La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant - Fayetteville, GA

The Cheese-Smothered Comfort of My Hometown Mexican Chain | Eater

"A regional Mexican-chain diner (about 20 locations across north/central Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama) that acts as a comforting, familiar refuge for celebrations and everyday outings. Opened in Fayetteville in 2001, it specializes in reliably fast, Americanized Mexican staples — think Super Enchiladas (one beef, one cheese smothered in red sauce), fried chicken chimichangas with cheese sauce, massive sizzling steak fajitas that perfume your hair, hot refried beans and rice served on scalding plates, sopaipillas for birthdays, and oversized frozen margaritas and 32-ounce tequila slush goblets. The interior mixes terra-cotta roof tiles, hand-painted plates, and faux-indigenous masks while weekend mariachi and DJs (and parking-lot dancing on Cinco de Mayo) give it a festive, communal vibe. For the author, this combination of consistent food, quick service (meals arriving within about 15 minutes), and celebratory atmosphere made it a sanctuary and an essential part of growing up in that community, even if it isn’t a place for regional Mexican authenticity." - Taylor Henriquez