There has been quite a rage for waffle sandwiches lately, and I think they are definitely worth trying. Places like Gaufree, similar to the popular waffle sandwich restaurant, Bruxie, have been popping up everywhere recently.  At the artisan waffle restaurant Gaufree, the savory fluffy waffle accompanies sandwich fillings perfectly–a combination worth experiencing!
Gaufree has several menu options, making it more appealing than Bruxie and other waffle sandwich restaurants. Gaufree offers mouth-watering salads and delicious ice cream, while Bruxie mainly focuses on just sandwiches. Gaufree also has the typical sandwich menu choices such as pulled pork, hamburgers and one of their most popular: the Philly cheese steak. The Philly cheese steak flavors go nicely with the texture of the light waffle. The pulled pork, despite being slightly greasy, is also savory and flavorful.
Gaufree offers a vegetarian sandwich as well, filled with veggies and their amazing homemade garlic aioli sauce. Make sure you ask for a side of the garlic aioli sauce for your fries or sandwich too! It is made fresh daily and is bursting with flavor. They can also replace the waffle with a lettuce wrap, pretzel bun or even gluten-free waffles.
If you do not want a sandwich, they have a variety of appetizing salads ranging from nutritious kale salads to exotic Asian infused salads. If you do not like the idea of the savory waffle, Gaufree also has an assortment of sweet dessert waffles and ice cream. Their dessert waffles are the same as Bruxie’s, with Nutella and whipped cream. The ice cream, however, is worth trying, and the flavors are pretty exotic. While Bruxie only serves the usual flavors like chocolate and vanilla, Gaufree offers sophisticated flavors such as dark chocolate orange and Turkish coffee. The pricing is fair: one scoop is $3.95 and it is only $1 more to add a waffle cone.
The customer service is very good. They are helpful at explaining the menu when it is your first time there. They are very polite and attentive during your meal as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is happy, relaxed and family friendly, but definitely nice enough for a casual date night. You will probably spend around $7 to $15 for a meal there.
Gaufree takes a unique spin on the waffle sandwich and is a step up from Bruxie with their assortment of salads, well-known Philly cheese steak and creamy ice cream. If you are looking for a great atmosphere to eat somewhere that caters to almost everyone’s eating habits, including vegetarian, gluten-free or picky eaters, look no further than Gaufree!
3851-A Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 222-5622
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
By MACKENZIE HILL
Staff Writer