Growing up, the one restaurant my siblings and I would always suggest when going out to eat had to be the Cheesecake Factory. I would sip on the iconic strawberry lemonade, race to grab the last piece of brown bread (the superior bread) as our from the basket. Once we sat down, my eyes darted down the lengthy menu, making my stomach grumble. It took us forever to decide what we wanted to eat. So, we would always order an assortment of the delectable appetizers to create the most delicious spread across our table. From Buffalo Blasts and Avocado Eggrolls to the Factory Nachos drenched in melted cheese, our mouths would be watering at all the plates steaming in front of us. Now, having done this frequently over the years, I’ve been able to conjure up my own list of go-to appetizers to order for any Cheesecake visit. From spicy and savory to crispy and crunchy, these are the best Cheesecake Factory appetizers options that will have you wanting to go back for more.
1. Factory Nachos
This first appetizer is my absolute go-to anytime I get to the Cheesecake Factory. When you order the Factory Nachos, you get a heaping plate of crispy tortilla chips topped with warm melted cheese, jalapeños, a spicy red chile sauce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. Trust me — the cheese on these nachos is so gooey and rich, it’s my favorite part about this whole dish. Pro tip: add the spicy chicken as a topping for more flavor and even get it as your main course.
2. Crispy Fried Cheese
My mouth is literally watering just thinking about this next appetizer. Growing up, I wasn’t always the biggest fan of cheese, but this Cheesecake Factory delicacy really changed the game for me. This combination of mozzarella and fontina cheeses is fried to perfection with a crispy exterior that voices the perfect crunch with every bite. Do not even get me started with the cheese pull on this! I can’t forget about the marinara sauce on the side that makes for the perfect savory sauce to this rich dish.
3. Fried Mac & Cheese Balls
For all of the mac and cheese lovers out there, this appetizer is perfect for you. Just like the Fried Cheese, these crumb coated balls ooze gooey and creamy mac and cheese that is simply fried food perfection. Topped with shredded parmesan cheese and served over warm marinara sauce, you’ll probably want to order another round of this appetizer immediately after you’ve eaten the first plate (no judgement here).
4. Eggroll Sampler
This next appetizer is perfect if you’re looking to mix and match flavors that are savory, spicy, and fresh. The Eggroll Sampler comes with four specialty eggrolls — Cheeseburger, Tex Mex, and Avocado, and Chicken Taquitos. Of course, they are all delicious, but my favorite part about this appetizer just might be the handful of sauces that come on the side. You get cilantro-cashew sauce, a spicy Tex-mex mayo, a fried sauce, and a Cuban sauce. Make sure you give your eggrolls a generous dunk to make the perfect bite.
5. Avocado Eggrolls
Sorry but the Avocado Egg Rolls deserve their own spot on this list. Maybe it’s because I love guacamole and all things avocado, but I just can’t get enough of these things.They are wrapped in a perfectly crisp wonton and stuffed with a mixture of diced avocado, sun-dried tomato, red onion, and cilantro. Plus, with a side of their own tamarind-cashew dipping sauce, the flavors of sweet and savory will be bursting on your tastebuds.
6. Buffalo Blasts
This appetizer does absolute justice for all things Buffalo chicken. I mean fried cheese, chicken, and buffalo sauce all wrapped up into one, who could try resisting that? Don’t forget to dip it in the extra side of buffalo sauce for just the right kick of flavor. There’s also a heaping cup of blue cheese, if you need to take the heat down a notch.
7. Roadside Sliders
I am such a fan of anything that is remotely close to a burger, and these sliders are served up to perfection every time. Cheesecake’s iconic Roadside Sliders are the best bite-size burgers. They are topped with grilled onions, pickles, and ketchup and served on top of mini brioche buns. These sliders have my heart and always manage to make it to my table when I’m eating at Cheesecake Factory.
8. Pretzel Bites With Cheese Fondue
To be honest, you had me at the words ‘cheese fondue.’ This next appetizer is so simple, but yet it tastes amazing every time. These pretzel bites are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside and pair perfectly with the melty bowl of cheddar cheese. Something about taking a bite into this snack makes me feel like I’m at a movie theater and I absolutely love it.
9. Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes
This last appetizer might be a hot take, but trust me, you’ll love it. The first time I ever had a Cheesecake Factory corn cake, I was so confused as to what was on my plate, but I ate the whole thing. Something about their flavor and crispy exterior just creates the perfect combo. Plus, when you order them as an appetizer, they come topped off with the best combination of sour cream, salsa, cilantro, avocado, and salsa verde. Each bite packs a punch of flavor, and the corn cake makes the best base for it all. Don’t knock it until you try it.