Your Guide to Casual Dining
The Best Chain Restaurants in Tallahassee, Florida
Two years ago, I created a top five ranking of chain restaurants. Since then, I have been introduced to other fast-food establishments and have come to realize that this city offers many more fresh, flavorful options for those wanting a quick bite to eat. This new list, in alphabetical order, is the only one you need to navigate the fast-food scene in Tallahassee, Florida.
Blaze Pizza
I tried Blaze Pizza for the first time my freshman year on Maclay’s DECA state trip and fell in love with their fresh build-your-own thin crust pizzas as well as the salads. Fun fact: star basketball forward LeBron James is a partial owner of the chain!
CAVA
This restaurant offers healthy build-your-own Mediterranean bowls, and they have two locations in Tallahassee. CAVA’s flavorful spreads and dressings, refreshing drinks and crunchy pita chips particularly stand out. I usually order the kids meal because it comes with many different items.
Dick Mondell's Burgers and Fries
I recently tried Dick Mondell’s, and it is now my go-to burger spot in Tallahassee. I get their junior burger (one patty instead of two), large sweet potato tots and Dick’s sauce. They also have milkshakes, which I haven’t tried yet but are rated highly online.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
I am not a huge fan of sandwiches, but Jersey Mike’s is my favorite place to go if I want a sub. The last time I went to Jersey Mike’s was to claim a free sub from a Maclay merit, and I enjoyed their buffalo chicken cheese steak. Their meats and cheese are sliced fresh right in front of the customer.
Panda Express
Panda Express is undeniably the best fast-food Asian spot. I usually order a plate, with half white rice and half chow mein for my side, orange chicken (my favorite item) and beef and broccoli.
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
When I lived in California, I saw Raising Cane’s hyped up online, so I was excited to find out that Tallahassee had a location after moving here. I enjoy Raising Cane’s 3 Finger Combo, which comes with three chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, fresh lemonade and their famous Cane’s sauce.
Smoothie King
I switched from Tropical Smoothie to Smoothie King after discovering it on a trip with my family. Smoothie King’s smoothies are better and are healthier because they don’t add turbinado (cane sugar) to their drinks. They also offer protein chicken bites and flatbreads.
Surcheros Fresh Mex
I recently tried Surcheros Fresh Mex after being a die-hard Chipotle fan (ranked #1 on my previous top 5 list), and I found it to be better than Chipotle. The ingredients were better, they had a lot more options and the food was better value (free chips and guacamole). I typically get a bowl with either marinated grilled chicken or ground beef.
Taco Bell
I have always enjoyed going to Taco Bell because of the variety; the menu is frequently rotated with new products. My favorite items are their nacho fries, chalupas, Mexican pizza and Doritos locos tacos, but I order whatever their newest value box is.
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