Waffle House

"As an Atlanta-born institution that's defined 24/7 dining in the South, there's no place that comes in more clutch. The legend of Waffle House transcends anything that we could tell you here. The amount of late-night extracurriculars that take place inside the squished, tiled diner could fill out ten full seasons of a sitcom. A jukebox in the corner still works and periodically erupts with a variety of Waffle House-themed songs (some that are legitimately catchy). There’s still no fancy computer system relaying orders to the kitchen. Servers just yell out things like “scattered, smothered, covered,” which is our preferred order for the perfectly crispy hash browns. First timers should obviously get a waffle. It’s not the best waffle in the world, but when drenched in butter and syrup it’s good, dependable, and it'll go down smoothly if you're too tired to fully chew. We usually order the All-Star Special—a waffle, eggs, hash browns, and bacon. All the food is a shade of beige, has a layer of grease, and is served with a side of Southern comfort. And that’s just the way we like it. Food Rundown photo credit: Amy Sinclair All-Star Special This is the best, and most popular order at WaHo because you get a little bit of everything customized exactly how you like it. Two eggs, your choice of meats (bacon, sausage, ham), hash browns or grits, toast or a biscuit, and their legendary waffle. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Waffle If you come here and only get one thing, make it a fluffy, buttery waffle. No matter which location you’re at or what time of day it is, these waffles stay consistently great. Texas Bacon Egg & Cheese Melt Plate Crispy bacon, an over-medium egg, and american cheese sit on buttery Texas toast. As one of the most pocket-friendly items on the menu, it’s a comforting bite that makes any morning better. Biscuits and Gravy These can be hit or miss based on who’s making the gravy that day, but when it’s good, it’s pretty damn good. The biscuits aren’t very fluffy, but they’re drowned in a creamy, thick gravy that we dunk everything in (try it with the sausage). Hash Browns There’s no wrong way to order this greasy pile of shredded potatoes. We like our’s scattered, smothered (with sauteed onions), covered (with one slice of american cheese that almost always refuses to fully melt like a stubborn toddler resisting a nap). But there’s always room for experimentation like topped (really good chili) and peppered (jalapeños). Cheeseburger Deluxe Plate Most of our 3am post-club cravings involve breakfast foods, but WaHo won't judge if the only thing that'll sober you up is a cheeseburger. They offer this pretty decent thin-pattied-cheeseburger with a soft, buttery bun and a side of hash browns for times like these." - Juli Horsford

"There’s not much more to say about this Atlanta-based restaurant institution. Atlantans know where to head for 24/7 smothered, covered, and scattered hash browns, waffles, and plenty of coffee paired with some seriously amazing people-watching, especially into the wee hours of the morning. Some locations are no longer open 24 hours. Check individual Waffle House locations for current hours." - Beth McKibben, Eater Staff