Fat's Chicken and Waffles: Nearing a Decade of Soul Food and Community in the Central District

Nothing screams your favorite auntie’s house like Fat's Chicken and Waffles, a New Orleans-inspired chicken joint in the heart of Seattle’s Central District. Opened in August 2015 by owner Erika White, the restaurant is nearing its ninth year of serving dishes that speak to the soul, paying homage to the rich culinary traditions of Louisiana. White exemplifies the value of community in her business, getting guests through the door with good food and coming back for the energetic vibe, fantastic music, and nostalgic hominess. 

With immense pride, White shouted out the honey butter chicken biscuit sandwich as a standout item, which she called a mind-blowing experience. Beyond the chicken, the menu offers classics like catfish, red beans, and collard greens. "You're just coming for what your spirit needs that day,” White said. “Your spirit's like, 'I need some good soul food. I want it from this space. I know what I'm going to get when I walk in the door,’”

Erika views her chicken and waffle joint as an extension of her passion for performance and culture—in essence, a daily expression of self. “This restaurant is like me performing every day, but I perform in a different way," she said, explaining that her previous involvement in the Seattle music scene as an emcee transferred seamlessly to the regular hustle and bustle of a small business owner. Many customers who come to Fat's have no idea about White’s musical past. "It's like you're iconic beyond people even knowing that you're an icon,” she said. 

Other culinary highlights include the bourbon butter for chicken and waffles and the honey butter for the biscuits that borders on dessert, the former of which White compared to adding a piece of sweet potato pie to your Thanksgiving plate. “I've had two atheists... she's like, 'I don't believe in God, but I believe there's God back there,’" White said about a customer’s reaction to the biscuits.

As a Black-owned business in the Central District, Fat’s represents the power of community banding together to support local business owners. "Come and support all these small businesses, especially Black-owned businesses. Come back to the CD because…it's community, and without each other, we don't have nothing," White said. 

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