What does your DQ carry that is a little different than others?

[mcdonaat]

My local DQ carries the Dude sandwich, tacos, taco salad, nachos deluxe, steak finger baskets, and chili cheese burgers. The catch is that my local DQ is NOT in Texas, but we still have the Texas DQ foods (and the DQ Ultimate).

A DQ that I went to in Zwolle, LA, had the Dude, catfish baskets, jalitos, and deals on the Hungr-Buster after a certain time of night. It's weird to sit in a dining room eating a Belt Buster with jalitos, a cup that says "That's what I like about Texas", and two tacos, but see a Louisiana highway sign right outside. Zwolle is about 20 minutes from the state line with TX as well.

Anyone else have a unique DQ item that's only served at their store? Someone told me that a DQ in Mississippi had something called the Megadog, which might be like a garbage dog from Weinerschnitzel.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, our local DQ has all-you-can-eat red beans and rice on Wednesdays, with onion rings and hushpuppies.

[hbelkins]

Once upon a time, our DQ had a salad bar and hot food bar with only one entree -- except when they had a seafood night, which people loved. That was a carryover from when the restaurant was a Druther's (a Kentucky chain) and was eliminated when the restaurant changed ownership.

[Takumi]

Mine only sells desserts, but has a Jersey Mike's attached. Does that count?

[mcdonaat]

Mine only sells desserts, but has a Jersey Mike's attached. Does that count?

Just desserts? One in Opelousas is a walkup-only, with a drive thru of course, but it has only desserts, and a combo menu of #1-4, all served with chips. The killer deal is the #4, a chili cheese dog with chips and a drink for dirt cheap. I always get my #4 with BBQ Lays and a Pibb for $2.95 AFTER TAX. You can't beat that at all. Period.

[KEVIN_224]

The only one here is in Berlin, CT, walking distance from their Amtrak station. It's not open at all from say Halloween until mid-to-late March. Due to limited space, it has no dining room. The drive thru exit is sloped as is dangerous if you don't look to your left first for traffic. They also don't have some of the Brazier items either.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Amtrak+Station+-+BER/@41.634716,-72.767033,3a,75y,199.51h,89.05t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1svL2k2r6eawoyH8SqUnvnWQ!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e7b3868d735a21:0xc7c0a2c47850f971!6m1!1e1

[SP Cook]

Dairy Queen's significant differences are pretty much related to lose franchising back in the past.  Franchisees have a lot more leeway than most other chains, but on the other side, new things DQ comes out with after a franchise is sold are often not included.

Generally, Texas and Pennsylvania are very unique.  Almost unrelated to the national brand.  (Texas DQ even has its own website and the main one treats Texas like it is another country). 

Over the years I have seen "ice cream only" DQs, which often close seasonally; DQs that bought only the ice cream and have their own food; Braziers, and the newest Grill and Chill types.

You also, despite DQ belonging to certified a**hole Warren Buffett, the largest stockholder in Coke, see Coke and Pepsi at the franchisee's choice.

A couple of unique ones I can think of.

Mercer county, WV and Tazewell county, VA DQs have their own food.   Similar, but in generic wrappings (ice cream products are in DQ logoed materials).  Food is a lot better. 

Hinton, WV is also an ice cream only deal with its own food.  And a glass walled dining room that goes out over the New River. 

Several Pilot and Flying J truck stops have DQs.  Several, at least in Virginia, do not have deep fryers because of being inside such a large building, and thus do not have fries (chips instead) or chicken strips. 

As to my local DQ, the only things on the "local menu" are a BBQ and fried mushrooms.

[Brandon]

Not a clue what is really different, but here, DQ is local ice cream.  The first DQ was in downtown Joliet.

[hbelkins]

There used to be a "Local Favorites" section of the menu at my local DQ, but I don't recall anything special having been on it. I haven't eaten anything from there in years, and DQ isn't exactly the fast food chain I seek out when I am traveling and need a quick bite to eat.

Only old-style DQ (window service only) that I know of in this area in in Winchester. I think it's still seasonally open, but I'm not sure.

[mcdonaat]

As to my local DQ, the only things on the "local menu" are a BBQ and fried mushrooms.

Our "local menu" had the footlong chili cheese dog, crispy fish sandwich, Texas T-brand Tacos, and steak finger basket. Now, just the steak finger basket and crispy fish remain under "Favorites" or some other name. I know that the Cheese Curds are a mandatory item, and the prices vary wildly. We have three DQs in our direct area, and the prices for the cheese curds vary from $1.49 for a small order to $4.99 for a small order, up to almost $7 for a large order. The one I stopped at in Many, LA had the new DQ Bakes! menu redesign, but with the Texas DQ menu pieced in to make it look like a hybrid. There were actually two #9 choices, one for a quesadilla melt that's standard at most DQ locations now, and the other #9 was for three tacos with a drink.

There is an "ice cream only" DQ that serves only ice cream and Orange Julius items, but it also has the few combo choices with chips and a drink. I've noticed that any ice cream choice is MUCH quicker than a Brazier location (also known as a DQ Restaurant on signage along the Interstate) or Grill and Chill. What's even more strange is that along US 190 directly to the west, about 15 minutes away, is a DQ Brazier with the old signage, and a full menu of everything. If you're in a drive thru, there's no difference between a Grill and Chill and a Brazier, since the menus are exactly the same.

I can honestly say that I've never been to a DQ that served Pepsi instead of Coke. I do know that I've only been to one DQ that served Sprite Zero, and it does taste better in a fountain than regular Sprite.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Many older DQs are also rebranding as Grill & Chill for standardization purposes. My local DQ hasn't changed one iota in decades yet was rebranded as one recently. It also closes for a month randomly starting before Christmas continuing through late January.

[Duke87]

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been to a Dairy Queen. I had no idea there were these sorts of variations!

Interestingly, there is a DQ in the town where I grew up, but I've never been to that one.

[Pete from Boston]

I recall sit-downs being rarer than seasonal walk-ups in New Jersey.  There was no meaningful difference in the food or ice cream offerings within those categories to a casual customer like myself.