Chicken-and-Waffles Restaurant Expands in Columbia

On Monday, June 10, entrepreneurs Kitwanda “Kiki” Smith-Cyrus and Tyrone Cyrus will open the second location of Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles in Columbia. The forthcoming restaurant will sit at 1260 A-8 Bower Pkwy., while the original stands at 7001 Parklane Rd. When asked why two locations in the same city, Smith-Cyrus told Eater that with two locations across town from each other, she’ll be able to reach more customers and a fan-base that may not want to drive in traffic to reach the original store.

The Cyrus family opened Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles in 2012 and has gained a reputation for having one of the best examples of the namesake Southern classic around. The restaurant also serves classics like smothered pork chops, collards, fish and grits, and more. Smith-Cyrus attributes the popularity to “the love in the food.”

Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles regularly draws in public figures passing through town, like former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley, R&B group En Vogue, and more.

The restaurant is currently hiring.

• Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles [Official]