SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Which came first, the chicken or the waffle?
To answer that age-old question, we've come to the heart of San Diego's soul, at 2850 National Avenue, where owner Reginald Harper knows the origin of this southern fried delicacy.
"In Louisiana, an 18-wheeler was going down the highway, a snowy highway and ran over a Rhode Island Red. And what did the mess of food look like? Fried chicken and waffles," Reginald said.
And that was the genesis of what has become the staple at Louisiana Fried Chicken and Waffles, an oversized Belgian waffle drenched in butter and slathered in syrup.
"We do a double breading on our chicken. That's what makes the crust crunchy," Reginald said.
At Louisiana Fried Chicken and Waffles, these downhome delicacies are being attacked on all sides.
"Our mac and cheese, our candied yams, also cabbage and mashed potatoes. For those southern eaters, we've got black-eyed peas. That's good luck, especially on New Year's," Reginald said.
Then there's my own personal house favorite -- collard greens filled with large steaming chunks of smoked turkey -- along side another super side, red beans and rice.
And of course, they will be room for dessert.
"Then you have grannies peach cobbler. Some of the best peach cobbler in San Diego," Reginald said.
The diverse noontime crowd is mostly here for the restaurant's signature dish, which comes in various sized combos.
"We've been blessed to still be here, doing what we are doing, but with the crew that I have, they really keep me going and take care of the customers, and that's where it is at," Reginald said.
Louisiana Fried Chicken and Waffles has turned a Cajun road kill into a Logan Heights thrill. Let the cholesterol count begin.