Chick-fil-A‘s Chicken & Waffles Sandwich lands on menus across the United States from 24 August, the centrepiece of a fall limited-time lineup that also introduces two s’mores-themed drinks. The rollout marks a nationwide launch following a limited-time test in 2025, according to Chick-fil-A’s press room.
The new menu is framed as part of the chain’s 80th anniversary celebration, sitting under what Chick-fil-A is calling its “Newstalgia” concept, a play on familiar flavours given a fresh form. Chicken and waffles has long existed as a fixture of American comfort food, but it has rarely found a permanent home in the fast-food format, which makes the timing of this launch worth watching.
How the Chick-fil-A Chicken Waffles Sandwich Works
Two sizes are available, and the hour of day determines which one you can order. PR Newswire confirmed that the breakfast-size version is offered during standard breakfast hours, while the larger entrée size is available from 10:30 a.m. through to close. That structure gives the Chick-fil-A Chicken Waffles Sandwich a broader window than a strictly breakfast-only item would allow, and avoids the frustration of missing the cutoff.
Both versions combine the chain’s chicken with applewood-smoked bacon and honey butter, served between two maple-flavoured waffles, with syrup provided on the side. The construction is straightforward in the best possible sense: savory chicken and salty bacon set against the sweetness of the maple waffles and honey butter, with neither element overwhelming the other. Chicken sandwiches are among the most competitive categories in fast food right now, so positioning this one as something categorically different (a full chicken and waffles experience) is a clear attempt to stand apart.
Steven Morea, who tasted the new lineup ahead of launch, called the flavour balance on point. The sweet-savoury ratio, he noted, is precisely what makes the chicken and waffles combination work in the first place.
S’mores Drinks Round Out the Fall Menu
Alongside the Chick-fil-A Chicken Waffles Sandwich, the chain is adding two s’mores-inspired beverages: the S’mores Frosted Coffee and the S’mores Milkshake. Both are built around Chick-fil-A’s Icedream frozen dessert base and incorporate toasted marshmallow-flavoured syrup and fudge-covered graham cracker pieces.
The distinction between the two comes down to coffee. The Frosted Coffee blends in cold-brewed coffee alongside the Icedream and s’mores components. Morea found that the coffee cuts through the sweetness at just the right level, toasted marshmallow leads, a soft coffee note follows, and the graham cracker and chocolate deliver the familiar s’mores finish. He named it the standout item from the entire fall launch.
The S’mores Milkshake carries a similar flavour profile but, without the coffee to temper things, reads as richer and more indulgent. For those who want dessert without any coffee element, the Milkshake is the cleaner choice; for those who prefer some balance in the glass, the Frosted Coffee has the edge. Morea confirmed he would return for the Frosted Coffee before anything else on the new menu.
S’mores as a flavour has been prominent across food and drink this summer, and the category has attracted multiple product launches from different brands. Chick-fil-A’s timing aligns with that broader trend, channelling the campfire nostalgia angle that sits neatly inside the “Newstalgia” framework the chain is using for its anniversary menu.
The limited-time nature of the lineup means all four items (both sandwich sizes plus the two s’mores drinks) are available only while the fall promotion runs. The 24 August start date is confirmed, though no end date for the promotion has been stated. Given that the Chicken & Waffles format spent time in a regional test before earning this nationwide slot, the fall window will serve as the first real measure of whether the concept holds up at scale across Chick-fil-A’s full estate.