Wild Chix & Waffles has a whimsical interior and abundant comfort food (Credit: Jessica Attie)
Indoor swings, lounge seating, and plush conversation pillows aren’t your typical strip mall staples. But then again, Wild Chix & Waffles isn’t your typical cafe. Most cafes offer snacks and Wi-Fi. Wild Chix & Waffles takes it one step further, straight into a Wonderland-style rabbit hole.
Whimsical Interior
Walking in, straight ahead you’ll see a couple of iPads on which you’ll place your order. The ordering system may seem intimidating to newcomers, but it’s easy to navigate and add personalized notes to your order (I always get sauce on the side). Alternatively, someone can take your order the old-fashioned way or come assist.
After ordering, take a number and try to decide where you’d like to sit. By the coffee-sipping blonde etched on the wall near the ordering station? On a swing next to the games on the center coffee? A barstool at the counter? Or (like me) by the framed cat slowly filing its nails as it judges my life menu choices? (I knew I preferred dogs for a reason!)
Whether you’re enjoying solo time or out with friends and family, co-owner and creative mind Wendy Wu thought of you. Counter seating offers space for individuals seeking solace or a quick bite before heading out, while table and lounge seating offer space for groups. Plentiful pillows ensure comfort and many are adorned with saucy sayings. There’s even a hooded chair I plan on snagging next time I visit, to curl up with a waffle, latte, and book…ahh, bliss.
Multiple seating options provide spaces for both individuals and groups (Credit: Jessica Attie)
Even if you’re on an awkward first date, the artwork and framed decor will provide plenty of conversation starters. Wu drew the stencil murals adorning the interior walls and floor. She cheekily curated the rest of the decor by combining pieces from people she knew or items she found while exploring.
Music plays loudly enough to be heard, but not so much as to nullify lively conversations or detract from plugging headphones into your own playlist. Engage and interact with others, or not. This Austin cafe allows you to do what you want.
Whimsical Food Items
Menu items include the Hippie Chix salad (Credit: Jessica Attie)
Wu did what she wanted when she incorporated scratch-made waffles into the menu. While the cafe’s flagship item is chicken and waffles, don’t expect it to be the way mama used to make it (unless your mother is Wu). It’s not traditional southern-style, nor is it a hot chicken waffle. It’s just Wu’s type of waffle, tasty in its own right.
Thinner than a Belgium waffle, the waffles here are slightly crispy on the outside, making them an ideal foundation for all the goodies they might hold: egg, bacon, burger, Nutella, banana, chicken. Offering both sweet and savory scratch-made waffles, Wu created the recipes with her own vision of comfort food.
While I’m typically Team Carb, the chicken tenders here stand out as MVP. Brined for 24 hours, Wu then takes the chicken strips and breads them with 11 different spices. Flavorful, but not spicy, I felt my inner Sam-I-am coming out. I would eat them anywhere!
Menu items are available all day (pictured: waffle nachos, What the Cluck, matcha latte)
Considering I’m more of a food traditionalist (and a sauce avoidant), the Soul Sista remains my favorite: chicken, waffles, butter, and maple syrup. Yum! I also enjoy What the Cluck (with the sriracha mayo on the side). It features a hefty portion of tender chicken, egg, crispy bacon, and sliced American cheese.
Wild Chix & Waffles offers menu items at all hours of the day–they’re open from early morning to late night. So if you really wanted to, you could stay all day and not miss a meal. Just pair the menu items with tea, coffee, wine, or beer, all of which are available.
Enjoyable Environment at Wild Chix & Waffles
Co-owner Wendy Wu creates tasty food in a fun space
With a passion for architecture and food, Wu and co-owner Wallace Kusumo have created a space with a certain je ne sais quoi, where they envisioned getting “people engaged in lively conversation in our lively space.” Located in the Northcross Mall at West Anderson Lane and Burnet Road, this fast casual restaurant should be your next stop in north Austin.
7714 Burnet Road – Website
@theAustinot wants to know:
What will you put on top of your waffle at Wild Chix?
