It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Clayton Historic District Clayton, North Carolina gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Clayton, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by”
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time with our father. It all began with a fall, followed by an ER visit, and soon after, my sister and I found ourselves flying to NC to care for him and plan the next steps. Kathryn from Always Best Care was an absolute lifesaver! She guided us seamlessly through the process of finding the perfect independent senior living community for our father. Her extensive industry knowledge helped us navigate the additional health services he required with ease. Kathryn went above and beyond, consistently checking in and patiently responding to countless texts and emails from us. Thanks to her support, our father is now thriving in a supportive environment and is healthier than ever. We can’t imagine how we would have managed this journey without Kathryn’s expertise and compassion. Truly an incredible experience!”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of what someone living with dementia is like. This is such a horrible disease but this helps care givers understand the disease. Thanks so much!!”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things . I didn’t know it was that bad for them and it’s very sad , I will always treat them all with care and love no matter what because there dealing with something that’s really hard to deal with .”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I now know what to do differently when working with my residents. I think A all caregivers should experience this training.”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many options it was confusing for me! Shawn and his team sent me several places to review and then accompanied me to visit independent living facilities. I appreciate the resources and information provided. Shawn, thank you for being focused on our family's needs and sharing your expertise. Your compassion and patience is so very appreciated!”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by far the best place I've worked our boss and staff are everything.????????????????????????????????????????????????????”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Clayton Community Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Capital Grille or visit The House on Barber Mill Historical Landmark Private Residence, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Clayton, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Clayton, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Clayton, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
CLAYTON, N.C. — With fires happening every minute across the country, fire departments are always looking for ways they can sharpen their skills and save lives. Firefighters in Clayton held a search and rescue fire training on May 16 at Johnston Community College, but it's making an impact beyond Johnston County.What You Need To Know Clayton Fire Department is participating in a nationwide Firefighter Rescue Survey. It...
CLAYTON, N.C. — With fires happening every minute across the country, fire departments are always looking for ways they can sharpen their skills and save lives. Firefighters in Clayton held a search and rescue fire training on May 16 at Johnston Community College, but it's making an impact beyond Johnston County.
Clayton Fire Department is participating in a nationwide Firefighter Rescue Survey. It's completely voluntary and its purpose is to collect data that improves rescue techniques across the country. The only cities in our state that have adopted the survey as an official policy are Charlotte, Wilmington and Cherokee, but Clayton will soon join that list.
“The data right now hasn't been updated since March of 2024," Clayton Fire Department Battalion Chief of Training and Safety Chris Carter said. "It's volunteer-based, so getting people to update it on their end can be a little tricky.”
Clayton Fire Department officials said they have responded to 22 structure fires this year, making training like this so important. The survey helps provide a guideline to fire departments across the country, using real-world strategies to improve outcomes.
“If you can share that with your brother or sister across the state or across the nation of your experiences while fighting that fire, across the state or nation, it's a great way to network with the profession, to talk about lessons that they have learned in their trainings," Ex Officio-Chief State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said.
According to the Firefighter Rescue Survey, there have only been 4,078 surveys submitted since the database developed. There have already been 384 fire fatalities in 2025 after 2,089 in 2024. The U.S. Fire Administration reported 1.9 deaths and 8.6 injuries for every 1,000 fires in 2023. Residential structure fire casualties in our state from 2023 were 6.1 deaths and 24.6 injuries for every 1,000 fires.
"What we're telling our guys is that, yeah, this is training, but we want you to treat this as real as possible," Carter said. "I want you to think about, hey, that’s your kid you’re going in there to save or your family member you're going in there to save.”
The USFA reported 83% of deaths in North Carolina in 2023 were from residential and nonresidential buildings, the national average however is 73.1%. While fire departments aren’t required to add to the survey, Carter said that it's vital to have for up-to-date information to improve their safety efforts.
“Departments should look into the Firefighter Rescue Survey. It's really simple to do, whether you have a policy or not," Carter said.
If you are a firefighter looking to add data from any fire rescues into the survey, head over to the survey website.
Did you know there’s a wagyu beef producer in the Carolinas? Jaclyn Smith is a Jaclyn of all trades, as she and her husband move in the construction space in Clayton, North Carolina. But in 2020 they met a new love.“Our kids came home from school, and we were home from work for a bit, and it just gave us a chance to slow down and play outside a little bit. And so we just fell head first in love with agriculture, and so we started a little bit of a garden. I had some chickens and some pigs, and eventually our first cow ...
Did you know there’s a wagyu beef producer in the Carolinas? Jaclyn Smith is a Jaclyn of all trades, as she and her husband move in the construction space in Clayton, North Carolina. But in 2020 they met a new love.
“Our kids came home from school, and we were home from work for a bit, and it just gave us a chance to slow down and play outside a little bit. And so we just fell head first in love with agriculture, and so we started a little bit of a garden. I had some chickens and some pigs, and eventually our first cow that was pregnant and gave birth to twins.”
From there, the Smiths looked for a unique product, and they landed on wagyu cows.
“We felt like it was a very niche market. It was a really cool, fun beef angle, just this high-end product, a very neat palette experience for the consumer, different than what you know, most people are used to, and just, you know, a fun spin on that, while also, my husband loves the genetic side. And so being able to work with the genetics of the, you know, parentage of the cattle allow us to really hone in on what is creating that best beef experience for the American palate.”
Wagyu is a Japanese breed that was introduced to the US in the 1970s but even today, the high-end beef product is raised by very few American producers.
“The consistency of beef with it, with the marbling, is just very unique to the breed, and so it just hyper marbles. It’s a very fine marbling, which makes the customer experience or consumer experience when tasting it, just very unique and special. It also has some health benefits, so it’s lower in cholesterol than most of the beef product on the market, and it also is higher in the Omega threes, almost some better than some fish.”
Jaclyn says she may be the largest wagyu producer on the East Coast with more than 1000 head. Learn more about the Smith’s Wagyu beef operation at wilders.com.
Several hidden gems of the state’s food scene are in the spotlight — and it’s all thanks to a TikTok star.Former MMA fighter turned social media food critic Keith Lee has made his way down South to get a taste of the Carolinas.In his video announcing his visit — which now has near...
Several hidden gems of the state’s food scene are in the spotlight — and it’s all thanks to a TikTok star.
Former MMA fighter turned social media food critic Keith Lee has made his way down South to get a taste of the Carolinas.
In his video announcing his visit — which now has nearly 100,000 views — Lee said he actually did a poll for which cities he should visit.
Ahead of Charleston and Greenville in South Carolina, and Charlotte and Durham in North Carolina, Raleigh was the highest pick with 17,549 votes. But he said he also got over 10,000 DMs telling him to go to Charlotte. So instead of one city, he went to all of them, plus Greensboro, Asheville and more.
Here’s a full breakdown of every place with “good food, good vibes, good people” that the TikTok foodie made a pit stop at in the Tar Heel state:
Note: Some of Lee’s TikTok video includes profanity.
Location: Highway West, 11590 US-70 BUS, Clayton, NC 27520
Total spent: $52.12
Full order: Lamb chop Alfredo, chicken and steak hibachi, lamb chop hibachi, shrimp and steak Alfredo
Rating: 9.2/10 for the lamp chop Alfredo and 8.6 for the chicken and steak hibachi until he discovered it had caramelized onions, which brought it up to a 9/10.
In the words of Keith Lee: “The lamb chop is a little salty, but it’s seasoned to perfection other than the salt. But this Alfredo? This Alfredo gas… It’s creamy, it’s a little spicy. It’s seasoned perfectly,” he said. “The Alfredo isn’t super salty…you couldn’t season this better in my opinion.”
Location: Multiple
Total spent: $28
Full order: Cheddar style burger tray with a corn dog and hush puppies, a “walkin’ taco,” fries, char-grilled chicken sandwich, a Cheerwine, strawberry milkshake, vanilla milkshake and two “Arnold Palmer” drinks.
Rating: 4/10 for the fries, 7.5/10 for the hush puppies, 6.5/10 for the corn dog without ketchup but a 5/10 with it. As for what he called the best thing, which was his burger, he gave it a 7.8/10. Sorry, Cheerwine fans. The Salisbury staple drink only got a 5/10.
In the words of Keith Lee: “This is what I imagine a good burger tasting like. It’s very grilled…The bacon is real high quality too for it to be fast food bacon,” he said. “This is the best thing.”
Location: 300 W Hargett St #50, Raleigh, NC 27601
Total spent: $14
Full order: Chicken and waffles with hot honey
Rating: 8/10
In the words of Keith Lee: “If you gave me this and didn’t tell me where it’s from, I would one thousand percent think you got it from a brunch spot and you paid $30 for it. It’s seasoned really well, it’s spicy from the hot honey. The waffle, itself, is sweet and fluffy. This is a really good meal.”
Location: Varies
Total spent: $72.74
Full order: Mac and cheese, collard greens, smoked wings, ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, lamb chops, brisket
Rating: 7.9/10 for the pulled pork, 6/10 for the pulled chicken, 7.5/10 for the lamb chop, 8.7/10 for the brisket, 8.8/10 for the ribs, 8.5/10 for the smoked wing, 6.9/10 for the mac and cheese, 8.9/10 for the collard greens
In the words of Keith Lee: “These collard greens are amazing. They’re cooked down perfectly. They are very seasoned — I wish a little more salt. The only thing that’s missing is salt and a little bit of spice, but I know some people don’t like their greens spicy... This is on the vinegar/sweet side so if you like sweeter greens with a little hint of vinegar, I feel like you love these. Overall, absolutely, I get it. One thousand percent. I’m happy we came.”
Location: The City Kitch, 2200 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Total spent: $27.42
Full order: Jerk bourbon chicken over oxtail fried rice
Rating: 8/10 for the oxtail fried rice and a 7.5/10 for the jerk chicken. Together, he rated the dish a 6.5/10.
In the words of Keith Lee: “I’m not a huge fan of the combination of things together. The bourbon jerk chicken is very sweet. It’s not really spicy — a little bit on the back end — but initially, extremely sweet. The oxtail rice is very savory and really salty... Normally it would go together like a sweet and salt, but here, for me, it doesn’t really mix. Individually, though, they do taste really good...”
Location: 601 W 5th Ave, Lexington, NC 27292
Total spent: $0 (Because the owner refused to charge Keith Lee a dime, he said)
Full order: Chicken seafood boil with corn, eggs, celery, potatoes and sausages
Rating: 8/10
In the words of Keith Lee: “I feel like you know exactly what it tastes like just by looking at it. It’s hot honey, it’s vinegary, all of the flavors go well together. This is an eight out of ten in my opinion. If it was anything less, I feel like that’d be crazy.”
Location: 905 W Main St Suite 21A, Durham, NC 27701
Total spent: $12.56
Full order: Grilled cheese birria sandwich
Rating: 7.8/10
In the words of Keith Lee: “It’s really greasy. It’s really salty. It’s really cheesy. It’s delicious, but this like after a night out, you just need something to go to sleep to, because this is about to put me right to sleep. ... Is it amazing? In my opinion, no. Is it good? Absolutely.”
Like many of his other food tour stops, Lee left tips for many of the local restaurants he visited across the state, plus some extra gifts for some staff.
During his trip to A Place at the Table in Raleigh, he surprised one of the cafe’s volunteers — a rising college student who was credited for the team’s social media efforts to catch Keith Lee’s attention — with a graduation gift of $1,000.
He even gave back to a Raleigh eatery that he didn’t get to stop by after his stop in the Tar Heel state: Madame B’s Bakery.
In a video, he shared that it was on his ‘top priority list’ after seeing several social media posts from the owner hoping to catch his attention for a taste-test and review.
Though that didn’t happen, he called the owner and offered to send a $1,000 donation — along with an extra $500 for her to give back to mothers for Mother’s Day.
Several hidden gems of the state’s food scene are in the spotlight — and it’s all thanks to a TikTok star.Former MMA fighter turned social media food critic Keith Lee has made his way down South to get a taste of the Carolinas. @keith_lee125 Family Food Tour S...
Several hidden gems of the state’s food scene are in the spotlight — and it’s all thanks to a TikTok star.
Former MMA fighter turned social media food critic Keith Lee has made his way down South to get a taste of the Carolinas.
@keith_lee125 Family Food Tour Show taste test would you try it ? #foodcritic ? original sound - Keith Lee
In his video announcing his visit — which now has nearly 100,000 views — Lee said he actually did a poll for which cities he should visit.
Ahead of Charleston and Greenville in South Carolina, and Charlotte and Durham in North Carolina, Raleigh was the highest pick with 17,549 votes. But he said he also got over 10,000 DMs telling him to go to Charlotte. So instead of one city, he’s going to all of them, plus Greensboro, Asheville and more.
Here’s a full breakdown of every place with “good food, good vibes, good people” that the TikTok foodie has made a pit stop at in the Tar Heel state so far:
Location: Highway West, 11590 US-70 BUS, Clayton, NC 27520
Total spent: $52.12
Full order: Lamb chop Alfredo, chicken and steak hibachi, lamb chop hibachi, shrimp and steak Alfredo
Rating: 9.2/10 for the lamp chop Alfredo and 8.6 for the chicken and steak hibachi until he discovered it had caramelized onions, which brought it up to a 9/10.
For his first stop on the “Familee Food Tour Show” in the Carolinas, Lee trekked about half an hour outside of Raleigh to a hibachi food truck nestled in the parking lot of a gas station.
Starting out strong, he dove right into the lamb chop Alfredo.
“The lamb chop is a little salty, but it’s seasoned to perfection other than the salt. But this Alfredo? This Alfredo gas… It’s creamy, it’s a little spicy. It’s seasoned perfectly,” he said. “The Alfredo isn’t super salty…you couldn’t season this better in my opinion.”
According to his family, the customer service was amazing — with “very stereotypical Southern hospitality.” That, along with the food, is why he was shocked to find that it was empty.
“That’s crazy nobody is in line, out the door. I’m talking out the door around the corner,” he said. “After this, I pray and hope that they reach their target audience and I don’t mean that lightly.”
Very quickly, that’s exactly what happened.
Thanks to the power of the “Keith Lee effect,” the local food truck reportedly had a line wrapped around the building after its review.
In the food truck’s social media post about Keith Lee’s visit, one person commented that they even waited two hours in line.
@keith_lee125 Hibachi Papi taste test would you try it ? #foodcritic @Tim Shropshire @hibachipapinc ? original sound - Keith Lee
Location: Multiple
Total spent: $28
Full order: Cheddar style burger tray with a corn dog and hush puppies, a “walkin’ taco,” fries, char-grilled chicken sandwich, a Cheerwine, strawberry milkshake, vanilla milkshake and two “Arnold Palmer” drinks.
Rating: 4/10 for the fries, 7.5/10 for the hush puppies, 6.5/10 for the corn dog without ketchup but a 5/10 with it. As for what he called the best thing, which was his burger, he gave it a 7.8/10. Sorry, Cheerwine fans. The Salisbury staple drink only got a 5/10.
Someone apparently told Lee that if he came to North Carolina and didn’t try Cook Out, he didn’t really come to North Carolina — which is arguably very true.
The Greensboro-based chain has more than 300 locations, but he made a stop at the Clayton location.
With more than 54,000 possible combos, Lee’s first impression was how shocked he was about the “insane” menu options.
Asking his friend to “teach him the game” because of how lost he was on what to order, he even joked, asking where the veggie options were? Oh, Keith. Like his friend, Tim said, it’s Cook Out. There aren’t any.
“I was also told pre-incident that this is like an after the club, late night, 2-o-clock in the morning type of place. This is for the culture,” he explained before his first bite.
To put it simply, it was kind of a mixed review.
He wasn’t a fan of the fries, which he said just tasted like frozen fries cooked with “nothing on them” or Cheerwine, which he said was good but sweeter than most sodas, like a syrup.
But he did like the hush puppies, which he said were very sweet, crispy and cooked to perfection — along with his burger.
“This is what I imagine a good burger tasting like. It’s very grilled…The bacon is real high quality too for it to be fast food bacon,” he said. “This is the best thing.”
@keith_lee125 Cook Out taste test would you try it ? #foodcritic @Tim Shropshire ? original sound - Keith Lee
Location: 300 W Hargett St #50, Raleigh, NC 27601
Total spent: $14
Full order: Chicken and waffles with hot honey
Rating: 8/10
Keith Lee’s first Raleigh food stop was at the city’s first pay-what-you-can cafe: A Place at the Table.
The nonprofit cafe has multiple options to pay: Paying the suggested price, donating a minimum amount for a meal, volunteering at least an hour or paying it forward.
First, he did a taste-test of his food and then went in to learn more about the process. From his first bite, you could tell he was a big fan.
“This is one of the main reasons why I love doing what we do. Places like this, people like this and cities like this,” Keith said.
“If you gave me this and didn’t tell me where it’s from, I would one thousand percent think you got it from a brunch spot and you paid $30 for it. It’s seasoned really well, it’s spicy from the hot honey. The waffle, itself, is sweet and fluffy. This is a really good meal.”
To top it off, Keith Lee even surprised one of the cafe’s volunteers, a rising college student, with a graduation gift of $1,000.
Location: Varies
Total spent: $72.74
Full order: Mac and cheese, collard greens, smoked wings, ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, lamb chops, brisket
Rating: 7.9/10 for the pulled pork, 6/10 for the pulled chicken, 7.5/10 for the lamb chop, 8.7/10 for the brisket, 8.8/10 for the ribs, 8.5/10 for the smoked wing, 6.9/10 for the mac and cheese, 8.9/10 for the collard greens
As Keith Lee put it, “everybody and their mama” recommended Corner Boys BBQ food truck during his trip in Raleigh — including the owner, who’s been messaging him since 2023.
The owner told Lee’s family that everything on their menu is good and even offered to make their order for them, which was a full platter of classic barbecue.
Even in a quick taste test, you could tell he was a big fan of pretty much everything, but he saved the best bite for last: the collard greens, which the owner said was the best thing. Those got Keith Lee’s highest rating.
“These collard greens are amazing. They’re cooked down perfectly. They are very seasoned — I wish a little more salt. The only thing that’s missing is salt and a little bit of spice, but I know some people don’t like their greens spicy. I do,” he said.
“This is on the vinegar/sweet side so if you like sweeter greens with a little hint of vinegar, I feel like you love these. Overall, absolutely, I get it. One thousand percent. I’m happy we came.”
Note: Lee’s TikTok video does include profanity.
We’ll update this story as Lee visits more spots!
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 9:02 AM.
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