# Chain restaurants that are actually excellent **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834 "2015-06-18T08:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/141 "2015-06-21T20:05:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > \ I solidly and totally disagree about Cheesecake Factory- it’s overpriced, and the service is horrendous. The Owner makes everyone wait extra time as the lines thus created create an illusion they are hard to get into. \*\*Using my time to promote his restaurant is simply unethical. \*\*\ My daughter was a hostess at our downtown Cheesecake Factory for almost a year, last year. I asked her about this, and she said that this does not happen at her location. I would guess it’s not a chain policy, but something an individual site might do. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/142 "2015-06-22T15:11:45Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > I mentioned Popeye’s, which is fast food, but no sit-down restaurant tops their fried chicken. We’ve got a sit-down chain around here called Ravanelli’s that has excellent fried chicken. Much better than Popeye’s. It’s a local chain though. And back when Hardee’s had fried chicken, it was better than Popeye’s too. Gotta say though, I do think Popeye’s is much better than the other chicken chains like Church’s or KFC. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/143 "2015-06-22T15:53:30Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > We’ve got a sit-down chain around here called Ravanelli’s that has excellent fried chicken. Much better than Popeye’s. It’s a local chain though. > > And back when Hardee’s had fried chicken, it was better than Popeye’s too. Gotta say though, I do think Popeye’s is much better than the other chicken chains like Church’s or KFC. Maybe it depends on the skill of local employees. I grew up in Georgia, so I know from Southern fried chicken. The two Popeye’s locations near me produce amazing chicken. The only sit-down place in Atlanta that (sometimes) comes close is the Colonnade. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/144 "2015-06-22T23:36:19Z")
There’s a Thai chain of chicken stands called Five Star Chicken that beats Popeye’s and everyone else. These are not sit-down restaurants though. Not even fast-food joints. They’re street carts licensed out, but they’ve expanded to other countries in this region too. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/145 "2015-06-23T01:46:33Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Based on the OP, I believe a distinction needs to be made regarding the term “restaurant” (which I failed to consider in my previous post). To me a restaurant is an eating place that has table service that has a server take your order, bring it to your table and take care of drinks and other needs (salad bar excluded). > > With this definition, _5 Guys_ is not a restaurant, it is a fast food eatery. I know nothing about _In & Out_ but clearly McD’s, BK, Wendy’s, etc do not belong in this discussion. > > Are there others already discussed that fail to meet this definition? I would call 5 Guys and Smashburger Fast Casual places. More like Chipotle than say an Applebees. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/146 "2015-06-23T03:13:04Z")
[The Hat](http://www.thehat.com/) Strictly LA area, but really good. I have a challenge for my debate team: if any two of them can completely eat an order of [pastrami chili cheese fries](http://www.poisonappleshirts.com/ohsofat/020809hat.jpg), I’ll buy their meals at the next couple of tournaments. I haven’t had to pay out yet. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/147 "2015-06-23T03:46:48Z")
I would never eat at a Cracker Barrel, too much racism and homophobia in their background. > **[Cracker Barrel | Controversies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_Barrel#Controversies)** > > In early 1991, an intra-company memo called for employees to be dismissed if they did not display "normal heterosexual values". According to news reports, at least 11 employees were fired under the policy on a store-by-store basis from locations in Georgia and other states. After demonstrations by gay rights groups, the company ended its policy in March 1991 and stated it would not discriminate based on sexual orientation. The company's founder, Dan Evins, subsequently described Cracker Barrel a... ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/148 "2015-06-23T04:15:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > There’s a Thai chain of chicken stands called Five Star Chicken that beats Popeye’s and everyone else. These are not sit-down restaurants though. Not even fast-food joints. They’re street carts licensed out, but they’ve expanded to other countries in this region too. I wonder if you could expand on that. It is hard to imagine a street-cart that serves good fried chicken. Do they fry it in the cart, or fry it in the morning and keep it hot in a steam tray or something? I can’t imagine fried chicken that is any good that is not freshly fried. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/149 "2015-06-23T04:23:32Z")
Another foreign-owned restaurant chain that’s slowly expanding into the U.S. is Bonchon. It does Korean fried chicken and some other Korean dishes. I’ve only tried it once though, so I’m not going to label it as “excellent” yet. I’ll try it a few more times before I’m willing to say that. Incidentally, the usual definition of “restaurant” includes fast-food places. You may use the term “restaurant” in your own way if you wish, but that’s not the standard definition of the word. It certainly appears, for instance, that most posters to this thread are using the term to include fast-food places. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/150 "2015-06-23T14:34:14Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I wonder if you could expand on that. It is hard to imagine a street-cart that serves good fried chicken. Do they fry it in the cart, or fry it in the morning and keep it hot in a steam tray or something? I can’t imagine fried chicken that is any good that is not freshly fried. I can’t comment on that particular chain, but when I lived in Indonesia, you’d see food carts that had a gas powered deep fryer built in. There was a guy who would make these rice puff things to order and then season them with different spices that were amazing. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/151 "2015-06-23T16:18:39Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Based on the OP, I believe a distinction needs to be made regarding the term “restaurant” (which I failed to consider in my previous post). To me a restaurant is an eating place that has table service that has a server take your order, bring it to your table and take care of drinks and other needs (salad bar excluded). > > With this definition, _5 Guys_ is not a restaurant, it is a fast food eatery. I know nothing about _In & Out_ but clearly McD’s, BK, Wendy’s, etc do not belong in this discussion. > > Are there others already discussed that fail to meet this definition? If it is a business that serves food prepared on site, it is a restaurant. There are subcategories, notably fast-food restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/152 "2015-06-25T01:46:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > There’s a Thai chain of chicken stands called Five Star Chicken that beats Popeye’s and everyone else. These are not sit-down restaurants though. Not even fast-food joints. They’re street carts licensed out, but they’ve expanded to other countries in this region too. > [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I wonder if you could expand on that. It is hard to imagine a street-cart that serves good fried chicken. Do they fry it in the cart, or fry it in the morning and keep it hot in a steam tray or something? I can’t imagine fried chicken that is any good that is not freshly fried. They fry it on the spot, and it’s very good. The franchise is owned by Charoen Pokphand Foods, the agribusiness arm of a huge Thai conglomerate called Charoen Pokphand Group or CP Group. Just thought of a local pizza chain called [Scoozi](http://www.scoozipizza.com/en/index.php). Lots of locations all over Bangkok. Excellent and not too pricey. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/153 "2015-06-25T13:06:10Z")
I can think of a few, but they all seem to be Chicago-based: **Al’s Italian Beef** : Oh, yeah. They did just open one in [Dallas](http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150312/little-italy/als-italian-beef-opens-texas-people-there-go-nuts-for-it)and people loved it. I’ve always been amazed that Italian Beef sandwiches haven’t gotten more widespread. **Brown’s Chicken** : They were hands-down my favorite fried chicken joint for years. Not sure if they are still as good, as I usually go for something more ethnic when I’m back in the region. Fried gizzards with a side of mashed and gravy was a guilty pleasure when I was a teen. **Baker’s Square** : I’m also not sure why this restaurant didn’t catch on more widely. It’s like a really, really good Denny’s with dozens of fresh pies available every day. I always liked the caramel apple pie and the French Silk, and their Cobb salad was perfect. Oh, and another vote for\*\* Panera/St. Louis Bread Co.\*\* Wish I had one near me–I used to live a mile away from one and would walk up there a couple times a week for an iced coffee and bagel or a deli sandwich (asiago roast beef was a favorite). I’m honestly surprised that Starbucks even survives in the same cities that have Panera. Much better coffee/tea, greater selection of sandwiches etc., and much tastier. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/154 "2015-06-25T14:02:18Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > I can think of a few, but they all seem to be Chicago-based: > > **Al’s Italian Beef** : Oh, yeah. They did just open one in [Dallas](http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150312/little-italy/als-italian-beef-opens-texas-people-there-go-nuts-for-it)and people loved it. I’ve always been amazed that Italian Beef sandwiches haven’t gotten more widespread. Oddly enough, I happen to literally work across the street from the Dallas one. It’s ok… but Freebird’s Burrito next door is better overall. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/155 "2015-06-25T16:08:39Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > As for chains, My wife and I like the food at [Firebirds](http://omaha.firebirdsrestaurants.com/) and [Bravo](http://www.bravoitalian.com/index.html) Bravo is the one I came to say. I didn’t even realize they were a chain the first time I went to one. It doesn’t feel like a chain and the food is amazing. We especially love the oil they serve with the bread, the seasoning blend in it is incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834/156 "2015-06-26T02:55:14Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > **Baker’s Square** : I’m also not sure why this restaurant didn’t catch on more widely. It’s like a really, really good Denny’s with dozens of fresh pies available every day. I always liked the caramel apple pie and the French Silk, and their Cobb salad was perfect. I’ve only ever been to one, once, and now that location is closed. After a quick search to make sure they even still exist, I see on their map that they no longer have any locations in Michigan, but are extant. The one time I went, it seemed like a copy of Elias Brothers, which was our regional variant of the Big Boy chain. Big Boy nationwide is a big jumbled mess of different chains, but last time I ate in a Big Boy is was only labelled “Big Boy” (no more Elias Brothers), but it was identical to the Elias Brothers of old. Not sure how the Big Boys outside of Michigan work these days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-restaurants-that-are-actually-excellent/722834.md?page=7)