Local/regional fast food chains you wish were nationwide?

[CapeCodder]

Cook Out. I was intimidated by them at first, but they're pretty good.

[US 89]

Cook Out. I was intimidated by them at first, but they're pretty good.

For what it costs, Cook Out is probably the best value for fast food in the country.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Wai Po Jia (Grandma's House). Based in mainland China, serves Hangzhou cuisine.

More precisely, "Mom's Mother's House" . If the grandma was dad's mother, it would have been "Zu Mu Jia" instead. Gotta love Chinese.

[roadman65]

White Castle.

That would be nice.  Although, it's been so long since I've been to one (more than 13 years), it's entirely possible my tastes have changed since then and I wouldn't like it now.  But yeah, considering the chain started here in Wichita, it would be nice to have one within 300 miles...

Portillo's

I'd settle for fully Statewide in Illinois, first!

Hellzz to the yeah!  Shoot, I'd settle for just Kansas City, so I could stop in once a year or whatever during road trips.

You have Braums in your area. They are good.

[kphoger]

You have Braums in your area. They are good.

I was about to say I don't like crinkle-cut fries.  Then I realized both Portillo's and White Castle have crinkle-cut fries, so I got nothin'...

[Scott5114]

I personally like Braum's fries, but they don't really put much seasoning on them other than salt. So perhaps that's the difference.

[webny99]

I was about to say I don't like crinkle-cut fries.  Then I realized ...

... that crinkle-cut fries are the best, so that simply wouldn't make any sense! 

[kphoger]

I was about to say I don't like crinkle-cut fries.  Then I realized ...

... that crinkle-cut fries are the best, so that simply wouldn't make any sense! 

NOT what I said!   

[Stormwalker]

When I lived in New York a couple of years (I got back to Texas as soon as I could!) I really missed Taco Cabana.

Where else can you get actual decent Tex-Mex at 3 AM?  I mean, it's not El Fenix, but it's way better than its competitors in the "fast food Mexican" space.

[OCGuy81]

When I lived in New York a couple of years (I got back to Texas as soon as I could!) I really missed Taco Cabana.

Where else can you get actual decent Tex-Mex at 3 AM?  I mean, it's not El Fenix, but it's way better than its competitors in the "fast food Mexican" space.

I had Taco Cabana my last trip to Texas, at the suggestion of a client. For a fast food place, it was really damn good!

I also had my first Whataburger on that trip. Delicious.

[roadman65]

Now when I go to Texas I always stop at a Jack In The Box.  The best IMO.

Now that I know San Antonio has In and Out Burgers and one near the airport, I will make that my first stop after landing there.

[CoreySamson]

Yeah, Taco Cabana is an underrated place for Mexican fast food. Get the cabana bowls and the sopapillas, they're the best thing they serve. They also have apple soda at their drink machines, which is one of my favorites.

[Stormwalker]

Yeah, Taco Cabana is an underrated place for Mexican fast food. Get the cabana bowls and the sopapillas, they're the best thing they serve. They also have apple soda at their drink machines, which is one of my favorites.

Their beef enchiladas are shockingly good for a fast food place, too.  I would never have thought to order enchiladas there until my uncle recommended them.  I've been to a fair number of sit-down Tex-Mex restaurants where the enchiladas aren't as good as Taco Cabana's.

[OCGuy81]

Yeah, Taco Cabana is an underrated place for Mexican fast food. Get the cabana bowls and the sopapillas, they're the best thing they serve. They also have apple soda at their drink machines, which is one of my favorites.

Their beef enchiladas are shockingly good for a fast food place, too.  I would never have thought to order enchiladas there until my uncle recommended them.  I've been to a fair number of sit-down Tex-Mex restaurants where the enchiladas aren't as good as Taco Cabana's.

I was actually really impressed with their tortillas as well. Really good tortillas for a fast food establishment

[Rothman]

Now when I go to Texas I always stop at a Jack In The Box.  The best IMO.

They were a go-to for me about twenty-five years ago after they cleaned up after the e. coli disaster.  But, last couple of times I went there, they weren't as good as I remembered.

[kphoger]

I've only been to Jack-in-the-Box for breakfast, and I wasn't impressed.  People tell me their dinner menu is much better, though.

[cl94]

Cook Out. I was intimidated by them at first, but they're pretty good.

For what it costs, Cook Out is probably the best value for fast food in the country.

Easily. Combo meal with a decent amount of food runs $5 plus tax. Hard to find that anywhere else unless you have a coupon, plus you can effectively make a second entrée your "sides" if you so desire. It's been a must-stop for me when in their territory since I learned about them on this forum.

[Stormwalker]

Yeah, Taco Cabana is an underrated place for Mexican fast food. Get the cabana bowls and the sopapillas, they're the best thing they serve. They also have apple soda at their drink machines, which is one of my favorites.

Their beef enchiladas are shockingly good for a fast food place, too.  I would never have thought to order enchiladas there until my uncle recommended them.  I've been to a fair number of sit-down Tex-Mex restaurants where the enchiladas aren't as good as Taco Cabana's.

I was actually really impressed with their tortillas as well. Really good tortillas for a fast food establishment

Yeah, that's a good point.  I've been known to ask for some tortillas as a side along with whatever I else I get.  They're great.

[GCrites]

Cook Out. I was intimidated by them at first, but they're pretty good.

For what it costs, Cook Out is probably the best value for fast food in the country.

Easily. Combo meal with a decent amount of food runs $5 plus tax. Hard to find that anywhere else unless you have a coupon, plus you can effectively make a second entrée your "sides" if you so desire. It's been a must-stop for me when in their territory since I learned about them on this forum.

A lot of their locations are in areas (general location, not specific location) known for their cheaper commercial real estate (Appalachia, Mid-South). I wonder how the pricing model would change in areas where it averages above $18/SF.

[jeffandnicole]

Cook Out. I was intimidated by them at first, but they're pretty good.

For what it costs, Cook Out is probably the best value for fast food in the country.

Easily. Combo meal with a decent amount of food runs $5 plus tax. Hard to find that anywhere else unless you have a coupon, plus you can effectively make a second entrée your "sides" if you so desire. It's been a must-stop for me when in their territory since I learned about them on this forum.

A lot of their locations are in areas (general location, not specific location) known for their cheaper commercial real estate (Appalachia, Mid-South). I wonder how the pricing model would change in areas where it averages above $18/SF.

They have several locations along I-95, off of exits with numerous other businesses.  I don't know real estate costs in those areas, but those exits have a mix of various restaurants and stores you'll find off many interstate highway exits.

[ET21]

There's a local chain mainly in the northern and northwestern suburbs of Chicago called Brandy's. Subs, dogs, brats, gyros, etc. The quality is always good no matter which one you go to. I wish that could be experienced everywhere

[roadman65]

Fred's Market, a local restaurant in the Tampa Bay Area with one location in East Central Florida should be shared in many markets.

[kphoger]

Might it be a good thing for a good chain to remain local/regional?  A reason to look forward to going there?  Cuisine that's unique to that part of the country?

[webny99]

Might it be a good thing for a good chain to remain local/regional?  A reason to look forward to going there?  Cuisine that's unique to that part of the country?

Yes. Yes. And yes. (At least IMO.)

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Might it be a good thing for a good chain to remain local/regional?  A reason to look forward to going there?  Cuisine that's unique to that part of the country?

Yes. Yes. And yes. (At least IMO.)

Hence my continued complaints about Culver's national expansion.