"Fine" Dining

🍳🥂 Another Broken Egg Cafe: Boozy Brunch, Private Equity, and the Egg Price Police 🥂🍳 This week, Juliet Kaufman (@jewlkoff) joins me to crack open (like an egg, get it??) the history of  Another Broken Egg Cafe , a brunch chain that started in a turn-of-the-century summer home and grew national. We explore how a little restaurant called Broken Egg Cafe became ANOTHER Broken Egg Cafe, how you c...

🌭🍦 Wienerschnitzel Review: A Terrible Pretzel Dog, Froot Loops Ice Cream, and a Delicious Plushie 🍦🌭 This week, David Luong (@daviddluong) returns as we finally eat our way through Wienerschnitzel and put the world's largest hot dog chain to the Chili's Test! From a surprisingly fantastic Chicago-style dog to a pretzel bun that makes me quit pretzel buns forever, we're exploring the highs and...

🌭🏰 Wienerschnitzel: Incorrect German, Taco Bell, and Iconic Chili 🏰🌭 This week, David Luong (@daviddluong) joins me to dig into the history of Wienerschnitzel , America's massive hot dog chain with a name that raises eyebrows. We trace the unlikely connections behind its creation, unpack the improper German that's been there since day one, and investigate how a restaurant named after schnitzel...

🍔🏆 Septemburger 2026: The Semi-Finals & FINALE! 🏆🍔 It all comes down to this! Joyce , Miranda Coker (@miranda_writes114), Sandy Rose , and Seif Rahoumi (@seifrahoumi) return as Septemburger 2026 reaches its conclusion! Four chains remain, two matchups stand between them and the championship, and naturally, everyone is still cutting wrestling promos like these burgers have personally wronged th...

🍔🏆 Fatburger: The No. 1 Seed Takes on McDonald's in Septemburger! 🏆🍔 This week, Miranda Coker (@miranda_writes114) joins me at Fatburger , the No. 1 seed in Septemburger 2026! We dig into the history of this Black-owned burger institution while putting its burger up against McDonald's Big Mac, all before the putting it to the Chili's Test. There's a reason Fatburger earned the top seed, but li...

🍔🏛️ The Oldest McDonald's: Fried Apple Pies, Speedee, and Ray Kroc History 🏛️🍔 We're going back in time! Everyone's favorite recurring guest VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) joins me at the oldest operating McDonald's , the historic Downey, California location that's still rocking the original Speedee mascot, has its own museum, and most importantly, STILL FRIES ITS APPLE PIES. We're also here on off...

👑🍔 Burger King Returns: New History, Three Whoppers, and a Septemburger Showdown 🍔👑 Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!! It's been three years since I last covered Burger King, so Andrew Carter (@andrewcahtah) joins me to find out what's changed since 2023 AND revisit the food as BK enters Septemburger 2026 against BurgerFi. There's just one prob...

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...

🍜🔥 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 tha...

🍜✈️ 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 c...

🍕🧱 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 S...

🍕🏆 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...

🍔🥜 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 shockin...

🍔🥜 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 tha...

🐔🍟 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...

🐔🎣 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...

🍔🥔 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!?). Becau...

🍔🥩 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 promi...

🍝🥖 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'v...

🍝🥖 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 u...

🍔🥔 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...

🍔🔥 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 MOOYA...

🥩🔥 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 "...

🥩🔥 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...

🍖🤖 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 wai...