The Wells Supper Club opened in Harlem, New York in 1938, with only three booths and five stools. But their Harlem Renaissance customers couldn’t crowd the place fast enough when they added a new dish to the menu.
The jazz scene was hopping. Musicians often wrapped up their last set after midnight, which was too late for dinner, and too early for breakfast. The Wells stayed open late and served a delicious and filling late supper of fried chicken and waffles.
Inspired by the popularity of this delicacy, Harlem native Herb Hudson decided to bring chicken and waffles to the West Coast.
In 1975, Hudson opened his first Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles. It quickly became a West Coast wonder, with Stevie Wonder being one of its first fans. Hudson built the restaurant into a regional landmark.
We transformed the unlikely pairing of chicken & waffles into a symbol of care and community that has resonated with us for generations. The significance of this dish represents the soul in soul food - without soul, our culture would not be what it is.