With the recent news that the Texas-based Whataburger, known for the orange and white and distinctive A-Frame style building (logo), is coming to Charlotte, I decided to take a look at the small family-owned What-A-Burger drive-ins which can be found in some of the smaller cities outside of Charlotte.
https://www.carolinaxroads.com/2022/09/what-burger-piedmont-classic.html
The Virginia What-A-Burger mentioned still has a few locations around the south side of Richmond, usually where there are no similar restaurants close by. One was snuffed out by a Cook Out opening a few blocks away a few years ago.
They also have probably the laziest company slogan I've ever seen: "meal on a bun" .
Cook Out is very hard to compete with too. Great price and good value, plus awesome food.
If we were to have a thread about fast food rip-offs, we gotta compare In-n-Out and its Chinese-born clone Caliburger (which expanded to the U.S. a few years ago).
Quote from: Takumi on September 25, 2022, 07:15:03 PM
The Virginia What-A-Burger mentioned still has a few locations around the south side of Richmond, usually where there are no similar restaurants close by. One was snuffed out by a Cook Out opening a few blocks away a few years ago.
They also have probably the laziest company slogan I've ever seen: "meal on a bun" .
My understanding was that the Colonial Heights one specifically closed due to the US 1/US 301 Boulevard Reconstruction a few years ago.
Quote from: Bruce on September 25, 2022, 08:55:38 PM
If we were to have a thread about fast food rip-offs, we gotta compare In-n-Out and its Chinese-born clone Caliburger (which expanded to the U.S. a few years ago).
Actually, if you're looking for an In-n-Out clone, try Mr. Beast Burger. They're opening ghost kitchens in several existing restaurants such as one that's been discussed in this thread: Friendly's.
Quote from: Bruce on September 25, 2022, 08:55:38 PM
If we were to have a thread about fast food rip-offs, we gotta compare In-n-Out and its Chinese-born clone Caliburger (which expanded to the U.S. a few years ago).
Rip off? Explain.
I had a great meal at the In and Out in Grants Pass, OR and got great value for my seven bucks.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 26, 2022, 02:21:28 AM
Quote from: Bruce on September 25, 2022, 08:55:38 PM
If we were to have a thread about fast food rip-offs, we gotta compare In-n-Out and its Chinese-born clone Caliburger (which expanded to the U.S. a few years ago).
Rip off? Explain.
I had a great meal at the In and Out in Grants Pass, OR and got great value for my seven bucks.
Rip-offs as in clones, not value.
I know this is sacrilege, but if I want a good burger from a chain, I go to.... Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (https://markholtz.info/freddys). Sorry, not In-And-Out for this former Californian or What-A-Burger for this Texan. They're OK, but I've found better. If I really want a good burger, I head to one of the local family owned eateries. Of course, I'm always time-challenged, so What-A-Burger it is then.
After moving to Texas, I do miss Carl's Jr and the pile-of-sin called the "Western Bacon Cheeseburger". The closest locations are in Anna and Rockwall. Both are at least a 30-minute drive away, and one is even longer if I want to avoid utilizing the toll road.
How has there not been a legal battle over these similar names?
Quote from: ZLoth on September 26, 2022, 09:04:13 AM
I know this is sacrilege, but if I want a good burger from a chain, I go to.... Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (https://markholtz.info/freddys). Sorry, not In-And-Out for this former Californian or What-A-Burger for this Texan. They're OK, but I've found better. If I really want a good burger, I head to one of the local family owned eateries. Of course, I'm always time-challenged, so What-A-Burger it is then.
After moving to Texas, I do miss Carl's Jr and the pile-of-sin called the "Western Bacon Cheeseburger". The closest locations are in Anna and Rockwall. Both are at least a 30-minute drive away, and one is even longer if I want to avoid utilizing the toll road.
I like Freddy's, but I think I like Culver's better.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 26, 2022, 09:23:23 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on September 26, 2022, 09:04:13 AM
I know this is sacrilege, but if I want a good burger from a chain, I go to.... Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (https://markholtz.info/freddys). Sorry, not In-And-Out for this former Californian or What-A-Burger for this Texan. They're OK, but I've found better. If I really want a good burger, I head to one of the local family owned eateries. Of course, I'm always time-challenged, so What-A-Burger it is then.
After moving to Texas, I do miss Carl's Jr and the pile-of-sin called the "Western Bacon Cheeseburger". The closest locations are in Anna and Rockwall. Both are at least a 30-minute drive away, and one is even longer if I want to avoid utilizing the toll road.
I like Freddy's, but I think I like Culver's better.
Again, one of those "it's 30 minutes away" restaurants, and I only visited the McKinney, TX location. I only visited once, and while it was OK, but it merits one or two more return visits to really get a good feel. What is your favorite meal there?
This sort of reminds me of the Burger King off I-57 that is completely unrelated to the national chain of the same name. I must confess, I've never had anything from either Whataburger or What-A-Burger, but their choices are far more intriguing than the standard fare from BK/McDonalds/Wendy's. Definitely bucket list material, and I'll check them out on my next trip south.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 26, 2022, 02:09:56 AM
Quote from: Bruce on September 25, 2022, 08:55:38 PM
If we were to have a thread about fast food rip-offs, we gotta compare In-n-Out and its Chinese-born clone Caliburger (which expanded to the U.S. a few years ago).
Actually, if you're looking for an In-n-Out clone, try Mr. Beast Burger. They're opening ghost kitchens in several existing restaurants such as one that's been discussed in this thread: Friendly's.
Mr. Beast used Wilson, NC's Burger Boy as his "launch restaurant" for Mr. Beast Burger's for one day back in 2020.
http://www.carolinaxroads.com/2022/01/burger-boy-wilson.html
Other than that one instance it is all exclusively "ghost kitchens."
Quote from: hbelkins on September 26, 2022, 09:23:23 AM
How has there not been a legal battle over these similar names?
Tell me you didn't read the story without telling me you didn't read the story.
"The Bost family started their What-A-Burger chain in 1956. Eventually, nearly a dozen locations operated in the Central North Carolina Piedmont. Yet around the same time, two other groups started similarly named restaurants. In Virginia, the Branch Brothers started their own What-A-Burger chain of restaurants in 1957. They first opened in Newport News and eventually spread into Richmond and South Carolina.
The most well-known What-A-Burger is the Whataburger franchise out of Texas. Started in 1950 by Harmon Dobson in Corpus Christi, Texas, Whataburger is now over 800 locations throughout the Southern and Southwestern United States. It wasn't until 1970 that either the Virginia group or Texas group knew of one another. Thirty-five years later, the Texas and Virginia companies sued each other over copyright/trademark infringement. The Bost families were not named in either of the lawsuits. The Court of Appeals sided in favor of the Texas group of having the first copyright; however, the court found that since the two companies operated so far apart customers would not be confused by the name. As a result, the ruling also allowed the Bost families to keep the What-A-Burger name."
Quote from: Henry on September 26, 2022, 10:06:17 AM
This sort of reminds me of the Burger King off I-57 that is completely unrelated to the national chain of the same name. I must confess, I've never had anything from either Whataburger or What-A-Burger, but their choices are far more intriguing than the standard fare from BK/McDonalds/Wendy's. Definitely bucket list material, and I'll check them out on my next trip south.
The chain we know of as Burger King had to go by Hungry Jack's in Australian markets because of an unrelated Burger King already in existence there as well, I believe.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 25, 2022, 10:20:56 PM
Quote from: Takumi on September 25, 2022, 07:15:03 PM
The Virginia What-A-Burger mentioned still has a few locations around the south side of Richmond, usually where there are no similar restaurants close by. One was snuffed out by a Cook Out opening a few blocks away a few years ago.
They also have probably the laziest company slogan I've ever seen: "meal on a bun" .
My understanding was that the Colonial Heights one specifically closed due to the US 1/US 301 Boulevard Reconstruction a few years ago.
Yeah, that probably finished it off (the parking lot was still intact throughout the whole debacle, but the construction was such a mess that driving through there was a mess for longer than it should have been) but it was doomed when Cook Out opened and never recovered.
Add to the mix: Whatta-Burger.
https://whatta-burger.com/
Quote from: ZLoth on September 26, 2022, 09:04:13 AM
I know this is sacrilege, but if I want a good burger from a chain, I go to.... Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (https://markholtz.info/freddys). Sorry, not In-And-Out for this former Californian or What-A-Burger for this Texan. They're OK, but I've found better. If I really want a good burger, I head to one of the local family owned eateries. Of course, I'm always time-challenged, so What-A-Burger it is then.
After moving to Texas, I do miss Carl's Jr and the pile-of-sin called the "Western Bacon Cheeseburger". The closest locations are in Anna and Rockwall. Both are at least a 30-minute drive away, and one is even longer if I want to avoid utilizing the toll road.
There is a Freddy's in Norman, but it's never found its way onto our regular rotation because it's 1) on the west side and 2) it is at a very busy intersection and seems to be inevitably on the "wrong corner" of said intersection for most any path I'd be taking through the area.
I like Whataburger's food a lot, but the one here in Norman is always so colossally swamped that any sojourn through there is guaranteed to take 30 minutes, sometimes longer. Who would have thought that having one location in a city of 100,000+ (a good chunk of which are Texans here for college) wouldn't work out so well? I basically only use Whataburger as an option when I'm in some other city and I notice that the line isn't backed up all to hell.
My experience at In-N-Out has been much more pleasant in comparison. I've only been there twice, but the wait was short and the food was good both times. I imagine my experience might differ if I were to go there a whole bunch or visit a location with a lot of expat Californians nearby.
Carl's Jr. is meh. The flavors of their food are good but the presentation always leaves something to be desired. Burgers usually come with wilted lettuce and ten gallons of mayo. I'm always tempted to buy it plain and add the condiments at home, but if I have to do that, why the hell am I buying a burger from someone else in the first place?
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 26, 2022, 08:25:06 PM
Carl's Jr. is meh. The flavors of their food are good but the presentation always leaves something to be desired. Burgers usually come with wilted lettuce and ten gallons of mayo. I'm always tempted to buy it plain and add the condiments at home, but if I have to do that, why the hell am I buying a burger from someone else in the first place?
So you don't have to cook a hamburger?
The closest I normally can get to a Whataburger/In n Out in my travels is New Mexico's version: Blake's Lotaburger.
I have gladly stayed away from In-N-Out, and still have zero interest in even stepping foot in one of those.
Quote from: jgb191 on October 27, 2022, 12:30:12 AM
I have gladly stayed away from In-N-Out, and still have zero interest in even stepping foot in one of those.
I'm on a trip to Las Vegas at the moment. On the way here, we stopped at a Whataburger in Amarillo. Two days later, we had In-N-Out in Las Vegas.
In-N-Out blew Whataburger out of the water. It wasn't even close. And I'm traveling with a Texan, who agreed with that assessment.
(On the day in between, we ate at Carl's Jr. in Winslow, Arizona. It was meh.)
^ I think several others chains and local burger joints blow Whataburger out of the water. Whataburger products just aren't the same as it used to be back in the days. But Whataburger does have something In-N-Out won't sell....chicken sandwiches/products. It is for that reason In-N-Out will always be "Out" of my consideration.
Fair enough, I suppose. I like Whataburger's chicken (although I don't order it very often because it makes the wait even longer).
One thing that was sort of weird about the Whataburger in Amarillo was that it required a password to get into the bathroom. That was a new one for me. I don't think the one in Norman is like that.
Water burger
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 12:33:30 AM
Quote from: jgb191 on October 27, 2022, 12:30:12 AM
I have gladly stayed away from In-N-Out, and still have zero interest in even stepping foot in one of those.
I'm on a trip to Las Vegas at the moment. On the way here, we stopped at a Whataburger in Amarillo. Two days later, we had In-N-Out in Las Vegas.
In-N-Out blew Whataburger out of the water. It wasn't even close. And I'm traveling with a Texan, who agreed with that assessment.
(On the day in between, we ate at Carl's Jr. in Winslow, Arizona. It was meh.)
Were you standing on the corner?
Quote from: jgb191 on October 27, 2022, 12:30:12 AM
I have gladly stayed away from In-N-Out, and still have zero interest in even stepping foot in one of those.
Just because they don't have chicken sandwiches?
Quoteit makes the wait even longer
Waitaburger?
Quote from: texaskdog on October 27, 2022, 06:33:45 AM
Were you standing on the corner?
There actually is a corner designated as
the corner. We didn't bother to go find it. We might on the way back.
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 01:18:16 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on October 27, 2022, 06:33:45 AM
Were you standing on the corner?
There actually is a corner designated as the corner. We didn't bother to go find it. We might on the way back.
Look for the girl in the flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at you. She may have Whataburger.
Quote from: texaskdog on October 27, 2022, 02:43:35 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 01:18:16 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on October 27, 2022, 06:33:45 AM
Were you standing on the corner?
There actually is a corner designated as the corner. We didn't bother to go find it. We might on the way back.
Look for the girl in the flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at you. She may have Whataburger.
If she did, it'd be cold as shit by the time it got to Winslow.
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 02:53:53 PM
If she did, it'd be cold as shit by the time it got to Winslow.
pooing is cold
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 02:14:57 AM
One thing that was sort of weird about the Whataburger in Amarillo was that it required a password to get into the bathroom. That was a new one for me. I don't think the one in Norman is like that.
I've seen that twice in the past few months - fast food restaurants restrooms with a cypher lock requiring a four digit PIN. Maybe to keep vagrants (or perverts) out?
Quote from: dlsterner on October 27, 2022, 03:04:32 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 02:14:57 AM
One thing that was sort of weird about the Whataburger in Amarillo was that it required a password to get into the bathroom. That was a new one for me. I don't think the one in Norman is like that.
I've seen that twice in the past few months - fast food restaurants restrooms with a cypher lock requiring a four digit PIN. Maybe to keep vagrants (or perverts) out?
That's my guess. In this case, it was five digits though–98765 for the women's and 54321 for the men's. (I overheard the clerk telling a woman the code and tried punching it in for the men's, and it didn't work, so I had to go back and ask for the men's.)
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 26, 2022, 08:25:06 PM
Quote from: ZLoth on September 26, 2022, 09:04:13 AM
After moving to Texas, I do miss Carl's Jr and the pile-of-sin called the "Western Bacon Cheeseburger". The closest locations are in Anna and Rockwall. Both are at least a 30-minute drive away, and one is even longer if I want to avoid utilizing the toll road.
Carl's Jr. is meh. The flavors of their food are good but the presentation always leaves something to be desired. Burgers usually come with wilted lettuce and ten gallons of mayo. I'm always tempted to buy it plain and add the condiments at home, but if I have to do that, why the hell am I buying a burger from someone else in the first place?
The only "veggie" on a Western Bacon Cheeseburger is the onion rings. Like I said, it's a pile-of-sin. The only other thing I miss is the Bacon Swiss Chicken Sandwich, but not as much. Considering that the last time I visited a Carl's Jr was July, 2021, I guess I don't miss them
that much.
The challenge I have with In-N-Out burgers is they have good burgers, but a long wait time and not-so-great fries.
To each their own.... There are several good small hamburger places to try around here.
Quote from: dlsterner on October 27, 2022, 03:04:32 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 02:14:57 AM
One thing that was sort of weird about the Whataburger in Amarillo was that it required a password to get into the bathroom. That was a new one for me. I don't think the one in Norman is like that.
I've seen that twice in the past few months - fast food restaurants restrooms with a cypher lock requiring a four digit PIN. Maybe to keep vagrants (or perverts) out?
I've seen this at the White Castle in downtown Louisville. The restroom access code is printed on the receipt. I don't know how often it changes.
As for the Whataburger vs. In-N-Out, I've never had the latter. There wasn't one in the vicinity of the SF metro area we stayed in during our Amtrak trip three years ago, and our subsequent trip out west last year didn't really put us near one during lunch time (I guess we could have stopped at SLC) but I had researched the menu options online and was disappointed in the choices.
I had Whataburger once and was not impressed. I'd be willing to give them another chance should I have the opportunity, but I wasn't overly wowed.
[/quote]
I had Whataburger once and was not impressed. I'd be willing to give them another chance should I have the opportunity, but I wasn't overly wowed.
[/quote]
As a Texan I should love it but meh the greasy bacon burgers aren't that great, and they are incredibly slow. If you go in one with no one else there you'll be there 20 minutes. The lines at 3:30 at every location are around the block.
Quote from: ZLoth on October 27, 2022, 05:05:16 PM
The challenge I have with In-N-Out burgers is they have good burgers, but a long wait time and not-so-great fries.
This might just be a location-to-location thing. The times I've been there, both in Texas and Nevada, the wait was reasonable. Even at high noon, just across I-15 from the Strip on Tropicana, they were cranking them out despite being practically mobbed.
The same can be said for Whataburger, though. The Whataburger in Norman is nearly always exorbitantly slow, but the locations in Texas, and the one I visited in the Tulsa suburbs, had reasonable wait times.
As for the In-N-Out fries, they are definitely different enough from the typical fast-food fry I can see why some might not like them.
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 08:55:02 PM
Quote from: ZLoth on October 27, 2022, 05:05:16 PM
The challenge I have with In-N-Out burgers is they have good burgers, but a long wait time and not-so-great fries.
This might just be a location-to-location thing. The times I've been there, both in Texas and Nevada, the wait was reasonable. Even at high noon, just across I-15 from the Strip on Tropicana, they were cranking them out despite being practically mobbed.
The same can be said for Whataburger, though. The Whataburger in Norman is nearly always exorbitantly slow, but the locations in Texas, and the one I visited in the Tulsa suburbs, had reasonable wait times.
As for the In-N-Out fries, they are definitely different enough from the typical fast-food fry I can see why some might not like them.
Every fast food establishment these days is hit-or-miss for staffing. The affluent suburbs suffer more in this regard.
In-N-Out's fries are cut from real honest-to-goodness potatoes, and not some mutant tallow-soaked concoction in a frozen bag. So if you like Ronald McDonald, knock yourself out with that mutant tallow-soaked concoction in a frozen bag.
Norman's Whataburger has been slow since they built the thing; it's not a staffing issue, it's a management one. One location in a college town with a bunch of students who come up from Texas = more customers than the location can handle.
Quote from: Road Hog on October 28, 2022, 12:43:32 AM
Every fast food establishment these days is hit-or-miss for staffing. The affluent suburbs suffer more in this regard.
In-N-Out's fries are cut from real honest-to-goodness potatoes...
First statement hasn't been true for a while now. I find that things have returned to some places being well-run and others not so much. I don't see a correlation to wealthy suburbs.
In one of the wealthy suburbs here, the Sonic stinks, but other places are staffed well enough. It's not a situation where a blanket statement can be made.
I didn't find In-N-Out's fries particularly memorable. Then again, I prefer the fries some diners serve where they are hefty chunks of potato. Also like Five Guys fries...
Quote from: Rothman on October 28, 2022, 06:57:37 AM
Quote from: Road Hog on October 28, 2022, 12:43:32 AM
Every fast food establishment these days is hit-or-miss for staffing. The affluent suburbs suffer more in this regard.
In-N-Out's fries are cut from real honest-to-goodness potatoes...
First statement hasn't been true for a while now. I find that things have returned to some places being well-run and others not so much. I don't see a correlation to wealthy suburbs.
In one of the wealthy suburbs here, the Sonic stinks, but other places are staffed well enough. It's not a situation where a blanket statement can be made.
That's why I said it is hit-or-miss lol
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2022, 01:18:16 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on October 27, 2022, 06:33:45 AM
Were you standing on the corner?
There actually is a corner designated as the corner. We didn't bother to go find it. We might on the way back.
You can see it in GSV. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0235234,-110.6979455,3a,15y,246.7h,84.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4sS5N53Cm5hGKdkscxm1iQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) I took a selfie there last year. It's nothing special but it's easier to get to than the Meteor Crater (https://meteorcrater.com/) (which is special and worth visiting).