Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles Bringing Soul Food and Attitude to Vegas

Under the sign of the "Big Rooster," Arizona's Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles has a long history of talking smack about competitors and have plenty of celebrity endorsements to back up their boast. Promising "this ain't your mama's chicken," their "underground soul food" is headed to Vegas, clucking their wares are "whole hand-lickin good."

Lo-Lo's will take over the shuttered 6,099-square-foot Tony Roma's at a prime position within the Best in the West retail center.

Creator Larry "Lo-Lo" White grew up working in his grandmother's soul food restaurant, Mrs. White's Golden Rule Café. In 2002 his opened his first Phoenix location, which has now expanded to four, including an outpost at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport.

The menu offers their versions of "hood classics," including the "Nay-Nay's" dish of "two delicious waffles, two eggs & bowl of grits" and "Betty's Boob" featuring "one juicy breast & one delicious waffle."

Family recipes like "Uncle Brotha's Shrimp & Grits" and "Aunt Hattie's Salmon Croquettes" join a full menu of other Southern staples, including chicken smothered in gravy and onions, fried catfish, plus a full fried roster of green tomatoes, corn fritters, gizzards, green beans and "stupid fries" topped with chicken, gravy and onions, green and red bell peppers covered with cheese.

Red velvet cake, "bread puddin'" and peach cobbler are on the dessert menu and guests getting their "drank on" are assured sweet tea and Kool-Aid are always on tap.

Lo-Lo's repeat guests have included Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Muhammad Ali. Construction on the Las Vegas project has yet to begin.