Dennis Lee - The Takeout

With Us Since

2020

Location

Chicago, Illinois

School

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Expertise

Food and Product Reviews, Cooking and Recipe Development, Restaurant Cooking

Dennis has written for Bon Appétit (print cover story), Serious Eats, Thrillist, and more.
He is a former professional pizzamaker.
He broke the news that the Choco Taco was being discontinued.

Experience

Dennis is a Chicago-based food writer with over 15 years of experience covering everything from local, independently-owned restaurants to reviewing items released by massive fast-food chains. His writing appears in publications such as Bon Appétit, Serious Eats and publications local to Chicago. He's also a former pizzamaker at Paulie Gee's Logan Square, and he now cooks to raise money for various local charities. And if there's one thing he truly believes in, it's that food and cooking should be fun and accessible to all — seriously, play with your food, and laugh at your mistakes, it's okay!

Education

Dennis has a creative writing degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The Takeout Editorial Policies

The Takeout’s industry-leading editorial coverage is the result of collaboration between writers and editors with a wide array of experience and expertise in the world of food and drink. Every article is fact-checked by our team of editors to ensure accuracy. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.

Our mission is to both inform and entertain our readers, telling them everything they want to know (and more) about food. We strive to always provide a well-rounded reading experience, bringing both the biggest food news of the day and a break from the news. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Dennis Lee

The Best Taco Bell Breakfast Item, Hands Down

Taco Bell may not be the first fast food joint you think of when you need a quick morning meal, but maybe it should be. Here's our favorite item.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Wendy's CEO Just Admitted What Customers Have Been Saying This Entire Time: 'I Knew It!'

In a move you don't see often, the CEO of Wendy's has come out and admitted something which customers have been saying for a while now. What does it mean?
By Dennis Lee Read More
Burger King's New Chicken Nugget Makeover Took A Page (Or Two) From McDonald's

Burger King is totally changing its chicken nuggets, but the new item looks a lot like an old favorite from its fiercest competitor, McDonald's.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Not Donatos, Not Jet's: This Lesser-Known Pizza Chain Takes The Best In The US Crown

A recent reader's choice awards took a look at American pizza chains and this lesser-known chain took the crown so keep your eye out for a location near you.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Actual Type Of Eggs McDonald's Uses In 2026

You might not have noticed, but McDonald's eggs are a little different today than back then. That's because the type of eggs Mickey D's cooks with has changed.
By Dennis Lee Read More
5 Restaurant Chains That Are Surprisingly Still Family-Run In 2026

The restaurant industry seems like it's made up of huge conglomerates, but these five restaurant chains have managed to keep things in the family.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Trader Joe's Discontinued This Popular Dupe, And Fans Are Losing It: 'I Just Fell To My Knees'

Trader Joe's has a number of excellent dupe products riffing on popular brand-name items, but this one just got discontinued and fans are grieving.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Pillsbury Dropped New Bakery-Inspired Treats That Might Just Rival Your Favorite Cafe

Pillsbury has launched new bakery-inspired treats which have us eyeing the freezer section. Living lavish at home has never been quite so easy.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Ready-To-Eat Meal Brand Costco Shoppers Suggest Skipping: 'Simply Not Worth The Money'

They can't all be perfect: Some of Costco's prepared meals leave a lot to be desired with customers. That includes a new brand that's paleo and keto-friendly.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Order This Burger King Side For A Breakfast-Inspired Whopper

Forget your go-to order at Burger King; it's time that you try a Whopper with a touch of breakfast inspiration from this BK side, making mornings better.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Culver's ButterBurgers Get All The Glory, But This Sandwich Is A Sleeper Hit For Real Fans

Culver's is known for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard, but there is more to love on the menu -- like this meaty, cheesy, and tangy sandwich.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Trader Joe's Shoppers Rejoice Over The Return Of This Fall Bakery Favorite — 'Bought IMMEDIATELY'

Trader Joe's is getting ahead of the pack with the return of this fall bakery favorite which has many customers running to the bakery section to grab a box.
By Dennis Lee Read More
$Table top full of Tex-Mex dishes.$

This Olive Garden Sister Restaurant Has Been Serving Up Tex-Mex Since 1982

Olive Garden is only one of several restaurant brands owned by its parent company, and this sister restaurant is a good old Tex-Mex crowd-pleaser.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Cheap Pizza Chain That's Still Pretty Good, Despite The Hate

People feel strongly about their pizza chain of choice, but this affordable chain gets more hate than it really deserves considering how tasty it is.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Pillsbury Dough Products That Are Totally Safe To Eat Raw

We definitely won't stop you from eating cookie dough raw, as long as it's one of these Pillsbury product that's safe to eat right from the package.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Salmonella Alert: Don't Eat The Guac Or Salsa You Bought From This Grocery Chain

Due to yet another significant food recall in recent months you should double check any salsa or guacamole in your fridge for risk of a salmonella outbreak.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Arby's Is Bringing This Divisive Bite-Sized Meat Back To The Menu: 'They Are Awful. Awful.'

Arby's has announced it's bringing back a limited-time menu item which customers are divided over. It's getting criticism online, but some people must like it.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Adults Will Be Running To Collect This New McDonald's Happy Meal Toy — 'I Need Them All!'

Happy Meal toys are for kids, right? Not exactly — and especially not the new collab, which features a mash-up of two iconic Japanese pop culture franchises.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Sam's Club's Highest-Rated Chocolate Might Surprise You: Fans Call It 'Creamy And Fresh'

If you're set out to find the best chocolate at Sam's Club, you'll have to check out this highly rated item that can stand toe-to-toe with a big-name brand.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Not Aldi, Not Costco: The Store-Bought Pizza Sauce We Hated Comes From This Grocery Store Brand

Pizza sauce makes pizza nights that much easier, and while we love the convenience, we're not fans of this retail chain pizza sauce. Here's why.
By Dennis Lee Read More
This Cheap Frozen Burrito We Found At The Grocery Store Is Not Worth The Savings

We don't blame you for trying to save a buck at the grocery store, but we suggest you try and pinch pennies elsewhere. This burrito is not worth the savings.
By Dennis Lee Read More
DiGiorno Vs Red Baron: The Frozen Pizza Community On Reddit Says This Is The Best

Frozen pizza fans are so passionate about the topic that there's a whole Reddit thread pitting DiGiorno against Red Baron. Which do they think is the best?
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Big Brand Behind Shake Shack's Beef Hot Dogs

If you didn't know, Shake Shack doesn't just sell burgers and frozen custards. It also sells beef hot dogs, and you likely recognize the brand behind the dogs.
By Dennis Lee Read More
'We Go Through Several Bags A Week' — Customers Love This Walmart Pasta

If you want a new staple for your weekly dinner menu, check out this pasta from Walmart's Bettergoods label. You won't find it with other dry goods, though.
By Dennis Lee Read More
Our Favorite Store-Bought Pizza Sauce Comes From A Brand Famous For Pasta

You are probably familiar with this popular brand's jarred pasta sauces, but you may not have tried the sauces it makes specifically for pizzas.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Way McDonald's CEO Orders His Filet-O-Fish Is Criminally Boring

Although we should be used to how McDonald's CEO is always surprising us with the way he eats Mickey D's, we were taken aback by how he orders his Filet-O-Fish.
By Dennis Lee Read More
The Walmart Brand Ice Cream Flavor We Wouldn't Buy Again

Many pints of Walmart's Bettergoods brand of ice cream surprised us. While some flavors really shined, this one was disappointing despite our high hopes.
By Dennis Lee Read More

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