They taste great and look impressive, but any schlub with the right appliance can make variations on the waffle -- and many do. As a result, we have waffles shaped like Hello Kitty, penguins, Mickey Mouse, hearts, Snoopy and the Lone Star State, to name a few.

They come in many varieties: Belgian, mini, ice cream cones and as sandwiches. Here are some of the more far-out things being done with waffles around the world. Not surprisingly, many of them are found in Japan, at state fairs and in the minds of the bacon-obsessed.


Wacked-Out Waffles

    Bacon-Embedded Waffles It wouldn't be an Asylum wacky foods gallery without bacon working its salty, greasy way into some meal in some wild way. This was reportedly the "best waffle ever."

    MrPants, Flickr

    Green Tea Waffles From a Belgian waffle stand at the Kyoto train station. Okay, I know it's Asia, but do they have to put green tea in everything?

    xterlim on Flickr

    Chinese Waffle Balls Like the waffle equivalent of doughnut holes.

    abadore , Flickr

    Eggette Waffles These are Hong Kong-style street waffles. Why the egg-sac theme, I wonder?

    lilbear, Flickr

    Falafel Waffle Falafel is delicious in ball format and all, but what about presentation? This looks like a dog biscuit.

    Wes y'all, Flickr

    Foie Graffle Foie gras?! Oh yes. Adding the liver of an overfed goose to anything, no matter how gross it sounds, makes it "gourmet."

    SiFu Renka, Flickr

    Fried Waffles From the Putnam County fair. Again, it wouldn't be an Asylum wacky foods gallery without a fried entry from the fair.

    Benimoto, Flickr

    Funk n Waffles A Syracuse, NY eatery/rock venue serves a spinach, feta and salmon waffle (!), also a falafel waffle, and one with pulled pork and bbq sauce.

    funknwaffles.com

    Hamwaffle Flavour Spot in Portland, OR has less-traditional waffle sangwiches with fillings like Black Forest ham and cheddar or smoked gouda cheese. To quote the menu, "This is what is tastes like when pigs cry."

    mccun934, Flickr

    Milk-Filled Waffle You have one guess where this thing is from.

    kozika, Flickr