Been meaning to try this place when income to town and finally did. I ordered from DoorDash to my hotel and went to pick it up. It was ready before I left the hotel. I had a 15 minute walk. Was greeted by a smile and a hello. I was given my food and left. Got the side of eggs w a waffle and chicken and everything was amazing especially the coconut syrup. It was filling , a good deal and the eggs reminded me of my when my dad used to cook for me as a kid. I will be back but I wouldn't eat there bc the area on C street was very sketchy w the ppl that were around. It's close to public transportation and a kinkos and Ross so you could kill two birds but just be mindful of that. read more

High quality ingredients, Meh Tastefulness I always check Yelp and Google before trying a new place, so seeing consistent 4.4+ ratings definitely had me excited. While my experience didn't quite match the hype, I can absolutely understand why this family-owned restaurant has built such a loyal following. Let me preface this by saying I consider myself a bit of a waffle connoisseur...and a fried chicken connoisseur. First, customer service was gracious and excellent. "C" street downtown stinks. But business is business. The eatery is clean, tidy and simplistic decor. I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich, fries, greens, and the coconut syrup. The flavor is not better than Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. But the quality of food is. Halal. Enough said. The waffle: I liked how one side was flattened while the other kept the classic waffle pockets. It was soft, moist, lightly crisp, and not as sweet as most waffles. I added delicious old-fashioned maple syrup from home. The chicken: The chicken had a beautiful golden crust, and the white meat was juicy. My only suggestion would be to marinate the chicken itself before it gets breaded. A flavorful coating can only do so much, and I think that one small change would take it to another level. The fries? They were fantastic. No notes. The greens: I also ordered the greens. I haven't eaten pork with greens in probably 20 years, so I'm used to greens with smoked turkey or no meat at all. These were made with halal bacon, which I appreciate, but they were a little too salty, rich, and fatty for my taste. They only had one serving left, so I may have gotten the bottom of the pan where all the flavorful bits settled. I'd be willing to give them another try. The syrup: Then there was the coconut syrup. The only coconut I usually use is on my hair and skin...okay, and occasionally in a really good coconut margarita. So this one just wasn't my jam. That said, a family member loved it. If coconut is your thing, I think you'll really enjoy it because it's unique and well executed. I could tell this food is made with care, and that matters. This just wasn't the flavor profile I personally look for in chicken and waffles. If I were already downtown and someone said, "Let's eat here," I would choose something. Would I put it in my personal top five chicken-and-waffle spots in San Diego? Probably not. But I would absolutely recommend giving this local family business a try and deciding for yourself. "Supporting good people who care about what they serve is always worth it." read more

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Perfect chicken and waffle. Service was okay but the flavor made up for it. Went a little after opening so it wasn't not busy, store was clean and everything was fresh. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and waffle - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

We got this order Grubhub, our second time. I can't wait to go to their location because this place is legit, did I say LEGIT? The chicken is perfectly seasoned, moist, great breading, large pieces. The waffles have a nice caramelized surface, great sweetness, and fluffy on the inside. The GREENS! Lots of bacon and onion, salty, perfectly cooked! Mac and cheese is good, not great, but still good. I saved the best for last, the chicken sandwich, great bun, great chicken, great pickles, great sauce! Might even be the best chicken Sammy I have ever had. read more

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Just left this spot! Early lunch before hitting the road. Got the spicy chicken sandwich, liked that the chicken was crispy and thinner than traditional chicken sandwiches I see, easier to enjoy-- fries were delicious and the breakfast burrito was HUGE and hefty! read more

We've walked by this place so many times over the past two years and finally gave it a try! We ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, which was crispy and flavorful, with a sauce that wasn't overpowering. We also ordered one shrimp taco, but they ended up giving us two! They had plenty of plump shrimp and were so massive we could barely hold them with one hand. My girlfriend and I were very pleased and look forward to going back! read more

Shout out to Ali's Chicken & Waffles for sponsoring lunch for the Black Entrepreneurs Leaders & Learners 5th Annual Business Summit today! I always want to show love to businesses that support other businesses. I enjoyed their fresh salad, crispy fried shrimp and generous chicken sandwich. I can't wait to visit their brick and mortar! Thank you kindly! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Salad - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came in for an unplanned lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The original chicken sandwich was juicy, hot, and crispy on arrival. It was definitely fresh, which was surprising since the wait was relatively short. The chicken and waffle was of a similar quality, and the coconut oil for the waffle is my new favorite thing to eat on waffles! Overall, a good experience, especially for the price. For the building, the dining area inside was clean, and the bathroom even had a bidet! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Original Chicken Sandwich - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

Found Ali's via EatOkra and decided to pop in for breakfast during our short layover. I was excited to learn that this is a halal restaurant which meant there would be zero limitations on what I could order. We ordered the breakfast burrito, the cluckfast burrito, mom's tea, and mom's iced tea. The burritos were massive--especially for the price and they didn't skimp in the crispy beef bacon. While we were dining, a group of workers came in to order lunch (always a good sign). The interior is humble, but the offerings are absolutely something to write home about. The tea was so good we ordered two more to go for our walk around the downtown area and were very grateful to receive them free of charge with well wishes for the rest of our trip. We do plan to come back to San Diego, and this will be somewhere we return! read more

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Stopped in on a whim...and left having a new favorite chicken spot. Their waffles (with their coconut syrup) were very good, but the star of the show was their chicken (we did the Thai spicy) which was crispy, perfectly breaded, and great size portions, and overall delicious...especially when paired with their Ali's sauce (think a tangier and slightly spicy thousand island.) The service was good. The location is excellent, right in the heart of downtown. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

I live nearby so I've come here quite a bit and every single time this place hits the spot! I usually order either the Cluckfast Burrito or a Kid's Combo (I get full easily so just a tender + waffle is the perfect portion for me). The burrito is super filling since it has chicken, bacon, and eggs for protein. It's so good and definitely my go to for an easy meal on the go. With the kid's combo you get a tender and a waffle, and the tender is soooo good. It's perfectly seasoned and comes out hot, crispy, and juicy. The waffle is also perfect, it's not overly sweet and it comes with a coconut syrup that's so tasty. Their food is freshly made so it does take 10-15 for you to get your food, but you can definitely tell that it's fresh. The people who work here are also very friendly! I would absolutely recommend this place for anyone who's looking for good chicken and/or waffles! read more

I placed my order online and it was simple enough. Walked to the Ali's and my food was packed and ready to go! I completely enjoyed order. It was tasty and I'm surprised I finished it all! I recommended Ali's. Try it out! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - #2 combo - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

This spot was amazing. It has a hole in the wall vibe, but is far from it. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. As the restaurant's name suggests, they serve chicken and/or waffle dishes. The staff there was very friendly and helpful. They have a decent sized dining area with music playing in the background and a small semi-enclosed patio area in the front. I sat in the front patio area to eat my meal. They serve breakfast with food such as breakfast burritos, pancakes, hash browns, and french toast. Their lunch/dinner menu includes grilled and fried chicken sandwiches, shrimp, burritos, chicken quesadillas, sambusa and chicken strips. I ordered the Chick-in-waffle sandwich combo, which came with fries. It took about 12 minutes for them to prepare my meal and have it in front of me. It was hot and fresh. I was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I have had in a very long time. I can not describe how tasty and flavorful it was. It had a little kick to it and I like it. mmmmm. I am still thinking about it as I type. The fries were perfectly seasoned and delicious as well. I cannot wait to come back here and highly recommend checking this joint out. They have some great service and very delicous food. read more

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Had the best surprise this Easter Sunday almost everything was closed or closing early but Ali's Chicken & Waffles came through Great service amazing quality food and everything tasted fresh and homemade you can really tell they care about what they serve Definitely coming back love supporting this local favorite read more

I'm in downtown SD for a conference and, in speaking to one of the vendors, was told about Ali's. 10/10! I had the #2 combo - a two piece with a waffle and fries. Although I took my food to go, the woman behind the counter was so kind and offered her recommendations. read more

i absolutely love this place. whenever i'm craving chicken and waffles (which is too often) this is always my first choice. the spice is fantastic, the sides are great, but truly the star of the show is their chicken and waffles. the best i've had in San Diego and much further. the workers are super nice and the food comes out in a timely manner read more

Came all the way from Chicago and was walking in down town when I needed to use the bathroom. The cashier, Swani, was very kind and helped me choose the right sandwich for me. The food was absolutely amazing. If we were closer I would definitely recommend. read more

Chicken and waffles and the cluckfast burrito are the best items on the menu here for me. Also the beef bacon is super good. You can tell that all of their meat is high quality. It's halal btw. I never felt that anything I ordered here was too greasy. Especially the burrito I expected to be heavy but it wasn't. Try the coconut syrup! I highly recommend it. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and waffles Combo #1 - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

TERRIBLE, TOTAL RIP-OFF!! They hide a nothing sized terrible tasting piece of mediocre chicken under a smothering cover of batter alongside a mediocre waffle and charge $14? Where's the effing meat? Total RIPOFF!! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

Ali's has found its way to downtown San Diego. It's a good thing too because they make some tasty chicken and Waffles, not to mention some dam good fried chicken sandwiches for $7. I had the homestyle with added pickles, and it was great. The fried chicken was perfectly cooked and came out tender and juicy. All the while, the breading was crispy and lightly seasoned. I like the white sauce that came with the sandwich. It was mild in flavor and allowed the chicken to shine. The tomatoes were fresh. Service was super friendly and welcoming. This location has a good amount of inside seating. read more

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Food was absolutely delicious, a must try for sure will definitely come back to this spot. Service was top tier , friendly and much appreciated. The atmosphere was a whole vibe with the Afrobeats in the background and smooth lighting. If you're a foodie or just enjoy good new spots check Ali's out you will leave wishing you had more. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Spicy chicken sandwich w/ side of Mac - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

People are very nice there. Fried chicken strips were delicious and guHighly recommend mild spicy. The burger was also delicious! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

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Some good chicken and waffles here that's fo sho. this place hits the spot whenever I'm in the area. Bomb stuff.

Super friendly service and very accommodating of both humans and pets alike. We sat in the patio with our dog. Our pupper was served a bowl of water with ice - he was so thankful to be munching on ice on a warm day. I ordered combo #3 - comes with three large fried chicken strips, a waffle and a sauce of your choice. I recommend their Ali sauce. The meat is halal and tastes superior. The waffle could have been better, maybe crispier. Definitely coming back when I'm in this area. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Combo #3 - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my comfort meal. Anything they make is 10/10. My son loves the combo with chicken and fries. I get the spicy chicken sandwich with extra Ali's sauce on the side. Their sambusa is delicious either vegetarian or meat and the service is always fast and friendly. read more

Came across this place on a Monday afternoon and was worried to see not too many people but was proven wrong! The service was fantastic and the food came out quick. We got the combo #1 with Ali's sauce which came with 2 tenders and a choice of waffle or fries (with coconut syrup, honey, breakfast syrup, and Tabasco). The chicken was so juicy, flavorful, and rhetorical breading was crisp. We got a Thai tea with evaporated milk to see the pairing and it was really refreshing and cut through the savoryness. Would recommend! read more

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

The food was incredibly fresh, and the service was even better. I ordered the chicken and waffles, and the way they marinated the chicken made it extra flavorful. The waffle was fresh and fluffy, and instead of traditional syrup, they used coconut milk--which was a unique and amazing touch. Be sure to ask for the Ali sauce--it's delicious! read more

Great food. Friendly service. Very value! I enjoyed my dinner and want to try breakfast. read more

Heard about this place from a friend. It's a hole in the wall spot for sure. It's a little sketchy outside right next to a 7/11 and shares a spot with a donut shop too. We got the spicy chicken sandwich and the Mac and cheese and SOOO GOOD. Immediately ate in the car and we came back the next week HAHA. The staff are always nice as well :) read more

The big question: Is it better than Roscoe's? I don't know as I've never been there. The question I can answer: would I go back? Yes, yes I will. I had the chicken and waffle (two large chicken tendies and a belgian style waffle). The chicken had a surprisingly good amount of flavor and heat. I'm the type of person who prefers waffles to pancakes, and the waffle was also a hit. The coconut syrup was unusual but works with both the waffle and chicken. I would like my collared greens to have a little more acid or vinegar but they were still tender and tasty. Plus the customer service is 1000x better than the former restaurant in this space. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken & waffles and side of collared greens (vegan bacon) - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

On vacation in San Diego, my wife and I were returning to our MVC hotel and decided to stop in to check it out. Their prices are great and the plates are quite filling (we bought a combo 2 and 3), that we had some left over for later. The best part of this restaurant, besides the food, was the excellent customer service provided by Araya, who was friendly and great on the advice (particularly since we have acid reflux) to settle for medium rather that Thai hot, which turned out to again, be perfect taste and advice! Highly recommended for great food and service! read more

Decided to walk somewhere local and satisfy my love of chicken and waffles. Well with the walk. Great flavor; particularly the Ali Sauce. Reasonably priced. Very good service. read more

Sooooo goood! I got the combo #1 with waffles. Let me tell you! The fried chicken strips were so tasty and crispy! I got mild for the spice and that was perfect. I also chose the coconut syrup I'm not a big coconut fan in general but something about it made it even better. Got a side of Mac n cheese and I would get this again! read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Fried chicken strips with a side waffle - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

When I walked in this morning, the music made conversation difficult - had to ask them to lower it. I was outside after I had completed my order the they were playing really loud Christmas music. Waited almost 30 minutes for the food. While the chicken and waffle tasted good, the chicken portion was lacking. The coconut sauce was sweet but slightly suspicious. On the bright side, the fries were cooked perfectly. Price point is good. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and waffle - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow, let's get it started off with this can I say spicy this chicken and waffle sandwich is really good. The chicken is crispy it's moist inside. The waffle is flaky, but also soft and fresh. The gentleman that was working in the kitchen this morning when they open also was running the register doing two things at once and made a great meal. He was very helpful. Very nice. He even recommended some coconut syrup, which is very very good. I like the simple and clean look of the restaurant as well. My food came out quick. It's hot. It's delicious I highly recommend if you want chicken and waffles and you're downtown or you were in town for a conference or just visiting someone stop by here and get yourself a chicken and waffle breakfast sandwich. It is so good you will not be upset or let down. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

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When I read a review that Ali's had beef bacon I knew I had to venture over. The last time I had beef bacon at a restaurant it was many moons ago at Harris Ranch! Well readers let me let you know Ali's did not disappoint. That beef bacon was everything, well it could have been one more thing....MORE!!! I also had the chicken sandwich Although it was tasty, the chicken piece was on the thinner size. I did report this to the restaurant. To which the cashier offered to make up for it if I come back that evening as promised for the collared greens. My bad, I didn't make it. Nonetheless, the gesture to make it up was great customer service which I experienced from walking into the establishment to my exit. I will definitely be back again for the food and the customer service. You don't often get those both at the same time anymore. read more

The food was absolutely delicious! I had the chicken and waffles and Thai tea. I was in from out of town for a wedding and wanted to come back and have it again because it was so good, but we didn't make. I will definitely go back when I'm in town the next time. read more

Ali's Chicken & Waffles - Thai tea! - Soul Food Near Me - San Diego, California

I ordered from here twice the first time I got a spicy chicken sandwich and it was good. The second time very bland. Guy at register was nice ig. I tried a bite of my friends waffle and it was okay. read more

Really good halal chicken sandwich. I had the spicy fried chicken sandwich, and it was amazing. The prices were good for what you get. Will be back again. Update: came here today and ordered the chicken sandwich at 1:06pm, i went to the counter cause people who ordered after me got thier order before I did at 122pm and still my order was not ready or they gave ot to someone else. This really upset me as I only had 30 min lunch today. The employees didn't care that they waisted my time. My hourly rate is in the triple digits so they made me lose more than time but money as well. I won't be back. read more

Great service! Great food! First time here but will not be the last. For sure will be back! Thanks for great food!! read more