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MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Shaquille O’Neal speaks during Pepsi Stronger Together and CTG Foundation Atlanta Law Enforcement Press Conference on April 07, 2021 in McDonough, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Pepsi Stronger Together)

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MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Shaquille O’Neal speaks during Pepsi Stronger Together and CTG Foundation Atlanta Law Enforcement Press Conference on April 07, 2021 in McDonough, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Pepsi Stronger Together)
Looking for your next travel destination? Shaquille O’Neal knows a place. The frequent jetsetter has seen many places and enjoyed some amazing sights. However, the way to impress Big Diesel is very specific. One city has all of Shaq’s love for a surprisingly simple reason. Apparently, the way to the heart of the 7’1″ life of the party is through his stomach.
While narrating his globetrotting adventures to GQ, Shaq was gushing about one city in particular. He and his family have longstanding ties with the city and carved a spot here in the local community.
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Shaquille O’Neal says his heart is in Dallas
The Big Aristotle disclosed the three cities he enjoyed playing in most during his 19-season long NBA career. Toronto, New York, and Dallas were the winners. When asked about what he enjoyed about Dallas, Shaq revealed it appealed to his party side.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 01: NBA Hall of Fame member Shaquille O’Neal performs a set as DJ Diesel following a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on July 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
“The night life was incredible. My place was Hooters. Good spot,” he proclaimed to GQ. When the interviewer chimed in that Hooters has “good wings” Shaq agreed.
But Hooters also faced stiff competition for Shaq’s attention. “Then they came with Twin Peaks and I said, Uh oh. Decisions, decisions!”
The Los Angeles Lakers legend is famous for his love for fast food and all things chicken. He’s a successful restauranteur himself. His portfolio boasts over 155 restaurant franchises, but no Hooters and Twin Peaks.
Instead, he’s a franchisee for Papa John’s and Five Guys among others. He’s also started his own fast-casual dining concept from scratch, Big Chicken Shaq.
With 300+ locations in development across the nation, Big Chicken’s menu has everything to suit a chicken-lover like O’Neal. He’s also signed major expansion deals to open Big Chicken locations in Texas’ major cities like Houston and Dallas.
The party scene is a major attraction to Shaq who also dislikes certain cities for the lack of night life. However, the local fast food haunts and the night life aren’t the only things Shaq loves about Dallas.
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Shaq’s left a mark on Dallas
Shaquille O’Neal’s presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is massive.
He owns a $1.2 million mansion in Carrollton and several businesses in North Texas. He’s also been expressive of retiring in Dallas in the far future. Both he and his mom, Lucille are active in the Dallas community.
After launching his own music festival here, he and his mother made massive donations to a local church. They also donated shoes to kids and checked on renovations of the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club which they paid for.
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Hooters and Twin Peaks make Dallas attractive to Shaq but it’s clearly the 6.5 million strong community here that made him fall in love with the city. Which of Shaq’s recommendations appeals to you?
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