Waffle House Plans Second Waco Restaurant
A project filing with Texas regulators outlines a new Waffle House location at 722 S. 7th St. near downtown.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Dining Out
Waffle House has filed plans for a restaurant at 722 S. 7th St. in Waco, registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on Nov. 2. The company also has another Waco location planned at 2301 South New Road.
Why it matters
The filing signals continued expansion of the Waffle House chain into Waco, adding a second planned location in the city. For residents and visitors near downtown and the Baylor University campus, it means another dining option is in the pipeline.
The project filing lists an estimated cost of $300,000 for a roughly 1,840-square-foot restaurant at the site, registered as Waffle House #20644. The filing does not state a final opening date, and construction timing is tentative.
The players
Waffle House, Inc.
Waffle House, Inc. is the Georgia-based restaurant chain that owns and operates the planned locations.
The details
The plans were submitted through a state project filing for a privately funded build owned by Waffle House, Inc. The site sits near downtown Waco and the Baylor University campus in McLennan County, and a second location is planned at 2301 South New Road near the Cinemark and Top Golf entertainment district.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: Project filing submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
March 1, 2027: Construction scheduled to begin at 2301 South New Road.
Aug. 1, 2027: Estimated completion of the South New Road location.
Sept. 1, 2027: Construction tentatively scheduled to begin at 722 S. 7th St.
Feb. 29, 2028: Estimated completion of the 722 S. 7th St. location.
Dining Out Trend
Waffle House's planned Waco expansion follows its steady growth into mid-sized Texas cities. The filing shows the chain pursuing additional locations near student and entertainment areas.
Waco diners near downtown and Baylor will gain another Waffle House option once the 722 S. 7th St. location opens, tentatively in early 2028. Residents heading to the South New Road entertainment district can expect a closer location as well.
The takeaway
Planned restaurant openings are often visible in state filings well before construction begins, so local readers can track projects through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Timelines in these filings are estimates and can shift.
What happens next
Construction at 2301 South New Road is scheduled to begin March 1, 2027, with construction at 722 S. 7th St. tentatively set for Sept. 1, 2027.
Further reading
For more local restaurant openings, browse Dining Out coverage in Waco.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kwtx.
