"Many Tacomans are familiar with Buddy Brown’s grueling, year-long struggle with the city government and health department over the permits to turn his outrageously popular fried chicken-and-waffle takeout biz into a restaurant. But if you haven’t been following his very funny IG account: Brown finally triumphed and opened his doors in May 2024, in the hallowed old Uncle Thurm’s Soul Food space. Buddy and company keep things simple on the fried chicken side, offering only hand-breaded, crispy halal tenders, and then get creative with the six kinds of waffles, including blueberry, cinnamon roll, Southern cornbread, and red velvet cake varieties. Don’t skip the sides — the extra-seasoned crinkle-cut fries are mandatory eating here. Note: It’s extremely important to order ahead, because if it’s a day that ends in Y, Buddy’s is guaranteed to sell out." - Meg van Huygen, Sue Kidd
