America’s Original #1 Food Hacker Is Back with Hack That Dish!
by: Noelle Brown
Published: May 4, 2026
HUNTINGTON BEACH...Before he became known as America’s #1 “food hacker,” bestselling author Todd Wilbur was a Huntington Beach kid attending Marina High School and navigating early career life in Orange County. He started writing his first book while living in Costa Mesa and working as a commodities broker in Newport Beach—long before his copycat recipes became a nationwide phenomenon.
Now, the Orange County native is back with Hack That Dish (Adams Media; April 28; $24), a new cookbook that taps into something especially relevant for Southern California readers: how to enjoy favorite restaurant meals without the high cost of dining out.
Wilbur, widely credited as the original copycat recipe pioneer, has spent decades reverse-engineering some of the country’s most recognizable dishes. In Hack That Dish, he shares step-by-step recipes for popular menu items like McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese McGriddles, Chick-fil-A Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches, and Crumbl’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk Cookies—alongside techniques that help readers create their own “hacks” at home. The cookbook also leans into nostalgia, with recipes for sweets like Brach’s Candy Corn, Charms Blow Pops, Jovy Candy Fruit Rolls and Butterfingers—treats many Orange County readers may recognize from childhood. At a time when inflation continues to hit restaurant prices across Southern California, Wilbur’s latest cookbook offers a practical, budget-friendly alternative rooted in his own local beginnings: skip the lines, cook at home, and still get the flavors you crave.
From the fast-food drive-thru to fast-casual favorites and crave-worthy desserts, America’s most iconic restaurant dishes are officially back on the menu—no reservations required! In Hack That Dish (Adams Media; April 28; $24) bestselling author and copycat recipe pioneer Todd Wilbur serves up a bold, new cookbook packed with spot-on recreations of beloved restaurant meals and the know-how to create delicious dupes at home.
Known as America’s #1 food hacker, Wilbur is a one-man culinary cover band, expertly decoding the flavors, techniques, and ingredients behind the nation’s most popular brand-name foods. In Hack That Dish, Wilbur empowers home cooks to save money, skip the lines, and satisfy any craving with confidence.
From breakfast staples to comfort-food classics and indulgent sweets, readers will learn how to recreate favorites such as:
- McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese McGriddles
- Chick-fil-A Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches
- Maggiano’s Mozzarella Marinara
- On The Border Enchiladas
- Crumbl Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- And so much more!
Hack That Dish goes beyond copycat recipes. With Wilbur’s expert tips, step-by-step instructions, and entertaining behind-the-scenes stories from decades of culinary sleuthing, readers will also learn the secrets to hacking dishes on their own—unlocking a whole new level of kitchen creativity. For those with a sweet tooth, they’ll find recipes for Brach’s Candy Corn, Charms Blow Pops, Jovy Candy Fruit Rolls and even Butterfingers!
Whether you’re craving fast food favorites, restaurant classics, or candy-aisle treats, Hack That Dish proves you don’t have to leave home—or break the bank—to eat exactly what you love. The secret’s out, and America’s favorite flavors are now within reach.
Hack That Dish arrived on April 28 and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers nationwide.
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