Chicken and Waffles in An Alley in San Francisco
Psst…I can hook you up with a fix at a good price.
Primo stuff, too, bro.
This way. Come on. Come on. Down this alley.
In San Francisco, if someone beckons you down an alley like that, don’t be afraid. They’re just leading the way to Little Skillet, a lunchtime walk-up window serving Southern-style fried chicken and waffles that is indeed located in an alley.
Little Skillet, 360 Ritch St. (at Townsend between 3rd and 4th streets), a short drive from the W San Francisco, is an offshoot of Farmer Brown restaurant in San Francisco.
The to-go window is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Get in line, then place your order for fried chicken, waffles, “BBQ pork sandwich,” Cobb salad, or Red Velvet cupcakes.
If you’re lucky, you can take your cardboard box of goodness to enjoy at the lone bench on the sidewalk in front of the window. Or do what most people do — grab a foam cushion from a stack nicely provided at the condiment stand — and cross the street to take a seat on a loading dock to chow down on your grub. Packages of wet ones also are conveniently available to clean your hands afterward.
After all, this is definitely food to dig into with your fingers. My two pieces of chicken and one waffle was $8. The Belgian-style waffle was dusted with powdered sugar and came with a small container of very good syrup. It was pleasantly yeasty, but not super-duper crisp on the outside, as it hadn’t been made to order. On the other hand, the chicken was very crisp. It was seasoned nicely, too — just enough to give it interest, but not so much that you gagged on garlic and pepper like at some other more heavy-handed places. The breast was a little dry, but the dark meat thigh was wonderfully moist.
If you need a pick-me-up afterward, walk two steps next-door to Cento, a coffee window that serves fabled Blue Bottle Coffee, which the entire coffee-swilling Bay Area has gone nutso about. For good reason. Get it dripped to order for $2.50, and enjoy a rich, balanced, full-bodied cup of joe that doesn’t have a modicum of bitterness.
Smack your lips on all of that — in an alleyway of all places.
More: Fried Chicken Night at Ad Hoc
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Tuesday, 11. May 2010 5:32
That is an unusual combination! That looks scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 7:55
Anyone who’s lived in the south knows this is a classic southern combination. In fact, Gladys Knight owns a chicken and waffle place in Atlanta. (http://www.gladysandron.net/)
The loading dock you mention is actually my partner’s office and I was thrilled when he told me they just opened in that space.
Now there are a lot of things I don’t miss about the south (heat, bugs, narrow-minded politicians) but the food I really miss. Although I’ve had much better versions of chicken and waffles in the south, this is a great addition to San Francisco.
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 9:03
I was hooked by that first picture, food porn, pure and simple LOL.
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 13:44
I admit I’ve never actually tried chicken and waffles, and there’s a trailer serving just that a few blocks over from my house. I’m convinced I need to try it, although the alley experience sounds like more fun!
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 16:26
yet another place I’ve been meaning to try. You are always ahead of me!
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 17:36
We have a “chicken and waffles” place here in Phoenix. It, too, is very popular. Personally, I never would have thought of that combination. But hey…I’m convinced! I’ll have to give it a try!
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 18:37
And there’s the Home of Chicken and Waffles in Jack London Square (Broadway/Embarcadero) in Oakland. Most recently, it was the destination of my friend’s pre-schooler daughter’s field trip undertaken via Amtrak from a bilingual Chinese-English school in Mountain View.
Gotta love the Bay Area.
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 18:42
one of the best of truly American foods….and a combo that is just awesome..a pairing of the crispy salty seasoned fried chicken, with a toasty waffle with syrup…classic…as a blogger i sometimes just assume people have had something i’m thinking about and almost don’t blog it…Chicken n’ Waffles are one of my favorites and I assume everyone has heard of it or had it…then the comments show me that there is a world of people out there who would love to know about something new! Great post!
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 18:58
Lots of good chicken and waffles in the Bay Area. I like Brown Sugar Kitchen the best.
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 20:31
I keep hearing about this place. Must check it out soon!
Tuesday, 11. May 2010 22:01
The chicken pieces look huge over the waffles. I cannot imagine eating those without using (then licking) my fingers if they have provided plastic forks for to-go orders.
Yay, the savory and sweet is calling me!
Wednesday, 12. May 2010 1:59
i unashamedly smother my chicken and waffles with maple syrup. yes, it makes utensils (and wet-ones) necessary, but it’s sooo worth the trouble and resulting sticky mess!
Wednesday, 12. May 2010 6:21
I love the clandestine alley thing… and your photos of the chicken and waffles is making me hungry! My dream would be to find such a delightful place around the corner from my house.
Wednesday, 12. May 2010 13:32
I’ve never been too sure about the whole chicken and waffles thing, not that I’ve ever tried it, but it sounds kinda gross. On the other hand, a lot of people love it, so there must be something to it! I do love the whole idea of getting your lunch in a cardboard box, though.
Wednesday, 12. May 2010 18:37
this is an interesting combination, rather uniquee for me, I mean chicken and waffle! much be nice!
Wednesday, 12. May 2010 19:49
Seriously – i dont see the attraction. I know people talk about it, tweet about it, BLOG ABOUT IT. Yet, the combination just doesn’t pop my cork.
Clearly, I’ll have to try it!
Cheers,
Matt
Thursday, 13. May 2010 4:25
We just drove my another chicken and waffle place near the Fillmore and my husband thought someone was making that stuff up. I’d love to take him here and show him how tasty it is.
Thursday, 13. May 2010 15:28
I’ve been wanting to try Chicken and Waffles for ages. Who knew there were places to get it around here? I’ll have to put this place on my list.
Thursday, 13. May 2010 16:28
Blue bottle coffee & cupcakes? I’m there!
Wish we had more better quality coffeehouses in the south bay.
I love those small eateries located in alleys. Those chicken & waffles look so so good!
Friday, 14. May 2010 14:21
seriously? i love those types of places. hook me up girl! let’s go, and then some drinks afterwards too. (i could frame that first pic you know?)
Saturday, 15. May 2010 11:00
I love your recipes and fine dining posts, but this is the type of post I like most! Down to earth and accessible to my skinny bank account
Sunday, 16. May 2010 2:23
Extraordinary mixture!
Thank you for the interesting report.
so long..
Friday, 3. June 2011 11:35
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