Beyond breakfast: Dessert waffles at Tacoma’s Cafe Amasia and La Waffletz
Sure, you can top waffles with maple syrup and call them breakfast food, but I’m liking the idea of dessert waffles lately. Mostly because I can eat them whenever and topped with whatever. Stuffed with peanut butter or Nutella. Topped high with fresh whipped cream. Drizzled with caramel or chocolate sauce.
I’m seeing more dessert waffles on cafe menus since writing about Mallory Neiss’ stroopwafels earlier this year.
One recent find was a dessert waffle at a sandwich shop that took over the downtown Tacoma sub shop Hal of a Sub. The other was found at a cafe that is little more than a waffle window, recently opened in Freighthouse Square.
LA WAFFLETZ
430 E. 25th St., Tacoma; 206-432-7548 or lawaffletz.com
Belgian-style liege waffles are the foundation for 10 varieties of dessert waffles at La Waffletz, a tiny storefront that opened this spring in Freighthouse Square.
My freshly made waffle arrived topped with warm peanut butter, freshly sliced ripe bananas, fresh whipped cream and zigzags of caramel sauce ($4.55). The waffle was fresh off the griddle. Add-ons included ice cream, fresh fruit and myriad sauces. The menu listed traditional powdered sugar-coated waffles, waffles with Canadian maple syrup, a Nutella-banana topped waffle and a banana split waffle. Chocolate-dipped waffles also are sold here. Prices are quite affordable, $3.25-$5.75.
CAFE AMASIA
901 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-272-2933 or facebook.com/CafeAmasia
This made-over cafe is a cleaner, softer version of Hal of a Sub, the downtown Tacoma deli that closed earlier this year. New owners redecorated the dining room and shifted the sandwich menu to light cafe fare with Korean and Vietnamese items and a few deli sandwiches. Desserts are featured here, including unusual variations on shaved ice and bubble teas.
I liked the look of a dessert waffle, which is made to order (and takes several minutes to prepare). A hot waffle ($7.50) was topped with the one-two dairy duo of whipped cream and vanilla ice cream, plus the unexpected addition of chewy boba. Fresh blueberries and strawberries turned it a tiny bit healthy (not really, but just pretend).
This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Beyond breakfast: Dessert waffles at Tacoma’s Cafe Amasia and La Waffletz."