"Fine" Dining

Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!! 🍔🏆 Septemburger 2026 Begins: Five Burgers Enter the Tournament! 🏆🍔 SEPTEMBURGER 2026 IS HERE! Five returning guests join me for the official kickoff as we revisit the burgers entering our first batch of tournament matchups. Luke Pace, Sandy Rose, Bennett Cohen, Seif Rahoumi, and Joyce are back to defend their respective restaurants, talk an unreasonable amount of trash, and find out which burgers survive the opening round. Before the patties start flying, I break down the full Septemburger rules, how the bracket works, and exactly what these chains are competing for. Then everybody channels their inner pro wrestler and cuts promos on the competition. This is apparently a wrestling podcast now (for real though, I'd be okay with that). Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!! 📜 The Official Rules of Septemburger 2026, Explained! 👑 Five Returning Guests Represent Five Different Burger Chains 🍔 The Habit Burger Grill vs. MOOYAH: Who Survives Round One? 💥 Smashburger vs. Five Guys: A Better Burger Showdown 🎤 Everyone Cuts Wrestling-Style Promos on Their Competition 📊 BurgerFi Gets Its Official Septemburger Score 🏆 Two Winners Move On, But You'll Have to Watch to Find Out Who 👀 BurgerFi Has a Date with Burger King Waiting Next Week 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Who are you picking to win Septemburger 2026? Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!! 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guests: Luke Pace, Sandy Rose, Bennett Cohen, Seif Rahoumi, & Joyce Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, Jahid Ahmed, Jewell Hermann, & Macky Markar 👉 NEXT WEEK: Burger King with Andrew Carter, which will face off against BurgerFi for a spot in the next round! Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!!

🍜🔥 JINYA Ramen Bar Review: Tableside Birria, Garlic Heaven, and a One-in-a-Million Mishap 🔥🍜 Grayson Alamango Shapiro (@grayson.a.shapiro), first AD of Obsession, is back as we finally eat our way through JINYA Ramen Bar and put it to the Chili's Test! The ramen is pretty solid, the appetizers keep delivering, and then Garlic Rice with Beef Birria steals the entire meal. But even with all that deliciousness, JINYA manages to give us a service mishap so bizarre that I've genuinely never seen anything like it happen before. 🍜 Mountain Buta Garlic Ramen Brings the GARLIC 🥩 Garlic Rice with Beef Birria Gets Mixed Tableside and It's AMAZING 🐷 Grayson Digs into the Tonkotsu Black Ramen 🫛 Edamame, Nikuman, Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna & the JINYA Bun Keep the Hits Coming 🤯 A Crazy Service Mishap Leaves Us Baffled 🍰 Somehow, of ALL Things, the Desserts Let Us Down 🎬 Grayson Shares His Favorite Memories from the Set of Obsession🎢 Theme Parks Make Great Memories...and Apparently Terrible Food 🌶️ JINYA Faces the Chili's Test: Is This Ramen Chain Better Than Chili's? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your go-to ramen order? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Grayson Alamango Shapiro | IG: @grayson.a.shapiro Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, Jahid Ahmed, Jewell Hermann, & Macky Markar

🍜✈️ JINYA Ramen Bar: The Allure of Hollywood, First-Class Collaboration, and Keanu Reeves ✈️🍜 This week, Obsession first AD Grayson Alamango Shapiro (@grayson.a.shapiro) joins me to dig into the history of JINYA Ramen Bar, a chain that helped take ramen from a regional specialty to a major national restaurant concept. We talk about the appeal of bringing JINYA to "Hollywood," some unexpected celebrity clientele, and how the brand grew into one of the biggest names in American ramen. And somehow, as all good restaurant history podcasts do, we eventually find ourselves having a serious conversation about an app that maps human poop. 🍜 How JINYA Became the First Major National Ramen Chain 🌴 The Irresistible Allure of Opening a Restaurant in "Hollywood" 🎬 Keanu Reeves Has Eaten at this JINYA, So We're Basically Best Friends Now ✈️ JINYA Ramen Takes to the Skies with a First-Class Collaboration 💩 The Poop Map App Sends Us Down a MUCH Deeper Rabbit Hole Than Expected 🍴 Grayson Has VERY Specific Rules for Silverware Placement at Catering ⏱️ Yelp from Strangers Sparks a Debate About Hostile Customer Turnover Tactics ☎️ ANSWER YOUR PHONES, BUSINESSES! 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the longest you're willing to wait for a table before giving up? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Grayson Alamango Shapiro | IG: @grayson.a.shapiro Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, Jahid Ahmed, Jewell Hermann, & Macky Markar 👉 NEXT WEEK: Grayson and I actually eat at JINYA Ramen Bar and put one of America's biggest ramen chains to the Chili's Test! 🍜🌶️

🍕🧱 Slice House Review: We Tried All the Pizza Styles, and Is Court Crying?! 🧱🍕 Court McGowan (@the_courtjester_) is back as we put Slice House by Tony Gemignani to the Chili's Test! And if you're going to review a place built around Tony's mastery of different pizza styles, of course we're going to try them all. Four different crusts, wings can tear friendships apart, and mooooore! 🍕 We Try So Many Pizzas 🍗 Court and I Are Quite Far Apart on the Wings 🍪 A Chocolate Chip Cookie That Is More Bread than Chocolate 🩹 Our Kind-Eyed Cashier Has Some Concerningly Cut-Up Hands 🧻 As a Bearded Wing-Eater, I NEED Paper Towels in That Bathroom 🧱 Brick Walls Remain a Great Restaurant Vibe 👶 A Small Child Makes Sure the Entire Restaurant Knows They're Upset 😭 Wait...Is Court Crying? 📏 Calibration Station: From Sending Food Back to Old Reliables 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which pizza style is your fav: New York, Grandma, Detroit, or Sicilian? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Court McGowan | IG: @the_courtjester_ Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, Jahid Ahmed, Jewell Hermann, & Macky Markar 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into JINYA Ramen Bar with Grayson Alamango Shapiro from Obsession! 🍜

🍕🏆 Slice House by Tony Gemignani: World Champion Pizza, "Hot Mario (Lopez??)," and Pizza Acrobatics 🏆🍕 This week, Court McGowan (@the_courtjester_) joins me to dive into the history of Slice House by Tony Gemignani, the pizza empire built by one of the most decorated pizza makers on Earth. From world championship dough tossing to an American winning a pizza competition in Naples (which almost caused a riot), this episode is full of a prestigious history! 🏆 Tony Gemignani Becomes a Pizza World Champion in Naples 🚔 An American Winning Best Pizza in Italy Earned Tony a Police Escort 🤹 Pizza Acrobatics Are Somehow a Competitive Sport (Here's the link we talk about) 🍕 The Mario Lopez Collaboration: Meet the "Hot Mario" 🎰 Court and I Debate the Proper Way to Pronounce Nevada 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Court Thinks All Food Should Be Shared 🫒 Yelp from Strangers: One Customer Is Absolutely SUF-FER-ING from the Pizza Oils 🌎 How Slice House Grew from Championship Pedigree to Expanding Pizza Chain 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you ever compete in pizza acrobatics, or are you keeping both feet firmly on the ground? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Court McGowan | IG: @the_courtjester_ Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, Jahid Ahmed, & Jewell Hermann 👉 NEXT WEEK: Court and I head to Slice House to review the food and put it to the Chili's Test. 🍕🏆

🍔🥜 Five Guys Review: Worst Bacon Ever, Amazing Fries, and Competitive Burgers 🥜🍔 This week, Seif Rahoumi (@seifrahoumi) returns as we put Five Guys to the Chili's Test. With Five Guys entering Septemburger 2026 as the No. 2 seed, it's time to find out whether one of America's most beloved burger chains can live up to the hype. Between three tournament burgers, fresh-cut fries, and a shockingly bad hot dog, there's a lot to unpack. 🍔 Three Burgers Enter the Septemburger Conversation 🥜 Seif Opens a Peanut for the First Time Ever 🍟 Fresh-Cut Fries and Cajun Fries Continue to Carry the Reputation 🌭 The Hot Dog Was a Bigger Disappointment Than I Am to My Parents 🥓 The Bacon Ruined Everything It Touched 🎨 The Bulletin Board Is Out of Cards, So Seif Can't Cook (Artistically Speaking) 👨‍🍳 Open Kitchen vs. FOH/BOH Segregation 🏆 Seif Thinks the Walls Have Way Too Many Self-Congratulatory Awards 📏 Calibration Station Reveals Seif's Biggest Restaurant Green Flag: Acknowledge Him 🤨 Is a Cashier Rude for Saying *He* Wouldn't Eat What We Ordered? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your go-to Five Guys burger order? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Seif Rahoumi | IG: @seifrahoumi Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, & Jahid Ahmed 👉 NEXT WEEK: It's the history of Slice House by Tony Gemignani with Court McGowan!

🍔🥜 Five Guys: Shaq's Five Guys Empire, The Secret Sixth Guy, and An Old Yelper Yells at Clouds 🥜🍔 This week, Seif Rahoumi (@seifrahoumi) joins me to look into the history of Five Guys, a family burger business that has scaled massively. Faced with a choice between college and burgers, the Murrell brothers helped build one of America's biggest fast-casual success stories...despite the fact that there are actually six guys, plus one very important woman who didn't make it into the name. 🎓 "College or Burgers?" 👨‍👦 Who's the Sixth Guy? 🏀 Shaquille O'Neal's Massive Five Guys Empire 🥜 Peanuts While You Wait 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Seif Drags Picky Eaters (While I Defend Us) 🚗 Yelp from Strangers: One Reviewer Absolutely HATES Food Influencers Who Eat in Their Cars 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you have chosen college... or opening a burger restaurant with your family? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Seif Rahoumi | IG: @seifrahoumi Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, & Jahid Ahmed 👉 NEXT WEEK: We put Five Guys to the Chili's Test before its Septemburger 2026 showdown as the tournament's No. 2 seed against Smash Burger. 🍔🏆

🐔🍟 Raising Cane's Review: Amazing Sauce, Terrible Sandwich, and Where Are the Knives?! 🍟🐔 This week, D'Angelo Reyes and I finally put Raising Cane's to the Chili's Test. We order literally everything on the menu, from the famous chicken fingers to the sandwich, fries, slaw, Texas toast, and naturally it comes with the yummy yummy Cane's Sauce. Some items deliver...while one leaves behind the most unpleasant aftertaste I think I've ever encountered from simple produce. 🍗 We Try the Entire Raising Cane's Menu 🥣 Bury Me in a Vat of Cane's Sauce 🍟 Crinkle-Cut Fries Are Pretty Solid 🥬 Lettuce So Prominent, You Don't Even Need to Eat it to Taste It 🧂 The Chicken Fingers Are Good, But Imagine Them with Seasoning 🚗 One of the Worst Drive-Thru Designs We've Ever Seen 🖼️ The Quirky Decor Keeps Things Interesting 🔪 How Does a Restaurant Sell Sandwiches Without a Single Plastic Knife?! 🎢 D'Angelo's Best Meal Ever Comes from a Theme Park While His Worst Features Transparent Sushi 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Cane's Sauce enough to make up for the lack of seasoning on the chicken? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: D'Angelo Reyes | IG: @dangelo1260 Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, & Jahid Ahmed 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Five Guys with Seif Rahoumi. 🍔🏆

🐔🎣 Raising Cane's: The Dog Behind the Name, Post Malone, and Velvet Elvis 🎣🐔 This week, D'Angelo Reyes (@dangelo1260) joins me to explore the history of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a restaurant built around one simple idea that almost everyone thought would fail. From disco balls in every dining room to naming the entire company after his beloved dog, Raising Cane's proves that sometimes sticking to your vision is the best business strategy of all. 🐶 Why There Have Been THREE Raising Cane Namesake Dogs (It's Sad) 🎣 Working on a Salmon Boat and an Oil Rig to Fund the Dream 🐔 The Chicken Finger Got Laughed at by the Founder's College Professor 🖼️ Why Every Raising Cane's Has Velvet Elvis Artwork 🎤 Post Malone Somehow Has TWO Raising Cane's Locations 🏰 ...Including One with a Medieval-Themed Bathroom 🔥 Hot Take: Themed Restaurants Are Better Than Michelin Star Restaurants 🔪 A Yelper Wants to Destroy Whoever Designed the Parking Lot 💬 COMMENT BELOW: If you could build a restaurant around just ONE menu item, what would it be? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: D'Angelo Reyes | IG: @dangelo1260 Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, Science Broe, & Jahid Ahmed 👉 NEXT WEEK: We head to Raising Cane's to review the food and put it to the Chili's Test. 🐔🏆

🍔🥔 Smashburger Review: Incredible Hot Tots, Garlic Fries, and the Elderly Invade! 🥔🍔 This week, Bennett Cohen (@bennettrcohen) and I put Smashburger to the Chili's Test. As the No. 7 seed in Septemburger 2026, Smashburger has a showdown with Five Guys looming in just a couple of months, so the stakes are high. Are they doomed solely by writing a check they couldn't cash (or, SMASH!?). Because these "smash" burgers are not smashed enough to our liking! 🍔 We Review Smashburger's Three Entrants into the Septemburger Tournament 🥔 Smash Fries with Garlic & Rosemary Are a Win 🔥 Scorchin' Hot Tots Steal the Entire Meal (They're Not TOO Hot, Either) 🌭 The Americana Dog Has a Fantastic Bun 🍗 Chicken Tenders That Disappoint 🥤 Bennett and I Diverge on the Milkshakes 👴 The Dining Room Has Too Many Elderly People 🍬 Werther's, Gibberish, and Disregarding Social Norms 🤔 The Cashier Asks Me About Myself, Then Walks Away Mid-Answer..??? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which chain deserves the edge in Septemburger 2026: Smashburger or Five Guys? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Bennett Cohen | IG: @bennettrcohen Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ, & Science Broe 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Raising Cane's with D'Angelo Reyes. 🐔

🍔🥩 Smashburger: McGriddle Meets Quizno's, The "Smash Pass," and False Advertising 🥩🍔 This week, my wonderful guest Bennett Cohen (@bennettrcohen) joins me to dive into the history of Smashburger, a burger brand created by one of the most influential minds in fast food history Tom Ryan (the guy who invented the McGriddle). From custom-forged burger presses to being named America's most promising company by Forbes, Smashburger's history is, at the very least, surpising. 🍔 Smashburger Was Founded by a Literal Fast Food Legend in Tom Ryan 📈 Forbes Named Smashburger the "Most Promising Company" in 2012 🎟️ The $54 "Smash Pass" That Offered 54 Burgers in 54 Days ⚖️ You Can't Say "Double the Beef" When It's The Same Amount of Beef 🎵 We Offer Smashburger a Jingle in the Style of Yacht Rock 🌎 Smashburger Was Acquired by Jollibee Very Slowly 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Bennett Claims Lactose Intolerance Is a State of Mind 💥 Yelp from Strangers: A Customer and Employee Are Actually Beefing (And We Get to Hear Both Sides!!) 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you actually use the Smash Pass? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Bennett Cohen | IG: @bennettrcohen Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, Jewell Hermann, & Michelle Elmer Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ

🍝🥖 Fazoli's Review: Breadsticks, Nostalgic Pasta, and the Trader Joe's Restroom 🥖🍝 This week, Sabrina Carmichael (@brina711) and I finally put Fazoli's to the Chili's Test. Between "unlimited" breadsticks, pasta that reminds me of my mom's pasta, overly sweet desserts, and a pizza that looked like it had been "touched," Fazoli's delivered one of the more unique fast-fast dining experiences I've ever had. 🍝 Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Unlocks Childhood Memories (Plus: My Homemade Garlic Pasta Sandwiches!) 🥖 Breadsticks Better Than Olive Garden's 🍕 The Double Slice is Presented Interestingly... 🧀 Fettuccine Alfredo Rocks Sabrina's World 🍪 Great American Cookie Desserts Are Sweet Enough to Cause Structural Damage 🥤 Sabrina's DIY Arnold Palmer Goes Wrong 📦 Breadsticks-To-Go? Not On Their Watch! 🧹 To Bus or Not to Bus? An Existential Crisis 🚻 What Men Use Hooks for in Public Restroom Stalls - A Cautionary Tale 🎭 Sabrina Gets Poetic About the Magic of Musso & Frank Grill 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the best chain restaurant breadstick in America? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sabrina Carmichael | IG: @brina711 Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Jewell Hermann Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: A few months out from Septemburger 2026, I cover the history of the No. 7 seed Smashburger with Bennett Cohen.

🍝🥖 Fazoli's: Admitting they Can't Compete with Pizza, the "Breadstick Express," and Dr. Lee Zagna 🥖🍝 This week, Sabrina Carmichael (@brina711) joins me to explore the history of Fazoli's, a restaurant that looked at the pizza wars and wisely decided, "No thanks." Instead of trying to battle the delivery giants head-on, Fazoli's carved out a niche with pasta, breadsticks, and a surprisingly unique place in the fast food landscape. Along the way, we uncover one of the strangest restaurant name changes ever and even though my guest "grew up loving Fazoli's," she'd never actually been..??? 🍝 Originally "Gratzi's" (But the Public Confused it with Wayne Gretzky) 🍕 The Self-Realization that they Can't Compete with the Pizza Giants 🥖 The Legendary Breadstick Express (My New Actual Dream Car) 🩺 Dr. Lee Zagna in Fazoli's Marketing 📈 How Fazoli's Found Success as Fast Food Italian 🍽️ Customers Compare It More to Olive Garden Than McDonald's 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Sabrina's Got Buffet Strategy 💄 Yelp from Strangers: A Customer Gets Called "Old" and Takes Shots at the Cashier's Makeup 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your stance on salad at a buffet? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sabrina Carmichael | IG: @brina711 Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, Travis Langley, & Jewell Hermann Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Renae Michael, Crystal C., & NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: We eat our Fazoli's to put it to the Chili's Test. 🍝🏆

🍔🥔 MOOYAH Review: They Sure Know Their Way Around a Potato...and Beef 🥔🍔 This week, Sandy Rose and I put MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes to the Chili's Test. I'm not lying when I say that all of their potato things are top notch. The fries taste fresh, the chips are just as good as the fries, and the BUNS! Potato buns have rented space in my daydreams (did that make sense...?) because they're all I can think about. 🍔 The MDC Shows Why MOOYAH Should Be Huge 🧅 The Well D'Onion Divides Sandy and I (We'll be okay tho...) 🌭 The Hamburdog is as Fun to Say As It Is to Consume 🍟 French Fries That You Can Taste the Skin 🥔 House-Made Potato Chips Somehow Aren't a Downgrade 🥤 Reese's vs. OREO Milkshakes 🗣️ A Sweet Employee Who Sounds Like She Was Trained by the Brand Itself 😬 The Manager Gives Off "Nobody Wants to Work Anymore" Vibes 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would you order a Hamburdog, or are you higher class than that? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sandy Rose Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: The history of fast food Italian chain Fazoli's.

🍔🔥 MOOYAH: Better Burger Boom, Secret Menus, and Bird Poop 🔥🍔 This week, Sandy Rose joins me to break down the history of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a burger chain that emerged from the "better burger" gold rush and somehow managed to stay decent even after private equity got involved. Along the way, Sandy and I debate whether being pooped on by a bird is actually good luck, unpack MOOYAH's aggressively goofy brand voice, and discover that apparently every restaurant chain on Earth is trying to expand into Dubai. 🍔 Founded by Veterans During the "Better Burger" Wave 🤣 The Chain's Extremely Silly Brand Voice 📜 The Hall of Dang and the Magic of Secret Menus 🌍 Dubai Expansion Because EVERYONE'S Doing It 💰 Surviving Private Equity Ownership Without Losing the Plot 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Sandy Claims You Shouldn't Need a Drink with Dinner 💘 Yelp from Strangers: A Cashier Accidentally Helps a Customer Get Laid 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the greatest secret menu item of all time? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Sandy Rose Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C., NiZ 👉 NEXT WEEK: We head to MOOYAH to review the food and put it to the Chili's Test.

🥩🔥 Gen Korean BBQ House Review: Incredible Meats, Stingy Napkins, and Disappointing Wagyu 🔥🥩 We're back at GEN Korean BBQ House with Jon Durnell (@jon024durnell), and this meal absolutely delivers. Even if we die of smoke inhalation, the genuinely fantastic cuts of meat allow Gen to put together one of the strongest overall food experiences I've had in a while...even if the service staff was "napkin stingy." 🥩 LA-Style Galbi Always Delivers 🍖 Premium Skirt Steak with Garlic Brings Us Close to Orgasm 🥒 Banchan Parade: Pickled Onions, Radish, Kimchi, Potato Salad & More 🥭 Mango Tango Bites and Hotteok Close Things Out Strong 🦐 Jon Is NOT Feeling the Shrimp 🐄 A5 Wagyu Somehow Underwhelms 🧻 The Staff Guards Napkins Like State Secrets 🥗 A Sign at the Front Takes a Shot at Vegetarians 🏆 Calibration Station: Jon Names a Steak Worth Killing For While Absolutely Destroying Shoney's 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you ever had Korean BBQ? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Jon Durnell | IG: @jon024durnell Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes with the returning Sandy Rose.

🥩🔥 Gen Korean BBQ House: Meat Deets, Costco Gift Cards, and KBBQ History 🔥🥩 This week, Jon Durnell (@jon024durnell) joins me to break down the history of Gen Korean BBQ House, one of the fastest-growing Korean BBQ chains in America. From SoCal beginnings to a nationwide expansion strategy powered in part by Costco gift cards, Gen's rise is surprisingly fascinating. Plus, we debut a brand-new segment called Meat Deets, where we dig into the broader history of Korean BBQ itself. 🥩 Gen's California Origins and Expansion to Nearly 60 Locations 🛒 The Surprisingly Effective Costco Gift Card Strategy 🤝 The Founders Were in a Proverbial Commonlaw Marriage 🔥 MEAT DEETS: The Centuries-Long History of Korean BBQ 🌎 Why Los Angeles Koreatown Became America's KBBQ Capital 🍖 The "LA Style" of Galbi That Korea Adopted Back 🥬 How Korea Perfected Pickling Before Mastering Meat 🔥 The Heat Lamp: Jon Declares IHOP A Superior Fighting Arena Than Waffle House 📞 Yelp from Strangers: A Furious Late-Night Wake-Up Call from Gen Management 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is LA the true capital of Korean BBQ outside Korea itself? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Jon Durnell | IG: @jon024durnell Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: We head to Gen Korean BBQ House to review the food and put it to the Chili's Test.

🍖🤖 Tony Roma's Review: Robot Waiters, Trying All the Ribs, and "Champion or Chumpion" 🤖🍖 We're back at Tony Roma's with Gabe Legg (@gabe_legg), and this visit throws us for a loop almost immediately thanks to a ROBOT WAITER gliding through the dining room like Tony Roma's like a better Roomba. Between three different rib styles, Gabe trying lobster tail for the first time ever, and a human waiter who refused to accept me turning down his upsell, this meal was a bizarre little journey. 🍖 Ribs Ad Infinitum: Beef, St. Louis, & Baby Back 🦞 Gabe Tries Lobster Tail for the First Time Ever 🤖 A Robot Waiter Steals the Show 💸 The Human Waiter Judges Me for Declining a Bargain 📺 We Rate the "Show Us Your Rib Face" Contest Winners 🎭 Vibes Swing Wildly Between Medieval Times and Bank Office 🔥 Gabe's Worst Restaurant Experience: Bad Melting Pot Energy 🫕 Gabe's Best Restaurant Experience: Literally The Melting Pot 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Would a robot waiter improve your dining experience, or make it weirder? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Gabe Legg | IG: @gabe_legg Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: I dive into the history of Gen Korean BBQ House with Jon Durnell.

🍖🔥 Tony Roma's: The Rib Pivot That Took Over the World (and Then Left America?) 🔥🍖 This week, Gabe Legg (@gabe_legg) joins me to unpack the history of Tony Roma's, a restaurant that stumbled into ribs, built an empire on them, and somehow ended up bigger overseas than in the US. From Playboy beginnings to NFL ownership to a string of financial shakeups, Tony Roma's might be one of the strangest success (if you can call it that?) stories in chain restaurant history. 🍖 A Random Rib Special That Completely Rewrote the Menu 🍸 Tony Roma & Hugh Hefner 🏈 A Dallas Cowboys Owner Added Tony Roma's to His Portfolio 📉 Bought, Sold, Flipped, Bankrupted...Repeat? 📺 "Show Us Your Rib Face" Is a Messy But Clever Campaign 🧅 The Onion Loaf: The Bloomin' Onion's Spiritual Cousin 🔥 The Heat Lamp Debuts: Gabe Fires Off His Controversial Restaurant Hot Take 🤢 Yelp from Strangers: Violent Illness Still Nets FOUR STARS?? 💬 COMMENT BELOW: How do you like your ribs? 📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY: 🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, extended Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast 💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, board games): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4 🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/channel/UCLbraNhL6KhDPkdSWt2yiuw 🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast 🎤 Guest: Gabe Legg | IG: @gabe_legg Patreon Producers:Sue Ornelas, Joyce Van, & Robert McLaughlin Patreon Subscribers:David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley Free Patreon Followers:Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, Aaron Hubbard, Steff, Jewell Hermann, Renae Michael, Crystal C. 👉 NEXT WEEK: We put Tony Roma's to the Chili's Test and see if the ribs hold up.