Golden Corral: The Ribs Were Trash, the Chicken Slapped, and There's a Party Room!
"Fine" Dining
š½ļø This Place Sure Had a Lot of Food Items Score a 1-out-of-10 š« This week, we return to Golden Corral - this time, to eat. Joined by comedian and podcast host Ben Cassil (@bencassil), I finally test the buffet itself, from rock-hard bread to surprisingly okay tacos. We found joy in the strawberry shortcake Fanta ICEE and the sheer chaos of none of the food being accurately labeled. Also, someone talked to their mom on speakerphoneā¦from the toilet. This one had layers. š Ribs That Made Us Regret Everything š Chicken Fried Chicken That (Kinda) Slapped š Bread So Hard You...
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Golden Corral Has Won the Buffet Wars
"Fine" Dining
š„© Golden Corralās 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama šļø This week, we dive into the sprawling buffet empire that is Golden Corral. From hygiene scandals to military youth camps, this chain has been through it all and somehow, itās still opening new locations. Joining me is Ben Cassil, host of Live from the Big Apple, to help unravel the chainās bizarre history, including its long-standing relationship with the troops, a giant brawl over steak, and a game of hide-and-seek with their meat because of an impending health inspection. Plus, Ben pitches a Discworld-themed...
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Trying Jollibee for the First Time
"Fine" Dining
š Better Than Chiliās? We Finally Taste Jollibee š This week, we're putting Jollibee through the Chiliās Test. From sweet pies that taste like vacation to spaghetti that... didnāt, we finally try the food and decide whether this beloved Filipino chain lives up to its reputation. With special guest Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) guiding the way, we get the full experience, even if we have to be Sweaty Little Boys in the process. Itās juicy fried chicken, a peach mango hand pie that has haunted my dreams (in a good way though), and one very loud iPad kid. š Fried Chicken Thatās...
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Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure
"Fine" Dining
š Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure š This week, we dive into the sweet, crunchy, culturally iconic legacy of Jollibee, the Filipino fast food chain with a bee mascot, a cult following, and a spaghetti recipe that would confuse most Americans. But to millions of Filipinos, itās more than just a restaurantāitās home. Joining me is Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) from InterMyth, who grew up with Jollibee and has the love to prove it. From his first spaghetti to a fried chicken hand towel, this episode is deeply personal as he offers a lot of amazing insights into Jollibee's cultural...
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Nathanās Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu
"Fine" Dining
š Nathanās Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu š We went to the original Nathanās Famous in Coney Island to find out: is this historic wiener mecca actually good, or are we just chasing a bump from a bygone era? Comedian Marty Cunnie returns as my hot dog soulmate to break down every last bite ā from snappy glizzies to horrifying frog legs that still haunt my digestive system. We did not eat 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, but our bodies definitely thought we did. š The Coney Island Shandy (Beer + Lemonade = Perfection) š„µ Nathan's Is Serving Boyfriend D***...
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Nathanās Famous: How Joey Chestnut Made a Fake Contest a National Obsession
"Fine" Dining
š Nathanās Famous: The Hot Dog Empire with a Big Secret š This week, we dive mouth-first into the greasy, glorious history of Nathanās Famous, the iconic hot dog brand that gave us Al Caponeās favorite beach snack, a gluttonous holiday tradition, and the most American sporting event of all time: the Nathanās Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. From shady police bribes to feeding royalty to Joey Chestnutās triumphant return after an Impossible controversy, this episode covers over a century of beef, buns, and barfing-for-glory. Joining me is comedian Marty Cunnie (who...
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Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: The Most Consistent Chain Iāve Tried
"Fine" Dining
š Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: Nothing Was Bad?! š We went to Gusās World Famous Fried Chickenāand literally nothing made it into the āNot Goodā category. Nothing! Comedian and improviser Dave Theune (St. Denis Medical, NBC/Peacock) joins me to talk about his first foray into eating dark meat, crispy fried okra, spicy batter, and the kind of service that borders on too attentive (but we loved it). The waiter even coaxed out my Star Wars hot take. Is Gusās better than Chiliās? Thatās the question. But when a fried pickle almost takes me out in the opening minutes,...
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Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: From Humble Shack to National Champ
"Fine" Dining
š Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken (Part 1): Gus's Parents, the Superfan, and Chicken Championships š Before Gusās was world famous, it was just spicy chicken sold out the back of a bar in the segregated South. But that secret recipe grew into a Southern staple, complete with 40+ locations, a chicken-loving superfan turned CEO, and even a rogue rooster who hangs out outside one of their Memphis spots. In this episode, Iām joined by improvisor, actor, and all-around delight Dave Theune (NBCās St. Denis Medical) to go deep on the wild rise of Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken, the...
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"Dunkin' & Donuts" feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
š² Dunkinā & Donuts: The D&D Crossover You Never Knew You Needed š² This week on the "Fine Dining Podcast," we trade the drive-thru for dungeons. After covering a long, bizarre history ā from handled donuts and Fred the Baker to the rise of Munchkins and Dunkaccinos ā itās time for part two: an original Dungeons & Dragons one-shot adventure, played in a world where every NPC runs on Dunkinā. Featuring writer, improviser, and TTRPG icon Amy Vorpahl, this special actual-play episode turns our fast-food trip into a fantasy quest. Expect laughs, intrigue, and a surprising...
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Dunkinā: Donuts with Handles, Munchkin Origins, & the Dunkaccino Meme feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
ā Dunkinā Donuts: Handled Donuts, Munchkin Origins & Al Pacinoās Dunkaccino ā Dunkinā may be a coffee giant now, but its journey started with donuts ā one in particular with a literal handle. In this weekās episode, I break down the entire rise of the chain formerly known as Dunkinā Donuts, from its humble beginnings in Quincy, Massachusetts, to becoming the fast-casual coffee behemoth we know today. Plus, I'm joined by writer and performer Amy Vorpahl to unravel some of the weirdest moments in Dunkinā history ā including public domain mascots, airport nostalgia, and...
info_outlineš¶ļø Chiliās IS the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America (Part 2) š¶ļø
After 100 restaurant reviews, this was it. Chiliās officially earned the perfect 5.00 out of 10, making it the most mediocre restaurant in America ā the ultimate point of comparison for every meal to come. In this episode, Iām joined by returning guest VyVy Nguyen as we review the Encino location in full detail. From booth battles and dry wings to nostalgic chips and a molten dessert that hides its magic in the middle, we break down the exact moment Chiliās became the standard of mid.
š The Sliders That Carried the Triple Dipper
š½ Corn Is Good: A Re-Discovering
š„ Nashville Hot Wings That Were Neither Hot nor Wet
š½ Surprisingly Clean Saturday Night Bathroom
š¶ļø Booths Designed for a Quiet Turf War
š The Most Just-There Fries You've Ever Had
š A Birthday Song False Start for the Ages
RAP MUSIC VIDEO DEBUT toward the end of the episode: "I Want My Baby Back"
š¬ COMMENT BELOW: Is Chiliās your go-to for a safe, middle-of-the-road meal? Or has it slipped into soggy nostalgia?
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āļø Like, Subscribe & Share to spread the gospel of perfect mediocrity.
Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van
š NEXT WEEK: A new chapter begins. The Chiliās Test is born. First up: Papa Johns. š
"I Want My Baby Back"
Written & Performed by Michael Ornelas featuring VyVy Nguyen
Produced by Fresh Kils & Myer Clarity
Mixed & Mastered by Fresh Kils
Video Shot & Edited by Steven Zurita