DaBaby Fires Back at $45 Waffle Backlash With Waffle House Response

DaBaby is standing behind the prices at his new Charlotte restaurant after a $45 specialty waffle turned the opening-week menu into an online debate.

DaBaby has responded to criticism surrounding No Knife Chicken & Waffles, his newly opened restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. After customers and social media users questioned the cost of several menu items, including a $45 Soulfood Cornbread Waffle, the rapper offered a short answer for anyone looking for a cheaper option: “They should’ve went to Waffle House,” according to Complex.

The restaurant opened Sept. 6 on Atando Avenue and quickly drew attention for both its crowds and its pricing. A plain waffle is listed at $15, flavored waffles cost $25, and the Soulfood Cornbread Waffle is priced at $45, with six wings available as a $10 add-on.

The $45 option is built around a cornbread waffle topped with collard greens, candied yams and mac and cheese. The price became the biggest talking point as photos and menu screenshots circulated online, while other diners also focused on the restaurant’s $6 bottled water and additional specialty items.

Early coverage of the opening showed that the backlash did not keep people away. A Charlotte Observer reporter who attended the grand opening said he waited roughly three hours for his food and described what he ordered as good, while still questioning whether the prices and wait were justified. The debate has since shifted from the menu itself to DaBaby’s unapologetic response to the criticism.

No Knife Chicken & Waffles marks a new business move for the Charlotte native, who was closely involved in developing the restaurant’s menu even though he is not serving as its head chef. The space operates as a fast-casual brunch spot, with DaBaby using his hometown as the launch point for the venture.

For critics comparing No Knife to Waffle House, DaBaby’s answer makes clear that he does not see the two restaurants as offering the same experience or price point. Whether customers agree will ultimately be decided by how many people keep showing up after the opening-week attention fades.

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