We tried Patrick Mahomes’ cheat meal in college. It was ‘legendary’
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As our Red Kingdom Road Trip to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas made its stop in Lubbock, Texas, home of Texas Tech University where Patrick Mahomes played college ball, we wondered: What was Mahomes’ favorite place to eat when he was in school?
Sure enough, Mahomes told ESPN what his favorite local restaurant was back in 2016: Spanky’s, a beloved hole-in-the-wall where everything’s fried, including his favorite order, their famous fried cheese.
Or as the Kansas City Chiefs’ star QB put it, their “legendary” fried cheese, which comes 6 for $10.50.
“The fried cheese has always been one of our staples,” owner Lisa West said. “And it’s exactly the same” as it was when the restaurant opened 42 years ago, right across the street from Texas Tech’s main campus.
“We’ve grown a lot through the years because we are such a Lubbock landmark. We’ve had lots of followers from across different generations come, even grandchildren now.”
Mahomes told ESPN then that he couldn’t eat fried foods often, but when he did, it was always Spanky’s.
The staff came to recognize him, too, West said. She said he liked to sit upstairs next to the window and look out at Texas Tech’s football stadium while he ate. When Mahomes mentioned the restaurant as his favorite, West said their love of the former Red Raider only grew stronger.
“We were honored to be thought of, and we already loved him, but that made us love him even more,” West said. “We wish him good luck in the Super Bowl. We’re always rooting for him.”
So what did we think?
Alison: 8/10
I don’t know what I was expecting when I learned Mahomes’ favorite college snack was fried cheese. Cheese balls? Cubes, maybe? So, when we got this basket of ginormous cheese sticks on our table, I was excited. The breading is much thicker, more crumbly than your average mozzarella stick, and, dipped in ranch, these made for a great pre-dinner snack.
Irvin: 8.5/10
If I was still in college, I could see this spot being a constant temptation for my late-night cravings. I mean, their famous fried cheese is essentially super-sized mozzarella sticks! What’s not to like? If I ever find myself back in Lubbock, I’m definitely coming back.
Emily: 9/10
My experience at Spanky’s was delightful. The restaurant exuded a cute and cozy atmosphere, giving off strong college student vibes reminiscent of my days at San Francisco State University. It reminded me of the mom-and-pop spot, Underdogs Tres, in San Francisco. The famous fried cheese was HUGE and incredibly crunchy. I couldn’t help but wonder where they found such gigantic mozzarella! The cheese stayed perfectly intact, offering a delightful stretchy goodness. Personally, I enjoyed it even more with the ranch dressing.
This story was originally published February 7, 2024 at 9:19 AM.