Ask a Local: The unexpected spot for the best fried pork chop in Fayetteville

Welcome to Ask a Local, a weekly summer series where we get the lowdown on where to go, what to do and what to eat around Cumberland County from the people who know it best. Interested in being interviewed? Fill out the form here.   

In this week’s edition, we interview Lexi Hasapis, 44, a Fayetteville native whose family has owned dozens of area restaurants over the years. She’s a part owner at Country Fish Fry, a Calabash-style fried seafood drive-thru on Fort Bragg Road.

Hasapis has a go-to Fayetteville-area restaurant for nearly every craving — dumplings, pizza, pasta, hushpuppies, tuna salad, burgers and barbecue. Plus, read on to get the scoop on the downtown sports lounge with surprisingly delicious old-school food that she says everybody should try.

Responses have been edited for grammar, style, length and clarity. 

What are some of the restaurants you frequent?

Pizza Palace has a drive-thru, so you don’t even have to put on real clothes. Their spaghetti is always on point, the manicotti is always good. It’s just a casual spot with really good food.

For pizza, I prefer a New York-style thin crust, like Primo Pizza. It used to be on Raeford Road, but when they closed that location, they kept their stand at the mall. It’s my favorite pizza around here by far. Even if I have to park at the mall and walk in and get it.

Fortune Cookie is so clean, you could probably eat off the floor in there. They have really great steamed dumplings, and I could swim in the sauce that you dip them in. The wonton soup and sesame tofu are also amazing. It’s delicious.

Sometimes, you just have a hankering for fried fish. And Country Fish Fry hits the spot. There’s no dining room, you just order at the window. If you’ve never had the hushpuppies, you’re missing out — they're a secret family recipe. It’s delicious, and one day I hope we see it on grocery shelves because everyone needs to eat these hushpuppies.

Southern Coals is very representative of Carolina barbecue and it’s locally owned. They have great barbecue sandwiches and salads that you can top with any kind of barbecue, which I think is really cool. Plus, they serve alcohol.

Where do you go for lunch?

I could eat at Fried Turkey Sandwich Shop any time of day. I get the cucumber wrap and add banana peppers. It has tons of veggies, turkey and ranch.

I thought that Pan might be too hoity-toity for me, but I was sorely mistaken. The food is delicious. I get the Dogwood panini, which has ham, salami, provolone, peppadew relish, red onion and balsamic vinaigrette.

Previously: Meet downtown Fayetteville’s upscale sandwich shop, Pan

If you like tuna salad, you have to try it at Rude Awakening. I don’t know what they’re putting in this salad, but it is delicious and has the perfect amount of pickles. It's a high-class tuna fish salad, sold by the scoop. They also have brown bag lunches with sandwiches, a cookie and chips, so you can get something quick and be on your way. It's one of the few places you can get a simple salami sandwich like you would make at home.

Where do you go for a burger?

Will’s Grill is like the foundation cheeseburger. They have regular buns and pretzel buns, which are delicious. They even have club sandwiches and egg salad made to order. It’s owned by a young guy, and his mom and dad work there, just a really nice family-owned business. I always order the Sycamore Station with extra pickles. Like Robertson’s, it’s all very fresh and cooked to order.

Fayetteville's top burgers: See how readers voted

At R Burger, I always get the Carolina burger, or every once in a blue moon, I’ll try whatever special they have. Recently, I had something with blue cheese and some crispy onions. The other day, I was at their R Kitchen restaurant and they had chocolate chip cookies that were slap-your-mama good. The perfect crispy-to-soft ratio. I’d love for them to make a little ice cream sandwich. I think they have the perfect cookie to do it with. I’m actually about to order a dozen.

Best place for a sit-down meal?

Little Italy is a nice little quaint Fayetteville joint. They have really good pizza, carbonara and great bread for the table. It’s a really quiet atmosphere, so it’s a great place for conversation and a nice little dinner. If I want to go somewhere and get dressed up, I'd go to Circa 1800. Of course, Luigi's has the best steak.

Favorite food truck?

Some Ting’s Cookin’s food is just ridiculously delicious. I’ve had the beef and broccoli, the pad Thai, the spicy pork, the dumplings. Anything I’ve tried has been delicious and the portions are huge. He cooks to order, so it takes a little bit of time, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Super fresh. I will drive out of my way to eat there.

What are the can't-miss dishes in Cumberland County?

If you have not been down to Bruce’s on Thursday night to eat a fried pork chop, you have not eaten in Fayetteville, in my opinion. It’s very lightly breaded with some kind of magic seasoning and served with two pieces of white bread, sometimes with French fries. It’s old school.

Where are the best places to stay?

If you want a bed and breakfast experience, The MacPherson House is there on Haymount Hill, close to all the yummy local food and shopping. It’s great to see a local couple like the owner and her husband reinvesting in the community.

Favorite day trips?

Oak Island, Ocean Isle. Carolina Beach for Britt’s Donut Shop. The doughnuts are delicious, definitely worth sweating while you’re standing in line. It has a nostalgic feel.

Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Best fried pork chop in Fayetteville, NC and other favorite spots