The Creator Of Toronto’s Naughty New Waffles Explains Why TF They Decided To Do This

Members Only Waffle House is exactly what it sounds like.

A waffle house exclusively serving up "member-shaped" waffles. The explicitly shaped treats may catch your eye while you're strolling down Queen Street West and that's exactly what one of the owners, Kirsty Fan, wants.

"We want people to talk about it and just laugh, have a great laugh, smile ear to ear and be so joyful and just happy," she told Narcity.

Fan is one of three owners of Members Only Waffle House, including chef Santiago Vega, and the mission of their naughty NSFW venture is to bring a little giggle to Toronto.

While some people may be above phallic-shaped humour, most are not. During their soft opening last weekend, Fan says they saw plenty of giggles and interested onlookers from the street.

"Basically, we just want everyone to have a great time. So whether it's like you come in with a girlfriend and taking pictures and smiling and giggling, or you know you guys are sitting there taking pictures of how Santiago is making your waffle cause it's customized and personalized. We want to make sure that everyone can just be."

How did it happen?

The idea for the restaurant came about just over a year ago during quarantine when Fan says one of the owners spotted a restaurant in Spain making waffle shapes that heavily resembled the male and female downstairs anatomy.

"One of us noticed their operations, and then we concluded Toronto couldn't be left behind in this trend because it's such a crazy and like creative idea."

They had spotted the idea from La Pollería during the first wave of COVID-19, which Fan says was a dark place for everyone and they started mapping out a way to bring a little light.

"We saw this, and I was like, 'oh my god, this would be so cool.' Then we both spoke to Santiago and then we were just like maybe we can just try something new?"

"Toronto is such an amazing and marvellous city. Where people can adapt, and people want to know, and people want to try new things. So I feel like this worked out very well."

While Members Only is off to a running start, Fan admits she didn't realize how much work it would be.

"Truthfully, we didn't know that it was going to be so much work and we totally underestimated the amount of effort needed and the amount of love that we needed to pour into this project."

From conception to today, Fan says the planning, preparation and execution took just over a year. All three owners also have other jobs and Fan herself is now working six days a week to keep their passion project turned business going.

What's on the menu?

Members Only Waffle House

Members Only Waffle House isn't just serving up a scandal. Their waffles are made in-house by chef Vega, and if you so please, topped off with Belgium chocolate sourced from an Ontario supplier.

Fan says they put extra egg whites in the waffles to make the outsides crispy and the insides airy and fluffy soft. The waffles come in three variations the Plain Johnson ($8), a bare waffle dipped in hot butter with icing sugar on top, The Founding Member ($9), a waffle dipped in milk chocolate with a suggestive white chocolate tip, and The VIP ($10), dipped with any chocolate or topping.

For Belgium chocolate options they have ruby chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate. For toppings, they carry shredded coconut, sliced almonds, crushed pistachios and of course sprinkles.