Longtime Oakland soul food restaurant known for hosting notable political guests to close

Home of Chicken & Waffles, a beloved Oakland soul food restaurant near Jack London Square known for hosting politicians and community events, will close at the end of the month after more than two decades in business.

Derreck Johnson, who founded the restaurant before running for mayor in 2022, confirmed that its final day will be Aug. 31. He did not give a specific reason for the closure.

The restaurant now operates at 247 Fourth St. It moved there in 2024 from its longtime waterfront location at 444 Embarcadero West, where it had been based for nearly 20 years.

Known for fried chicken, waffles and other Southern comfort food, Home of Chicken & Waffles became a gathering place for Oakland residents and visitors.

“Food is family” has long been the restaurant’s guiding slogan, Johnson said.

“Food is like a universal language that transcends differences and builds community,” he said in an interview featured on the Jack London Square website. “And I’d like to think that it’s resonated and continues to do so with our loyal customer base. We’re truly fortunate to have hosted countless birthday parties, graduations, anniversaries and holiday meal distributions for more than two decades.”

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, center, with Derreck Johnson, founder of Home of Chicken and Waffles, and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf at the Home of Chicken and Waffles on May 27, 2016 in Oakland, Calif. The restaurant known for fried chicken, waffles and community events will serve its final meals later this month. (Leah Millis/The Chronicle)

Johnson said the restaurant has employed formerly incarcerated people, some of whom later became managers and homeowners. It also has hosted holiday meal distributions for Oakland residents.

Over the years, the restaurant has attracted politicians, entertainers and athletes, including former presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.

For Johnson, the restaurant’s role has always extended beyond serving meals.

“It’s an honor but at the same time a reminder of how much work needs to be done in Oakland and beyond to ensure that our City is open for business and Black entrepreneurs have the access to capital and resources to start a business and thrive,” he said.

The closure comes as Jack London Square continues to change. Plank, a longtime tenant in the district, has closed, while Dave & Buster’s recently opened nearby.

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This article originally published at Longtime Oakland soul food restaurant known for hosting notable political guests to close.