Are DaBaby's restaurant prices genuinely excessive, or are Black-owned businesses expected to maintain lower pricing standards?

DaBaby’s $45 waffle ignited a passionate discussion about pricing, yet comparable brunch establishments are also setting high prices, prompting a broader inquiry into the scrutiny faced by Black-owned restaurants.

DaBaby’s new restaurant in Charlotte has sparked debate over a $45 waffle, but the more significant discussion may revolve around the labels of “too expensive” versus “upscale.”

The rapper’s No Knife Chicken & Waffles has launched in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the menu prices swiftly sparked an online discussion. As stated on the restaurant’s official menu, a plain waffle is priced at $15, whereas flavored varieties such as Banana Pudding, Birthday Cake, Blueberry Lemon, Cookies & Cream, Peach Cobbler, Red Velvet, Strawberry Shortcake, and Sweet Potato are available for $25. Customers have the option to add six wings to any waffle for $10, resulting in a flavored waffle with wings totaling approximately $35 before tax, tip, drinks, or delivery fees. The most expensive waffle is the $45 Soulfood Cornbread Waffle, featuring collard greens, candied yams, and mac and cheese. No Knife also offers a 9-ounce lobster tail priced at $40, lobster & grits for $32, seafood boil egg rolls at $30, sides available for $7, bottled water for $6, and flavored lemonades at $8.

A round black menu board featuring a yellow-orange rim from a street eatery named No Knife Chicken & Waffles. It displays a selection of waffles, mains, sides, egg rolls, signature sauces, fried fish & grits, crab fried rice, lobster & grits, and beverages, each accompanied by their respective prices.

Numerous social media users expressed skepticism regarding the pricing, particularly the $45 waffle, $40 lobster tail, and $6 bottled water, even though hundreds of individuals were said to be queuing for the grand opening. This indicates that some individuals were lowering prices online while others were outside sampling the food for themselves.

DaBaby, known as Jonathan Kirk, has been expanding the No Knife brand beyond the realm of music. The Charlotte Observer reported that he previously referred to “No Knife” as his kitchen alter ego, stating, “No knife is my alter-ego when I’m in the kitchen.” He referred to the restaurant as “No Knife Chicken & Waffles, brought to you exclusively by me.”

Indeed, No Knife’s menu is on the pricier side. Is it excessive when compared to the broader brunch and Southern comfort food scene? That is where the discussion becomes somewhat more complex.

At Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, a well-known Southern restaurant brand linked to 50 Eggs Hospitality and co-owner John Kunkel, chicken and waffles are priced at $42 on Uber Eats for the Miami location, while DoorDash lists the dish at $46.20. The restaurant offers fried chicken priced between $36 and $39.60, shrimp and grits for $36, and a Wagyu burger ranging from $35 to $38.50, depending on the ordering platform. Years ago, when a writer from Miami New Times raised concerns about Yardbird’s pricing, Kunkel responded by clarifying that the use of farm-to-table ingredients and the commitment to scratch cooking come with significant costs and require considerable labor.

Hash House A Go Go, a national brunch concept established by Andy Beardslee and Johnny Rivera, features “Andy’s World Famous Sage Fried Chicken & Waffles” priced at $28.99 at its Atlantic City location. Similarly, the Winter Garden, Florida, Toast ordering page also offers chicken and waffles for $28.99. The dish features two sage-fried chicken breasts elegantly layered atop a hickory-smoked bacon waffle tower, accompanied by a syrup reduction and crispy fried leeks.

At Jacob’s Pickles in New York, a well-known comfort food restaurant owned by Jacob Hadjigeorgis, chicken and waffles are priced at $24. Other offerings include shrimp and bacon grits at $29, classic mac and cheese for $21, lobster mac at $38, and grilled lamb chops for $42.

In Charlotte, Haberdish offers its chicken and waffle for $16, with additional options that may raise the total cost. The official site states that the restaurant was established by Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown, who are also the owners of several other dining establishments in Charlotte. That price is evidently less than No Knife’s $25 flavored waffles with a $10 wing add-on, yet it still indicates that chicken and waffles are frequently regarded as more than just an inexpensive breakfast option when restaurants market them as specialty comfort food.

That is the main idea. No Knife may be expensive, but it does not exist in a reality where brunch costs $8.99 universally. The USDA’s Economic Research Service reported that restaurant and foodservice prices increased by 3.4% in July 2026 compared to the previous year and projected a 3.6% rise in food-away-from-home prices for the entire year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that food away from home increased by 0.3% in July 2026 alone. Dining out can be costly no matter where you go, not solely at the Black-owned establishment that has come under scrutiny.

That does not imply that customers are unable to voice their complaints. They are capable of doing so. A $6 bottle of water is bound to catch people's attention, whether it's offered by DaBaby, a hotel lobby, or a rooftop brunch venue adorned with neon signs and a $19 mimosa. Consumers have the freedom to determine what they consider valuable. Nobody needs to spend $45 on a waffle if their spirit says, “Absolutely not.”

However, the subtlety lies in the fact that Black-owned businesses frequently face the expectation to be affordable, exceptional, culturally affirming, community-focused, generous, refined, efficient, and impeccable all at once. In contrast, comparable pricing at popular or chef-led establishments is frequently described as “premium,” “elevated,” or “an experience.” When a Black celebrity or Black entrepreneur sets luxury-adjacent prices, the internet can swiftly transform into a scrutiny session.

Research indicates that bias against minority-owned businesses is a real phenomenon. A study from 2020, published in Frontiers in Psychology, revealed that potential consumers exhibited bias against typical products from minority ventures, often proposing lower prices for these items. Research published in the American Economic Review indicates that enhancing the visibility of Black-owned restaurants on a platform leads to increased customer engagement, calls, orders, online traffic, and in-person visits. This demonstrates a tangible demand when consumers are able to discover and support these businesses.

There is also an aspect of expense involved. Research from the Federal Reserve has consistently shown that Black-owned businesses encounter more significant obstacles in obtaining capital. One analysis conducted by the Federal Reserve revealed that creditworthy Black-owned businesses faced more challenges in securing capital compared to creditworthy white-owned businesses, even when accounting for firm characteristics and performance. Another Federal Reserve report revealed that white-owned businesses received approval for the full amount of credit they requested at higher rates compared to Black-owned businesses.

That is significant because the restaurant industry is already quite challenging. Buildout, rent, equipment, payroll, insurance, ingredients, utilities, marketing, security, repairs, online ordering fees, and delivery app commissions can transform a dream into a daunting spreadsheet challenge. If Black entrepreneurs encounter greater challenges in obtaining affordable financing while simultaneously being expected to set lower prices, the situation begins to appear quite perplexing.

The appropriate discussion is not about whether every No Knife item represents a good deal. Some customers may glance at the menu and conclude that the prices are too steep. That is their entitlement. However, if a $42 chicken and waffles dish at one establishment is labeled a chef-driven Southern classic, while $35 flavored waffles with wings at DaBaby’s venue faces public criticism, it raises the question of whether the concern is solely about the price.

The essence is clear: No Knife’s pricing is intertwined with a broader dialog regarding value, branding, race, celebrity enterprises, and the swift scrutiny faced by Black-owned businesses when they set prices comparable to others. Customers have the right to expect quality for their investment, and it is essential that this standard remains consistent. If the waffle is excessively tall, please mention it. Ensure that the same enthusiasm is present when the upscale brunch location nearby is asking premium prices for the comfort food culture that Black communities have popularized.