Restaurants in Sanford

“The absolute BEST all around food and customer service! Love this place!!”

“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”

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

“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.”

“Absolutely amazing menu! What a hidden gem!”

“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”

“This is my favorite Mexican place in the state of NC. Everytime I come the food is delicious and the drinks are amazing. They are super consistent. I tell everyone about this place. Absolutely wonderful customer service. They take care of their customers treat them like family.”

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

“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.”

“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 😊”

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

“Amazing food! Everything!”

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

“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.”

“An honestly good Chinese take out joint. Lunch special with pork fried rice is about $8. A steal in my opinion. The food is delicious and quick. Glad I decided to try this place.”

“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!”

“I eat Chinese food in areas all over NC and South Carolina.
This was the BEST General Tso's chicken I have had in years.
Very old school place.”

“I was driving by and just popped in for dinner on a whim. Never thought it’d be this good—hibachi steak and chicken are both so tender, and the shrimp are massive!”

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

“The food was very good! Not a huge selection but what they did have was fresh and well done. Pepper chicken was my favorite.

But the cleanliness and service was above and beyond. They were attentive and constantly cleaning. We never had an empty cup and everyone, including my 4 yr old was happy.”

“Gooooood

Parking: Took forever to get a parking spot

Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly give me my cousin a Waffle House hat

Wheelchair accessibility: They have it where disabled can get around and Abel people can get a ground around”

“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.”

“I’m a coffee lover and this is my far the best coffee house I’ve ever been to. Specialty coffee and drinks are just unbelievably good, staff knows you by name and gets your “usual” espresso started when they see you walking in! It is truly a family. God bless you Family Grounds!”

“One of our favorite places to visit and have breakfast., lunch, dinners and especially their ice-cream and banana split.
Very family friendly with a great atmosphere with great servers and service.
Don and Elaine Snow”

“The food selection was good. It was more home style cooking, but some of it lacked seasoning/flavor. The chicken dumplings looked like no effort was made. The broccoli wasn’t impressive, neither was macaroni and cheese. However, the hush puppies were good and the fresh fries.

The shrimp and fried chicken was delicious, I must add. Their desserts tasted well also. Some foods you can tell were dedicated, and some neglected.

My server was ok, we needed refills, to go boxes and straws, so she forgot it all. This place is what it is, for the retirement age.

They do not offer military discount.”

“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”

“My wife and I have been customers for a couple of years. We have been here during their best times, and not so best. The staff has always been outstanding in every way. The food has always been good to very good. Some of the specials they offer are just incredible. I am limited in my beer choices, because I prefer darker beers, brown ales. Even with that, I've always found something I enjoyed.
I absolutely love watching how the families with smaller kids seem to enjoy it here. It's simply a great brewery, friendly people, staff is attentive and fun.”

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

“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”

“Our Family took our Dad to Davidson's Steakhouse in Sanford, NC today for his birthday. Our waitress Francis made our whole experience EXCEPTIONAL!!! The food was great, the atmosphere was great but all of that would have meant nothing if we would have had bad service. This lady took care of us like we were her only customers which was not the case because she was very busy! She was actually running at times to attend to customers quickly. I work in customer service and I would give anything to be as friendly and efficient as Francis. She is an inspiration!!! If you are in Sanford stop in and make sure you ask for her. I promise you won't regret it!!!”

“I am always happy with this restaurant”

“Best burger I’ve ever had! It”

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

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

“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”

“Great atmosphere and awesome staff. Usually really good food… Got some ribs the other day that you couldn’t cut with a knife. Didn’t taste bad but definitely not “fall off the bone”. Other than that exception, always a great experience!”

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

“Comida tradicionalmente mexicana echa como en casa para consentir ami estros clientes”

“LOVE this small resturant! Good food and service. Mike and his cooks know how to cook. I've noticed they do a lot of call ins and take outs. Parking can be limited, but you always seem to get a spot. Be careful pulling out, cars are moving fast on Hawkins Ave. Limited seating. 1 large group table other seating is for 4. I'd be surprised if you don't see some one you know eating there.”

“Libations is one of our favorite meals every week! Dinner specials are always yummy, and brunch is simply the best around!”

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

“Outstanding Service. Great Food.”

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

“Love joes! Come here weekly!”

“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.”

“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!”

“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”

“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”

“The man was really nice. I had no idea what I was ordering and I just handed him. My phone and he read the text message and got the order perfect. It's nice to have people in the world like that still...”

“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.”

“🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A hidden gem for the sweetest cravings in Sanford!

From the moment I walked into The Sweet Shop, I knew I had discovered something special. This clean, bright spot serves up a dazzling assortment of gourmet treats—from candy grapes and marble slab fudge to chocolate‑covered pineapple and caramel apples—that are just bursting with flavor and creativity.

Every item tastes crafted with care: the candy grapes are an explosion of taste, and the caramel apples are huge and perfectly balanced between sweet and tart. The staff is friendly and attentive, making you feel welcome from the moment you step inside.

Special mention: This place is consistently clean and beautifully arranged—just the right vibe for treating yourself or picking up a special gift.”

“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! 🎉”

“I absolutely love going here!! They treat you like family. The owners are wonderful and knowledgeable, I always get my Aries tea with fake blue. They knew exactly what I was talking about and it is always consistant with the taste. I have been other places where they started out great and with time the taste went downhill. Also, if you haven't tried the muffins you are missing out. They are homemade and yummy!! I've tried every one so far. These people really care about what they are doing.”

“Super Friendly staff! Great Subs!”

“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.”

“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!”

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

“Everything is delicious!!!!”

“Everytime I’m here the workers are nice. BUT MILAH WAS THE BEST! She was super nice at the speaker and drive thru and she told us her recommendations and she really made our day! She definitely needs more attention!!”

“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”

“Great pizza! The buffalo chicken was excellent.”

“Great store! The staff are friendly and helpful, and the product selection is outstanding. If you're looking to cut some household costs with products as good as chain grocery stores, I would definitely recommend you take a look.”

“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”

“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.”

“Celebrated our anniversary. We ate and early dinner. The salad bar is always great. My husband and I ate the New Orleans Seafood with rice and zucchini. The temperature of the food was just right.

Wheelchair accessibility: My husband is in wheelchair. Very easy access.”

“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.”

“I’m a coffee lover and this is my far the best coffee house I’ve ever been to. Specialty coffee and drinks are just unbelievably good, staff knows you by name and gets your “usual” espresso started when they see you walking in! It is truly a family. God bless you Family Grounds!”

“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.”

“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.”

“ba ba ba ba I'm loving it”

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

“A favorite spot for a good, quick breakfast. Good coffee and I enjoy the Sausage Egg and Swiss Croissant. An absolutely lovely staff as well. Wish I knew some of the names to give em' shout-outs!”

“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...”

“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 really really wish y'all would be more careful making the BBQ sandwiches. Almost Everytime I order it's a soggy wet mess by the time I get home and go to eat (10 mins later). Not sure if it's the slaw causing this or not but gonna start ordering without and see. Besides that it's always ON POINT so it's a shame really. Ive had to throw the bun away and just eat the BBQ way too many times.”

“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!”