Raising Cane’s owner won’t eat his own slaw

Raising Cane’s founder and owner Todd Graves says he doesn’t like the chain’s coleslaw and swaps it for toast—yet insists it won’t leave the menu. His blunt take sparked a massive debate online, from “Love an honest CEO” praise to calls for “Federal prison” ov

Todd Graves doesn’t just lead Raising Cane’s—he also knows exactly what he orders when no one’s watching.

In an Instagram interview, the chain’s founder and owner sat down with content creator Joe Bonham, who asked Graves what he orders from Cane’s. Graves answered with a Box Combo: “no slaw, extra toast and extra sauce.”

Bonham pressed him: “You don’t do any coleslaw?”

Graves didn’t soften it. “I don’t like the coleslaw, man, that’s why I trade it out.” Then he added the reasoning that turned a simple food question into a viral talking point: “Every once in a while, I get somebody that likes it, but I’m not crazy about coleslaw, so trade it out for toast.”

The exchange kept moving. Bonham told Graves nobody likes the coleslaw, and Graves shrugged at the claim. “Every once in a while, I get somebody that likes it,” he said again, before stating his preference plainly: “If you try to be all things to all people, you aren’t great to anyone.”

When Bonham asked whose idea it was to add the coleslaw, Graves said he wanted a “vegetable component to the meal.” He also described coleslaw as “a Southern thing,” while making clear he still didn’t care for it himself.

Within hours, the video hit a nerve. It generated 8.5 million views, 457,000 likes, and over 4,000 comments—enough attention that thousands of people weighed in on a single side dish.

Some commenters rallied behind Graves’ honesty. “Love an honest CEO,” one Instagram user wrote. Others applauded the straight answer. “He’s one of us,” a person said. “He knows what’s up,” another added.

Not everyone treated the slaw debate gently. One comment joked: “Everyone says lock him up, but he’s doing us a service.” Another wave of responses went after the slaw itself—“Criminal,” “Diabolical,” and “Federal prison for you” appeared among the reactions.

Others defended the coleslaw or argued about swapping. One person wrote, “I go double slaw,” and that comment earned 35,437 likes. “The slaw is underrated for sure,” someone else remarked. “It’s the best part!” another commenter said.

The argument even spilled into substitutions for other sides. Potato salad, pickles, and mac and cheese showed up as alternatives.

Raising Cane’s coleslaw, meanwhile, is not presented as a throwaway. The restaurant’s website lists a 3.1-ounce serving as 100 calories and describes the menu item as “crisp, creamy and freshly prepared.”

Graves’ stance didn’t end with a social media admission. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he framed the company’s approach to the menu and why his personal taste won’t change what customers order.

His message was direct: “If you try to be all things to all people, you aren’t great to anyone.”

From there, he tied his philosophy to what people actually come for. “So. we focus on serving craveable chicken finger meals and doing it better than anyone else. ” he said. adding that customers won’t see the menu churn of limited-time items or new dishes cycling on and off. “I always say, don’t fix what isn’t broken. Our coleslaw isn’t going anywhere.”.

Graves also described how the menu is built around customization. He said he wanted people to have options from the start. so they could “sub extra fries. extra Cane’s Sauce or extra Texas toast.” In his telling. the coleslaw serves a purpose: “The coleslaw gives them that item to be able to assemble their perfect box.”.

If someone personally loves coleslaw, Graves said, “that’s great too!”

Pressed about whether he’d ever change the menu. Graves told Fox News Digital. “I get asked all the time if I’m ever going to add something else to the menu and the answer is no.” He added that Raising Cane’s has kept the same lineup since it opened the doors to the first restaurant in Baton Rouge nearly 30 years ago: chicken fingers. Cane’s Sauce. coleslaw. Cane’s toast and crinkle-cut fries.

That focused set. he said. is part of how crews are able to deliver speed and consistency—helping them “focus on doing one thing and doing it better than anyone else.” Graves described the company’s ethos as centered on the “one love” principle. which “enables us to build the perfect box combo that is served hot. fast and fresh each and every time.”.

The company has continued growing while the menu stays steady. Raising Cane’s opened its 1,000th restaurant in Hollywood, California, in March. The restaurant’s website lists six new locations set to open this month.

And for all the online debate, Graves’ own order is still the clearest answer he’s given: box combo, no slaw—extra toast and extra sauce. The rest of the country can argue about the side dish. The menu, he says, won’t budge.

Raising Cane's Todd Graves coleslaw Box Combo Hollywood California 1000th location Baton Rouge