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Auntie April's Chicken, Waffles & Soul Food
Category: Restaurants Soul Food Soul Food [Edit]
4618 3rd St(between Mckinnon Ave & Newcomb Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94124
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
(415) 643-4983
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 8 pm
Sat 9 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
268 reviews for Auntie April's Chicken, Waffles & Soul Food
Review Highlights
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"The mac and cheese - yum yum." In 60 reviews -
"collard greens was definitely winner." In 32 reviews -
"The hot sauce is what brings all these flavors together." In 41 reviews
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268 reviews in English
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Review from Rohan D.
5/22/2012
This place is not that bad, I don't see the big fuss about it.
I got the catfish instead of traditional chicken and waffles so maybe that's what doing me in but the catfish was damn good, the macaraoni and cheese was not that bad and the rice and gravy wasn't very appetizing. For some reason the server put them into the same spot in my take out container so it got mixed up a bit. -
Review from Seth H.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Have you ever been to Roscoe's in Los Angeles? If not, your loss but if you HAVE, well.. This isn't quite as good as that unfortunately :) .. However, it is DEFINITELY the best that San Francisco has to offer.
This place is awesome, I definitely suggest you go there and eat the fuck out of some dark meat and a waffle. Get your chicken on the side though and be sure to get it with gravy, for reals. I don't understand the mixing of the chicken AND the waffle with syrup... Eat them separately. The waffle is good on its own with that butter and syrup. The chicken is good on its own with the spices and fry AND ESPECIALLY with that god damn chunky ass onion gravy.
Don't be an asshole either, wash it down with all sweet tea. -
Review from Jeannie C.
CA
5/3/2012
Love their mashed potatoes and gravy!!! Thick, chunky + dark gravy.
Chicken wings was satisfying w/ a dollop of their spicy sauce. I also tasted their oxtail and a few bites satisfied. A little greasy for me but made right: tender and savory. I wasn't a huge fan of the cornbread as I was looking forward to it but was satisfied w/ their waffles. Large, fluffy and buttery.
I'll definitely go back to try more sides and to get my fried chicken fix when needed. -
Review from Brian B.
South San Francisco, CA
My buddy and I decided to go Hard Knox cafe for breakfast a couple Sunday's ago. When we drove by, it looked like about a hour wait. So I was on yelp and I looked up "Auntie Aprils" and there was no wait. When we go out there we ordered chicken and walffes and we thought they were better then hard knox's chicken and waffles. The prices are pretty cheap also!
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Review from John A.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's been too long since I darkened April's door and I can only humbly apologize to my belly. Sorry, big guy...
My friend Fi and I were on a photo safari one Sunday and discovered Auntie's sitting right there in the heart of Bayview, not hiding from anybody. We parked, ambled over and wound up having one of the best 'home-cooked' meals in the city.
Is the place fancy? Nope. Are their tablecloths? On formica? You've got to be kidding. Is it clean? Spotless. But the food, the food is the star of this hidden gem. I didn't think I was going to survive because I just kept eating long after I was full. I order the meatloaf, mac & cheese and candied yams (light on the starches...watching my weight, you know) and my friend got the chicken and waffles, collards and I don't remember what else.
The true test of good soul food is collard greens. If a cook know how to make good collards, cooking southern is a snap. I could almost picture myself back home when I tasted Fi's collards. My meatloaf was perfect, the candied yams out of this world and the mac and cheese 'to die for.' (Momma was an English teacher and I know ending sentences with prepositions is a SIN but I can't help it. I'll call it 'literary license' and let it go at that.) Fi's chicken and waffles and collard greens, she said, were excellent.
Enough about the food. Now about 'Auntie.' I felt like I had known this woman my entire life. She is a hoot and so sweet I just couldn't resist hugging her neck when we were leaving. She certainly knows her way around a kitchen and if you want REAL soul food, get your butt down to Auntie's and tell her John sent you. -
Review from Julia E.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2012
Down home, Southern cooking like none other in the bay area! Gotta love that April!! She's got the taste going on!! Of course, I'll definitely be back!!!!
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Review from Steph M.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2012
A few friends and I stopped at Auntie Aprils after a tour of Speakeasy Brewery. I was intrigued by the how great the Yelp reviews were and wondered if Auntie Aprils could be as good as Roscoe's in LA. Turns out Auntie April's is way better!
Auntie April was our hostess, server and the cook and was so sweet. My friends and I had been chatting about our brewery tour, but after the food got to our table, we were silent, let the occasional "Yummmm". The chicken was cooked perfectly--flaky, flavorful crust and not oily like some chicken is. The waffle was buttery and cooked perfectly. So good! We left completely stuffed. I'd highly recommend Auntie Aprils -
Review from Kevin C.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2012
It pains me to write this review. This place looked so promising on the outside.
We got there and were seat and handed menus. I ordered 2 piece of chicken and waffle, G/F order 3 pieces and yams. The chicken is pre cooked which is fine for me to most places do it would take way top long to fry from scratch. Our plates arrived and we both bit into the drumsticks GOOD not the best I've ever had but a solid piece of chicken. Just as I ripped open my thigh piece my G/F bit into hers. BLOOD not a little red we are talking full on BLOOD. My girlfriend spit out her bite BLOOD! Her other piece BLOOD. Back to the kitchen they replaced them but it took a while. So I went to my waffle the key to a good waffle is that the crisp crust and soft center. Mine was all soft. VERY under cooked!
I hope they work on these problems because I'd love to eat here!! -
Review from Ron G.
Mountain View, CA
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
So yeah... some other reviews mentioned that the food was warmed up in the microwave, I witnessed this as well.
I ordered the chicken and waffles. The chicken was okay but the waffle was a little soft.
If I were in the mood for soul food, this wouldn't be my go to place. -
Review from D Marie M.
Oakland, CA
3/4/2012
After a tour around S.F. in search of Auntie April's-Thank you Google Maps for the misdirection finally found it, glad I did not give up the search.
3pc Chicken and Waffle, with a side of eggs and gravy...too good, too much.
Chicken was flavorful, crispy, juicy-waffle was very good....filling. It was all very filling-I wasn't able to eat it all and my gut tank holds quite a bit but 2/3 of the way through I felt like I was on Man vs Food.
My people ordered fish, greens, mac n cheese with yams...They had little conversation during the meal but had some mmms, ahhs and oohs.
I appreciated and liked when the owner asked how we were and how we enjoyed our meal
Auntie now that I have found you I will be visiting again. -
Review from Matt G.
So they say you're not supposed to eat fried chicken when you are currently suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Still anguishing with the ailments, I still decide to eat fried chicken anyway.
I have heard so many positive feedbacks about this soul food place in the Bayview/Hunters Point area. Hence with my ill body, I decided to order the Fried Chicken strips and waffles. For $9.95, I get four boneless chicken strips battered to a crisp on top on a thick Belgian waffle. I just became a fan of the southern dish within the last few years. But I like the boneless meat as oppose to the parts, in which you need to strip the meat off from the bone. And that requires a lot of work for a small dish. Just cut the meat and waffle combo and shove them down in your mouth without the worries of bones. The battered meat and waffles with a drizzle of maple syrup melts in your mouth to goodness.
My meal was prepared by friendly owner/chef April Spears herself (no relations to Britney).
As I was enjoying my meal, I was admiring many awards and recognitions from various sources posted on the wall, including one from former Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi. I was also looking at other people's plates and many of the dishes look good, including the grits.
This place only accepts cash.
When I feel better, expect more check-ins from the place that knows how to cook authentic soul food from the heart and love.Listed in: Best of 2011
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Review from Mike H.
1/17/2012
April is a pleasure to interact with as a customer. Her conversations don't simply feel transactional; they feel personal. When I wondered aloud if I'd placed my order "to go," she immediately responded like a concerned host whose houseguest felt pressured to leave. It was a rare and welcome exchange, and served to increase my respect for her as an owner/operator with the courage to name her business after herself. After only 10 minutes of seeing her conversations with other diners and myself, the wall full of articles and awards made sense.
The comfort food here reminded me of other home-cooked meals from my childhood in the South, so it definitely did the job. I got the chicken dinner: 3 pieces and 2 sides. The chicken was fried very well, even carefully. Having to season it yourself with hot sauce was a bit much for me because the spiciness is all or nothing at that point.
Anyway, the red beans and rice were excellent, filling and flavorful. The mac and cheese was awesome. It was cooked fully, not that halfway-barely-cooked-sauce way. The collard greens were ok, though a bit different somehow. -
Review from WildBill C.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012 8 Check-ins Here
If you are in the area you have to stop here!! Breakfast all day, killer chix and waffles, and ox tails to die for!!!
Don't waste your time going to Hard Knox, they can't touch Auntie April's!!!!! -
Review from Marlo M.
Pleasant Hill, CA
2/7/2012
The service is extremely friendly. I had high hopes that I'd finally found a true Roscoe look a like but sadly......the quality of the food flavor just wasn't there. The worst part of it all is that its not cooked to order. Our food was already cooked and then microwave to a warm temperature. Not cool.
One bright spot, Auntie April's sell peach cobbler was very good. So for that I would go back again for desert but not for chicken and waffles. -
Review from Mariela D.
San Francisco, CA
Auntie April is doing it RIGHT!
"Auntie April's" is not just a name - April herself is behind the counter serving up her customers with a belly-full of soul food goodness at a price that makes your wallet happy. And the mismatched glasses and cozy couch at the entrance make you feel like you're at a family members' house.
We found parking directly in front, early on a Sunday morning. My husband grew up in the area so he only likes to return to this part of Bayview "before the thugs wake up" LOL. All jokes aside, the area is not as bad as it was 10+ years ago, and I hope businesses like Auntie April's continue to change the Bayview for the better. I also love that she employs young people to work for her. Nothing would bother me more than a slew of outsiders flooding the area with businesses, yet not hiring the local people.
The menu was enticing but I opted for chicken & waffles (3 wings). The batter was crispy and had a slight spice to it. The waffle was perfection, not to mention it was the size of my entire plate. YES.
I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.Listed in: Arro-Tee-Dee!
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Review from J K.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2012
Great food, I got the chicken and waffles with grits. Soooooo good!!
The waffles was fresh and buttery. Took a while for my order to be ready, Auntie April was the only one cookin up the orders.
Friendly staff.
Sketchy neighborhood so I took my order to go.
Overall I would go again, this time I will order by phone. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Foster City, CA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Visited Auntie April's with Chairman Mao on a lazy Sunday. She had a BuywithMe deal and we went to town ordering much of the menu.
Fried Chicken, Waffles, Collard Greens and and Mac and Cheese. It was a feast, but then, that's how we roll. We like to make sure that we leave no menu item untried, much to the chagrin of my waistband.
The waffles were nice and fluffy and the crust on the fried chicken was good, very crusty.
The wait was kind of long, but there was only one server and what seemed like one cook at the time - I think we'd thankfully missed their rush hour.
The location is what it is, parking wasn't difficult but I can see how this might be an issue for some. Think of it as an adventure.Listed in: Brunch a gogo
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Review from Jennifer C P.
San Francisco, CA
What is Soul Food? If you asked ten people, you would get ten completely different yet similar replies. The common thread that would run through the replies? "Food that makes you ____________ (insert positive emotional feeling)"
After getting my Bimmer washed and detailed, I drove to 3rd street prepared. That means I wore stretchy yoga pants! ::laughing:: I scored parking right out front both times. The restaurant is so clean and airy with great lighting (the photos come out really nice because of the natural and artificial lighting!)
The menu is really straightforward. I love when restaurants do that - simplify what they offer. I have found that usually means most if not all of the items on the menu are well executed.
I went to Auntie Aprils three days in a row. Yes, I am admitting that willingly. I love the open kitchen and how your food is cooked to order. I am happy to wait and chat with my friends so that we can have piping hot food. When the food came I literally said "No talking - i'm eating!" and I am the one who usually talks through dinner!
I enjoyed the following:
Fried Wings and Waffle
Oxtails w/ Collard Greens and Yams
Catfish with Red Beans and Rice and Mashed Potato and Gravy
Chicken Breast Strips and Waffle
Iced Tea (it is slightly sweet with a mild lemon taste, so yummy!)
The hot sauce on the table? Use it on your hot chicken - sooo good!
I did not enjoy:
Cornbread - too dense for my taste
Red Velvet Cake - I like more sugar more sugar!
April was cooking in the open kitchen the first time I visited. The second and third time, a very nice gentleman was manning the stove. The food was delicious all three times, and the table service was consistently friendly which I love.
I have to come back because the food was delicious! I want to try the smothered turkey wings, meatloaf, and the banana pudding! I think that is the best compliment I can give to Auntie April and her great restaurant - I've driven there three days in a row and I can't wait to go back! Bring cash - it is cash only!
As I walked out after my first trip, one of the neighborhood locals asked me if I enjoyed my soul food. I love that! It shows the community supports and loves her.
I love Auntie Aprils because the food here soothes my soul and sticks to my bones. I love that she named her place Auntie April's because when you eat here, the food makes you feel like you are family. I love that she cooks, because you know someone is sharing their persoinal heartfelt love of food with you. . . .first hand. . . like visiting a relative's house. That is really special. I will be back!
She has a wall with her various awards and a photo, but what made me smile was a plaque that simply reads "Chase your dreams". I am so happy she chased her dreams and reminds all of us to do the same, like a good Auntie would.
To Auntie April and everyone on staff, take a bow for your well earned and deserved five stars!Listed in: Soul Food Spots
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Review from Pam J.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2012
Their food made me sick before I left the restaurant: 4 tiny pieces of oxtail floating in a pool of clear grease; lukewarm, unseasoned, frozen greens; soggy, lukewarm rice that tasted pre-cooked; extremely coarse, burned cornbread and the worst peach cobbler imaginable. It was made from poor quality canned peaches to which a ton of sugar and lumps of that horrible cornbread had been added. No crust, just crap drowning in an abominably heavy syrup. Service was slow and impersonal. If soul food is what you want, go to Frisco Fried a few blocks down the street. I'll never eat at Auntie April's again.
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Review from Richard T.
San Jose, CA
9/6/2011 1 photo
I don't know if it's the childhood feel of the area or what but Auntie April brings me back.
I grew up in a mom-n-pop restaurant and this food was like a trip.
I had the Big Country Breakfast and my girlfriend had the 2pc chicken and waffles. The eggs in the breakfast were perfect and the toast was really good. My favorite was the chicken and waffles though. Other people's food always taste better I guess.
The chicken was tender, crispy and not too greasy and the waffle was perfectly goldened.
At this price point, you can't get any better.
The bathroom was really clean too and the other patrons and the staff were really pleasant. -
Review from zell c.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2011
Thanks to Scoutmob's 50% off deal, we came here on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't busy at all. All three of us had the 2-pc chicken and waffles, and a side of mac and cheese. I know, how adventurous of us, right?
The waffle was huge and fluffy, and I thought the chicken was good, but from all these fried chicken places I've tried lately, I'd say that I've had better. The mac and cheese was pretty good though, especially if you like it rich and cheesy.
I'd recommend it for good cheap eats if you're ever in the area. -
Review from Lam N.
San Francisco, CA
4/7/2012
Chicken & Waffles here are great as has been said. There's nothing fancy about this place at all, but the fried chicken was excellent as were the waffles. If all you're craving is that, you should come here. We didn't try any of their other breakfast dishes because C&W is what we were interested in.
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Review from Lesly S.
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had access to a car and a trip to FedEx planned for a recent afternoon, and after seeing Auntie April's featured on "Check Please!" I decided to swing by since I was in the neighborhood. I'm glad that I did it so I can check it off my list, but... I'm a one and done on this spot.
Soul food is so fattening most of the time that it needs to be really delicious to offset the calories it contains. Like my tongue needs to be so happy that my waistline will defer, believing it to be the best thing for all parts involved. AA's doesn't meet that standard. The food was middling at best--my turkey wings were good, the greens and sweet potatoes were okay, but everything else (macaroni and cheese, cornbread, even the red velvet cake) were so meh that I took a few bites and decided they weren't worth the calories. Jole S. complained that his fried chicken was bland, and we had just had some awesome fried chicken at the Yelp Sunset Showdown [ IZ IT food truck-get some!] so the disparity in flavor was EXTRA-pronounced.
The service was fine--April cooked my food, welcomed me as a first time diner, and was generally sweet considering she is running the place herself! Another major issue is the containers the food came in--Jole's chicken was fried, and was still so hot when it was packed to go that it melted the plastic container it was in. There was a layer of wax paper between the food and the plastic, but given the potential health risks the last thing I want to think about is melting plastic near my food. Time to switch to recyclable cardboard or something else for carryout items.Listed in: Mac and Cheese
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Review from Andrew C.
I saw Auntie April's on Check Please Bay Area awhile ago and finally made it to try their Chicken and Waffles.
Looks like pretty inexpensive prices with $5 getting you two legs and a waffle and $6.25 a leg, thigh, and waffle. 2 wings & waffle are $7.95 which I don't quite get . . . maybe they're some monster wings? They also have fried fish items, breakfast, and classic dinner plate items like meatloaf and oxtails.
The dinners come with a side, but the chicken and waffles don't so I sprung for a leg & thigh (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and a small mac and cheese for $3.25 (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) making the value quotient go down a bit.
The chicken was juicy and had crispy rendered skin. It needed some more seasoning in the crust, but they have a homemade hot sauce that helped things out. The waffle is thick Belgian style and fluffy. My favorite are the crispier, cornmeal ones at Brown Sugar Kitchen, but this still went well with the chicken and syrup.
The mac and cheese was bland and reheated with some cold spots. I wasn't feeling it until I doused it a bit with the homemade hot sauce and a liberal sprinkle of black pepper.
Chicken & Waffles - 4 stars
Mac & Cheese - 2 starsListed in: Fried Chicken, Soul Food
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Review from Jenny C.
9/6/2011
I had the 2 pc. leg & thigh chicken waffle meal. The fried chicken was really good! nice and crispy but not too greasy or fatty. though I wish the waffle was a bit more crispy.
I would like to go back and try the oxtail...
-1 star for traces of syrup on the menus -
Review from Joel A.
Hayward, CA
2/11/2012
This is the place when you want your Soul Food + Out-Of-This-World Fried Chicken Need filled! I ate here 2/11/2012 because of the Rave Reviews here on Yelp and i'm gonna tell you: This place does NOT disappoint! Everything what the other fellow yelpers said about how good the food in this place is ALL TRUE!!! OMG the chicken?...Sorry Colonel sanders, but you've just been replaced! Really great delicious and super moist Fried Chicken, Homemade waffles, collard greens all great. I just found my new "Old Place' to hang-out and frequent. The Folks here are super nice, treats you like family when you come in. Now the only negative thing that i noticed about this place is that they do not accept plastics (Credit nor Debit Cards) but only CASH. So prepare accordingly. Everything else is great along w/ the atmosphere, decor and the surroundings.
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Review from m l.
San Jose, CA
1/29/2012
Um, best place in the bay ever! Nuff said.
Okay just for you I'll elaborate: I was born and raised in San Jose but every time I had a gig in the city, I'd reward myself by eating here!!!
April is sweet and her cooking is delish!! you have to try the waffles!
Large amounts of food that is super affordable! -
Review from Michael L.
San Francisco, CA
"Nobody take no cornbread from me. You try and take my cornbread...there's gonna be consequences and repercussions."
Probably some of the funniest lines ever from Ray Gibson aka Eddie Murphy in Life. But they really did almost forget to serve my cornbread today at Auntie April's! But I kindly reminded them and they warmed some up and brought the cornbread to my table.
I came to Auntie April's after noticing that they serve oxtail. That is one of my favorite childhood dishes that my grandmother made. The bony, gelatinous meat, the perfect combination of fat and meat slow cooked. Along with that I got two sides, yams and Mac & Cheese. And I can't write a review without a piece of fried chicken, so I ordered one thigh.
Walking in, it's a simple eatery. Find yourself a seat, waiter brings a menu, then order. Everyone was nice, especially the guy cooking, it just didn't seem to be real organized, i.e. my cornbread. But that doesnt take away from how polite and friendly they were.
When it comes down to the nitty gritty, it's about the food. It's always about the food. I really liked the generous portion of tasty oxtail. Along with the two sides, it was the definition of comfort food. The fried chicken thigh however was a little overcooked. When I return, I'll probably pass on the chicken.
I read reviews prior to coming and yelpers commented on the area. Sure it's not the Marina but there is a slow gentrification taking place here. Just like Potrero Hill, Valencia St., and the Bi-Rite area before it, those areas already made 180 degree turns. I really hope Auntie April's stays apart of the neighborhood when changes take place.
When it comes down to it 99.9% you don't have a reason for concern. Don't start nothing, won't be nothing. Unless you try to take my cornbread.Listed in: Food to my soul
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Review from Kenny L.
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here after getting the deal of $5 for $10 worth of food. Def a gem on third street, a really rough neighborhood.
I believe the owner, Auntie April was the one who served us. shes really nice and shes down to suggest what she thinks would go good on our meal.
Me and my buddy got the chicken and waffles. the waffles were decent and fluffy but damn the chicken was nicely seasoned and fries to a nice crisp and damn with that vine-garette type hot sauce made it on point!
my homegirl AMO got the chicken dinner that came with the collared greens. M-M-M-M good. i love collared greens. she sure knows how to make some good fried chicken!
P.S. just watch out for your car, dont drive anything too nice or has nice chrome rims. LOL jk -
Review from Vincent K.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Auntie April is more like Mama April with all the good ole home cooked meals. The chicken was delicious and the ox tails were stewed perfectly till they slid off the bones.
The mac n cheese was surprisingly good with just the right cheesiness and collard greens were in my favor. red beans rice was also flavorful and went well with the ox tails.
I gotta say that the portions definitely don't disappoint, but its rather hard to convince yourself to come out to this area just for chicken n waffles. -
Review from viola c.
Santa Clara, CA
1/30/2012
Best fried chicken I had in the bay area. It's juicy, crusty, and not greasy. The bone-sticking sauce was slightly sweet and spicy, tasty but I prefer my fried chicken naked. We also tried the collard greens and mac'n'cheese, both very tasty. The mac 'n' cheese was a little mushy for my taste, but still good. Also, the sweet tea was very good, taste home brew, not from a bottle, just sweet enough.
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Review from Jack C.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2011
The food is good. But the price is bit high.
$14 for oxtail w/ 2 sides. And $8 for 2 pieces of chicken and a waffle. That is pretty pricey for fried chicken in my book. It's $10 for 3 wings and a waffle.
Supposedly the price goes up depends on ur choice of wing, thigh, or leg. Not the quantity. Which is confusing and weird.
The girl rang me up wrong and after I waited for 10 minutes, she told me to pay $2 more. I didnt mind that, but when i got home I realized they forgot to give me the cornbread.
Again, not a biggie, but still a principle.
Wouldnt be going back anytime soon due to the location and price. But now atleast I know theres a good soul food place in the ghettos on 3rd street.
The location is rnot eally safest. I wouldnt go after dark. Overall, the food is good for what it is. Not for the health nut. -
Review from Seong P.
7/22/2011
I got the oxtails with rice and beans and collard greens. Tintin had the wing, thigh and waffle, with a side of mac n cheese. I would've been happy if all the oxtails had been equally tender, but some were definitely better than others. I'm not a sauce/gravy person but the gravy the oxtails came in was delicious. The sides were only ok.
The waffle was tasty and I liked that the fried chicken wasn't too greasy. I doubt I'd go out of my way to come here again, but it's definitely worth checking out if you like fried chicken. -
Review from Radit T.
Menlo Park, CA
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for lunch today for my first experience of chicken and waffles after seeing this place on Check Please, Bay Area. Ordered the 2 piece chicken (leg + thigh) and waffle.
The food: I'm a novice at this combo, so I gently cover the chicken and waffles with syrup and then add the hot sauce on the side for dipping. Yum. The waffles themselves were light and fluffy. No crunch on the exterior, but pillowy and delicious. The chicken was good too and the combination of savory, sweet, and spicy all worked well together.
The service: The server/cashier was very nice although was slow to serve our food. The chef/cook put the plates of food up on the counter, but after a few minutes, he also grew impatient for the server to bring them to the tables. He then went around the counter and served the plates himself. This happened to one other table before us, and then us. Glad to see him doing something about it.
We liked it overall and it was very affordable, but will probably try other places before coming back. -
Review from Lucy D.
5/21/2011
Words can't describe how much I love chicken and waffles. Too bad they don't have any around where I live. Until I found Auntie April's Chicken and Waffles and I fell instantly in love with this place.
Pros
Service: The service was fantastic. The waiters and cashier was extremely nice and they were attentive throughout the meal. +++
Food: The chicken and waffles was simply delish and out of this world. I have to say that the chicken and waffles here is even better then the ones at Roscoe's. The chicken is crispy and flavorful while the waffles is extremely fluffy and mixed with syrup it was basically heaven on earth. They made it fresh on the order and it was just mouth watering. Definitely come here and try it once if you love Roscoe's =D.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is homey mixed with a little elegance. The place feels inviting and the decor fits the atmosphere of the restaurant.
Price: Soooooo much cheaper then Roscoe's. The price is fantastic for the meal =D.
Cons
Location: The only thing maybe negative is the location. Parking can sometimes be a pain and the area is a bit sketchy so i suggest to park close to the place but this place is a true gem and definitely don't judge a book by its cover =].
Overall I highly suggest trying it out if you love chicken and waffles. -
Review from Brendan L.
San Francisco, CA
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Worth a try, pretty cheap food but it takes a while for some food, we waited till we left for our rice and gravy and Mac and cheese. I don't know why it took so long.
The fried chicken was good but the only downside is a soft mushy waffle. The breakfast was good. Good eggs and sausage.
The potato salad has prob been the best potato salad I ever had.
The hot sauce should be a lot hotter. It had a really mild flavor. But it was still tangy. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2011
It's amazing how 3rd St. has slowly been transforming into a more welcoming part of San Francisco. Back in the days when you mentioned "3rd and Newcomb in the heart of HP," anybody in their right mind would steer clear, roll up your windows, lock your doors, and just roll straight to "Double Rock" for your stash, then dash!" Remember, "Two for twamp?" Again, that was back in the days for those who know ." )
Auntie April's has definitely helped to shift that image, in that , if you visit this wonderful establishment, it's probably because of its reviews, "Check Please," word of mouth, or just by chance. Well, if you dare to enjoy great food, welcome southern hospitality, and risk stuffing yourself by the end of your meal, I'm here to testify that it's all worth the experience !!!!!!!!!!!!
My friend ordered the three piece chicken and waffle. I say waffle "singular" because that's just it. It's a big, thick, scrumptious waffle. It was so big that I got to have a quarter to myself. My friend definitely loved the chicken. It was crispy, fresh, and was the way good ol' fried chicken should be. I, on the other hand, had the Grandad Fisher subbing the catfish with the snapper. It consisted of four pieces of fish perfectly fried with a cornmeal batter which was oh so good !!!!! My meal came with two sides and I got the black eye peas and collard greens. The black eyed peas were great, but the collard greens were the bomb !!!!!!!! They were very tasty. I also got a piece of corn bread, but didn't want to fill up on it before getting to the crux of my meal.
So to all of you who want a different take on San Francisco, great service, fabulous food, and a chance to witness positive transformation, go to Auntie April's, you will leave satisfied with a taste of true southern comfort right here in Frisco. -
Review from Chairman M.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011
Came here with our Buywithme $10 for $20 worth of food...first of all $20 worth of food at Aunti April's will get you a whole lot of fried chicken, waffles, collard green, mac and cheese, and yam! Seriously!
The fried chicken is the way you want your fried chicken to be crispy, crunchy on the outside and juicy, tender, moist on the inside. Focus people I'm talking about FRIED CHICKEN, where is your mind wandering to??! Haha!
The waffle was fluffy and tasty, but I don't particularly like my waffle so thick when it comes to fried chicken and waffle. It was a bit too much waffle to chicken ratio.
The collard greens - yum
The mac and cheese - yum yum
The yam - eh, could do without
The service a little slow, but who's in a rush on Sunday Fun Day...although if it is going to be slow they should be serving some alcohol to help with the wait...just sayin ;-)
This place is really 3.5 stars, but I'm in a giving mood so I'm gonna bump that up to 4 stars. Next time I will probably take the muni as much as the food is tasty, we were a bit preoccupied with thoughts of coming back to our car with 4 less tires or such...don't worry, gees it's not THAT ghetto...our car was fine, we were fine... -
Review from Dave M.
CA
6/12/2011
A few questions after my visit to Auntie April's today:
* Why do people who don't write reviews a whole lot decide to go ahead and write a review?
* Who has the nerve to review a place after only trying one thing off the menu and tasting one more--3 wings and waffle plate, and collard green side dish in this case?
* Why rate a place with a full five stars when, sure, there must be things you could find fault with if you looked (and Yelp culture tells you to look)?
That should probably be enough of a hook. And I should probably start the review proper right now. But I have a few more questions first:
* If you're not an expert on chicken and waffles, or on soul food in general, what right do you have to write a review? Sure, you might like it, but don't you need to be a little of a seasoned expert to have the gall to write a review?
* What right do things like a.) the friends you're there with; b.) the sunny, clear, and warm weather on the day you go; c.) the fact that you've been biking up and down the street listening to music at a street festival; and d.) your feeling that the vibe from outside just keeps going on inside the restaurant -- have in influencing your decision to give a place 5 stars?
I mean, really, if we start making allowances for the idea that the conversation you're having has a big influence on the way you taste the food you're eating, or the fact that having been exercising changes your taste for food (making you hungrier for things like meat, or fried food, for example), or the idea that you have to tell a mini-life history of your own eating history and background so that you can validate the things you say and the ratings you give, then doesn't the whole idea of a user-generated rating system just fall apart?
Perhaps. Which means I probably just should have started and finished with this one question:
* How do they make chicken and waffles taste sooooo good?
Thank you, Auntie April!! -
Review from Mercutio k.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2011
Sometimes you just have to be adventurous.
Had the day off and decided to go with the BF to grab a late-lunch; a destination late-lunch; somewhere neither of us have gone before; a surprise. And although it's totally out of the way for us (we're in the Richmond), plus it'd totally break our impressive healthy-eating streak, dammit!- I wanted some bad-for-you, indulgently-guilty, FRIED food... and like an epiphany, chicken and waffles came to find me.
I've made a mental note to try Auntie April's for quite a while now, but I just always lacked the: a) time, b) motivation, and c) craving to make a trip out there. Well, I'm glad all 3 factors somehow aligned to make me finally go because it was all worth it.
Food-wise, Auntie April's is a down-right bargain. A little under $7 got me a HUGE waffle plus perfectly fried-to-order and crispy-flavored drumstick and thigh. With an order of (again) fried-to-order french fries that came out scorching hot and crisp, two orders of the above waffle+2 piece chicken combo, and a nice cold glass of sweet tea, the two of us left completely stuffed and satisfied for a mere $21.
Service? You couldn't have asked for any better. April was charming, sweet, and attentive to both of us; greeting us with a smile as we came in and giving just as big a smile when we walked out. Maybe service is slower at busy times, we came in at 2:30 PM on a weekday afternoon, but I'd gladly wait a bit longer if the staff was a nice as they were when we came in.
If you're going to eat here, you're just going to have to accept that it's in a sketchy part of town. This ain't hipster haven Mission or Marina. But it's not as terrible as some may make it out to be (at least during the day time), and I'd definitely would make a return trip when I'm feeling the need for fried goodness again.
