$3.15 | 90 Calories
The Bowl of Grits is a classic serving of hot, creamy, and mildly seasoned Southern-style grits.3 Grits are a porridge made from coarsely ground corn (hominy) that are a popular breakfast and side item throughout the Southern United States.4 At Waffle House, they are served hot and ready for customization with butter, salt, pepper, or optional toppings.5
View Full – Waffle House Menu
💰 Estimated Price
- Plain Bowl of Grits (as a side): $3.15 to $4.25 (Price varies by location).
- Adding Cheese (Covered): $\sim \$0.65$ extra.
- Adding Ham (Chunked): $\sim \$0.65$ extra.
🍽️ Nutrition Table (Plain Bowl of Grits)
The nutritional information below is for a Plain Bowl of Grits as a standard side serving.
| Nutrient | Approximate Value | % Daily Value (DV)* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~90 – 150 kcal | — |
| Total Fat | ~2 g | ~3% |
| Saturated Fat | ~0.5 g | ~3% |
| Trans Fat | ~0 g | — |
| Cholesterol | ~0 mg | ~0% |
| Sodium | ~300 mg | ~13% |
| Total Carbohydrate | ~16 g | ~6% |
| Dietary Fiber | ~1 g | ~4% |
| Total Sugars | ~0 g | — |
| Protein | ~1 g | ~2% |
🥕 Ingredients & Components
| Component | Key Ingredients (General) |
| Grits | Ground corn (hominy), water, salt |
| Preparation | Butter or margarine (likely Kaola Gold vegetable oil blend) |
⚠️ Allergens List
The Plain Bowl of Grits typically contains the following food allergens:
- 🥛 Milk / Dairy (From the butter/margarine and cooking process).6
- 🥜 Soy (From the margarine/vegetable oil used).
- 🌾 Wheat / Gluten (Due to preparation on shared equipment, although the cornmeal itself is naturally gluten-free).
Adding Toppings:
- Cheese (Covered): Adds Milk and Soy allergens.7
- Chili (Topped) or Gravy (Country): Adds Wheat/Gluten and Milk allergens.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I order my Grits with the famous Hashbrown toppings?
Answer: Yes! This is a popular “secret” customization. You can order any of the famous hashbrown toppings (like Smothered for grilled onions, Covered for cheese, or Chunked for ham) on your bowl of grits for a small extra charge per topping.8
2. Are Waffle House Grits gluten-free?
Answer: The cornmeal base is naturally gluten-free, but Waffle House does not certify their grits as gluten-free. This is because they are prepared in a kitchen where cross-contact with wheat (from waffles, toast, and gravy) is highly probable, and they contain soy and milk from the added fats/margarine.
3. What is the most popular way to top the Grits?
Answer: The most common and traditional topping requests are to add cheese (or “Covered”) and butter (often served automatically). Adding diced ham (“Chunked”) is also very popular for a savory meal.9
4. Are the grits sweet or savory?
Answer: Waffle House grits are prepared to be savory with the addition of salt and butter/margarine.10 They are generally served as a side dish to pair with savory breakfast meats and eggs.11 Sweet preparations (like adding sugar) are usually left up to the customer at the table.
5. Is there a larger portion of Grits available?
Answer: Yes. While the basic menu item is a “Bowl” of Grits, you can also order the Breakfast Grits Bowl which is a much larger, fully-loaded entree version that includes a larger serving of grits topped with scrambled eggs, melted cheese, and your choice of meat.12