Local/regional fast food chains you wish were nationwide?

[formulanone]

Braum's

If I was ever rich enough I could afford a private jet, I'd hire someone to fly to Amarillo once a week and bring me two gallons of their milk. It is one of the only things I miss about Oklahoma.

We stopped by a Braun's on the way to OU and my wife was thrilled a milkshake was 'no extra charge' in their meal package, and wants them in Alabama for that reason alone. I will admit the burger and fires were better than the previous times I had them.

[texaskdog]

Rax roast beef in Minnesota. 

[Scott5114]

Living in SoCal nowadays I think In-N-Out burgers are a lot greasier than Culver's butterburgers. I got sick of it after a few days, but I never got sick of Culver's that way. Also, I don't think Culver's has really declined from going nationwide, but a lot of other great regional chains might.

I wouldn't characterize the burgers In-N-Out serves in Las Vegas as greasy at all. I'm getting the impression that In-N-Out varies a lot between region/location, since none of the complaints I've seen about them comport with my experiences.

[Scott5114]

Braum's

If I was ever rich enough I could afford a private jet, I'd hire someone to fly to Amarillo once a week and bring me two gallons of their milk. It is one of the only things I miss about Oklahoma.

We stopped by a Braun's on the way to UO and my wife was thrilled a milkshake was 'no extra charge' in their meal package, and wants them in Alabama for that reason alone. I will admit the burger and fires were better than the previous times I had them.

One of my go-to moves with Braum's was to get the "bag of burgers" (five junior burgers for cheap) and a big thing of fries. Two burgers for me, two for my wife, one to save for later (I guess you could give it to a kid if you have one), and the whole thing comes out to less than $10.

Where Braum's really shines is the grocery items, though. I don't think they sell a single bad item, and it's incredibly convenient to be able to grab a few grocery items while you're waiting on your food to be done.

[Rothman]

Living in SoCal nowadays I think In-N-Out burgers are a lot greasier than Culver's butterburgers. I got sick of it after a few days, but I never got sick of Culver's that way. Also, I don't think Culver's has really declined from going nationwide, but a lot of other great regional chains might.

I wouldn't characterize the burgers In-N-Out serves in Las Vegas as greasy at all. I'm getting the impression that In-N-Out varies a lot between region/location, since none of the complaints I've seen about them comport with my experiences.

Sounds like they have a consistency issue from franchisee to franchisee, then.  Yuk.

[roadman65]

Braums told me in an email that they will not venture more than 200 miles from its main dairy in Tutle, OK so their products keep fresh.

That's why the farthest north they go is Salina, KS and furthest west is Liberal in Kansas ( don't know how far west on I-40 they go) and as far south as the DFW area. In the east I know their in SW MO and NW AR, but how far east I'm not sure.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Not sure we have any regional fast food chains I'd like to see nationwide. 

[hbelkins]

(dislike Buc-ee's labor practices)

Huh? They pay insanely high wages for the type of work and the skills required.

Rax roast beef in Minnesota. 

At this point, I'm not sure you could call Rax a "fast food chain." They're down to single-digits nationwide.

One of my go-to moves with Braum's was to get the "bag of burgers" (five junior burgers for cheap) and a big thing of fries. Two burgers for me, two for my wife, one to save for later (I guess you could give it to a kid if you have one), and the whole thing comes out to less than $10.

How long ago was this?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Given what has happened to Culver's quality as it has expanded, best that regional brands stay regional.

People look at me like I have two heads when I say this. Sure, it's still "good" to "really good" compared to your McDonald's/BK-level choices, but it's no longer "elite."

[Rothman]

Given what has happened to Culver's quality as it has expanded, best that regional brands stay regional.

People look at me like I have two heads when I say this. Sure, it's still "good" to "really good" compared to your McDonald's/BK-level choices, but it's no longer "elite."

Nah.  I went to one in OH that was terrible compared to others I've been to.

[jgb191]

White Castle, Famous Daves, Uno Chicago Grill (or Pizzeria Uno), Hardees, Caribou Coffee, and Del Taco.  Those just off the top of my mind.

[formulanone]

(dislike Buc-ee's labor practices)

Huh? They pay insanely high wages for the type of work and the skills required.

Yeah, was wondering that as well; seems like the posted pay is pretty darn good for the skills involved. We had a similar poster out by our Athens location.

Unless there's underhanded corporate practices and some ridiculous demerit system in place ("we saw you frown twice on your 8-hour shift today, and have it on camera...each of those non-ecstatic gestures costs you $20 per offense of your daily pay, and you must retrain at your cost") it seems fair enough to deal with the public on a retail level. Sure, not everyone is going to be Lead or Manager-level but that's anywhere you go.

[Scott5114]

How long ago was this?

The last time I did it was 2023, probably summer or early fall or so. Since Braum's owns their entire supply chain, their prices didn't go up when everyone else's did. I don't know if they have caught up with everyone else's since I left Oklahoma (the last time I ate there I wasn't paying).

[Ted$8roadFan]

Wow. That is good pay.

[SectorZ]

Wow. That is good pay.

That's good pay for our state, let alone the south.

[roadman65]

Cook Out in the Carolinas 

[hbelkins]

Cook Out in the Carolinas 

That's one chain I'm glad to see in Kentucky.

Anyone familiar with Pal's?

https://www.palsweb.com/

Headquartered in Kingsport; currently 30-odd locations in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

[Rothman]

I can imagine what would happen if Cook Out went national and it would make me rage cry.

[gonealookin]

Living in SoCal nowadays I think In-N-Out burgers are a lot greasier than Culver's butterburgers. I got sick of it after a few days, but I never got sick of Culver's that way. Also, I don't think Culver's has really declined from going nationwide, but a lot of other great regional chains might.

I wouldn't characterize the burgers In-N-Out serves in Las Vegas as greasy at all. I'm getting the impression that In-N-Out varies a lot between region/location, since none of the complaints I've seen about them comport with my experiences.

Sounds like they have a consistency issue from franchisee to franchisee, then.  Yuk.

In-N-Out does not franchise; all the restaurants are company-owned.  I don't agree with a theory that their product varies between regions; maybe what varies between regions is the consumers' tastes.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Cook Out in the Carolinas 

That's one chain I'm glad to see in Kentucky.

Anyone familiar with Pal's?

https://www.palsweb.com/

Headquartered in Kingsport; currently 30-odd locations in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

I just love the name "Sudden Service". 

[formulanone]

Cook Out in the Carolinas 

That's one chain I'm glad to see in Kentucky.

Anyone familiar with Pal's?

https://www.palsweb.com/

Headquartered in Kingsport; currently 30-odd locations in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

I just love the name "Sudden Service". 

For one, they don't have to clean tables at most locations. I saw one in Kingsport which was an older location with a few indoor tables, missing that cartoonish architecture where Pee-Wee's Playhouse meets the Dutch Bros.

Good food though. I'll forgive the excess mayo and the fact the cheese rounds are a breakfast-only staple.