By Denise Galloway
Daily Record of Dunn
ANGIER – Customers say the food at Ed’s Family Restaurant in Angier is worthy of its rave reviews and coverage earlier this week by America’s Best Restaurants (ABR); but the best thing at Ed’s isn’t listed on the menu. The best thing there is owner, Ed King — his big heart for anyone around him and his unending generosity to his local community.
Ed King shares a photo of his father at Kings Drive-In on South Wilmington Street in Raleigh from ‘back in the day.” Daily Record Photo by Denise Galloway
This past Tuesday, the crew from ABR arrived at breakfast time to film an episode about Ed’s Family Restaurant. “It’s a social media show,” says one of the show’s four hosts, Danyel Detomo. The show has filmed more than 1,000 episodes to date, and shares them across their social media platforms YouTube and Facebook, plus clips on Instagram and TikTok.
The episode about Ed’s Family Restaurant is expected to air in January 2025. The show typically films 10 episodes a week, shooting morning and afternoon episodes at different locations across the country.
To earn a visit from ABR, a restaurant has to be nominated by someone in the community. “There are criteria,” Detomo said. “The restaurant and food have to already be getting good reviews. They need to have a good story to share. And we make sure it is a place the community really loves.”
Detomo says part of the show’s interest in Ed’s Family Restaurant was the generational aspect of King’s restaurant story. King is a second-generation restaurateur, and he still uses recipes passed down to him from his parents and grandparents.
With a laugh, 65-year old King says he’s been in the business 65 years. His father owned and operated King’s Drive-In on Wilmington Street in Raleigh when he was born. “I literally grew up in a restaurant.”
In the kitchen with America’s Best Restaurants host Danyel Detomo and Ed King. America’s Best Restaurants Photo by Danyel Demoto
“Those were the good old days. I was ‘hoppin’ curb’ when I was just a kid anytime someone couldn’t show up for work,” King reminisced about the curbside service and clip-on trays they used to hang on cars to hold food and drinks.
King’s father had always wanted to be in the restaurant business. The World War II Army veteran saved up $500 while in the service to purchase the lot on Wilmington Street. King’s grandmother once told him that his father would get her to make chicken salad and he would sell chicken salad sandwiches on the side of the road, “like a lemonade stand but with sandwiches instead.”
When his father passed away, King bought out his siblings’ shares of King’s Drive-In. He continued to operate it for 12 years. When he thought he wanted to get out of the restaurant business he sold it.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that the restaurant business was in his blood and he wanted back in. He opened a new restaurant, Rebecca’s Grill (named after his daughter), in the Duncan community of northern Harnett County. He operated there for 24 years, becoming a local gem to the community.
In addition to his delicious Southern-style comfort foods, King became known for his generosity. At Christmastime every year, he would host a dinner party for any and all who wanted to come. A free meal would be served, and every child who attended received a gift. King continues this tradition at the Angier location.
King left the Duncan location in 2014 and reopened as Ed’s Family Restaurant at his current location in 2016. He remains committed to his restaurant family, which includes his employees, customers and community.
His longest-running employee is Herb Woodard, age 91, who has been with King for 40 years doing kitchen prep, washing dishes, and anything else asked of him. Recently retired cook Tammy Brown worked for King on and off for the better part of 16 years. “Ed would give someone the shirt off his back if needed. I love him like family. He has helped me out a few times,” said Brown.
Herb Woodard, 91, has worked with Ed King for 40 years doing kitchen prep, dishes, and ‘anything else that needs doing.” Daily Record Photo by Denise Galloway
King works hard in the kitchen every day, but he’s never too busy to visit with guests. He says that’s the best part about his business. “This is a place where the whole community comes together. Everyone is super nice.”
King’s customers are in agreement. Angier residents Don and Pat Farley were just finishing breakfast Wednesday and welcomed the opportunity to talk about King. They’ve known him and his food since the early ’90s. Don Farley would stop in early mornings for biscuits on his way to the County Line Hunt Club, and then stop back for lunch after a morning of deer hunting. The couple was thrilled when King moved the restaurant to Angier, much closer to their home. They visit at least twice a week. “It doesn’t matter how crowded it is, they’ll always make room,” said Pat Farley.
In addition to running a restaurant and catering operations, King donates a hot meal at least once a month to the “Our Daily Bread” outreach in Coats, sometimes more often if he is able. He also donates turkeys every year at Thanksgiving.
Kim Frey has worked for King 20 years. She says she stays because King is smart, and added, “He knows what he’s doing. And he does a lot for a whole lot of people.” Her favorite thing about King is that he’s always willing to help people in any way he can.
King says, “I’ve been blessed, so I give back. That’s what we’re supposed to do, ain’t it?”
