Bruno's Fried Chicken & Waffles

Very clean, friendly, and fast service....VERY good food!!! Parking isn't that great but there's a lot shared with other stores.

Bruno's Chicken and Waffles is a new and welcome addition to the low cost chicken shack options in Newark. It actually is more than a chicken shack, because they also serve breakfast food (all day and night), lamb and rice and other middle eastern/Mediterranean type dishes.

They don't do pizza. They don't have to.

The set up is like a diner, but the vibe is similar to a chicken shack, but not as ghetto as most of them (chicken shacks = Kings Fried/Detroit Fried/USA Fried/Kennedy Fried = you know where they are and what the deal is). Several key differences here: the menu is more diverse, they have a parking lot and are set back off the street, the inside has no bulletproof glass, the food is all halal, and they deliver/take cards - how convenient is that?

I heard about the place from a Facebook friend and had to check it out the next time I was in Jersey. To be honest, it's on South Orange Avenue by South Clinton St and East Orange, which is a little rough and tumble (especially when I was growing up there), but it's not too bad if you drive and get it to go or call for delivery. They do have tables though and during the day should be fine to dine in.

Anyhow, I drive over there around 10:30pm and there is a lady already there ordering a western omelet and an Italian cheesesteak - there's only certain kinds of places where you can get both of those items at the same time. I put my order in for 3 pieces of chicken and a waffle. My bill? $7.00! I don't know many other places where I can get a deal like that, if any.

My food comes and I decide to stay and eat...

And the food is delicious! The waffle is light, flaky, and crispy. They put butter on it as soon as it comes out so hit it with the syrup, bite the chicken, and get ready for flavor explosion...

The chicken is meaty and juicy. It could use a shot more flavor, but I like more savor and flavor on my food (not hot spices) than most. Most folks will find it A-OK.

So I'm thankful to my friend on Facebook for blowing this spot up; I'm doing the same on Yelp.