Taking a bite of a mozzarella cheese stick always brings that rich, creamy cheese flavor to the forefront. Especially the crispy breadcrumb coating, followed by the warm, thick cheese pulling apart. Having worked in the food industry for years, both cooking and tasting, this classic appetizer is one I truly adore.
Mozzarella cheese sticks are featured on the menus of many chain restaurants. I decided to take on an interesting challenge: trying eight different varieties of cheese sticks. I wanted to see how they compared. I evaluated each one, considering both taste and price. Ultimately, I compiled a ranking, from the least impressive to the best.
1. **Red Robin Cheesy Mozzarella Twists**: I have to say that I really like Red Robin, so I often eat there. Most of the food they serve is delicious to me, but these mozzarella twists were a disappointment. However, they weren’t completely terrible. If someone put them in front of me, I would definitely eat them. But I would never order them again.
Visually, they resemble propellers. They also lack a distinct aroma, though there may be a faint hint of cheese. I believe the primary issue is that they are overall quite bland. The breadcrumbs are light and crispy but seem to lack seasoning. The cheese inside is equally bland.
2. **Buffalo Wild Wings Mozzarella Sticks**: I don’t actually go to Buffalo Wild Wings very often, and even trying their mozzarella sticks didn’t change that. What disappointed me was that when I bit into them, I often encountered gaps. I found that there was only a thin layer of cheese around the edges, which wasn’t ideal.
They also don’t smell great, more like the smell of a deep fryer. It’s hard to say whether this particular location needs to change the oil, or maybe that’s just the taste of the breadcrumbs after cooking. I’m not entirely sure, but it’s not a pleasant smell. At $9.49, the portion size seems too small, which further exacerbates my disappointment with the overall experience.
Despite the unpleasant odor and lack of cheese inside, I should mention that the breadcrumbs do have a bit of seasoning. This adds flavor and somewhat offsets the drawbacks. However, given the lack of cheese and the odor issue, I won’t be eating them again.
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Binding: Product Group: Grocery
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3. **Applebee’s Mozzarella Sticks**: Applebee’s is definitely an iconic chain restaurant. They are undergoing many exciting changes, such as opening an IHOP restaurant next door. So I finally had the chance to try their mozzarella sticks, and I was very excited.
They have a beautiful golden-brown color and the standard strip shape, which looks great. However, they have no noticeable aroma at all—I can’t detect any scent. The best part, without a doubt, is the generous amount of cheese. There’s a lot of it, and it’s very generous. But at $9.79, I simply can’t bring myself to order them again or recommend them to others, even if they have a high cheese content.
4. **Red Lobster Mozzarella Cheesesticks**: I rarely go to Red Lobster, so I was surprised to see mozzarella sticks on their menu. They are priced at $10.49 per plate. When I opened the lid, I was greeted by a rich aroma. It was a unique blend of rich dairy flavor and heavy starchiness. I believe this is the best-smelling cheese stick on this list.
There is indeed a lot of cheese inside, similar to the cheese sticks in apple pizza. Unfortunately, the flavor of this cheese stick is quite bland, with no distinct taste standing out. Additionally, the seasoning on the breadcrumbs is almost nonexistent, which is disappointing.
5. **Texas Roadhouse Twisted Mozzarella**: In my previous ranking, Texas Roadhouse’s appetizers came in second place, as you know! However, when compared to other chain restaurants’ stick-shaped products, they did not rank among the top. In terms of overall quality, some chain restaurants still outperform others in traditional stick-shaped products.
Their breading is relatively thin. However, the cheese inside is thick and always creamy, which is definitely a plus. The breading is also well-seasoned, with a hint of Italian herbs. Lower-ranked options lack this flavor.
I would definitely buy these again. But at $7.99, the portion size feels a bit small. They’re good, but not impressive enough to rank higher on today’s list.
6. **Chili’s Fried Mozzarella**: Unlike the long, thin strips served at other restaurants, Chili’s fried mozzarella cheese comes in thick, rectangular slices. They have a beautiful deep golden brown color and look crispy and delicious, very tempting. The surface is sprinkled with seasoning particles, and the aroma is irresistible.
The outer layer of breadcrumbs is crispy and delicate, with seasoning that is just right. It pairs well with the rich cheese inside. My only real issue with Chili’s is that the cheese isn’t fully melted. The edges of the cheese are sticky, but the center remains slightly firm.
Despite this minor issue, the flavor and crispy crust are indeed excellent. I would purchase it again and confidently recommend it to others. However, at $14.69, it is more expensive than many of the products listed here. Nevertheless, I believe the portion size and quality make it worth the price.
7. **Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella**: When it comes to chain restaurants serving Italian cheese, Olive Garden is the first one that comes to mind. Like Chili’s, they also offer rectangular cheese fritters. Although their fritters are smaller, they have a more refined texture than Chili’s larger ones.
Visually, the color is lighter than ideal, and I can clearly see herbs and Parmesan cheese on top. Despite the lighter color, the breadcrumbs are heavily seasoned and taste great. Inside, the cheese is soft and creamy, melting perfectly. I highly recommend this dish to cheese lovers—it’s definitely worth trying. At $8.99, I think it’s a great value, and I would definitely purchase it again.
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