Fried chicken and waffles star at this new SLO cafe. Here’s a look
Got a yen for chicken and waffles at 10 a.m. or 8 p.m.? Head for what may be San Luis Obispo County’s only restaurant that specializes in the succulent Southern combo.
In fact, each of the six entrees on the current menu of the new Woodstone Chicken & Waffle House has fried chicken/and or waffles in it.
The classic, soul-food duo and its parts are the full-time focus of the fast-casual cafe that’s currently in its soft-opening phase in San Luis Obispo’s Foothill Plaza. The restaurant plans a full opening by the end of February, co-owner/CEO Seth Vann told The Tribune.
He and his silent partner also co-own the popular Woodstone Marketplace in Avila Beach, which they bought from Sparky and Cheryl Peterman in 2024.
“We’re learning our market as we go,” Vann said about the new SLO restaurant’s concept. He urges people to “come eat, share your thoughts and help us fine-tune the flavors, flow and logistics as we grow this new spot together.”
Vann said he test-marketed a limited version of Woodstone’s “Southern Comfort meets California flavor” menu combo last year in Avila. The goal was to create consistent quality for popular meals at affordable prices.
“Woodstone’s chicken and waffles are intentional, thoughtful and ingredient-driven, from the crisp, seasoned chicken to the waffles and, yes, the Vermont maple syrup that ties it all together,” he said.
The combination is available elsewhere in town, “but I don’t believe that’s their core focus. At Woodstone Chicken & Waffle, it IS the focus,” Vann told The Tribune.
What’s on the menu?
Cooks at the new SLO spot, under the direction of Marcelo Hurtado, make each component in house, Vann said.
In the 1,500-square-foot restaurant, Hurtado and his staff marinate and bread the chicken, make their own Belgian waffle batter and blend from scratch their own sauces (ranch, spicy chicken aioli, chipotle aioli and a creamy, proprietary garlic sauce that is the house standard, Vann said).
The core chicken and waffle combo with butter, maple syrup and coleslaw costs $9.95; for a meal, add waffle fries (of course) and a soft drink, and the price rises to $15.95.
For an extra buck, add sunny-side-up eggs to either option.
Other entrees include: a fried chicken sandwich (spicy or mild) with coleslaw and pickles; a breakfast burrito with chopped fried chicken breast and scrambled eggs and cheese; chicken tenders and waffle fries; and a traditional waffle dusted with cinnamon sugar.
They also serve chipotle mac and cheese, with or without spiced chicken. Drip, flash-brewed and iced coffee are offered, as are soft drinks, lemonade and iced tea.
Finding the right spot was crucial for the new eatery’s future success
“We wanted Woodstone to be welcoming and approachable, somewhere students, families and seniors all feel comfortable gathering,” Vann said.
Fortunately, the Foothill Plaza location “felt absolutely right,” he said, “as it’s positioned between student housing and senior living, just minutes from Cal Poly.”
The walk-up order counter in the long, narrow eatery flanks one wall, with some tables inside along the brick wall opposite the order counter.
The location “gives us a unique opportunity to serve multiple generations in one place,” Vann said. “With the churches and neighborhood surrounding us, it really feels like a true community hub.”
Being there “allows us to be part of people’s everyday routines, not just a destination spot, and that’s exactly the kind of presence we hoped to have in San Luis Obispo.”
Fried chicken was always a fave for the owner
Vann was born in Long Beach but grew up in Fresno.
As a 10-year-old, he began picking vegetables to help his Cambodian-refugee parents, “so they could make ends meet,” he said. “They had escaped the genocide in 1975.”
At 16, he went to work for McDonald’s, before graduating from Clovis East High School.
After the death of his mother, “I found myself needing to cover funeral expenses quickly. At the time, I worked at Costco’s food court, where coworkers encouraged me to sell my homemade egg rolls,” he said.
They were a hit.
“I ended up selling over 15,000 egg rolls, which helped pay for her funeral and showed me the power of food and community. That experience sparked my career in hospitality,” he said.
The young man followed that dream.
“I began taking private chef gigs, then started baking and selling French macarons from home,” Vann said. “From there, I grew into night-market food booths in Fresno, launched a Korean corn dog food trailer and eventually supplied macarons to tea shops from Sacramento to Pomona.”
Vann’s life segued into Avila Beach, where he and his silent business partner bought the marketplace. Two years later, they jumped into the crowded San Luis Obispo arena.
“Fried chicken has always been one of my favorite foods, and I wanted to build something around doing it the right way,” Vann said.
His brainstorm was “an opportunity to introduce a concept that was different from the Marketplace and explore another side of my creativity as a business owner,” he said of the chicken-and-waffles craze, which, according to Simplot Foods, has seen a growth of 46% on American menus in the last four years.
The 36-year-old CEO has no formal business training, he said. “Everything I’ve learned has come from experience, resilience and a deep love for food.”
Learn more here
Woodstone Chicken & Waffle House is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays in Foothill Plaza, near California Fresh Market at 773 Foothill Blvd.
The cafe is on Instagram, and Vann said he has plans for a website, other social media and an app.
For details, call 805-439-0182. Order for takeout or Doordash delivery.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
