The Vintage Breakfast Chain That's Still Holding Its Own Against Giants Like Waffle House

The breakfast business can be a tough game. There's stiff competition from fast food, local spots, and mega-chains like Waffle House. Still, one vintage breakfast chain has persevered through more than six decades of changing business climates and food preferences. Yet few outside the Southeast may be aware of Huddle House and its history.

The chain traces its roots to Decatur, Georgia, where the first location opened in 1964. Huddle House initially served as a community hangout for residents to gather following high school football games, but quickly expanded into franchised locations two years later. Soon, it became a thriving regional food chain, with Georgia at its heart. That remains the case in 2025, with 60 of Huddle House's roughly 250 locations currently located in Georgia. Another 19 states have at least one Huddle House restaurant, including Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Illinois.

Huddle House remains a longtime favorite of many diners, despite the availability of other popular breakfast chains. For example, Waffle House operates nearly eight times as many locations, with 1,900 restaurants across 25 states. Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel offers its down-home breakfasts in 43 states with nearly 660 locations.

In such a difficult industry, it's easy to wonder how a chain like Huddle House has managed to survive and thrive over such a long period. A common slogan associated with the chain, "any meal, any time," may hold the answer. Everything from the hash brown casseroles to breakfast platters, homestyle dinners, and more is prepared fresh and available all day. In addition, the company promotes its franchises as "economically resilient," noting that low prices attract customers even when budgets are tight. 

That's not to say the chain hasn't evolved. Along with a rotating mix of limited-time menu items, Huddle House introduced an app and rewards program to further incentivize repeat visits. Although Huddle House has been around for decades, it's important to put its longevity in context. When looking at the oldest restaurants in every state, many have had their doors open since the turn of the 20th century or earlier. Still, it's worth tipping your cap to this humble yet thriving breakfast chain that keeps serving up favorites year after year.