Restaurant chains you wish you had near you

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ahenkel

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2009
5,359
3
81
I'd like to get the Taco Time that just closed back. I just want different owners.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,829
184
106
St. Hubert's if you've ever been to Montreal. You get a LOT of food for $15.

More McDonalds. There aren't any close to my regular haunts or work. Stuck with Burger King, which I tolerate.
 

adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
78
91
Anything I would want would never come here as far as chain resturaunts because I am in such a rural area, but here they are -

Nobu
In N Out
Jack in the Box

I would really like a real italian place around here though, no one around here does it any justice. Doesnt have to be a chain or anything, just something italian.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,135
1,594
126
None.
Chain restaurants are for gastronomic cowards who'll eat anything seen on TV. Take the blue pill and strap your helmet on.
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,429
0
0
So much good food that I don't have access to, as for whatever reason, the chain does not have a local facility.

1. Panda express. When i lived in Nevada, I once ate there every day sometimes twice a day for a solid month.
2. Red Robyn. Good burgers and endless baskets of seasoned fries? Count me in.
3. Steak and Shake. Great small fries, excellent shakes and tasty burgers. I once drove 200 miles roundtrip to get a bag of burgers for my wife. That store has now closed. Gas was 1.10 back then.

In and Out

All the above. Chick-fil-a was on my list but I just discovered two in the Boston area.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,816
83
91
surprised Dunkin Donuts hasn't come up from the west coasters, I'd be lost without it.

can't drive a mile in any directions in NJ without passing two.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,135
1,594
126
They went out of business because you wanted convenience and started going to the chains.

They went out of business because most people can't tell the difference between real food and fillers. Plus, they've been trained to eat anything that's nationally advertised because they're also afraid to try anything new.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
So much good food that I don't have access to, as for whatever reason, the chain does not have a local facility.

1. Panda express. When i lived in Nevada, I once ate there every day sometimes twice a day for a solid month.
2. Red Robyn. Good burgers and endless baskets of seasoned fries? Count me in.
3. Steak and Shake. Great small fries, excellent shakes and tasty burgers. I once drove 200 miles roundtrip to get a bag of burgers for my wife. That store has now closed. Gas was 1.10 back then.

Haha, the wife and I did this after watching Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. Nearest Steak and Shake is 2 hours away and it was around 1am when we left to go there.

What I wish is a place called Tasty Tacos..it's a local chain.
 

bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
4,504
2
0
I've had:

In-N-Out - Best Burgers Ever.

5 Guys (several open near me now) - a close second. 5 guys has better fries.

Red Robin - Not impressed. Seems like a Chili's or TGIF without the fun, and a limited menu.

Panda Express - Horrific. Never had anything good here.

Steak and Shake - if you discount that a waiter stole my phone and sold the SIM that was used to call jamaica for $3344, than its good food, really terrible service. Seriously bad, like I see the folks in the drive through selling dope. Then again this is sofla. I've had good steak and shake elsewhere.

Pei Wei is passable. Its not quite great, but it will do very good for lunch.

Hungry Howies is great (they have one near me way deeeeeep south, local franchise). Its decent pie for what it is. It'll never beat any of the local places though.

Chik-Fil-A - OMG awesome! Eat here. Thankfully FL is full of em!

Krispy Kreme - Maybe 30 years ago, now they don't actually make donuts in the store, they just warm them over and are trucked in. They have krispy kreme in every single gas station everywhere. Its not good anymore.

DD - bigtime change from 10 years back. Donuts suck, coffee is swill. I can't get a proper balance anywhere I go, most of the time they want to make candy for me when I want coffee.

Jack-In-The-Box - Not bad fast food. I like it but it doesn't rise to the level of 5 guys or in-n-out.

Del Taco - I really really wish we had this. Taco bell is horrific. Del Taco is fresh and good.

Taco Bell - Looks and smells the same going in and out.

Krystal - (white castle clone) Not that great.

Checkers/Rally's (anywhere that doesn't have these fries is a place I won't move.)

I've yet to eat at whataburger.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
I'd like a good fast food burger joint. Best we have in Minnesota is Wendy's.

I normally love little independently owned ethnic restaurants, and there are plenty of those near me. But sometimes a good fast food burger is all I want. I've heard good things about In-N-Out and Jack In The Box. Neither of which has a location closer than two states away.
 

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,760
12
81
This.

I'm moving, though, so the problem will be resolved.

You're moving to the land of chain restaurants, my friend. My inlaws live in Scottsdale, and they love all that stuff.

My brother in law took me to a place called Chino Bandido in Chandler. You gotta hit that place when you get out there.
 

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,760
12
81
For reference, Northern VA. So if anyone knows where I can find one of these close by, let me know:

Church's Chicken. The last time I had it was in Pennsauken, NJ, years ago. It shared space with a White Castle. Sadly, neither place is still there. The honey biscuits are just too damn good.

In-N-Out. I don't visit San Diego or Phoenix without going.

Come to think of it, those are the only 2. We have a lot of the chains here, and I don't really eat a ton of chain/fast food anyway.

EDIT: OMG. There is a Church's at Ft. Belvoir. I might need to go.
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,668
1
81
Round Table Pizza - Regional chain mainly west coast. Grew up on it and totally miss it.

Togo's - Northern California based chain, may be some in southern california now. Again grew up on it and miss it.

Chevy's - Wife used to work there in college when we lived in California, there there is some stuff on the menu we both miss
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,573
5,096
136
Krispy Kreme - Maybe 30 years ago, now they don't actually make donuts in the store, they just warm them over and are trucked in. They have krispy kreme in every single gas station everywhere. Its not good anymore.


While I agree the proliferation of KK's donuts selling everywher has not been a great move, too bad your KK stores quit making them fresh.

We've got two I know of that still do. What a glorious sight it is to be in a Krispy Kreme at 5AM, buying a cup of coffee and a fresh glazed KK donut, while you watch through a glass wall KK donuts being made.....the icing is the best part. Makes your teeth ache from just watching.
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
38
91
i have steak n shake and whitecastles near me. i wouldnt consider either one anything special though, odd anyone mentioned them. Can't really think of any place i ate elsewhere that i wished was near, maybe a Cracker barrels or Sonic i guess.
 

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,199
666
126
California -

White Castle/Krystal
CiCi's Pizza
WhataBurger
Arctic Circle - Blackberry Milkshake
Tommy Burger - chili burger goodness from LA
Buffalo Wild Wings
 
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