The Waffle Factory sits on a rundown strip of Vermont in South LA. It’s sort of part of the Vermont/Manchester project, yet without the city subsidies granted to the area that’s been a ghostland of sorts since the riots of 1991. Tim Cavanaugh has been following the development, along with city’s Community Redevelopment Agency in charge of the project, over the past few months. You can read his op-ed pieces here and here.
The Waffle Factory has not been without it’s own development problems. Short of financing, the restaurant had its own road bumps on its way to becoming one of the area’s only sit down establishments. Well it’s finally open, and I decided to check it out.
Located in the old Stan Kite coffee shop location, the revamped restaurant features a large granite countertop, with a remodeled dining room and bathrooms. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and are open 25 hours. Not sure where they find that extra hour!
Their specialty is, of course, chicken and waffles. The chicken comes chargrilled or fried. The waffles come in many flavors; plain buttermilk, or filled with apple cinnamon, bacon and cheese, banana, strawberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon, blueberry, ham and cheese and whole wheat.
The menu seemed to be a bit new, even though they’ve been open for a couple of months. And overall things seem to be a little hectic. They couldn’t figure out how to punch in my order, the daily special, which was two pieces of fried chicken and a waffle filled with my choice of strawberries.
The food arrived at my table, unfortunately I cut into the large chicken breast and it was slightly under cooked and I had to send it back. After a long wait, my new order of chicken arrived. Except this time they brought me a thigh and a wing and a plain waffle, but I wasn’t about to send it back and wait again.
The food was good, the chicken was moist and not too greasy. The waffle was crispy and the other tasty looking menu items taunt me to return and give it another shot. The menu is filled with all kinds of southern comfort food favorites like meatloaf, pork chops, catfish, popcorn shrimp, rib-eye steak and salmon.
Overtime I hope they work out the kinks. They are currently trying to staff up according to this craigslist post. Several people were filling out applications when I was there. Some of the reviews I read complained of lack of organization, long lines, and confusion at the register. But if the long lines and crowds are any indication, it shows these types of places are needed in a community that has seen very slow re-development, even 16 years later.
The Waffle Factory
9131 S Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90044
323-777-1117
Sun, Jun 29, 2008
Crenshaw/South LA, Food