Ridiculous History: "The Gang Goes To Waffle House"

iHeartPodcasts | February 17, 2026
Hosts: Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown
Super Producer: Max "Short Order" Williams

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben and Noel explore the fascinating, quirky, and iconic history of Waffle House—the beloved 24/7 Southern diner chain that has become part of American lore. The hosts recount their behind-the-scenes tour of the original Waffle House (now a museum), break down the restaurant's quirky codes and traditions, explore the origins of waffles, and discuss Waffle House's unique role in American disaster response. The tone is conversational, nostalgic, and peppered with humor, Southern charm, and plenty of Waffle House trivia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Personal (and Regional) Connection

• The episode opens with Ben and Noel discussing the lack of Waffle Houses in New York and their own memories of late-night visits in Georgia, highlighting the chain's deep Southern roots.
  • "I just landed in a different city...there are no Waffle Houses in the state of New York. But Pennsylvania, you can have a few." — Ben (00:52)
• Waffle House's menu code—"scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, capped, all of the ways"—is part of the local culture, and even functions as a bit of regional code language. (00:37)

2. Waffle House Origins: The Tom and Joe Story

• Founded in Avondale Estates, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1955 by Tom Forkner (a Georgia-born real estate agent with a military intelligence background) and Joe Rogers Sr. (a Tennessee native, WWII veteran, and former Toddle House manager).
• Their partnership began when Tom sold Joe a house and they became neighbors, leading to the eventual discussion of opening a new kind of restaurant.
  • "Tom sells Joe a house in Avondale because Tom's dad helped create Avondale Estates. And...they ended up being next door neighbors." — Ben (08:46)
• The founders initially considered opening a Toddle House franchise, but pivoted to creating an original business—one that emphasized sit-down dining and being open 24/7, which was unprecedented at the time.
  • "Joe said, 'My dream is a place where people can sit down and eat and not just throw away.'" — Ben (10:29)

3. Naming the Restaurant and Its Growth

• The original restaurant opened during Labor Day weekend, 1955, before it even had an official name ("the yellow building").
  • "They looked back at their first menu and said... the most popular choice was waffles... so we're gonna name ourselves after the most successful thing, Waffle House." — Ben (16:42)
• Waffle House's expansion was careful but explosive: from a handful of locations in the early 1960s (four stores) to 27 by the late 1960s, 400 in the 1970s, and more than 2,000 by 2026.
  • "By the time Joe and Tom had passed away in 2017, you would see 1,500 locations." — Noel (33:23)

4. Waffle Lore: Menu Codes, Jukeboxes, and Urban Myths

• Menu Code Mastery:
  Waffle House hash browns are ordered with a unique lingo. The hosts detail both the "code" (scattered, smothered, covered, etc.) and the backstory behind them—originally an organic system developed by cooks for customizing orders.
  • (See: [45:45] for full code breakdown)
• In-House Record Label:
  Waffle House produces its own music, which was once prominent on their in-store jukeboxes, with original songs like "There Are Raisins in My Toast."
  • "Waffle House has its own in house record label... Songs like 'There Are Raisins in My Toast' by Danny Jones, grill operator, and Bert, referring to the titular Bert of Bert's Chili." — Noel (36:25)
• Urban Myths:
  The hosts debunk the myth that Waffle House restaurants have no locks and are always open ("logistically it doesn't make much sense").
  • They discuss the "Waffle House Index," a real but informal metric for disaster severity—if Waffle House closes, the situation must be dire.
    • "FEMA judges how bad a national disaster is based on whether or not Waffle Houses in the area are still open." — Ben (37:35)

5. Regional Phenomenon and Expansion Challenges

• Waffle House remains heavily concentrated in the South; Georgia and Florida have the most locations. The chain's unique culture doesn’t always translate outside its core region.
  • "There are 2,038 Waffle Houses across only 25 states. That's only about half of the states, and the majority of them are still located in Georgia." — Noel (33:23)
• Tourists and non-locals are increasingly drawn by internet lore, viral videos, and the diner’s legendary reputation for "crazy things happening at Waffle House." (34:57)

6. History of the Waffle

• Waffles originated in ancient Greece as flat cakes and evolved over centuries; the modern waffle iron was patented in 1869 by Cornelius Swartwout, with National Waffle Day celebrated on August 24th.
  • "The actual waffle dates a lot farther back than I would have realized... ancient Greece around 4,000 years ago." — Noel (24:24)
  • "Waffle iron that we know today was patented... by Cornelius Swartwout... August 24, 1869... now celebrated as National Waffle Day." — Noel (26:21)

7. Waffle House as Community and Cultural Touchstone

• The diner is renowned as a gathering place for people from all walks of life and as a haven for late-night adventures (and disasters).
• The staff are lauded for their hard work and quick thinking, especially in unpredictable circumstances.
  • "Shout out to short order cooks... all eyes are on you. And those eggs are kept in these cool, like wire bins... overflowing with eggs." — Noel (42:03)
  • "It's usually as a result of the patrons... drunken, nighttime shenaniganry." — Ben (42:38)
• The chain and its lore inspire music, memes, and even indie band names ("The Saddest Little Waffle House in Eastern Pennsylvania"). (40:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Waffle House Origin Story

• “Joe said, ‘My dream is a place where people can sit down and eat and not just throw away.’” – Ben (10:29)
• “They said, okay, all right, forget Toddle House. We’ll open up our own place... And you know what? Why don’t we stay open all of the time?” – Ben (13:31)

On Expansion & Cultural Cachet

• “By the time Joe and Tom had passed away in 2017, you would see 1,500 locations... As of now... 2,038 Waffle Houses across only 25 states.” – Noel (33:23)
• “It’s something you read about, it’s something you hear about and you know, you’ll see all those breathless head[lines] of crazy things happening at Waffle House.” – Ben (34:58)

On the Waffle House Index

• “Since Waffle House never closes, FEMA judges how bad a national disaster is based on whether or not Waffle Houses in the area are still open.” – Ben (37:35)
• “So they are looking at essential type of operations and judging how bad things are based on the ability of these companies who have taken great lengths to be as available as possible during times of crisis. You know, it’s probably a good bellwether.” – Noel (39:24)

On Waffle House’s Uniqueness

• “Waffle House has its own in house record label... Songs like 'There are Raisins in My Toast' by Danny Jones.” – Noel (36:25)
• “Back in 2005, 2% of all eggs produced in the United States ended up at a Waffle House.” – Ben (41:49)
• “Can we also just shout out to short order cooks? It is such a tight operation... all eyes are on you. And those eggs are kept in these cool, like wire bins… overflowing with eggs.” – Noel (42:03)
• “Nine times out of 10, it’s the staff reacting sharply and decisively and professionally and, you know, keeping people safe.” – Noel (43:01)

Fun with Menu Codes (Hash Browns)

• “Smothered is, of course, cheese.” – Noel (43:57)
• “No, sauteed onions would be smothered. Covered is of course, just a good old American cheese product, slice right, melted over the top.” – Ben (44:00)
• “Chunks, which is grilled hickory smoked ham... Peppered, which is jalapenos... Diced, which would be grilled tomatoes. Capped, which would be grilled mushrooms... Topped, which uses their Burt’s chili... Country, which is sausage gravy.” (44:08–44:51)

Quintessential Waffle House Moment

• “Waffle House serves enough bacon to fully wrap around the earth.” – Ben (47:13)
• “Bacon around the earth. If that’s not peace, I don’t know what is.” – Noel (47:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Waffle House ordering code & regionality: 00:37–01:17
• Founders and Avondale Estates: 05:52–08:46
• Birth of 24/7 diner & name story: 13:31–17:30
• Expansion & franchise growth: 32:54–34:57
• History of waffles: 24:24–27:04
• Hash brown menu code: 43:45–45:53
• Waffle House Index & disaster lore: 37:35–40:03
• Staff shout-outs & late-night stories: 42:03–43:34

Conclusion

This episode of Ridiculous History digs deep into Waffle House’s peculiar mythology, business acumen, and cultural legacy. From its WWII-era founders to its status as a FEMA disaster litmus test, the show illustrates why Waffle House is more than just breakfast—it's a symbol and a subculture. The playful banter, abundant trivia, and regional pride make the episode as satisfying as a late-night plate of scattered, smothered, and covered hash browns.

For more, check out episodes of Ridiculous History wherever you get your podcasts.