Posted on 12/17/2023 12:33:27 PM PST by DallasBiff
When you think of a fast food chain, the usual suspects come to mind: McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Burger King. In recent years, the restaurant industry has changed to referring to fast food places as quick-service restaurants (QSR), and the new-ish hybrid of fast food and casual-dining restaurants (like Applebee's) is called fast casual. Where the definitions blur is with regional fast food chains, meaning a QSR that usually started out in a particular state as a mom-and-pop shop and gained a devoted following thus enabling them to grow.
Sometimes it's a few stores that don't cross state lines. Other times, they expand nationally. Most times, though, they're known for their specialties in their region. The regional fast food chains we explore here have personality, quirks, and often, delicious food you can't get anywhere else in the U.S. If you're planning a road trip or visiting family or friends, check out our list of the best regional fast food chains in every state
(Excerpt) Read more at mashed.com ...
In-N-Out: cheap, clean, consistent and bland.
If you have a Culvers around, their reuben is also quite a bit above average. Especially for a bigger chain.
My buddy loves their Cod (or is it Haddock) sandwich. Others have also claimed they are very good. I don’t do fish, so can’t comment.
Even though Muscatine is the home of the Maid-Rite, their store is not an older one. There is a really good older one on N. Division Street in Davenport, however.
Took our visitor from NY there this summer. A hit!
I like those guys pretty well but their stores are not very convenient for me.
If you like Halo Burger, try Clyde’s in the UP.
We had Freddy’s Steakburgers last night in Ohio. One of the Chaps Put Beef locations is 1/2 mile from home in Maryland. Good choice.
I suppose they are technically a chain but then that would make Tony's or Brann's a chain as well and that just feels wrong. But then Russ's is a chain.
I wonder, when does a small group of family owned restaurants become a chain?
Arctic Roadrunner in Alaska can hardly be called a regional chain. It has one restaurant in Anchorage.
Read later.
Two requests that will make them even better:
1.) Ask for "extra crispy" fries. That changes them from bland to normal tasting.
2.) Ask for you onions grilled. That boosts the burger flavor from good to excellent.
Eegees are not slushies. They have real fruit.
Beverly and Rampart?
Culvers is excellent. Yes, their fish and shrimp are good. And what’s not to like about custard?
That is the original one. I think the family who owns it has opened several more over the last 30 years or so.
I can vouch for that!!!! We go to the one in Cary.
I can’t believe this one made the list because does suck. If it were me, I would have nominated Dreamland BBQ. Yummy!!
Thanks for the heads up FRiend! I’ll have to add Davenport to my list!
There used to be several original Maid Rite locations, but as time goes on there are fewer and fewer. It’s my understanding that the original stores were grandfathered in, but cannot relocate or change ownership, so they will pass with the passing of time.
Is there more than one Tony’s
WAWA is pretty dang good (I traveled throughout the upper midwest and Virginia and ran into WAWAs all over the place).
But I will take Buc-ees over WAWA, any day of the week! Traffic and all!
My problem with Slim Chickens is their PRICES!! I can go have a sit-down meal at Applebees or somewhere similar for the price I paid for two 8-piece meals at Slim Chickens!
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