What Does Andy Reid Like to Eat? A Deep Dive into the Coach's Cravings

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2025 report by The Athletic, Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt revealed that Andy Reid 'loves food' and particularly enjoys cheeseburgers, steaks, and seafood. The legendary head coach has built a reputation not just for his play-calling prowess, but for his well-documented and consistent affection for good, hearty meals, especially cheeseburgers.

Quick Summary

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has a famous and long-standing affinity for food, with cheeseburgers being his well-known favorite. He also loves Kansas City's renowned barbecue, steaks, and certain desserts like seven-cheese macaroni and cheese, frequenting local eateries and incorporating food into his coaching style.

Key Points

Cheeseburgers are his favorite food: Andy Reid has a decades-long, publicly documented love affair with cheeseburgers, celebrating wins with them and even using them as motivation for players.
He's a Kansas City barbecue connoisseur: Since joining the Chiefs, Reid has become a fan of the local barbecue scene, regularly enjoying spots like Q39 and Joe's Kansas City.
His ideal burger is meticulously constructed: Reid has specified his preference for a medium-cooked patty, fresh bun, and precise toppings including Vidalia onion, mayo, and ketchup, but only a small amount of mustard.
Steaks and seafood are also on the menu: Beyond burgers, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt confirmed Reid enjoys steaks and seafood, and an infamous story recounts him eating three steaks during a job interview.
Food is a part of his coaching culture: He famously compares aspects of football to food and is known for sharing meals with his players and staff, reinforcing team camaraderie.
He enjoys local KC eateries: Reid has been seen and spoken about dining at Kansas City institutions like Town Topic and Pizza 51, further embedding himself in the local culture.

Andy Reid's Undisputed Food Favorite: The Cheeseburger

For decades, Andy Reid's love for cheeseburgers has been a running theme throughout his NFL coaching career. He has frequently mentioned his craving for a good burger after a big win and even uses them as motivation for his players. His passion for the classic comfort food is so strong that one columnist in Philadelphia nicknamed him "The Big Cheeseburger" during his time with the Eagles.

The Anatomy of an Andy Reid Cheeseburger

In a 2020 radio interview with 610 SportsKC, Reid outlined his perfect cheeseburger. It is not a simple affair, but a meticulous and perfectly executed masterpiece:

The Bun: Must be a good, fresh bun.
The Patty: Fresh meat, cooked medium.
Toppings: A good, fresh Vidalia onion, pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
Condiments: Mayo, ketchup, and a little squirt of mustard—but not too much.

Exploring Kansas City's Culinary Scene

After his arrival in Kansas City, Reid quickly embraced the local food scene, particularly the city's famous barbecue. He has spoken highly of several local establishments, solidifying his role as a food icon in his new city.

Local Favorites and Restaurant Visits

Town Topic: Reid frequents this classic Kansas City 24/7 diner for a classic cheeseburger and a black-and-white milkshake.
Pigwich: He took Guy Fieri to this River Market sandwich shop during a 2019 episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Q39: After winning Super Bowl LIV, Reid celebrated with barbecue from Q39, where the "Andy Reid special" features burnt ends, onion straws, and mac and cheese.
Pizza 51: Following his Super Bowl LVII victory, he celebrated with a mushroom-and-sausage pizza from this spot.

Beyond Burgers: Steaks and Seafood

While his cheeseburger habit is legendary, Reid's tastes extend beyond the iconic burger. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt confirms Reid enjoys a variety of other foods, including steaks and seafood. A notable story from 1999 describes Reid impressing Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie by eating three different types of steaks—rib-eye, New York strip, and filet mignon—before accepting the head coaching job. This cemented his reputation for a voracious appetite and a love for high-quality food.

A Comparison of Andy Reid's Favorite Foods


Meal Type	Notable Example	How He Enjoys It	Associated Story/Anecdote
Cheeseburger	Town Topic Diner	Cooked medium, fresh bun, with specific toppings (no excess mustard).	Offers cheeseburgers to players as motivation, celebrated Super Bowl win with one.
Steak	Rib-eye, New York Strip, Filet Mignon	Prepared to his liking at steakhouses like Stock Hill.	Impressed Eagles owner by eating three steaks in one meal during a 1999 interview.
Barbecue	Q39, Gates, Arthur Bryant's	Devours platters of burnt ends, ribs, and mac and cheese.	Enjoyed Q39 barbecue after Super Bowl LIV win; Gates often caters for visiting teams.
Pizza	Mushroom-and-Sausage	From Pizza 51 after a Super Bowl victory.	A celebratory meal after winning Super Bowl LVII.
Mac and Cheese	Seven-Cheese Version	Made with seven different types of cheeses.	Reportedly requested a seven-cheese version after a reporter recalled an older story about a five-cheese variant.
Dessert	Banana Pudding	Maria Spagnuolo's famous version.	Chiefs staff and Reid enjoy homemade banana pudding from defensive coordinator's wife.

Andy Reid's Philosophy on Food and Football

Reid's appreciation for food often bleeds into his football philosophies. He has used food analogies to describe his feelings about the game, such as comparing a successful play to a "good cheeseburger" and a frustrating performance to a "moldy cheeseburger". The coach's genuine enthusiasm for a good meal makes him relatable and a favorite among players and fans alike.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Game Plan

Andy Reid's love of food, particularly his famous affinity for cheeseburgers, has become an integral part of his public persona. From motivating his players with pre-game cheeseburgers to celebrating championship victories with local KC favorites, his eating habits are as legendary as his coaching achievements. While he loves a simple, perfectly-made cheeseburger, his appreciation for high-end steaks, local barbecue, pizza, and unique desserts demonstrates a wide-ranging and joyful appetite for culinary delights. This passion for food provides a glimpse into the man behind the championship-winning game plans, showing a relatable and genuine human side.

For more insight into Andy Reid's on-the-field success, explore a profile on his coaching journey and history at The Athletic.

Lists of Andy Reid's Favorite Foods

Cheeseburgers

Town Topic burgers
Five Guys and In-N-Out Burger
His own expertly-crafted version with specific toppings

Barbecue

Q39
Fiorella's Jack Stack
Joe's Kansas City
LC's
Arthur Bryant's
Gates

Steak and Seafood

Steak (especially rib-eye, New York strip, and filet mignon)
Seafood
Eddie V's
The Capital Grille
Stock Hill

Other Meals and Desserts

Seven-cheese macaroni and cheese
Mushroom-and-sausage pizza
Chili rellenos
Sweet and sour pork
Banana pudding (from Maria Spagnuolo)
Black-and-white milkshake (vanilla with chocolate syrup)

Frequently Asked Questions

Andy Reid's all-time favorite food is the cheeseburger. He has consistently expressed his love for the classic meal throughout his coaching career and celebrates many of his team's victories with one.

Yes, Andy Reid is a big fan of Kansas City barbecue. He has often been quoted praising local establishments and has celebrated victories with meals from popular spots like Q39.

Reid likes his cheeseburger with a fresh bun, a medium-cooked fresh meat patty, Vidalia onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and ketchup. He prefers only a little squirt of mustard, stating that too much is a bad thing.

Andy Reid has been known to frequent local Kansas City establishments such as Town Topic, Pigwich, Q39, and Pizza 51. For steaks, he enjoys higher-end places like Eddie V's and Capital Grille.

Yes. He has a long history of using food as motivation, famously telling his teams in Philadelphia that he would buy them cheeseburgers after a win. He has also compared good plays to delicious cheeseburgers and bad plays to moldy ones.

Reid has a fondness for desserts, including a reported seven-cheese mac and cheese recipe. He also enjoys banana pudding, particularly a homemade version made by his defensive coordinator's wife.

According to a story from a New York Times profile, Andy Reid was offered his head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999 after impressing team owner Jeffrey Lurie by eating three different steaks during dinner.

While Reid has been known to enjoy hearty, comforting meals, reports from his coaching staff and owner suggest he has a wide-ranging palate that includes healthier options like salads. However, he once famously said, "No one wants to see a kale wrap the night before a stressful game".