DaBaby Claps Back at Critics of His New Restaurant’s Prices: ‘Waffle House Has Something for You’

DaBaby opened his No Knife Chicken & Waffles restaurant earlier in September in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., and he’s already hearing some unappetizing feedback.

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The “Pop Dat Thang” rapper has responded to criticism of his menu prices — which range from $15 for plain waffles to $25 for waffles with toppings, and $45 for the signature Soulfood Cornbread Waffle that comes loaded with three sides but no chicken — during an interview with Queen City News’ Positively Charlotte on Wednesday (Sept. 9).

“None of our waffles are flour and water, waffle batter and water,” he said. “All of this is real homemade waffle batter. You also can’t finish our waffles. You know you’re eating real food.”

Baby continued to explain that he has a high standard when it comes to eating out at restaurants across the globe, and he hopes that quality is reflected in his new establishment.

“I don’t mind paying for quality and paying for what I want — real food. I’m big on that,” he added. “I buy my food fresh and I cook it fresh. We do the same thing there. Everything about the restaurant’s menu, I’m really big on my standard of food quality.”

For those who have issues with the pricing, DaBaby pointed them to another eatery. “Then Waffle House has something for you, but if you want an elevated dining experience,” he said, before apologizing to the popular chain.

Billboard has reached out to Waffle House for comment.

The No Knife menu boasts 10 different flavors of waffles, while other cuisine options include fried fish, lobster, chicken wings, jerk chicken, crab cakes and more.

Entrepreneur Vivian Tu came to DaBaby’s defense while appearing on Way Up With Angela Yee. “There are cuisines that we’re willing to pay more for, and cuisines we’re not,” she said. “And I say this as a Chinese-American: There is an expectation that your chicken and broccoli is $7. All restaurants run on razor-thin margins and I’m looking at this, this is a chicken and waffle shop.

Tu continued: “I think there’s something to be said that DaBaby is a Black man and this is soul food and the people complaining about this would have no issue spending $40 on a plate of pasta.”

On the music front, DaBaby dropped his Be More Grateful album in January. The rapper’s “Pop Dat Thang” caught fire and reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Watch a clip of DaBaby talk about his restaurant’s prices below: