The Waffle House Lingo You Should Know For The Best Hash Browns

Dubbed "Better than the French Laundry" by Anthony Bourdain, Waffle House is a sacred place for Southerners, whether they're just getting out of church or looking to cap off a late night on the town. But at whatever time and for whatever reason you go, learning the hash brown lingo is the most important unwritten rule of this jewel of an establishment.

"Smothered" gets you a topping of onions sautéed in butter, while "covered" tells the cook to add a melted slice of American cheese on top. "Chunked" means to add some hickory-smoked ham, ordering "diced" includes some chopped tomatoes, and "peppered" gets you a handful of pickled jalapeños, all perfect for bulking up the meal and mixing up your flavors. "Capped" and "topped" may sound similar, but capped gets you sautéed mushrooms, and topped is one of the chain's most popular additions: a ladle full of chili!

"Scattered" used to be a common request asking the cooks to prepare the hashbrowns spread across the cooking surface rather than in a steel ring, but it's become the standard method of preparation. While it may not be on most menus anymore, you can also ask for your hashbrowns "country," meaning you want a ladle of peppery sausage gravy on top. There are also several informal requests that your cook may be willing to accommodate, provided you use the right lingo.

Waffle House has been around since 1955 and caters to an enormous range of customers. While some hash brown styles have fallen out of vogue, that doesn't mean you can't order them! However, if it's not on the menu, it's up to the cook to decide if you'll get it or not.

Although not always popular, you can request your hashbrowns "steamed," or cooked in a metal ring with two ice cubes on top. Some folks would consider trying to fry wet potatoes a mistake for hashbrowns, but it does produce a lighter, less fatty flavor, albeit at the cost of a crispy exterior. If you want them extra crispy, ask for them cooked "well," which really just means to cook them in oil a bit longer. If you don't want oil at all, ask for them "dry."

There are two famous styles of hashbrowns at Waffle House you should definitely try at least once. The classic "scattered, smothered, and covered" gets you a cheesy, oniony mess of fried potatoes that have been crisped to perfection. However, if you're particularly hungry, or especially daring, try ordering some "all the way." This gets you all the toppings, every last one, giving you a breakfast that's closer to nachos than anything else. Pro tip: if you try this, be sure to order your hashbrowns "well" to avoid them becoming soggy from all the liquid.