"Fine" Dining

Michael Ornelas
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Domino's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Long John Silver's before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

  1. 1 day ago

    Burger King: Is the Upgraded Whopper Good?

    👑🍔 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 problem: Andrew is very much NOT a Burger King fan. Can the King win him over, or is this tournament matchup already over before it's even started? 📚 Updating the Burger King Story with Everything That's Happened Since 2023, Including Patty the A.I. 👑 Burger King vs. BurgerFi in SEPTEMBURGER 2026! 🍔 Whopper, Texas Double Whopper, & Loaded Jalapeño Whopper 🍟 Fries & Onion Rings Combo Together 👑 We Try the Crown Nuggets 🐔 The Original Chicken Sandwich SUCKS 🥧 Hershey Sundae Pie Ain't It for Andrew 🎂 A Little Girl Behind Andrew DEMANDS His Attention 🥩 Calibration Station: Andrew's Best Restaurant Ever Is a Very Recent Peter Luger Experience 🍎 His Worst? An Applebee's That Proved BBQ Can Be Awful Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!! 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Who deserves to advance in Septemburger 2026: Burger King or BurgerFi? 📢 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: Andrew Carter | IG: @andrewcahtah 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, Morawski4, & Kellie Bowes 👉 NEXT WEEK: I visit the oldest currently-operating McDonald's with VyVy Nguyen! 🍟🏛️ We're digging into this historic location before McDonald's enters Septemburger 2026 against Fatburger the following week. Fill out the Septemburger 2026 Bracket here by 11:59PM PST on September 15th, 2026!!

    Burger King: Is the Upgraded Whopper Good?

  2. 1 day ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Oprah Celebrates 40 Years of The Oprah Winfrey Show from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Today—September 8, 1986—marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Oprah's life and career. Forty years ago today the very first nationally syndicated episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired launching what would become a 25 year cultural phenomenon and pioneering television. In this special anniversary episode Oprah reflects on her extraordinary journey—from her early days as a news anchor in Nashville and Baltimore to her first audition tape and the lessons she learned hosting AM Chicago, the show that brought her to the Windy City. She also reveals the enduring early lessons that shaped her life's purpose and continue to guide her work today as well as how she lives each day in gratitude for what she considers a God-given opportunity. 00:00:00 Oprah on the beginning of The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:04:00 Oprah and Barbara Walters 00:09:00 Oprah’s audition and Dennis Swanson 00:18:30 - Oprah’s journal entry before her first national show 00:20:00 - Oprah's first show 00:30:00 - Oprah’s last show 00:35:50 - Don Johnson’s surprise Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. 2 Sept

    Septemburger 2026 Begins NOW!

    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!!

    Septemburger 2026 Begins NOW!

  4. 26 Aug

    JINYA Ramen Bar: I'm Obsessed!

    🍜🔥 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: I'm Obsessed!

  5. 19 Aug

    Jinya Ramen History with "Obsession" Crew

    🍜✈️ 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! 🍜🌶️

    Jinya Ramen History with "Obsession" Crew

  6. 12 Aug

    We Ate ALL the Pizzas at Slice House

    🍕🧱 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! 🍜

    We Ate ALL the Pizzas at Slice House

  7. 5 Aug

    Slice House: The Pizza World Champion, Pizza Acrobatics, and a Riot in Italy

    🍕🏆 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. 🍕🏆

    Slice House: The Pizza World Champion, Pizza Acrobatics, and a Riot in Italy

  8. 29 July

    Five Guys: Avoid Their Bacon, But Seek Out the Cajun Fries

    🍔🥜 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: Avoid Their Bacon, But Seek Out the Cajun Fries
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About

Comedian Michael Ornelas dives deep into the stories behind your favorite chain restaurants like Domino's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Long John Silver's before determining if they are better or worse than Chili's: the most mediocre restaurant in America.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Ornelas
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    189
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    "Fine" Dining