I visited Buddy's Chicken & Waffles with my niece. The options were so vast that we decided to get one for everyone and take them back home. I opted on the cheddar bay biscuit, got my man the cornbread, got the Oreo for my son, Cinnamon Toast Crunch for my daughter, and my niece also got the Oreo. Each one SLAPPED!!!! The chicken was also generously portioned and well seasoned. They did not disappoint. I enjoyed the art they selected in the building. They also had a couple humorous signs at the entry that make the place feel very chill and laid back. I'm looking forward to going back. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - CREATIVE OPTIONS!!! - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

My friend was super excited to try this spot, he said he had met the owner before and he was super nice and who doesn't like chicken and waffles?!! He had the Blueberry waffles and chicken and I had the Southern Cornbread and spicy chicken. The food was good, the chicken was moist and truly spicy!! The service was TERRIBLE! The girl that took our order was not happy to be there AT ALL! We stepped up to the counter to order, forget asking any questions. You could not understand what even her question of dipping sauce or original or spicy was. Not in a language barrier way but she was basically whispering in a way to not engage. It seemed like there was a steady stream of customers so for the owner that is nice, I am glad for that but I wouldn't run back due to the very unfriendly service. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Blueberry Waffles and Chicken - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Their chicken is the best! The seasoning and sauces are so good. I love how it's so customizable! The fries are also wonderful. I hadn't tried their waffles yet, but hoping to soon! read more

This is our second visit here, and it's been good. The food and service was great. Buddy's is a family-friendly restaurant. read more

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Buddy's Chicken & Waffles gave me one of the most comforting meals I've had in a while. I got the waffle with bananas and banana cream -- the one covered in that avalanche of white powdered sugar. You'll recognize it instantly, and the sign out front might even make you chuckle a bit with the "powdered" reference. The waffle was warm, fluffy, and perfectly sweet, but the real star was the chicken. Very, VERY well-seasoned -- you can taste it all the way through, not just on the surface. The chicken was moist, juicy, and tender with a perfect crispy bite on the outside. Parking is street parking, but honestly, the food makes it worth the quick walk. If you're looking for comfort food in Tacoma that actually delivers flavor and personality, Buddy's is absolutely worth a stop. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - The vibe outside ‍ - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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We decided to go here because we were craving some waffles. I've heard about it and decided we needed to try it & make a TT on it! The place was clean, the workers were SUPER friendly and provided great service. We all got different flavors. I got the pumpkin spice chicken & waffles, my partner got the banana cream chicken & waffles, and my cousin got the strawberries & cream chicken and waffles. We all got the buddy sauce with it as well. All the waffles were soft, just how I like it. They were big and pretty fluffy as well. The chicken was seasoned to perfection, crispy and not dry at all. It was also very aesthetically pleasing. I did not really care for the buddy sauce but I'd see why so many people love it. I'm just not a spicy type of person. -my favorite one would have to be the Banana cream pie! It was perfect! The pricing was reasonable. The parking was good but I can see why it would be really hard if it was busy. The way this restaurant works is you order up front and they give you a number, when you're done to put things away yourself :) read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Pumpkin spice waffle + chicken - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

A true Tacoma gem...I can't justify getting chicken and waffles anywhere else since my first visit to Buddy's. The chicken is juicy (get half and half to try one original and one spicy) and goes perfectly with the Buddy's sauce. My favorite waffle is the strawberry shortcake, but every single one that I've tried has blown me away. The people that work here are incredible, I've never had anything but amazing service and the vibes inside are immaculate as well. Can't wait to go back! read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Cheddar bay biscuit waffle with garlic butter (limited/special) and half/half chicken - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Buddy's Chicken & Waffle is a MUST try. Local Tacoma business. Great food. We got half spicy, half regular. All of it was nothing short of delicious, the waffle, the lemonade, the chicken, but that spicy chicken was my favorite. To give an honest first impression, it was a little bit of a longer wait. (Valentine's Day, Probably short staffed) but it was so good; still easily worth the 5 stars. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We are super fans of waffle house and really miss it here in the PNW. When we saw the truck, my daughter made us stop and check it out. We were lucky enough to come across the food truck in South Hill at Sunrise Park. This is all made to order and extra extra fresh!! The smell of the waffle cooking was enough to make our mouths water. If you see the food truck rolling, follow it. If you see it parked, park and get you some! My daughter and I got full on less than $20 which isn't easy to do these days. The quality and portion sizes are great for the price. We ordered the cinnamon toast crunch waffle with two spicy chicken strips. The waffles are not tiny and the tenders are meaty too. The waffle was perfectly fluffy and crispy and the toppings made it so rich and sweet. The chicken is fried perfectly! So juicy, flavorful and it's actually spicy (FR typing this as my bottom lip is burning). This is not peppery like other "spicy" chicken or just bland and hot for no reason. My daughter, who is 8, got through half of the tender before we added the syrup and ate it with the rest of the waffle. She claimed the heat is addictive and adding the syrup made it taste better than hot honey. A lot of chicken and waffles spots can't do both well, but Buddy's has nailed them. I will actually make the hike to stop by the brick and mortar and get the chicken and seasoned fries after this experience. 10 out of 10 highly recommend read more

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Buddy's Chicken & Waffles has been on my "must try" list for a long time, and yesterday I finally made a trip down for breakfast. I ordered the "Cheddar Bay Waffle" with "Hot AF tenders". I made a to-go order but next time I might eat inside, there's lots of seating, good music and an overall good vibe. When I received my order, I was happily impressed with how large the portions were. The first thing I tried was the chicken tenders and they were decently spicy with a very flavorful dry spice blend. Equally impressed with the waffle, which was thick and crispy on the outside, with a very tasty and savory cheddar bay flavor that paired very nicely with the tenders. I would definitely recommend getting a side of "Buddy sauce" to dip the tenders in too. In my experience these are the best chicken strips, as well as the best waffles I have had in the Tacoma area. Buddy's easily deserves the hype, I would happily go out of my way to come back. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Cheddar Bay Waffle w/Hot AF Tenders - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We had Buddy's food truck at the Seahawks Facility for "Victory Monday" and we have food trucks on Mondays after every victory and these guys are by far one of my favorite food trucks we've had. I got the spicy chicken & chocolate chip waffles combination and it was DEFINETELY the best chicken and waffles I've ever had. Wish they were located closer to Renton, but I plan on making a trip down there soon. Service was quick and easy even though they were operating out of a food trucks. Highly recommend! read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Tasty & amazing portions! Doesn't disappoint!! Family, friendly place! Most welcoming!

Unexpectedly amazing! The chicken and cinnamon crunch waffles were a delightful sweet and savory! Perfectly seasons mega sized pieces of chicken! My partner did the chicken and blueberries and was swimming in blueberry deliciousness! Absolutely recommend! read more

Satisfies the cravings! I got the chocolate chip waffle with chicken. I was a tiny bit disappointed that the chocolate chips just came on top. I was thinking it would be mixed in. The chicken is a little dry, but it is tasty. The fries is also pretty good. Their menu definitely catches the eye. Inside is clean and several tables available. Not too busy at 9:30am on a Saturday. read more

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If you're reading this wondering, should we go!?! The answer is why aren't you driving there already??? Went Friday around 11:30am, it was bumpin. Staff is efficient and fast. So it wasn't a problem that it was busy. Took maybe 10 minutes to get our food. Tons of seating, nice art on the walls, if you don't like loud music be prepared, we really enjoyed it. Vibe was awesome. And it's CLEAN. Enjoyed looking at what everyone else had ordered too. Watched a tractor pull up order food and get back into his tractor and go back to his construction site... man had his priorities straight. I had the cookies and cream waffle with regular chicken. This was incredible, the waffle was sweet and fluffy but the perfect waffle the added cookie crumble elevated it. Best chicken I've ever had hands down, no comparison. The batter was light and seasoned well. It came with 2 large pieces. ***It's important to read the whole menu because I totally missed the part where whipped cream, toppings, dips and syrup are ordered separately. *** Not a big deal I just assumed syrup was included. Ended up asking for regular syrup but was given there bourbon syrup not my favorite but my husband loved it on his. He got their special red lobster biscuit waffle with regular chicken. We went back up and asked for regular whipped cream to add to my waffle. We also got the loaded fries which came with hot sauce ranch sauce and chicken.... Dude also amazing. Fries were badass just alone. They have a ton of waffle choices, chicken meals and sandwiches along with specials. Love the sign that was outside, the owner obviously has a wonderful sense of humor. Parking was confusing, try to park in front or directly behind the building, we parked in the side and ended up moving because the person helping us said they share it with the other place but are t really supposed park there so we opted to just be safe and move. The pricing, honestly I was expecting to pay more. Especially with the portions we got. $50 bucks for 2 big ass waffles, 4 large peices of chicken, huge helping of fries with more chicken on it 2 bottles of water. Could've easily fed 3 more people with what we had left and that was with us both leaving super full. 10/10 If we lived closer I'd be there every damn day. read more

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They were busy. It's first come first serve seating. You order at the counter and take a number back to your seat and they bring your food to you. I ordered the cornbread waffle and chicken and also the strawberry cheesecake waffle. The flavor of their chicken and waffles are on point. The only thing lacking is the crispiness of the waffle. If they can get the crispiness right I'd give them 4 stars. 5 stars if they get the food out quicker. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Strawberry cheesecake waffle - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I thought I had left a review for Buddy's during my first visit but I saw I didn't so I am going to remedy that as these guys deserve all the glowing reviews. I first visited Buddy's when they were at their previous location, thanks to Side Piece Kitchen mentioning how awesome Buddy and his food is. We tried their strawberry lemonade, strawberry shortcake waffle, banana pudding waffle and 2 pieces of chicken. Once we put in the order, we got our order after a few minutes of waiting and a nice female employee dropped it off to us while being very pleasant. It's been a few years since then and I heard that Buddy got his own location which is awesome, as I also follow him on social media as well. We saw that BECU was partnering with Buddy's to give customers a free waffle to celebrate Black History Month so we wanted to do a quick visit as we also wanted to get some other food and drinks as we did errands. I got the red velvet waffle and a mango sweet tea while my boyfriend got the cookies and cream waffle. I can tell you that their quality and consistency is still stellar and the customer service is friendly and helpful. The mango sweet tea was also refreshing and not too sweet. I love their new space too as it isn't too bright but light enough to take good pictures. They had plenty of seats and tables as well as a huge Connect 4 set up. I loved the choice of music as it was just chill vibes while we enjoyed our meal. You also can just leave your dishes and trash at the table when you leave! We weren't sure if we were supposed to clean our own table or not but I asked our cashier who kindly let me know that we can just leave it there and they will clean it up. Also, after we ordered, there was quite a line afterwards which is great as they truly are one of the best businesses in Tacoma! read more

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Stopped for dinner tonight & ordered the strawberry shortcake waffle, and the cheddar bay waffle... we wanted to try both chicken so we ordered 1/2 classic and spicy. The peach lemonade was so yummy too. I personally liked the spicy chicken better, but both were good. Everything was so delicious. The staff was very nice. I liked the atmosphere and the music playing. Seemed to have a diverse customer base which is always a good sign! Will definitely be back with family read more

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Reviews looked promising - they did NOT deliver. We waited almost an hour for food that wasn't even good enough to take home as leftovers. The waffle was a waffle (can make the same at home), & chicken a disappointment - particularly for a place that is named for it. The only saving grace was the hot honey. Beyond the food, the music was too loud for any real, audible conversation to be had, while used tables were just left for customers to clean themselves. 1st and the last time eating there. read more

This place is awesome. The waffles are really tasty. Both crisp and fluffy with some amazing toppings. The banana creme was the best one of the two and I loved all of the flavors and syrups. We also ordered a big order of hot chicken which was super good! We are picky about chicken but Buddy's has some of the best chicken around. I like the music and the location is a little tucked away which is nice. It's high-quality, well made and truly delicious. There is nothing else quite like them. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Cinnamon Toast Crunch Waffle - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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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! read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Comedy night Jan 31, 2025 - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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. read more

Been hearing about this place for a while now! We finally got to go try it. We ordered for pick up. We drove up and right away was a Vibe music playing on the speaker Notorious BIG makes it already a win. There is a walk up counter the person working the counter was friendly. Food was hot and ready to go. You get a nice big waffle full of flavor I got the cheddar bay 10/10 went perfectly with the OG chicken. The strips were nice and big tender and full of flavor. We will definitely be back read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Banana cream not overly sweet so good - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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So good HAPPY VALENTINES... So good... never had chicken and waffles before together- This was so good and the chicken was so light. It was almost like it was fried catfish, but it wasn't. It was so good -thank you so much to everyone who was there and how they were kind and welcoming and great music too. Music aaaamazing- thinking of my birthday party there - or my son.. read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Giant Connect 4!!! Whaaaat!!! - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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my FAVE chicken & waffles spot, it's always worth the drive! their waffles include both sweet & savory options and their chicken comes regular or hot. the hot chicken spice actually had a good kick to it but isn't too hot, and i love that they have a louisiana-zingy-type hot sauce on the table to go with it. service is always great, even on a busy day with the line out the door. it's real cozy inside and can get busy, takeout is almostttt as good as dining in. their homemade lemonades are also tasty and refreshing. we've tried a good amount of chicken spots and buddy's definitely takes the dub!! read more

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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. read more

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The food was really good, and the atmosphere was great - I loved the black paintings. I'd actually love to have my art featured there someday! One thing that could improve the experience is having a couple more waiters. Having the menu at the register seemed to hold up the line and slow things down a bit. Other than that the experience was amazing. read more

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Ate at the food truck. Great, BIG, pieces of chicken. And that spice is SPICE. Buddy's sauce is good, too. Son ate the blueberry waffle. Said it was delicious with chunks of blueberry throughout as well as on top. Eat at Buddy's if you like chicken. I don't know what else to say because it was really, REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!! read more

Walking up you can smell the goodness outside! This place is lively and great for all ages. Someone knows a good playlist! Service was superb with thier simple menu. They had the line moving steady for to-go orders and gave us a buzzer for when it was ready. Limited seating indoors. Patience is a must when waiting for your order. The carbs hit the spot! I highly reccomend the hot honey! I am in love with that flavor! I tried both original and spicy tenders. Both were crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The spicy one was just the right amount of heat for me- they are about the same spice level of takis-fuego. Crumble topping was generous! Lemonade with a choice of added real fruit flavor was super refreshing. Every carb was worth it! Can't wait to come again! read more

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Delicious chicken and waffles! The portions were large and the service was friendly. We enjoyed our brunch!

Food was great, nice to get original chicken tenders that are actually seasoned. Like that I got fresh blueberries and blueberries made in the waffle. The syrup is a bit thin/watery so it felt like it soaked through the waffle and you can't taste it much. The ranch fucks (that's a good thing). Ambiance is a bit lackluster to me because of the modern black paint with little decor and the poorly done epoxy flooring. Inside was made cheaply but the food is great. Theres some parking read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Chicken and Blueberry waffle w/ ranch and syrup - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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One of the best chicken and waffles I've ever had! The fried chicken tenders were perfectly fried/crispy and well seasoned (great kick but not overpowering). The waffle was flavorful and had the perfect texture too. Love that it comes with real maple syrup. I'd love to come back again to try other waffles. I got the cornbread waffle and 3 tenders but got pretty full after 2 tenders-I felt like the dish was reasonably priced read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Cornbread waffles w/ hot chicken - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The waffles were excellent, but the spicy chicken was far too spicy, and I can usually take the heat. It seemed to be more of a rub, than a batter and would prefer their standard batter with additional spice added. They serve Bluebeard coffee, which I've never cared for either. Too under roasted. Service was OK, but they couldn't locate creamer and had to ask multiple people. They could use a menu board, or place menus by the door to raise order efficiency. read more

Fat, Juicy and Wet! We love, love, love this place! We usually get DJ as our server and she's phenomenal. The chicken is so moist, juicy, and they're no shy on the seasoning! I like the spicy chicken, while my husband like the original flavor. Husband is obsessed with the Cornbread waffle! I think it does pair perfectly with the chicken. We also took our friends here, and all got the cornbread waffle, and everyone is now hooked. read more

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Worst experience ever. This occurred on 04/14, before noon? Whoever that cashier chick with the glasses and birthmark on her chest was soooo inattentive. Lack of customer service, lack of awareness, no ownership! Homegirl was terrible in such a simple easy job, and that's taking the damn order. There were people literally coming after we've ordered, and receiving their orders before us. TALK ABOUT CLUELESS??? After 30-45mins of waiting, we requested for a refund because I was fed up with the bullcrap. This place is so ghetto! Never coming back here again. read more

Listen. I can't stress enough how badly you need to eat here. Chicken and waffles are one of my favorite dish. I have eaten at almost every other places that serves this dish and this is so much better, by such a drastic amount it's insane. The corn bread waffle is what I had and it was perfect. I got a mix of spicy and regular chicken and both were great. Their sweet tea was great. The young lady with the red hair was so nice and helpful. Do your self a favor and eat here, and only here, for the rest of your life.... PS. If you get the spicy chicken don't breathe in the dust on the chicken it WILL act like pepper spray read more

Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The waffles and chicken sandwich hit the spot. I would definitely go back. Gotta try the lemon... Nice music with good customer service.

The strawberry cheesecake waffle was the best waffle I ever had. The food came out in a timely manner and food does not disappoint

Ordered on Door Dash and had delivered to my hotel- not disappointed in the least and can only imagine how much better eating it right on the spot would be. Chicken was still crisp and seasoned well. I got the hot sauce and it was perfect for a late night meal. The waffle was delicious and complimented by the maple syrup. I'd go back in a heart beat! read more

How did I not know about this place??? A coworker came in to work with a plate of chicken and fries that looked amazing. So I googled Buddy's and found out they're less than a mile from my house. I had to try!! I was not disappointed. When I walked in, I was greeted by the server and she had a lovely smile. We ordered to go. The place smelled like a sweet waffle, it was very informal. They serve chicken, waffles and fries. Husband had Strawberry waffle and chicken and I had loaded fries. The chicken in my loaded fries was crispy and tender on the inside. Husband was so happy with his waffle and chicken too. Will I be back? Absolutely! There is nothing better than a locally owned business with a great product. Good job Buddy's! read more