Lucky J’s Brings Late Night Dining Back to Montauk

Lucky J’s, a chicken and waffles restaurant that opened on Montauk harbor over Memorial Day weekend, is gearing up for its new, extended hours through Labor Day: 24-hours a day, seven days a week, starting July 1. The move makes it only the second food business opened around the clock in Montauk. 

Owner and founder Jason Ulmas says he offers “good late night food,” and wants to make sure it's available to the late night, early morning crowd. His current hours at his new location at 400 West Lake Drive are already longer than most; 3 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ulmas, who worked as an executive chef in Austin before quitting his job four years ago to start serving chicken and waffles out of a trailer, said that his food is meant to be served at all hours. “Chicken and waffles was standard fare at New York jazz clubs during the jazz age,” he said, “musicians would get off between 3 and 5 a.m. and the kitchens would be between dinner and breakfast service.”

As Ulmas sees it, this is a problem shared by many East Enders, particularly those in the service industry. “People getting off eight hour shifts at 5 a.m. need to eat too. The only other 24-hour dining in Montauk is 7-Eleven. Try getting something to eat after 10 p.m. and you’re out of luck.”

Lucky J’s signature dish is the Waffle Taco— boneless fried chicken served wrapped in a waffle— originally invented for the Austin, Texas, bar crowd looking for a filling meal they could eat with their hands. The standard version of this dish comes in at $7. Lucky J's is based in Austin. 

Ulmas has taken the time to get creative with his ingredients, and the menu reflects it. Among the most popular is the "Ms. M," a waffle taco sporting chicken, bacon and Swiss cheese for $8. There’s also a dessert taco, the "Grandma Andy"— a spin off the classic dessert crepe — with Nutella, peanut butter, honey and bananas; and a breakfast taco of eggs, bacon, potatoes and cheddar cheese. Both of those options are $7. 

The craziest items on the menu, he said, are the ThaiDye ($8) —consisting of chicken, fried banana, honey, peanut butter and Sriracha— and the Serpent at the Rainbow, a “voodoo-y” mix of jerk chicken tenders and jerk slaw on a specially made pineapple waffle that costs $9.

Asked about these more colorful options, Ulmas said, “You have to convert some people, but I wouldn’t spend my life making this stuff if it wasn’t good.”

Ulmas’ chicken is prepared with a signature batter and cut to allow for fast cooking time without losing the meat’s juiciness. Even his waffle batter is made from a proprietary blend of flour and twenty different spices. He recommends eating his dishes with a mixture of maple syrup and Cholula hot sauce.

Side options include collard greens and mac & cheese, both $6, and there is even a “Squawk and Cheese”— macaroni and chicken tenders— for $11 dollars. Though this second option is only served from 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. the menu has even the strangest hours covered. The “Fisherman’s special”, a coffee and breakfast taco combo, is available for $7 from 4 to 8 a.m.

Ulmas encourages customers to get creative with their orders, and offers a wide array of substitutions. A Chili Cheese Fry waffle taco (seasoned potatoes, cheddar cheese, and Sriracha) with chicken is a “Karate Kid”. A waffle taco with peanut butter, bacon, honey and bananas is a “Graceland”.

If all goes according to plan, Lucky J’s — named for Ulmas’ son, Joss — will expand to a food truck next year to serve a wider range of customers. 

Lucky J's is located at 440 West Lake Drive in Montauk. The phone number is 631-668-8555.