The Waffle House Location with a 6-Month Waitlist
Head to Decatur, Georgia to worship at the altar of Waffle House.
Waffle House is a legendary, 24-hour food chain that’s more than just a staple road trip stop to some. It inspires superfan status. And if your love for the chain can’t be quelled by merch or even a guest stint working at Waffle House like Lana del Rey, it’s time to take a trip down to Decatur, Georgia.
There, you’ll find the Waffle House Museum, located in Avondale Estates at the site of the first-ever Waffle House location. The in-depth look at the diner’s story is an iconic walk-down memory lane, but the museum isn’t quite a reliable roadside spot like the rest of the 2,000-plus locations across the country. Instead, the museum’s waitlist stretches six months.
Plan ahead and you’ll arrive at a meticulously re-created version of the original restaurant opened by Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner on Labor Day almost 70 years ago. Walking through the doors feels like stepping back in time, with every detail carefully preserved to reflect the era—from the chrome-trimmed counters to the classic menu boards.
This place is also filled with more than 60 years of the restaurant’s memorabilia, offering a fascinating glimpse into the chain’s storied past. Among the exhibits are old mugs, vintage menus, and uniforms from different decades, each piece telling a part of the Waffle House story. Visitors can see how the menu has evolved over the years, with some items that have stood the test of time and others that have come and gone.
One of the museum’s most renowned features is its reconstruction of the diner's bar and grill area from the early days. Although it doesn’t function as a working Waffle House, guests can still sit at the counter, just like the customers did back in the ’50s, or even don a Waffle House hat and pretend they’re part of the crew.
The exhibit floor goes beyond just the physical artifacts, offering multimedia elements that bring the Waffle House story to life. The museum delves into the famed “Waffle House Index,” which is used by FEMA to gauge storm severity, and visitors can also listen to recordings of the founders to learn about the origin and growth of the chain. A jukebox filled with classic tunes adds to the nostalgic atmosphere, providing the perfect soundtrack to the museum experience.
Located at 2719 E. College Ave., the Waffle House Museum is free to visit, but due to its popularity, visits are by appointment only. This year, the museum will offer an open house on September 7 and December 7 from 11 am to 2 pm, but otherwise, private tours are already fully booked for the remainder of 2024. Those eager to visit in 2025 can begin scheduling tours as early as December of this year through the Waffle House Museum website.