- I went to the MOD Pizza in Bellevue, Washington, to see what the dining experience was like.
- I was impressed by the food's customizability, the ingredients' freshness and quality, and the efficient yet personal assembly-line format.
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I ate at MOD Pizza, America's fastest-growing restaurant chain, and saw why it's miles ahead of the competition
MOD Pizza is America's fastest-growing restaurant chain.
Seattle-based MOD Pizza is the fastest-growing restaurant chain in America in terms of systemwide sales , according to Nation's Restaurant News . It saw 44.7% sales growth in 2018.
Founded in 2008 by wife-and-husband duo Ally and Scott Svenson, MOD Pizza came to life after the couple noticed a need for casual, speedy, and healthy pizza options.
As a teenager, I'd eaten at the location in my hometown's strip mall, way back when MOD was a local Seattle chain. It was exciting because it was the first pizza place I'd been to that served fully customizable personal pizzas.
Since then, MOD has become an international phenomenon, with over 400 locations across the US and the UK. It has also fully embraced a purpose-driven business model , with a focus on hiring for impact and investing in its staff's professional growth.
It had been years since I'd last eaten at a MOD Pizza, so when I went home to Seattle, I decided to stop on in and investigate what was behind its meteoric rise in popularity:
I made my way to the MOD Pizza in Bellevue, which is one of the chains oldest locations.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
To avoid the crowds, I went soon after the restaurant opened for the day.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
But I wasnt even the first customer.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
A board at the door advertised local community events and arts.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The menu emphasized the pizzas customizability.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
You can create your own pizza from scratch, or you can select from pre-designed combinations. Its priced by size, so toppings dont cost extra.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Each MOD location sells local brands of beer.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The dough is prepared by a MOD team member and stored in racks ready for immediate use.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
At the line, a friendly and helpful team member assembled my pizza based on what I asked for.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I chose a red sauce and mozzarella base with pepperoni, spicy chicken sausage, artichokes, mushrooms, and onions.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I had a hard time choosing because I wanted to put everything on my pizza.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Luckily, when I asked for advice, my pizza artist told me she liked to "keep it simple." I tried.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I did ask for all the spices, though: salt and pepper, rosemary, and oregano.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The pan man slid my pizza into the oven.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I also ordered a simple salad with balsamic dressing.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Tragically, I didnt realize until later that my salad, like my pizza, was completely customizable.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
At checkout, I grabbed a No Name Cake and a cup of the Alaskan pale ale that was on tap. I declined to finish my pizza with a drizzle of sauce.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
By the time I was done ordering, the joint had already begun to fill up.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
My order included a custom MOD pizza, garlic strips, an entree-size simple salad, a No Name Cake, and an Alaskan pale ale.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
MOD PIZZA I started with the pizza, which was still hot from the oven.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The crust was thin but crispy, and the toppings were generous.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Read more: I ate the same meal at both Texas Roadhouse and Outback Steakhouse, and one was the clear winner
Each slice was heavy with toppings, but it didnt feel overloaded with grease or carbs.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I was impressed by how light yet sturdy the crust was, as well as by how high-quality the individual toppings were.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I wasnt sure if artichoke was the right call for a red sauce pizza. On my next trip, I might experiment with different toppings.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
But aside from the artichoke, the pizza tasted good and felt healthy.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
GARLIC STRIPS This was basically a round of pizza dough slathered with garlic topping, then baked.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The strips were surprisingly thin and light, although Im not sure what I expected.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
It had been made from the same dough as the pizzas crust.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I chose a pesto dipping sauce to go with the strips.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The strips werent quite as bready as I wanted them to be, but the garlic flavor was perfect, and pesto was definitely the right choice of sauce.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
SIMPLE SALAD I regretted not customizing my salad, because all that was in this were mixed greens, roasted red peppers, and asiago cheese.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
But I really should have had more faith in MOD.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
These ingredients actually worked quite well together. It was simple, yes, but satisfying.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
NO NAME CAKE Finally, it was time for dessert.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Im not sure why MOD didnt bother giving the No Name cake a name. Its essentially an elevated Hostess cake. Id call it the "MOD-ified Ding Dong."
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Its a moist, pillowy chocolate cake filled with creme and coated in chocolate.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The chocolate on the outside was a bit dry, but the cake inside was practically juicy. I wasnt all that sure about the creme inside I would have preferred more chocolate. But I was far from disappointed.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I had been so preoccupied with my food that I almost forgot about my beer.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
DRAFT BEER It was cold, crisp, and paired well with the carbs on my plate.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I struggled to make it through my beer, as Id ordered enough food for two people. Next time, Ill bring a friend.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Every aspect of my MOD experience impressed me. The assembly line format allows employees to be experts at their jobs. The layout of the restaurant streamlines the dining process from ordering to clean-up. But most importantly, the food was fresh, delicious, and made me feel good.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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