Bruxie, the newest addition to USC Village, officially opened on Wednesday and it is located between CAVA and Il Giardino. Bruxie offers an innovative menu featuring hand-crafted waffle sandwiches, chicken tenders and artisan custard shakes. The restaurant uses high-quality ingredients and time-intensive processes to create a unique dining experience, serving fresh food on a daily basis.

“We keep things fairly simple, just a few ingredients and a lot of love, and we treat it well,” said Jacob Stone, director of operations for Bruxie. 

Each day, the chicken is marinated for 24 hours, followed by a process that fries the chicken to perfection. Sauces are handmade in-house daily while produce is freshly chopped onsite, in addition to a Belgian-inspired waffle batter to achieve a light and airy texture with a crispy exterior. 

Bruxie lives up to its reputation. Upon arrival, staff members greet guests at the door and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. The Original Waffle Sandwich, priced at $13, is a decent portion. It features Bruxie’s original seasoned chicken breast coated with chili honey and topped with homemade slaw, all sandwiched between a giant waffle. 

After biting into the sandwich, the quality of the waffle stands out immediately — light and airy with a flaky texture that complements the chicken perfectly. The chili honey is both sweet and savory, with a hint of spice, while the homemade slaw balanced the flavors. 

“When you build it like a sandwich, cut it down the middle and eat it like a sandwich, you’ll recognize that this was a culinary item put together for all the flavors to work,” Stone said. 

Patrons have the option to complement their sandwich with waffle fries or spiced tots through a combo option or as separate sides. While the waffle fries are crispy, yet standard, the spiced tots offer something different for all the spice lovers. 

Bruxie’s fried chicken is one of the best items on the menu, making the chicken tenders a must-try. For $11, two decently-sized tenders and fries are served. The tenders are juicy with a delicate crunch and guests can choose to season the chicken tenders in one of three styles: Original Seasoned, Hot Honey Cream and Kickin’ “Nashville.” 

The handmade sauces significantly enhance each meal. The Bruxie sauce, slightly tangy with a balance of sweet and savory components, complements the tenders perfectly. In addition, the ranch sauce has a distinctly homemade taste with a milky texture. The restaurant also offers a variety of other packaged sauces, such as Creamy Honey Mustard, Stone Ground Honey Mustard, Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Chipotle Mayo, Sweet Chili Honey, Bruxie Sauce and Housemade Ranch. 

For dessert, the Lemon Cream & Berries Sweet Waffle Sandwich for $8 provides a well-balanced mix of sweetness and tartness, with blueberries and raspberries adding a refreshing touch. The handmade Strawberry Lemonade is also a must-try, delivering a refreshing and authentic strawberry flavor. 

Bruxie offers Artisan Custard Shakes, available in a variety of flavors such as Vanilla, Chocolate, Nutella, Orange Dreamsicle, Fresh Strawberry and Cookies & Cream. The Fresh Strawberry shake stands out for its creamy texture, allowing the fresh, vibrant flavors of the strawberries to stand out without being overpowered by other components of the drink. However, at the price of $7.50, it is quite expensive for a shake, making it a splurge rather than an everyday treat. 

For those who are not chicken lovers, Bruxie also offers a variety of other foods on their menu. They have a BLT and burger, along with several breakfast items, including other sides such as mac and cheese. 

Overall, Bruxie delivers on its promise to bring the crunch to lunch. The prices, however, are a downside, being on the pricier side given the portion sizes for each item. Additionally, the sauces are essential for complementing the chicken and fries, as the seasoning is on the simpler side. Nevertheless, their tenders and waffles bring a satisfying crunch that is light yet flaky, making the dining experience more enjoyable.

While the seating inside the restaurant is limited, Bruxie plans to expand seating outside in the near future. Bruxie at USC Village is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The restaurant also offers a rewards app, allowing you to place orders online for delivery, catering or pick-up, while earning Bruxie Bux for future rewards. 

With eight locations in the Southern California area, Bruxie’s newest additions in the UCLA community of Westwood and at USC Village bring the brand’s one-of-a-kind dining experience to local college students. 

“My vision is for us to be a part of the community,” Stone said. “We want to be part of the swim team and the clubs and the Greek Council and whoever, every part of the university … and we look forward to a long, strong relationship with University of Southern California.”