“This chicken is fresh,” said manager Wayne Higgins with a proud grin, gesturing toward the sizzling grill and spotless prep line at Surcheros in Cornelia. He wasn’t exaggerating. In the back, team members chopped vegetables by hand, grilled small batches of marinated chicken, and assembled orders with practiced ease. There were no microwaves. No freezers. Just made-from-scratch meals, prepped with care and served with intention.
This behind-the-scenes tour could’ve taken place at any Surcheros location in Georgia. But beneath the clean counters and crisp tortillas lies a deeper recipe: one that blends active faith, servant leadership, and an unshakable commitment to community.
The ‘Chick-fil-A’ of Mexican food
Founded by Luke Christian in his hometown of Douglas, Georgia, Surcheros is often likened to the Chick-fil-A of Mexican food—and not just for its crave-worthy queso and spotless dining rooms. Like the Cathy family before him, Christian doesn’t just run a restaurant. According to Higgins, he sees his business as a ministry.
“He just wanted to create a job for himself,” Higgins recalled. “He had a vision.”
That vision? Fresh food, sincere hospitality, and a work culture shaped by lived, not just laminated, Christian values.
Luke still works the line. He trains team members personally, stops by stores to pitch in, and shares his personal cell number with staff. When catering orders go sideways or a delivery app drops the ball, Christian doesn’t delegate. He grabs the food, hops in his van, and delivers it himself.
No tracts, just trust
Surcheros’ values show up in small, human ways. At one location, an older couple with sensory sensitivities dines in weekly. Every time, the team turns off the music and TVs without being asked. At another store, a regular’s hearing aid was disrupted by background noise, so the manager made the volume change permanent.
“We accommodate where we can,” said Higgins. “People notice that.”
When Higgins and his wife, both long-time employees, went through a difficult season, Christian didn’t just offer sympathy. He offered a solution: paid time off and a week-long stay in Gatlinburg—his treat. His only question: Where do you need me? What do you need?
It’s a refrain heard often across the brand.
Each store supports its local town, sponsoring high school teams, hosting kids’ golf tournaments, and backing nonprofits and civic events. At a recent conference in Macon, Christian explained it plainly: “I’d rather give money to our town than a billboard.”
Indeed, I first heard of Surcheros when the restaurant responded to a struggling local business with weekly catering orders for their staff, followed by a Chamber-sponsored women’s luncheon, also on their dime.
Real food, no gimmicks
The food itself doesn’t rely on gimmicks. Surcheros’ menu is streamlined and health-forward, allowing guests to build bowls, salads, wraps, or tacos with keto-friendly bases, fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and housemade sauces. There are no fryers and no shortcuts. Just real food.
There are also no self-serve kiosks. And that’s on purpose.
“We believe in the personal touch,” said Higgins. “We want to talk to people.”
Dining rooms are tidy, the lines are quick, and the service is anything but transactional. Regulars are greeted by name. Preferences are remembered.
Questions are welcome. Even the tech—from drive-thru apps to digital catering tools—exists to serve people, not replace them.
Beyond the dining room
Surcheros extends its hospitality far beyond dine-in. The restaurant offers catering for weddings, business meetings, and church events, and while the brand partners with third-party delivery apps, Christian doesn’t hide behind them.
“DoorDash messed up?” he said. “We’ll fix it. We don’t point fingers. We make it right.”
It’s this ethos that’s cultivated Surcheros’ loyal fan base—especially in small towns where customers still value a handshake and a smile. Social media is peppered with five-star reviews. But in person, the appreciation runs deeper.
“You don’t expect this level of care from a fast food place,” read one review. “But Luke and his team always go above and beyond.”
“You can build something great,” Higgins remarked. “But if you’re not pouring back into your people and your community, what’s the point?”
_____
Carly McCurry is the publisher of The Cute North Georgian magazine. Her work appears on NowHabersham.com in partnership with Now Network News.
