TJ's Sweetie Pie's (CLOSED)

Sweetie Pie's might be the best soul food you're probably not eating. This NoHo outpost of the St. Louis original (we hear Oprah is a fan) will get your belly to a happy place right on time. Find a seat in the long train car with an airy, arched wood ceiling and order the chicken and waffles. A crisp round waffle arrives sprinkled with cinnamon; one bite into its springy white interior and suddenly you're floating on a vanilla cloud. The super sweet syrup becomes unnecessary, even on the fried chicken. And oh, the chicken. Moist, juicy meat is perfectly seasoned down to its core, with a crisp and peppery batter that fast food chains can only dream of. The crunchy batter is a distinct traveler on this journey; it can be a little on the salty side, but has such nuanced seasoning it doesn't matter. Add the balancing sweetness of a fluffy waffle bite and you're done: nirvana has arrived.