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Just when you think you've settled on a favorite place for fried chicken and waffles from the decent number of places that serve them, along comes Ali's Chicken and Waffles to shake things up.

Ali's Chicken and Waffles serves a halal version of chicken and waffles. They also serve burritos and sandwiches.

To find City Heights’ favorite new chicken and waffles spot, look for the Donut Star. Ali’s Chicken & Waffles leases the back counter of the donut shop, serving a halal rendition of the famous pairing alongside shrimp and grits and fried chicken sandwiches. It’s a unique setup, and owner Genemo Ali took a unique path to get here....

Tucked into the back of a City Heights Donut Star, this takeout-focused spot uses halal chicken as the base of its crowd-pleasing fried chicken. The tasty coconut syrup is a must when ordering fried chicken tenders with a waffle or try the spicy chicken sandwich slicked with Thai chili oil and herbed mayo.

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Tucked inside Donut Star at Fairmount and University Avenues, Ali's chicken hits the trifecta of craveability: tender (despite being breast meat), flavorful (seasoned with a bit of a kick but not to the point where it burns), and golden (because that also matters, right?). The kitchen, which is halal, has other Southern essentials like mac and cheese and cheesy shrimp and grits and waffles, plus Thai Tea and Ali's fries, topped with cheese sauce, corn pico, diced chicken and chipotle mayo, because why not? Sauces, 50 cents each, include herb mayo, chipotle mayo, Ali sauce and coconut syrup. That syrup, by the way — it's transformative.

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