Restaurants in Sanford

“OMG….. LISTEN, I’M SO GLADLY I STOPPED HERE AND TRY OUT THE FOOD! LITERALLY, MY FIRST TIME HERE AND I’M A SATISFIED CUSTOMER…. THE FOOD AND DESSERT IS EXTREMELY DELICIOUS TO ME!!! I WILL BE STOPPING BY MORE OFTEN, SERIOUSLY. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!!!! TWO THUMBS UP.”

“This place is pretty great! I like mangoes, if you do get mango anything. You're going to like it. It's very clean and also very friendly. Customer service rocks every time. They will see a lot of me this summer!”

“Great family restaurant, cool vibe, general tso chicken is crispy and not greasy (served with an amazing sauce). We will be back”

“OMG!!! I just had the best Baklava, EVER!!! This is my first time trying...and it's definitely not my last! Everyone here (@ my job) can't stop talking about how amazing everything (donuts, muffins, baklava, elephant ears) is since it walked thru our doors. Kudos to you and your staff!!! You are all amazing, special shout out to the young lady that took my order, I believe her name was Penny (sorry, if that's not right). #Customer4Life #SandrasBakery deserves 4 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼..co-worker allowed me to borrow 2 thumbs 😊”

“Great customer service & some of the best brews I’ve had! They have a great variety of beer & outdoor area. I would love to see a few tv’s added to watch games on Saturday & Sundays.”

“Amazing food, great service, and a fun atmosphere. The flavors were bold and authentic, the portions generous, and the staff made the whole experience feel welcoming. Easily one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve tried.”

“My tweens loved it. Good selection and you can get your drink served in tea cups”

“This is the best coffee place in Sanford! It is so good and the staff is super nice! Also the cheapest coffee in town I believe especially for a large! Definitely recommend”

“The ice cream was amazing. The worker that waited on me was not so amazing. He hates his job clearly and has no customer service skills including communication. He was more than rude! The lady that waited on the next customer was awesome! So I would return to give it another go. Hopefully next time someone who likes working there waits on us.”

“Delicious foods. Very Clean Restaurant and the costumer service is awesome.”

“first time eating there today. very clean. staff was very kind and sweet. food was very good. loved the chips and ranch. will definitely be back to try the shrimp tacos.”

“Great food, affordable prices and a friendly staff. It is now one of our favorites.”

“Definitely the best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to, the food is ready in 5 minutes after you order, very affordable.”

“Best ceviche I’ve ever had and delicious shrimp cocktail! Really bright, fresh flavors. The fish tacos are also excellent. Highly recommend!”

“Great atmosphere, amazing people and coffee as strong as you want it to be! I always stop in when I'm going through the area ☕️”

“Very good! Sushi takeout was great!”

“very good!! I love pizza but have gotten weirdly picky about it over the last few years, probably due to my medication dulling my senses. So now I only like a couple places. We decided to try La Montesina tonight because I wanted somewhere I could get thin crust. It was really good! My husband and daughter said it was very good too. My 3 year old actually ate a lot of her chicken tenders. I tried a bite for review purposes, they were good too.”

“It's your typical strip shopping mall Asian restaurant that is big enough to seat maybe 12 customers. Definitely more geared towards take out orders.

What's not typical is the food quality and variety on the menu. I ordered the hibachi steak and shrimp and was very pleased with my decision. Quality cut of meat with a generous amount of various veggies and the white sauce was on point. More than enough to get your fill and maybe even some leftovers depending on how hungry you are at the time. I would recommend you give them a visit but plan on takeout if you're looking for ambiance.

Parking: Shopping mall parking.

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible but small restaurant with close quarters.”

“Atmosphere rated low because who actually likes sitting in at a tiny place with one table. The guy behind the counter tho was super nice and over the phone guy was super nice too. Food was yummy for fast chinese food”

“the service was great, they were SO nice to my kids. a lady named Brenda, wasn’t even our server & went above and beyond for my kids. My oldest wanted to play the claw machine but only had 50¢. she gave him a dollar, wouldn’t even take his change. then he was sad he lost & she came up with a plushie for him, and for my youngest son too. Brenda seriously made our whole night! our server was good & attentive also, the food was good & affordable. but the service was impeccable! they didn’t even act bothered over my son sobbing, we’re just helpful. 10/10 recommend & will be back!”

“Some of the best fried rice I've ever eaten! Chicken broccoli was great.
Egg roll was a little chewy and slightly overcooked. Dough was a little too thick.”

“The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Everything we ordered was so good, and you can really tell care goes into the dishes. The service was just as amazing: friendly, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. Such a great experience overall. We’ll definitely be coming back!”

“So happy to find this restaurant today, service and food is spectacular 👊🏻”

“Overall the food was great! The customer service was very antetative! Lunch time seems to be the time to come here as everything was as expected. I would love to come back again!”

“This is where we stop on the way to our ski trip annually. Kandi and Lizabeth made this trip extra delightful! We had to split our tables since we have grown kids. Every staff member checked on us, food was hot, drinks stayed filled. 10/10 experience! Wonderful experience!”

“Today is the second time we have purchased Happy Meals and when we got them home there was no toy inside. Let’s face it, we’re not buying them for the “haute cuisine “. It’s hard to explain to a pre-schooler why she didn’t get a toy. Should call them unhappy meals. The Spring Lane store needs to take better care of business.”

“got a very dark pink undercooked burger after waiting for 15 minutes to recieve it! 🤢 When I got a chance to finally eat it, I bit in and took a few bites. I didnt realize it was raw until I set it down bc it wasn't hot anymore ( this is not their fault I was working). I'm totally used to eating cold food so it didn't dawn on me to look at the center. I am no nauseated by this and cannot even eat anything. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. raw hamburger should be cooked to at least 165°F to avoid any sicknesses. Ground hamburger touches many exposed surfaces during processing and hence why it has to be well done to kill bacteria.”

“ba ba ba ba I'm loving it”

“Relaxing atmosphere. Multiple seating options (inside and outside). Friendly baristas, knowledgeable, and willing to offer suggestions. Great menu selection”

“Me and my mother dined here yesterday. We don’t live in the area and stopped in for the first time. It was amazing!!! The food was great, service was great, I loved the ambiance. We will definitely be back.”

“All of their food is so fresh and just the best! All of their meat is tender and cooked to perfection even the turkey, you can cut it with a fork. The sides and desserts are amazing too! The staff are awesome too! Ryan, their waitress, will help you with anything on the menu and make sure you have everything you need.”

“This restaurant serves the meal cafeteria style. Pick your options and it's put on the plate by the servers from the hot pans. My first time here, I had a two meat meal with fried chicken wings and a BBQ thigh (pictures attached). Both ways the meat was tender and hot. The wings had the home cooked fried flavor you would expect and the BBQ was nicely favored with the sauce, I didn't taste a smokey grilled flavor though, but the sauce worked well with it. They also had sliced ham, fried shrimp and fish and pulled pork. (I'll try two other meats next trip) The side of fried okra and broccoli with cheese sauce had good flavor and were also served hot. They have many other side choices to try on another visit. The prices are down to earth and there are good portions on the plate or box, if you get a to-go tray. A worthwhile home cooking food option in my opinion. I'll be back with friends.”

“Best food ever! Little pricey but well worth every penny! I highly recommend the roast beef and gravy! Been twice now and my wife and I really enjoyed our visit and food.”

“best service around. great tasting food. great daily specials during the week. a must for anyone in the Sanford area looking for fast fresh great tasting peruvian food.”

“Wife wanted me to try this burger spot. Did not disappoint. I meant to take a picture of my burger but it looked so good I didn't want to wait.
Definitely will be back. Thank you”

“This place is awesome food and service great also! Definitely worth stopping in!”

“I am always happy with this restaurant”

“Best burger I’ve ever had! It”

“My husband and I have been here twice and have enjoyed both of our experiences. This time around we sat at the bar and had Brittney as our server. She was great; very friendly, knowledgeable of the drinks, and attentive. The second bartender (unfortunately we didn't catch her name) was also very friendly and attentive.

Both times we've been here we've had the Italian pasta salad as our side and we've enjoyed it (I do recommend getting it). Portions are generous, wait time isnt bad, and prices are fair.”

“My favorite restaurant in Sanford! Lots of great sandwiches on the menu, but they have some plates and salads too. Good NC beer selection on tap (12 or so) and in containers. I highly recommend the Cuban, cheese steak, and especially the Ahi Tuna Tacos when available on the specials. My only negative is they don't have french fries, but they have many other sides to choose from.”

“Glad Jersey Mike’s returned because it has the best subs.”

“1st time being there was today. It was between lunch and supper. The Waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was delicious and was worth every penny. I’m probably gonna order Take Out Pizza tomorrow.. If you have never tried it. I really urge you to. Thank U4 Reading David Barner”

“Super Friendly staff! Great Subs!”

“The food is amazing ! This is our second time having take out. I’ve had tacos, enchiladas verde, quesadillas , and tortas. I will go each time I come back to NC to visit.”

“Best dive thru authentic Mexican food. I waited for my food maybe 10 minutes after I ordered it and it was worth it, way better than fast food drive throughs. The staff is super friendly. I look forward to going back”

“Best barbque,slaw , hush puppies, fried fish okra, …these are a few of my favorite things. Lots of other good things including banana pudding.”

“We called in a carry out pizza order for pepperoni and double mushrooms. Do you know how hard it is to actually get a pizza where you feel like they put double mushrooms on it? Well Hawkins Grill delivered!! There were plenty of mushrooms so we didn't feel like we were getting short changed and the sauce was very tasty. We liked the crisp, chewiness of the crust as well. We both agreed that next pizza will be from Hawkins Grill to confirm they know pizza! (Wish we would have gotten a photo.) The order was a carry out but from the time we called to the drive to pick up, the service was great and not a long wait at all. We have eaten in before and the atmosphere was easy going and service good. When we ate in, it wasn't super busy but the night we picked up the pizza it was so I'm impressed in their ability to serve as quickly as well a great product when they were so busy. Would recommend and we'll be back! Thank you!!”

“Everything is delicious!!!!”

“I love Libations 139 ❤️ I have good memories”

“best place I've been in around here !!!!”

“Wana Navu Kava Bar is not just a place. . .it is a whole vibe, an experience! The concept is delightful and the atmosphere is top notch. If you have been hesitant to go or just procrastinating a visit -- do so no longer! Definitely go. Again, this isn't just a place. . .it is a growth and knowledge opportunity. Love it!”

“Had the Butterbeer coffee - YUM! Also had the Crock of French Onion soup. It was excellent.”

“Outstanding Service. Great Food.”

“Like another reviewer said this food is blam additive! The quesabirrias is awesome, also ordering quesabirrias on a torta with the Consomme (broth) is amazing. Tortas are not usually my go to but this is so good dipping it in the broth. Don't say I didn't warn you, it will be hard to stay away from this place after you've tried it.”

“It’s great! Everyone that works there is 👍🏾 great! Food is amazing!”

“The fries are just as I remember from 40 years ago. This is the only P.D. Quix left. it was worth the hour drive”

“Been eating at Scoops since I was a kid and hands down Scoops is the best place to get hot dogs and sausage dogs!”

“The food was really good. I ate a pollo con tajadas. The fried chicken wad crunchy and juicy. The tajadas were good. My wife ate the Taquitos. She said that her tacos were very good”

“After 3 years of consistently getting my cookie fix here this place is STILL my favorite spot and never disappoints!”

“This is an awesome place to hang out and bring your dog. Nice people, nice atmosphere.”

“We love everything we have tried.. snickers fudge, frozen bananas, I haven’t tried a flavor of grape we didn’t like and the strawberry crunchy apple is my absolute favorite!!! So yummy!!!”

“this hidden gem is amazing..if yall haven't been there you are truly missing out”

“Had the greatest dinner there this evening. It was absolutely delicious and freshly made. We highly recommend the veal parmigiana and the eggplant parmigiana subs….ah yes, and the cannolis 🤗 We will definitely be back! 🎉”

“Unassuming from the parking lot, this diner is an example of “it’s whats on the inside that counts”. Hands down the best steak and eggs I’ve had, with a plate full of delicious grits and two fluffy biscuits. The staff are warm hearted, salt of the Earth people. Low prices too, remember to tip generously. Will visit again.”

“Family owned and operated for decades. Main staple for DT Sanford area. Food is delicious and the staff is great. We have dined there since I was a young child.”

“My peppermint mocha frappe was fantastic!!! I would suggest everyone to stop here. The staff was very professional and fast. They did an awesome job with my coffee. Thank y'all so much”

“Doesn't look like much from the outside, but seems to be a local favorite. Service was great, food was delicious and prices were so reasonable. Would go back here in a heartbeat!”

“Tried the cafe for lunch today and had the southwest chicken wrap with pasta salad. It was so good! I’d highly recommend them to anyone for a quick lunch!”

“Such a great random find! Wanted to stop for a late lunch date and was so surprised. Mezcal margaritas were amazing and the birria tacos were perfect! Staff and everyone was great”

“We drive from Clayton, NC to Sanford, NC just to eat at San Felipe. The service is always exceptional and everything we order is always delicious.T\nThey even allow me to replace the refried beans in my taco salad with grilled onions since I am not allowed beans. All the wait staff is friendly and quick and knowledgeable. We are elderly, and it is important that they speak English understandably and have patience. We LOVE the courtesy of this staff!”

“I’ve been going to Joe’s on and off since it opened. If you’re nearby you have to stop for the food, especially the pizza. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Ordered pick up. It doesn't even make sense how great this food is!! 10/10!”

“Great pizza! The buffalo chicken was excellent.”

“Your Spicy Southwest chicken salad used to be great in quality and quality. But recently you have shrunk them in size and they don’t fill me up anymore. What are you doing? Will you make them bigger again at some point? I sure hope so.”

“Today is the second time we have purchased Happy Meals and when we got them home there was no toy inside. Let’s face it, we’re not buying them for the “haute cuisine “. It’s hard to explain to a pre-schooler why she didn’t get a toy. Should call them unhappy meals. The Spring Lane store needs to take better care of business.”

“There is a new manager at this location. (She is amazing , kind and very knowledgeable). The store has turned completely around. It’s clean, fill with beautiful decorations. There has been a new staff hired, they are friendly and very fast. They are always full of product. The bread is the best in Sanford. The subs are amazing. I saw a 97 A on their health inspection. This is my to go to store from now on.”

“Jackie is our favorite server! We love to come in and will request her table because everything is always perfect and served with a great attitude.She always makes it a fun experience!”

“best service around. great tasting food. great daily specials during the week. a must for anyone in the Sanford area looking for fast fresh great tasting peruvian food.”

“I am always happy with this restaurant”

“I work here, I don’t know if I am supposed to or allowed to make reviews but after reading some of these reviews, I have tons and tons of questions because I’ve never heard of a large percentage of what they’re saying. Overall, Marcos pizza is a great pizza place with friendly work colleagues and I love seeing customers over and over, really makes me feel at home, doesn’t even feel like work.”

“Food was amazing and the service was on point!!! Definitely recommend. New manager is very personal and ensures your dining experience is first class.”

“This place is pretty great! I like mangoes, if you do get mango anything. You're going to like it. It's very clean and also very friendly. Customer service rocks every time. They will see a lot of me this summer!”

“Like another reviewer said this food is blam additive! The quesabirrias is awesome, also ordering quesabirrias on a torta with the Consomme (broth) is amazing. Tortas are not usually my go to but this is so good dipping it in the broth. Don't say I didn't warn you, it will be hard to stay away from this place after you've tried it.”

“Super Friendly staff! Great Subs!”

“1st time being there was today. It was between lunch and supper. The Waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was delicious and was worth every penny. I’m probably gonna order Take Out Pizza tomorrow.. If you have never tried it. I really urge you to. Thank U4 Reading David Barner”

“We went for Christmas dinner. It was short staffed and wait did not feel long. The waitress was very nice and food was great. Our family will definitely be eating here again”

“Jackie is our favorite server! We love to come in and will request her table because everything is always perfect and served with a great attitude.She always makes it a fun experience!”

“The bar and primarily the bartender Candance is the only reason we come to Applebee's. She is attentive, friendly and makes you feel comfortable whether your a regular or a first timer. If it wasn't for Candance we would drive to Fayetteville or Raleigh, and would no issue doing so.”

“Your Spicy Southwest chicken salad used to be great in quality and quality. But recently you have shrunk them in size and they don’t fill me up anymore. What are you doing? Will you make them bigger again at some point? I sure hope so.”

“Relaxing atmosphere. Multiple seating options (inside and outside). Friendly baristas, knowledgeable, and willing to offer suggestions. Great menu selection”

“Today is the second time we have purchased Happy Meals and when we got them home there was no toy inside. Let’s face it, we’re not buying them for the “haute cuisine “. It’s hard to explain to a pre-schooler why she didn’t get a toy. Should call them unhappy meals. The Spring Lane store needs to take better care of business.”

“got a very dark pink undercooked burger after waiting for 15 minutes to recieve it! 🤢 When I got a chance to finally eat it, I bit in and took a few bites. I didnt realize it was raw until I set it down bc it wasn't hot anymore ( this is not their fault I was working). I'm totally used to eating cold food so it didn't dawn on me to look at the center. I am no nauseated by this and cannot even eat anything. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. raw hamburger should be cooked to at least 165°F to avoid any sicknesses. Ground hamburger touches many exposed surfaces during processing and hence why it has to be well done to kill bacteria.”

“Last Friday, November 7, 2025, our family was driving into New Hill, NC from out of state from Wahsington,DC, Baltimore, Md, Mead, Pennsylvania, and Northern, VA. After several hours of driving, we simply wanted to get our sleeping arrangements together in our AirBnB as we had more family arriving the following day for my nephew's wedding. Tired and road-weary, we elected for DoorDash. I downloaded the app and we decided on the Popeyes location on South Horner Blvd in Sanford, NC. We ordered the 16pc family meal with 8 biscuits and 3 family sized sides.
40 minutes later, our driver showed up to the door with not much more than a lunchbox sized package! I actually had to laugh as the meal was about $60. With tax, tip, and service fees, it came to around $93.
When he showed, he literally had 8 tenders, 4 biscuits, and a small fry! I never had any experience with DoorDash but I was terribly disappointed. My bro-in-law insisted
that we keep the meager food as the driver was already tipped and, if we lost the dispute, at least we would have something. With only enough food for a couple of people, we decided to go out anyway and see what could be done. 30 minutes later we pulled up to the Popeyes as they were closing. The store manager, Angelica, was so sympathetic to our plight. She understood that we had a long drive, that we had seniors with us in their 70s and 80s that couldn't travel anymore for the evening but were hungry and needed to eat. She and the short staffed skeleton crew that she had on hand worked in unison to pull off an absolute MIRACLE! She put together all that she could while still in the process of cleaning for the night and prepping for the next day. By the time she walked our bags out, the store was closed as was the register and she would not accept a single dime. The entire time, she smiled, was professional, and incredibly pleasant. While DoorDash did eventually honor our reimbursement request and returned our money, Angelica and her team acted IMMEDIATELY and turned what was a nightmare of a night into an amazing blessing that restored our faith in Popeyes. Every store should be so lucky to have a manager like Angelica that leaps into action when called instead of shrinking, shirking her responsibility, or passing the buck. That is what true leadership looks like and she is truly a gem.”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Friendly service and great food!”

“ba ba ba ba I'm loving it”

“Shakira S. at the Sanford Location Was Wonderful. Came Thru The drive Thru Late And she had my huge order correct and was such an amazing person! Go See Shakira S. you will not be disappointed!”

“This place is pretty great! I like mangoes, if you do get mango anything. You're going to like it. It's very clean and also very friendly. Customer service rocks every time. They will see a lot of me this summer!”

“I won't be supporting this establishment in the future. 1. IMO The seating policy is too rigid= "All guests must arrive before anyone can be seated." I understand management not wanting to tie tables up, waiting for late arrivals- but there should be some flexibility (all food ordered at once - time limit etc, extra fee etc) We could have lived with that. But... things devolved... 2. We ordered a bottle of wine that was obviously "corked". This happens from time to time in all restaurants that serve wine (hence - the tasting - when the bottle is opened to make sure it is good) When this occurs it is not the fault or a poor representation of the establishment. Sometimes wine goes bad. It's a thing. -What IS a poor reflection of this establishment, however, is the management's unwillingness to admit that pinot noir isn't supposed to fizz and have a slight vinegar flavor. We were told that sometimes wine is fizzy ... ummm NO - it isn't. (unless of course if it's Champagne -Proscecco or Moscato- a wine that is designed to be that way.) We asked for the bottle to be replaced- management initially declined stating they wouldn't be able to serve the rest of it to others because it had started aging? HUH???? A "corked"/ "bad" bottle of wine needs to go back to the supplier or be disposed. Not served to other unsuspecting patrons. The manager explained that we were "mistaken" about the integrity of the wine. He knew this b/c he has numerous years of "mixology experience" and "knows these things" Mixologist perhaps... Sommelier- definitely not. Contrary to management's nasty comment to one of my guest's feedback... We were not unruly, trying to bribe, throwing tantrums etc... we were simply trying to support a local business - celebrate our friend's birthday and have a bottle of wine worth consuming while we waited. 3. I was shocked and appalled after reading the owner/management's response to my friend's feedback. Snide- condescending- accusatory comments Wow! All I can say is - La DV - hope you guys are saving your cash. The " tough guy - my way or the highway" philosophy you currently employ will not serve you as our area grows. People moving to the area that have experienced true quality food, drink and service will not tolerate what you are dishing. Enjoy the rest of your reign... it won't be as long as it has been...”

“Want to definitely shout out an employee by the name of Bryanna, she is absolutely amazing. Made my experience exceptional, is the reason I will be returning back to this location. Her positive attitude, and beautiful smile; as she made sure my order was correct. Really made my day, she is definitely someone you want when it comes to food services. Felt as if it would not be right, if I did not take the time to show my gratitude. By not only letting the company know, but sharing my experience with this amazing young woman. Really hoping she’s able to see this, or they share the following with her.”

“Our cashier was so friendly and made us feel special and packed our to go order right away.she was very pretty and lots of personality our visit was on Wednesday, May 28th 11:15 am”

“The servers are always, customer focused and just plain nice people. Have you ever had the doner? Absolutely delicious! I used to drive down to Army City, but the DONER at the Lakes it’s a closer, better and the portion is larger!”

“Hunt Brothers Pizza is a great pizza for anybody searching for really good tasting food the employees are always very respectful their Pizza is also never undercooked or overcooked it is always just right with a perfect amount of toppings”

“Hunt Brothers Pizza is a great pizza for anybody searching for really good tasting food the employees are always very respectful their Pizza is also never undercooked or overcooked it is always just right with a perfect amount of toppings”

“My family went here after a rough day. My son wasn’t having the best day and was tired from all his medical appointments. We went in and he chose an ice cream and a mix in. I was excited for him because I thought it was going to be the day he tries mixed textures! Well when he sat down he had a meltdown because it was mixed. To an outsider someone could say was acting ungrateful…but the reality is he’s on medication to make him hungry and eat..he has struggled with eating and had feeding tubes the first year he was born (born 1lb 6oz). He was crying about the ice cream and without judgement the kind woman asked if we would like her to remake his ice cream plain. I was embarrassed at first and told her it was okay…but she asked again insisting it was okay and she just wanted him to just enjoy himself. She made him a new scoop plain and he said thank you and was the happiest boy, ate the WHOLE THING! Thank you for the lovely experience and kindness really makes an impact.”

“Truck driver from Jacksonville fl shutting down in north Carolina sending the reviews made me go. I showed up late in the day but the chicken was still hot and fresh. Not a big fan of the biscuit but the chicken was hitting. The cashier had a real cool vibe 💪🏾”

“Stopped by to check out Wingstop as we have always loved to eat at this chain restaurant. Server greeted us at the door and took great care of us. Wings were hot and cooked to perfection. We didn’t have to wait long for our food. Fries were amazing as always! We will definitely be back to this location again!”