New Food Chains that you have found while on the road

[galador]

I am currently in Kansas and just finished a trip down to DFW and was in TX and OK for a few days, and found a restaurant chain in both Kansas and Oklahoma, called Braums.  They have a neon pink and blue sign at night and the one I did visit had a little convenience store inside of it with a fast food area serving burgers and dogs along with ice cream.

To all of you who live in Kansas and Oklahoma, I must say you have something real good.  I am glad I stopped at one as I have seen dozens of them all along i-35 from Kansas to the Texas Line.

Braum's is awesome. Their food seems to be very like-it-or-hate-it—I like it, but I know several people that hate it—but the mini-grocery is a wonderful thing. I used to live within walking distance of one and it was very nice to be able to pop in and grab a few things.

But. The milk. Oh, my goodness, the milk. You are lucky you did not drink any of the milk while you were there. Once you taste Braum's milk, you simply can't go back to the stuff at the grocery store.

P.S. They have locations in southwest Missouri as well. Springfield is about the far end of their range. I don't know if they have any Texas locations, but they might.

There are also a couple of locations in Western Arkansas. I think Alma is about as far east as they go, but there are a couple in Fort Smith and NWA.

You're 100% right about the milk.

[1995hoo]

I have not eaten at this place and do not plan to do so. I recall seeing a couple of these in Jacksonville on a football trip back in 1991, so I assume it's a local chain. My two friends and I couldn't stop laughing. On a later football trip in 2008 I found at least one of them is still there. I just love the name.

[txstateends]

Just checked the Braum's store directory online, and they pretty much are in the panhandle/Red River/DFW areas.  None on the list south of Athens, Corsicana, or Ennis.

[Pete from Boston]

I have not eaten at this place and do not plan to do so. I recall seeing a couple of these in Jacksonville on a football trip back in 1991, so I assume it's a local chain. My two friends and I couldn't stop laughing. On a later football trip in 2008 I found at least one of them is still there. I just love the name.

"Chinee" is a politically incorrect term, but I believe primarily as a noun and uncommon since the 19th century or so.  Cracks me up that it has this little bit of slightly embarrassing resurrection.

[iowahighways]

I first discovered Pizza Ranch around the turn of the millennium in various smaller eastern Iowa cities with populations of 2,000-5,000. They've expanded a lot over the last five years and are now in 13 states -- I was surprised to see one in Kansas City a couple of years ago.

[Buffaboy]

Harris Teeter in North Carolina. If you're from the Buffalo area it's much like Tops.

[Pete from Boston]

Oh, how could I forget National Coney Island?  Whenever I'm changing planes in Detroit I use the flight delay to get whatever they call their ground-beef-in-a-hot-dog-roll thing.  The seasoning is delicious, that sort of sweet Greek seasoning the chili has at Skyline and at hot dog places in New Jersey.

And while we're at it, Skyline Chili!

[hbelkins]

I'd forgotten about Braum's. I ate at one the night I had to stay in Springfield, Mo., a couple of years ago when I had to leave my car there to have it fixed.

[GaryV]

I didn't know Church's Chicken existed up until last year.

There has been one in downtown Petersburg for a long while.  Considering the crime issues in that area, I am not sure how that one stays open.

They stay open in Detroit.  And in some pretty sketchy areas too.

[US 41]

I just found out that there are Tim Hortons everywhere in Ontario last week.

[SignGeek101]

I just found out that there are Tim Hortons everywhere in Ontario last week.

Timmies are everywhere in Canada and Northern New York (and other states). There are at least two within biking distance from my house, and three at my university. There are so many Canadians in Florida, I heard that they opened one there.

https://www.google.ca/maps/search/tim+hortons+canada/@50.861618,-98.4553102,5z

[Revive 755]

Runza (Nebraska)
Taco Time (Utah, though there is one in Iowa and now at least one in Chicagoland)
Taco Casa (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Taco Cabana (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Whataburger (Texas)
Grandys (sp?) (Oklahoma - did not have time to try them though)
Skyline Chili (Indiana and Ohio)
Gold Star Chili (Ohio and Kentucky - haven't tried them yet either)
Hot Head Burritos (on a logo sign on I-75 near Covington, KY - would like to try someday as well)
Some Mexican place near Joplin, MO that I can't recall the name of and haven't tried yet, but remember looking up later that day and finding out they were a local chain

[1995hoo]

I just found out that there are Tim Hortons everywhere in Ontario last week.

Timmies are everywhere in Canada and Northern New York (and other states). There are at least two within biking distance from my house, and three at my university. There are so many Canadians in Florida, I heard that they opened one there.

https://www.google.ca/maps/search/tim+hortons+canada/@50.861618,-98.4553102,5z

There are at least two Tim Hortons in Florida–one in the Florida Panthers' arena in Sunrise and another in the Tampa Bay Lightning's arena in Tampa. The latter is open only during games. The website doesn't have the same caveat as to the former, so maybe it's more readily open (perhaps it's accessible from outside?). I'd check it out when we're down there for Christmas visiting relatives in Pembroke Pines except I know I'll never remember this thread.

[The Nature Boy]

http://insidetimmies.com/2014/07/05/google-maps-shows-every-single-tim-hortons-location-around-the-world/

Here's a map of apparently every Tim Horton's location in the world. They seem to be concentrating their American expansion in the eastern half of the country. The eastern Great Lakes region has the vast majority. I wouldn't be surprised if New Hampshire and Massachusetts get a Tim Horton's in the near future. The competition from Dunkin might make further New England expansion a bit difficult though.

[jp the roadgeek]

http://insidetimmies.com/2014/07/05/google-maps-shows-every-single-tim-hortons-location-around-the-world/

Here's a map of apparently every Tim Horton's location in the world. They seem to be concentrating their American expansion in the eastern half of the country. The eastern Great Lakes region has the vast majority. I wouldn't be surprised if New Hampshire and Massachusetts get a Tim Horton's in the near future. The competition from Dunkin might make further New England expansion a bit difficult though.

Timmy's already tried (and failed) in Southern New England when they took over the (original) Bess Eaton stores.  Honey Dew is another regional chain that challenges Dunkin, and the only Krispy Kreme remnant is at Mohegan Sun casino.  If anything, BK should incorporate a Timmy's menu for breakfast, including the coffee.

[Rothman]

Honey Dew is a pathetic substitute for Dunkin.

[exit322]

Runza (Nebraska)
Taco Time (Utah, though there is one in Iowa and now at least one in Chicagoland)
Taco Casa (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Taco Cabana (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Whataburger (Texas)
Grandys (sp?) (Oklahoma - did not have time to try them though)
Skyline Chili (Indiana and Ohio)
Gold Star Chili (Ohio and Kentucky - haven't tried them yet either)
Hot Head Burritos (on a logo sign on I-75 near Covington, KY - would like to try someday as well)
Some Mexican place near Joplin, MO that I can't recall the name of and haven't tried yet, but remember looking up later that day and finding out they were a local chain

Skyline and Gold Star are about the same.  If you didn't like one, you probably won't like the other.

[Buck87]

Fatz - Carolinas
Zaxby's - Georgia
Cotton Patch - Texas
Culver's - Wisconsin
Quaker Steak and Lube - Pennsylvania (has since become common in my area)

[The Nature Boy]

http://insidetimmies.com/2014/07/05/google-maps-shows-every-single-tim-hortons-location-around-the-world/

Here's a map of apparently every Tim Horton's location in the world. They seem to be concentrating their American expansion in the eastern half of the country. The eastern Great Lakes region has the vast majority. I wouldn't be surprised if New Hampshire and Massachusetts get a Tim Horton's in the near future. The competition from Dunkin might make further New England expansion a bit difficult though.

Timmy's already tried (and failed) in Southern New England when they took over the (original) Bess Eaton stores.  Honey Dew is another regional chain that challenges Dunkin, and the only Krispy Kreme remnant is at Mohegan Sun casino.  If anything, BK should incorporate a Timmy's menu for breakfast, including the coffee.

I'm surprised that Timmy's is doing well enough to have multiple locations in Maine. The only time I've heard Mainers talk about Tim Horton's, it was to reference how terrible they felt their coffee was.

And Honey Dew doesn't extend too far north. There are none in Maine at all and only two in southern NH. Dunkin seems to reign supreme in northern New England with maybe token opposition from Starbucks. I literally have a 10 mile commute to work and I pass two Dunkins within that 10 mile drive.

[spooky]

http://insidetimmies.com/2014/07/05/google-maps-shows-every-single-tim-hortons-location-around-the-world/

Here's a map of apparently every Tim Horton's location in the world. They seem to be concentrating their American expansion in the eastern half of the country. The eastern Great Lakes region has the vast majority. I wouldn't be surprised if New Hampshire and Massachusetts get a Tim Horton's in the near future. The competition from Dunkin might make further New England expansion a bit difficult though.

Timmy's already tried (and failed) in Southern New England when they took over the (original) Bess Eaton stores.  Honey Dew is another regional chain that challenges Dunkin, and the only Krispy Kreme remnant is at Mohegan Sun casino.  If anything, BK should incorporate a Timmy's menu for breakfast, including the coffee.

I'm surprised that Timmy's is doing well enough to have multiple locations in Maine. The only time I've heard Mainers talk about Tim Horton's, it was to reference how terrible they felt their coffee was.

And Honey Dew doesn't extend too far north. There are none in Maine at all and only two in southern NH. Dunkin seems to reign supreme in northern New England with maybe token opposition from Starbucks. I literally have a 10 mile commute to work and I pass two Dunkins within that 10 mile drive.

I had a 9 mile drive from my old apartment to work and passed 10 Dunkins along the way.

Tim Horton's actually built new locations in Mass in the late 90s, typically next to Wendy's because Wendy's owned the chain at the time. This was before taking over the former Bess Eaton locations.

In Rhode Island, many (all?) of those former Bess Eaton locations are now Marylou's, a chain that originated on the South Shore of Mass.

Bess Eaton has also revived themselves with four locations in southern RI. Their iced coffee is leaps and bounds better than Dunkins, IMHO.

[realjd]

I'm usually not a fan of chain restaurants, but I really wish Wagamama would expand into the US beyond the token locations in the Boston area. And Nandos Peri-Peri is one of my favorite drunk food spots. I was really happy when they finally opened up some in DC.

[Pete from Boston]

Honey Dew is a pathetic substitute for Dunkin.

Dunkin, meanwhile, is a pathetic substitute for coffee.

And the donuts are crap compared to the local shops.  Another case of mass production perfecting mediocrity.

[Pete from Boston]

Runza (Nebraska)
Taco Time (Utah, though there is one in Iowa and now at least one in Chicagoland)
Taco Casa (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Taco Cabana (Dallas - Fort Worth area in Texas)
Whataburger (Texas)
Grandys (sp?) (Oklahoma - did not have time to try them though)
Skyline Chili (Indiana and Ohio)
Gold Star Chili (Ohio and Kentucky - haven't tried them yet either)
Hot Head Burritos (on a logo sign on I-75 near Covington, KY - would like to try someday as well)
Some Mexican place near Joplin, MO that I can't recall the name of and haven't tried yet, but remember looking up later that day and finding out they were a local chain

Skyline and Gold Star are about the same.  If you didn't like one, you probably won't like the other.

I've found them to be about the same but have been told this is some kind of blasphemy.  I like them both just fine.

[Takumi]

Nandos Peri-Peri is one of my favorite drunk food spots. I was really happy when they finally opened up some in DC.

To my knowledge, the ones in the DC area are the only ones in the US. I've wanted to go to one for years now, but I haven't had a bigger reason to go to DC.

[hbelkins]

Skyline and Gold Star are about the same.  If you didn't like one, you probably won't like the other.

I've found them to be about the same but have been told this is some kind of blasphemy.  I like them both just fine.

I was about to say: Them are fightin' words to some people. But count me in the "can't really tell any difference" category. At least Gold Star is closer than Skyline. There's a Gold Star in Lexington. You have to drive north to Dry Ridge to find a Skyline.