11 Waffle House Secret Menu Items And Other Things We Didn’t Know

1. “Double Ds”

Image Source: Reddit

Okay, so Waffle House probably isn't the healthiest place in America that you can eat, but it's also definitely not the worse. If you're looking for a breakfast that's high in protein when you hit up your local spot, then make sure you ask for Double D's. Yes, yes, we know. But this secret menu item will give you two sunny-side-up eggs (get it?) with hash browns on the side. If you're trying to get your protein in before your morning workout, then one egg is never enough. If you don't ask for it by this name from the secret menu, you'll end up paying even more for the extra egg.

2. We have really good news!

Image Source: Reddit

Unlike some of the other 24 hour diners out there, we are happy to report that Waffle House does indeed use real eggs in all of their dishes! In fact, they use farm-fresh, high quality eggs to make sure that all of your food has the best ingredients. To get the eggs to their fluffiest, they use a blender to get the eggs the perfect consistency. This is considered to be a Waffle House food production secret that is apparently not-so-secret anymore! We love high quality ingredients and the perfect scrambled egg!

3. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

Image Source: Reddit

This is one of those things that once you know it exists on the secret menu, it makes total sense, because all of the ingredients are staring you in the face. There are a ton of different breakfast sandwiches already on the classic Waffle House menu, but this Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich is only on the secret menu. This customization is a fan favorite! It's just a classic bacon, eggs, and cheese put on their delicious grilled bread. So simple. So yummy. Perhaps they thought it was too basic for the regular menu, but definitely ask for this one!

4. This place is truly 24 hours

Image Source: Reddit

Waffle House is genuinely open 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. It says so on their website, and it applies to every location. In fact, they're so readily open that many people joke the restaurant doesn't have locks on its doors. This has become an urban legend. The restaurant has been known to stay open even during some pretty terrible weather. However, they have occasionally closed for hurricanes, and for the global pandemic. But if you're out late and need a bite, you can depend on Waffle House!

5. Apple Cinnamon Waffles

Image Source: Reddit

Waffle House has an array of choices when it comes to their waffle menu. Makes sense. The classics are plain, blueberry, strawberry, or chocolate chip. If you're a peanut butter lover, they even have that! But did you know there's a secret menu item? You can request Apple Cinnamon Waffles from their secret menu, and according to customers, they slap. The only downside is that this secret menu item isn't available at every location, so check with your nearest one before you get your hopes up too much!

6. Waffle House has a record label

Image Source: Reddit

So, if you've been to a Waffle House, you probably know that there are jukebox-style songs that play at all of the chains. However, you might not know that in order to help accommodate this, the restaurant chain created Waffle Records. This record label has actually been around since the 1980s, and it was started by one of the Waffle House co-founders. The songs contain lyrics about what one should expect from a dining experience. A couple song titles are "They're Cooking Up My Order," and "Waffle House For You And Me." Do you think someone should tell the Jonas Brothers?

7. Waffle Sandwich

Image Source: Reddit

Wowow, why didn't we think of this sooner?! If you go to Waffle House and you can't decide between the classic waffles or a breakfast sandwich, ask for both! This Waffle Sandwich is available on the secret menu is customizable with what type of meat you'd like, how you'd like the eggs, if you'd like to add cheese, and so much more. You also get a side dish with it. It's pretty hefty, so it's the perfect thing to split with a friend and add some additional sides that you want to share! Who's ordering this next time we go?

8. There's a Waffle House food truck

Image Source: Facebook

Unfortunately, you'll only be able to partake of this Waffle House food truck if you live in the Atlanta area. It's the perfect thing for your next event. The food truck specifically caters to weddings, birthdays, and company events. Seems like a pretty good way to celebrate any occasion with a waffle topped with chocolate chips. It seriously doesn't get much better than that. Customers say that the quality of the food truck is pretty much what you'd expect, and if you're a big Waffle House fan, it's a must-try.

9. Waffle Tacos

Image Source: Pinterest

Okay, now we're maybe getting a little unhinged. Everyone loves a good taco, so why not make a delicious waffle taco?! Because you can order such a variety of add-ons at Waffle House, this is a truly custom secret menu item. If you want to go with breakfast taco, try bacon or sausage, eggs, and maybe even some grits to hold it all together. You can opt for a dinner version too with beef and lettuce and tomato. Seems interesting. Feels like we're using the word taco pretty loosely here. What do you think?

10. Pecan Waffles

Image Source: Reddit

If you want to change it up a little bit from your typical Waffle House order, then maybe try this secret menu item! The Pecan Waffles are a fantastic way to chance up your classic. This item packs a lot of flavor, and many say it tastes similar to a pecan pie once topped with butter and syrup. Most people say this is something to try when it's cold out, and you're looking for something cozy to eat. It pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea. It's definitely not a particularly healthy option, but at least the pecans are a good source of calcium?

11. The Waffle House Index is real!

Image Source: Reddit

This is pretty wild! As we discussed, Waffle House is truly 24 hours, 365 days a year, and it seems they rarely close unless they absolutely MUST. This is such a true statement that FEMA and various other government departments use the Waffle House Index. This is 100% real! They use this to gauge how bad the impact of a natural disaster might be. If the full menu at Waffle House is still being served, then it's considered a Code Green. If they're operating on limited menu, it's Code Yellow. And if Waffle House closes, it's Code Red baby.

12. Chicken Bacon Ranch Biscuit

Image Source: Reddit

STOP EVERYTHING! Did you know that Waffle House has a Chicken Bacon Ranch Biscuit available on their secret menu? We most certainly did not, and now we must try it. This lovely little breakfast sandwich has chicken, obviously, on a biscuit with cheese, bacon, and ranch. You definitely can never go wrong with a biscuit, or cheese, or bacon. Or ranch on basically everything. This will be one of those things that once you order it, you'll never look back. You probably won't ever be able to order anything else from the menu!

13. Sausage, Egg & Cheese on Raisin Toast

Image Source: Reddit

If you're a sweet and savory combined kind of person, then you'll definitely want to try this Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on Raisin Toast sandwich. It's the perfect combination of all things that you love, and the fact that Waffle House even has raisin toast is a win. You can ask for add-ons like bacon if you want to up the protein, and the toast comes slathered in butter, so you know it's good. One customer said that a top secret is to add their delicious grits directly onto the sandwich. That's something we could be into!

14. There's a Waffle House Regulars Club

Image Source: Reddit

Okay, this isn't really a secret, but it's definitely something you should know about if you don't already. There's this thing called the Waffle House Regulars Club. So if you're a big fan of Waffle House, you definitely need to join this free program to get the best Waffle House deals. They deliver coupons to your email once a month and you can get everything from free hash browns and waffles, to free sides. If it's your birthday month, you get free waffles as well. So there are definitely some deals you'll want to take advantage of!

15. Buttermilk Waffles

Image Source: Reddit

If you're wanting something a little more traditional, then try these Buttermilk Waffles on the secret menu! People love this version of the classic Waffle House waffle, because it makes the waffle a little fluffier and lighter. It actually contains the same amount of calories as their classic waffle, so no worries there. They do have a slightly different taste than the normal waffle, so it's a good change up if you want to try something new without getting too crazy! Would you want to try this version?

16. The All-Star Special is the most popular

Image Source: Reddit

Not only is the Waffle House All-Star Special the most popular dish on the menu, it's also the best bang for your buck. Employees say that this dish contains a mash-up of all the most popular items. So you'll get eggs and toast, grits, hash browns, a waffle, and then bacon, ham or sausage. It's a pretty great deal, and most customers say that it's sharable amongst two people! If you share, it ends up to only be about $5 per person. Definitely can't go wrong with a deal like that. We get why it's such a popular option!

17. The Heart Attack

Image Source: Pinterest

As we've said, Waffle House isn't the healthiest food option out there. But if you are willing to risk it all to try something new, then The Heart Attack sandwich might be for you! This is an offering only available on the secret menu, and it is a doozy. It's basically a hamburger that has cheese (obviously), but also their delicious hash browns. So far, we're fully on board. Then once the burger is about to be served, they add on the classic Waffle House gravy AND their homemade chili. Seems super messy but also probably really delicious, especially after a night of drinking.

18. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Waffle

Image Source: Reddit

This is another one of those items that you're like "duh, obviously I need to combine those." It's long been known that you can get chocolate chip waffles at Waffle House. But the secret menu has all of you chocolate and peanut butter lovers covered. Just order this Chocolate and Peanut Butter waffle to get a delicious chocolate chip waffle slathered in peanut butter. It's like eating a peanut butter cup, on a waffle, with butter and syrup. Seriously, what's not to love in this delicious combination? If you're feeling super crazy, add on pecans too.

19. The price is cheap for the quality

Image Source: Reddit

While this isn't five-star dining, you definitely can't beat the prices for the quality of the food. At the time of writing this, reports say that nothing on the Waffle House menu will cost you more than $10. In fact, the All-Star Special we mentioned earlier is the most expensive dish on the menu at $10. We love that this place is so affordable, and that they allow you to mix and match. Want to stick to proteins? Just order bacon, sausage or ham for only a few bucks. Need some extra hash browns, they've got you covered!

20. Arnold Palmer

Image Source: Reddit

This might not be super secret, since most people know that Waffle House has all the necessary ingredients, it's good to know that you can get this delicious drink to pair with your favorite waffles. It's not on the menu, but if you've ever had an Arnold Palmer, which is half lemonade, half iced tea, then you know how perfect it would be with your bacon and eggs. It's named after a professional golfer, Arnold Palmer, who loved this beverage, and it's available at any Waffle House location, but you have to ask for it by name.

21. You can double your hash browns with this secret

Image Source: Pinterest

This is something that the Waffle House employees definitely try to keep a secret, but if you're a potato lover, then you are in luck. You can actually double your hash browns for only 50 cents. That's right! If you just can't get enough of these crispy and delicious hash browns, then instead of getting two side orders of them, just ask to double it for 50 cents, and you'll save some money while getting the same amount of extra potatoes! The definition of working smarter, not harder for those delicious tots.

22. Triple Chocolate Waffle

Image Source: Reddit

The Triple Chocolate Waffle will make any chocolate lover fall to their knees to thank the proverbial gods. This waffle is made with chocolate batter, chocolate chips mixed in (and on top if you want!) and then covered in a chocolate sauce. We should warn you, this indulgent waffle is RICH. But if you can't get enough chocolate, we're pretty positive that you will be head-over-heels for this one! We recommend foregoing the butter and syrup on this one though, as it's already packed with flavor. Sounds pretty delicious!

23. Fruity Pebbles Waffles

Image Source: Pinterest

Okay, we've already mentioned that the waffles at Waffle House definitely lean towards the sweet side. So if you're just in the market for something sweet and dessert-like, then this secret menu item is made especially for you. Who doesn't love a good breakfast cereal, especially Fruity Pebbles! So why not put them in a waffle? The fun part about this waffle is that it's very colorful, it has crispy bites to it, and it's incredibly sweet. You might not need to add syrup to this one, but definitely throw some butter on there for good measure!

24. The test to become a Grill Master is pretty intense

Image Source: Reddit

Waffle Houses can have pretty high volume, and also the majority of their menu depends on expert grilling. So it makes sense that in order to get the coveted Grill Master position at any Waffle House location, you have to pass a pretty rigorous test. The test has three different parts which requires you to complete a written test, a cooking test, and an evaluation that's done by not one, but three managers! For the cooking test, you should be prepared to cook the majority of the menu and have it evaluated in order to pass!

25. Sugar-Free Syrup

Image Source: Reddit

Honestly, this is very good to know. Waffle House has a sugar-free version of their delicious syrup on the secret menu. Everyone knows, waffles NEED syrup, so it's good to know that there's this option if your diet is restricted in any way. The waffles are already pretty sweet, so having a sugar-free version is pretty nice. This syrup is considered keto friendly, and it's made from all natural ingredients. It's sweetened with monk fruit, and most customers say that it's just as delicious as the original syrup.

26. They can serve a LOT of waffles

Image Source: Reddit

It makes sense that Waffle House has the waffle making game on lock. But did you know that the restaurant can serve up to 145 waffles PER MINUTE! That's in addition to all of the other menu items they offer and have to prep at any given time. That means that they can also serve up to 341 pieces of bacon and 238 orders of hash browns per minute around the globe. Pretty freaking wild! It's reported that since opening back in 1955, they have served more than 2.5 BILLION eggs and 1.3 billion orders of grits. That is a busy busy food service!

27. Waffle Burger

Image Source: Pinterest

Well, this makes sense given the Waffle Sandwich we talked about earlier. If you'd like to stick with the waffle but have a more lunch or dinner variety sandwich, then you might want to try the Waffle Burger. Seriously though, who doesn't love a good burger. Once again, the thing that we love most about this is that the burger is fully customizable. Want to combine The Heart Attack, but on a waffle, go for it! Whatever you want, Waffle House will likely deliver, you just have to ask. Would you try this one?

28. There's an even more secret menu!

Image Source: Reddit

In fact, there are FOUR secret menus that Waffle House keeps on the DL. These secret menus are specifically for various disasters that the restaurant might face. For example, there's a secret menu for when the power goes out. There's one for if the water stops running as well. There are also two menus that have limited items that can be handed out based on how many customers there are. So if there's a power outage, you can still depend on Waffle House. You might not be able to get waffles, but anything that can be made on the grill can be made without power!

29. Grilled Chicken Melt

Image Source: Reddit

If you're wanting a savory option and a healthier protein, then you might want to try the Grilled Chicken Melt from the secret menu. Mind you, this isn't ~healthy~, it's just a healthier protein than say, 5 pounds of bacon! But this sandwich has a grilled chicken breast with melted cheese. We recommend adding sautéed onions, and it comes on the Texas toast, which we all love. You can get this sandwich at any Waffle House location, and customers say it definitely doesn't disappoint. It's a great change-up to the typical Waffle House fanfare.

30. Scattered-All-The-Way

Image Source: Reddit

One of the best parts of Waffle House is the ability to customize your hash browns. Most people know that you can get them 6 different ways. We won't list them all here, but in addition to smothered, covered, chunked, and topped, you can ask for your hash browns scattered all the way, which includes chili! When you get them this way, it definitely becomes a complete meal on its own at 550 calories. But many customers say, if you're in the mood for just hash browns for dinner, this is the way to go. Apparently they're quite delicious!

31. Atlanta has the most Waffle Houses

image source: tripadvisor.co.uk

As we know there are many states in America, and a whole lot of Waffle Houses (and waffles!). But the city of Atlanta in the state of Georgia actually takes top spot for the place with most Waffle House restaurant across the whole of the USA! There are over 2,000 Waffle Houses across the whole country, and around 132 of those are in the city of Atlanta alone, with close to 400 being in Georgia itself! In a close second is the state of South Caroline with the amount of Waffle House locations. So if you want to be spoilt for choice, head to Georgia!

32. The first one was opened on Labor Day, 1955

image source: wafflehouse.com

There are two men we need to thank for the creation of Waffle House: Joe Rogers, Sr. and Tom Forkner. The pair met in Georgia back in 1949, during a time that Rogers was working for Toddle House, a diner chain in Tennessee, and Forkner had a job in real estate. The two combined forces after deciding they wanted to open a restaurant - and, specifically, a restaurant that had a 24-hour diner food feel with a focus on customer service. 24 hour food service might seem normal to us these days, but back then it was something new!

33. Waffle House was named after it's highest money earner

image source: reddit.com

With a ton of things on the menu, you might have been thinking why, out of everything, the owners decided to call their restaurants after one specific item: the waffle! Well it's actually because at the time of opening their restaurants, the waffle was the food item making them the most money, so they decided to name the restaurants after their most popular product. The original menu had 16 items to choose from, but waffles always came out on top - so you can't really blame them for wanting to name the chain after something that would draw people in!

34. There's even a museum!

image source: reddit.com

The history of Waffle House goes back far enough - and is interesting enough - to have a whole museum about it! Even better, the very first building they had as the first Waffle House store is now the building which houses the museum. Anyone from the public can take a look around after booking a time slot with the museum, and then you'll be able to walk around the restaurant - which was actually restored to look just like it did back then when it first opened, so you'll truly feel like you're stepping back in time! You can also check out Waffle House memorabilia on display.

35. Around 145 waffles are served a minute

image source: reddit.com

If you're wondering how popular the waffle has to be to have the whole chain named after it, a whopping 145 waffles are served EVERY SINGLE MINUTE at the restaurants. Just think how quickly five minutes passed when you're not thinking about - 725 waffles have been served during that time! They'll obviously take a little longer to eat, but you get the gist. And if you want the total figure, Waffle House has said that it's served over 877 million waffles since it first opened in 1955! And that number just went up since you started reading this bit!

36. The myth about the door locks

image source: mashed.com

There has been a myth floating around over the years that Waffle House doesn't even have locks on any of its restaurant doors - this comes from the restaurant being an 'open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year' agreement, so it makes sense why you'd think what's the point in locks if it's literally always open? But according the official Waffle House website, there are locks on the doors - just as any good fast food restaurant should have - as there might be a time they actually need to lock their doors - you never know what's going to happen!

37. They used to sell Chick-fil-A

image source: reddit.com

A very random pairing, but the reason is actually because of Chick-fil-A also having a headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Once upon a time, Waffle House was indeed licensed to sell Chick-fil-A sandwiches as part of their menu, which can be seen as a gesture of teamwork in the city! Unfortunately, the chicken sandwiches were doing a little too well, which meant a lot of people weren't actually ordering from the Waffle House menu - they were just going in there to order Chick-fil-A sandwiches! So Waffle House eventually changed their mind about it.

38. They do romantic candlelit waffles!

image source: atlantaonethecheap.com

Just in case you're struggling for ideas on where to go for your next Valentine's Day date, you should know that Waffle House does provide a romantic candlelit dinner - complete with waffles, of course! Only available in certain locations - so always check first to avoid disappointing your date! - you can enjoy a more romantic dining experience, which includes the table set up with rose petals, and pink and white tablecloths. If you and your date's idea of romance is waffles and fast food, then you'll definitely want to make that reservation.

39. They're always testing out new items

image source: reddit.com

Waffle House, like any good fast food chain, is always looking for opportunities to expand its menu and keep it interesting. If it never added anything new, the novelty could easily wear off, after all. So Waffle House are actually trying new menu items all the time - and testing them first to see if they make the cut. They actually serve these new menu items to customers to test them out and get feedback on what people think. After you've eaten the item, you can go to the Waffle House website and submit feedback if you want to!

40. It used to have a different name

image source: twitter.com

Waffle House is catchy, memorable and it pretty plainly explains what kind of items they sell - but it wasn't always called that! Even though the original minds behind the food chain wanted to name it after their best selling product, it wasn't always Waffle House. This is because there was actually another restaurant chain that owned the rights to the name Waffle House, based in Indiana, so 'Waffle & Steak' was actually the original name of the Waffle House we know today. Eventually, they were able to make the name change!

41. There aren't actually any Waffle Houses on the West Coast

image source: news.virginia.edu

We mentioned about the sheer amount of Waffle Houses you can find across the US - and especially in Atlanta - but unfortunately for you West Coast folks, you don't have any near you! Which you might have already gathered when you had a hankering for waffles one night. You'll have to travel elsewhere if you want to actually go to a Waffle House restaurants, because there aren't any in the West Coast area, including California and Oregon. So the best thing you can do is find your nearest one next time you plan a road trip so you don't have to miss out!

42. There are actually secret menus based on emergencies

image source: businessinsider.com

Not only does Waffle House have secret menus, but they actually have a different secret menu based on what emergency is happening at the time, and they gauge the menu used on how bad the disaster is. The total number of secret menus they have based on when disaster strikes is four: they have one for when there isn't a supply of water, one for when the power is out and two others which are determined by circumstances and customer amount. The 'power out' situation is when you need to worry about not being able to have waffles from the Waffle House, because the griddle won't work!

43. Hootie and the Blowfish named an album after them

image source: amazonuk.com

Rock band Hootie and the Blowfish were so inspired by the restaurant chain - and maybe just loved those waffles so much - they actually named one of their albums after them. Specifically, they named an album after the ordering style at the food chain restaurants. Their 10-track album released back in 2000 was called "Scattered, Smothered and Covered". It has a ring to it, doesn't it? Both for food and the music you'd want to listen to! Waffle House customers will know that slogan from ordering hash browns which are scattered to cook, smothered in onions and covered with cheese.

44. There's a competitive eater that holds a record

image source: gq.com

If you've made a name for yourself in competitive eating, it's no surprise that you'd set your sights on one of the most well known food chains in the US - and the world. And if you're going to competitively eat something, why not waffles! Joey Chestnut won the record for a hot dog eating competition, and then went on to win the Waffle House's World Waffle-Eating Championship! The match lasted 12 minutes, during which time Joey managed to eat 18 and a half large-sized waffles from the food store. He must have had some serious indigestion after that!

45. The amount of food its served is astonishing

image source: reddit.com

If you were to actually sit back and think about how much food and drink The Waffle House stores have served up since originally opening, its a sheer amount your brain just can't comprehend! To put it a little bit in perspective, Waffle House has sold enough coffee since its opening to fill eight Olympic-sized swimming pools. Not only that, the amount of bacon is sells is enough to connect together and wrap around the earth's equator. Still struggling to imagine it? Yeah, us too. But take our word for it that it's a lot!

46. There's actually one restaurant not open 24 hours

image source: eater.com

How dare they! All that promise about being open 24 hours no matter what, and what you might not have known is that out there somewhere there's lurking one single restaurant that isn't, in fact, open 24 hours. The location which is open in Atlanta's Turner Field is the one you don't want to go to if you're looking for 24 hour service. It has quite a small menu - basic, but it still has the favorites, like waffles of course - to serve the ballpark fans, but it makes sense why they wouldn't have this restaurant in a baseball stadium open 24 hours!

47. Each jukebox has original songs

image source: reddit.com

If you've been in a Waffle House restaurant, one of the first things you'll notice is the jukebox, but you might not have paid much attention to the enjoyable background music while you're tucking into your waffles. If you did listen close enough, though, you'll notice that all the songs on every Waffle House jukebox are actually original bops! These include "Waffle Do Wop" and "There Are Raisins In My Toast". You can actually buy the songs - 'Waffle House: Jukebox Favorites' - on their official website, and the proceeds from the purchases go to support the Marcus Autism Center.

48. Employees say it's either the best or worst place to work

image source: reddit.com

We guess we'll never know for certain whether Waffle House is the place to be in terms of employment, because there has been a huge mixed bag of what workers have thought about the place. One particular employee who has worked at the restaurant for over 16 years has said it's a great place to work - and it must be if you spend over 16 years there - and specifically the regular customers. On the other hand, some employees have said that regular clientele is less than friendly, including criminals and Waffle House arrests, as well as certain employees being not much better. Yikes.

49. They don't like change that much

image source: reddit.com

Although Waffle House does what it can to test out new menu items all the time, it has never actually made huge changes to its menu, or its way of doing things. They've never changed the open 24/7 rule - apart from that one anomaly restaurant we just spoke about - and their staple menu items have always remain unchanged, with a few new items and switch outs appearing around the items that never change. There was also a long time of them refusing to take payment by card and only ever accepting cash no matter what, in order to serve quickly enough - although they changed that rule eventually in 2006.

50. They have their own language

image source: reddit.com

There are many important words you need to know if you're going to order properly at Waffle House, because they actually have their own food language, so to speak. This is in reference to how you should order a certain thing off the menu: the popular hash browns. As we know thanks to that Hootie and the Blowfish shoutout, 'covered' means with cheese, and 'smothered' means with onions. Some other lingo to know is that 'chunked' means you want it with chunks of ham, 'country' means you want gravy and 'capped' means with mushrooms!