicken was crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor, and the waffles had the perfect balance of fluffy and sweet. Portions were generous and everything came out fresh and hot. The best part is that it's halal, which makes it an even better option for anyone looking for great halal comfort food. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the overall vibe made the experience even better. Definitely a place worth coming back to. read more

Ohhhh myyyyy this spot... is.... a gem!!! ‍ Tastes are great, I would highly recommened getting some sauces! The waffle sandwhich has a unique taste! read more

Don't sleep on this spot - the chicken is so bomb, and there are so many sauces to choose from. The Ali sauce with the chicken waffle sandwich is everything. Order online or in person read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles is a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant adjacent to a donut shop in the heart of City Heights. They have a small parking lot and some street parking nearby. Inside, they have 4-5 tables that can seat up to 2 people, so getting food to go seems to be a better idea. Their most popular dishes include a 2 piece tender and waffle combo and the Home Chicken Sandwich. I went with the Home Chicken Sandwich combo, which comes with fries and a drink. The home chicken sandwich was decent; the chicken was seasoned very well, and comes with a small dollop of mayonnaise. My only cons are that it's basically a slider (maybe the size of my palm) and does not come with any slaw or pickles like many other chicken sandwiches do. Their fries were decent, thin cut and fried to order. I went with the Ali sauce, which seemed to be a combination of mayo, ketchup, and relish - basically In-n-Out animal sauce. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I'd definitely order more if I go there again. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Home Chicken Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food at great prices. We got the combo 2, waffle with two chicken strips and Cajun fries. The food was SO fresh. It was delicious classic fried chicken and the waffles were warm, fresh, and sweet. The fries were perfect and well seasoned. The Ali sauce is DIVINE. If they bottled it, I'd buy it. The staff member was very kind and helpful. It's actually partnered with a small donut shop, so it's tight space but the food is worth it. read more

Food is killer, tastes so good and is super filling. Got the Cluckfast Burrito and the Chick-in-Waffles and both were delicious. The honey mustard in the waffle was a pleasant surprise and the halal bacon in the cluckfast burrito was super tender and juicy. Service was great and the guy taking our order was kind and helpful with recommendations. Cute little dining area next to a donut shop, 10/10 would recommend. read more

Food was really delicious! I've gone here maybe like a couple of months ago so i can't remember much besides me and my mom really enjoying the food. read more

This place was hella good, the chicken was the perfect spice and the waffles were a little small but still very fluffy. Definitely recommend! read more

Amazing chicken, great seasoning, and even better sides. Try the collard greens and the sambusas!!!

First impressions: - Small parking lot in front - Card accepted here - Shares a space with a donut shop - Only 3 tables I ordered a combo #2 and thai tea with coconut milk. Their thai tea was very tasty (and the staff was accommodating about my request for less ice, which I appreciated). And the chicken in the combo 2 was juicy with a thin coating of flavorful breading! Ali's sauce (comes with combo) was the perfect pairing for the chicken. Fries were good, though I found the waffle to be kind of dense for my liking. Their coconut syrup (also provided) is a tasty addition though. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Combo #2 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Highly highly recommend checking this place out. It's shared inside with a donut shop. A great pair. The chicken here is so nicely done. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, surprisingly juicy for white meat. The waffle was delicious - really nice crisp outer layer. But moist doughy inside. Good flavor. The super soft bun. I believe it was brioche. Delicious. The chicken sandwich was delicious. Ali sauce - kinda like a thousand island dressing. Super good. Service was fantastic. Super friendly and down to earth. We will definitely be back. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Original Chicken Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Grits were bland, didn't really see the need to add corn to the grits, shrimp were ok. Hash browns were soooooooo greasy. Chicken sandwich was ok, best thing out of everything for sure though. Customer service was nice but the food wasn't good to me. read more

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This restaurant is difficult to find at first... just look for the donut sign.. you will have found Ali's. This is a very small fast food establishment in the heart of city heights. They share space w the donut shop and only have 3 small tables... I suggest ordering take out and eat in the park. We ordered a #2 chicken and waffle spice level hot (but compared to Dave's heat this was mild). The sauces... I'm not sure which was the a Ali's sauce and which was the chipolte... but if the Ali's was the white sauce and the Chipotle was the orange colored sauce, I liked the orange sauce better. The chicken is tender and moist - delicious. The waffle is super thick (like 2+ inches) and served w coconut syrup that when paired with the spicy chicken made for a good tasty bite. Woman at counter was friendly and knowledgeable. We will go back again. read more

I love the fact the owners response was sassy. You're right two stars is nothing. I wish I could rate you a 0 for the poor customer service. The fact the place was empty and I was the only customer in which the order took 20 mins is wild. I hope you really take customers responses seriously. It doesn't sounds like you will but best of luck. read more

Wow!! I saw that Ali's Chicken and Waffles won for best fries in San Diego so I had to check it out! Absolutely amazing!! My husband got the chicken sandwich, which he loved. I got combo 3, and it was incredible!! It came with this really delicious syrup so I made my own mini chicken and waffle bites. The chicken was so tender, the waffle was amazing, the syrup was great--all in all, both meals were fantastic meal, and we will be back. The service was also great. They were super helpful when we were figuring out what to order. We also got an Apple fritter from the donut shop for some dessert. It was also incredible! Ali's chicken and waffles is solid. It's now our go to for fried chicken. A lot of fried chicken is really heavy and greasy--not this place! I probably can't call it "healthy fried chicken"--but the quality was superior to than anything else I've tried in San Diego. Highly recommend! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - They share a space with this amazing donut shop - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Everything I've tried from Ali's has been excellent. I love the tea and get that as my drink every time in the largest size I can order. For my meal, I usually mix it up. Their sandwiches are great, and so are their chicken tenders. One day I got their shrimp & grits - also excellent! It's a weird location to get to. I appreciate that I can order in advance online and then make a quick stop to pick it up instead of waiting for it after ordering onsite. There isn't really a whole lot of room to sit and eat. It's a quick meal, so you can make it work if needed. I can't wait to come back for more! read more

Slightly better sauce than chicken :) Could be a little juicier! Call your order in if you want it quicker. Coconut syrup is a must if you enjoy sweet and salty. Interesting characters here cuz it's next to 7-11. ==================== $19 got me a combo #1 and a side of collard greens that took about 15 min (with an order(s?) Ahead of me). Combo #1 Two chicken tenders with medium spice and a waffle slightly larger than my palm. It came with some ali sauce which is a Cajunyish honey mustard. Chicken is a touch dry, but maybe cuz I ate it 4 hours later? Stuck it in the air fryer. Had to dunk it in the sauce to make it more enjoyable. On its own was good, but the wonderful sauce made it great. Medium spice wasn't too spicy, prolly get the Thai spicy next time. Coconut syrup Holy if you ever see this on a menu, get it. It paired greatly with the chicken for a sweeter offset. Not too sweet or thin. I could drink this lol Waffle It's thick, fluffy, light, and crisp!! Wish they were a bit bigger, but these paired great with the chicken and coconut sauce. Bomb if you like waffles. Collard greens These were ok, on the slightly oily side. Prefer others. Service Guy was pretty generous when I asked for a cup of water. I was super thirsty, this was very appreciated. Environment When I was here, there's quite a bit of interesting characters aka some homeless people. It's a little sketch outside, so gotta take that into consideration. My order took 10-15 min and with the amount of homeless ppl and one of them coming in, I'll prolly just call in my order next time ~ read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Combo #1 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Really good hole in the wall spot for a solid chicken sandwich at an affordable price. Small parking lot in front shared by multiple businesses, the inside is half a donut shop and half Ali's. It seems they cook everything fresh so takes a few mins for your order to be ready. Had the classic chicken sandwich which was crispy, juicy, and priced very well. Not the largest sandwich in the world but did the trick. Hash browns were also good and affordable, similar to McDonald's in the patty style. Only a couple spots to sit so best for take out. For the price this is solid quality for money, would go again! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Left side is a donut shop, right side is Ali's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I really like this place! Ordered twice on DoorDash and although one of my items was wrong, the food itself was well seasoned and prepared perfectly even through transport. Definitely a must try! read more

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We first tried Ali's Chicken and Waffles a couple weeks back. My brother had ordered some via Uber eats and he mentioned that it was delicious!! Fast forward a few weeks and I happen to have a doctors appointment nearby. I was so happy to finally try Ali's chicken and waffles and to be honest, the food surpassed all my expectations. I had heard the food was delicious, but dayuuum!!!! We ordered two #2s- 2 chicken strips, one waffle and fries. The meal comes with the choice of one sauce-we picked Ali's sauce, and because our meals came with waffles, coconut sauce is included. We also added two Thai teas. Chicken is crispy, perfectly fried, juicy, and the seasoning and crunchy goodness is chefs kiss! The fries are delicious and the waffle is light and delicious-highly recommend you use the coconut sauce on your waffle. Sorry no pictures, the food smelled so good I was too busy eating, highly recommend Ali's chicken and waffles!! read more

I'm giving Ali's Chicken and Waffles a solid 4.5! I arrived right when they opened and had no trouble with parking. I'm sure by now people know they are located inside the donut shop next to the 7-11. I didn't order chicken because to be honest.. I grew up eating chicken, and no matter how many times you smack it, flip it , rub it down... it's still just chicken to me! I did however order their Shrimp and Grits and an order of waffles. It took a lil time but I also got there when they opened and they cook to order. The food was still hot by the time I got home. I first tried the shrimp and grits. Grits were nice and creamy and also good size shrimp. Yes.. I am THAT person that puts sugar on my grits.. don't @me haha.. but I saw no need. I do wish they added a little more "drippings" and the corn a little less flat.. but I would highly recommend this dish. Now the waffles.. no I'm sorry.. not even the waffles.. that coconut syrup is fire!! I've never in my life tasted syrup like that and feel like I've been missing out!! I actually was a little thrown off when I first took it out the bag.. I was like what is this*%#%*!! Weird looking butter haha! That syrup is 5 stars hands down! Waffles are some of the best waffles I've had as well. I will be returning .. not so much for chicken tho lol. read more

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Super unassuming from the outside, so if you were just passing by, you might miss this gem of a spot! I looked up restaurants in the area and found Ali's Chicken & Waffles with an impressive 5-star rating on Yelp, and got around to finally trying it when I was in the area. - PARKING - They share a VERY small parking lot with 7-11 and technically are within the Donut Shop on the corner. There's limited street parking along the side streets, but I think you're better off parking 1-2 blocks away rather than try to snag a spot in the lot. It was full during the entire time we were there! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - As mentioned before, Ali's Chicken & Waffles is technically within the Donut Shop store front. In the photo you can see, when you first walk in you have the display cases of donuts, then on the right hand side is where Ali's is located. Cashier was very friendly - saw him interact with several customers and he is very accommodating and respectful of people's times. There was a surge of DoorDash orders as well as walk-in orders, but he still made sure to give spectacular customer service. He offered to give an extra drink since we waited so long, but we declined; however, he did give us extra sauces for free (we just gave him the $1 in the tip jar anyways) - appreciate the offers! - FOOD - Spicy Chicken Sandwich ($6.00): Definitely smaller than expected, but this is one of those "quality over quantity" moments. Brioche bun was super fluffy, herbed mayo was delicious and not overpowering, chicken itself was crispy yet had a juicy inside... it was a great Chicken Sandwich! It did have a kick compared to my boyfriend's sandwich, although I wouldn't immediately say its a Thai Chili spice. Still, it was a delicious option! Home Chicken Sandwich ($6.00): There's definitely a lot of the "East-African clarified butter", and it mixed well with the herbed mayo. I enjoyed the freshness of the tomatoes in this sandwich! Again, chicken was crispy but still juicy! - Make it a Combo ($6.75): You can get a fountain drink, fries and sauce if you add this on. Saves you about $0.25, so its not too much less. Fries were lightly seasoned but still crispy similar to their Chicken. I liked Ali's Sauce the most - has a mustard undertone with creamy/spicy flavors. Chipotle Mayo was my second favorite just because I like my spicy foods, but Herbed Mayo was still good - just prefer it as a sandwich condiment rather than a dipping sauce. - OVERALL - Great service, great food. Would recommend ordering ahead of time as it can get really busy, and parking is not the easiest. Would love to come back and support this business again while trying out some of their other menu items, maybe the breakfast options! read more

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Was super happy to come visit Ali's Chicken and Waffles after seeing their spot in the Top 50 Yelp List for San Diego. We tried their spicy chicken sandwich and also got Combo #2 with chicken tenders, fries, and a waffle. Starting with the spicy chicken sandwich, this was so so delicious. It was perfectly spicy, moist, and the bun was insanely good! At $7 I feel like it was a bit steep especially because it was a bit small, but this isn't stopping me from wanting to get this again. Onto the chicken and waffles combo, this was also very good. The fries, unfortunately, were stale and weren't very good (probably would've been better off with combo 1 without fries). With that being said, the waffle was so fluffy and the coconut syrup was insane. Highly recommend checking this spot out if you're in the area :-) Plus they're sometimes at the Little Italy + Hillcrest Farmers Markets selling thai food! Would definitely love to check them out there as well read more

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