# Favorite restaurants you can't get at home **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910 "2010-08-02T17:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/21 "2010-08-02T21:32:01Z")
I live in Florida, but travel often for work. When I’m in California, I make a point of stopping at a place called Todai, a Sushi buffet restaurant chain. I’m also fond of In-N-Out. If I’m in the midwest (which usually means Detroit-area for me), I make sure I stop at White Castle. Just want to add that while frozen White Castle sliders from the supermarket are fair representations, they don’t come with pickles like they do in the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/22 "2010-08-02T21:35:42Z")
I won’t pretend that Fazoli’s is some highfalutin’ Italian joint, but for fast food it wasn’t too bad. They skedaddled out of town about 10 years ago, never to return. Boston Market left here a couple of years ago, their former building renovated & occupied by McDonald’s. ☹ I just want variety, is that too much to ask? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/23 "2010-08-02T21:41:08Z")
White Castle Chicken Holiday Eat n’ Park - (mainly for the smiley face cookies) Friendly’s Le Peep ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/24 "2010-08-02T21:44:09Z")
I wouldn’t go to Chick-Fil-A or Cracker Barrel. They both discriminate against Gays and Lesbians. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/25 "2010-08-02T21:45:48Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I won’t pretend that Fazoli’s is some highfalutin’ Italian joint, but for fast food it wasn’t too bad. They skedaddled out of town about 10 years ago, never to return. They did the same here only a year or two ago. I was just getting to really like them, too. The only options for quick Italian food that’s not homemade now is either pizza delivery or…Olive Garden. And frankly, Fazoli’s was better than Olive Garden. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/26 "2010-08-02T22:45:20Z")
I’m with the OP on Raising Cane’s - I tried one of those in Vegas and they are awesome! I really miss the chains from Texas we don’t (yet) have in San Diego. We now have Chick-Fil-A and Sonic. We still don’t have a Salt Lick or County Line BBQ. Yes, we have Phil’s BBQ which is a Kansas City style, but seriously? That’s a poor substitute. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/27 "2010-08-02T23:03:44Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I live in Israel, so you would think there would be great - or good, or at least decent - kosher deli here. There isn’t. It’s one thing I really miss about being in the States. > > My favorite kosher deli is [Mr. Broadway](http://www.mrbroadwaykosher.com/) in New York City. We always used to eat there when we were in New York. > > My daughter was recently in New York for a visit, and she went there. I was trying to figure out a way for her to get a sandwich back to me. It didn’t work out, unfortunately. You can get a mean deli-style sandwich at Ruben in Tel Aviv (112 Yehuda Halevi, near the corner of Karlibach). They’re right by my house, and I eat there all the time. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/28 "2010-08-02T23:10:28Z")
Graeter’s ice cream in Cincy is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Nothing else is close. The area I live in now has every chain restaurant I could want and lots of great local places, but I haven’t found a match for Graeter’s here yet. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/29 "2010-08-02T23:15:37Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > Graeter’s ice cream in Cincy is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Nothing else is close. Damn. I was right across the street from one, and my girlfriend said “Oooh, Graeter’s!” But I wasn’t in the mood for ice cream at the time. Now I may never know! _sob_ ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/30 "2010-08-02T23:53:07Z")
I used to love a chain called **El Toritos** in suburban Washington and Boston, but they are apparently defunct now. They had a so-called “Outrageous Chimichanga” which was about three and a half pounds of deep-fried deliciousness. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/31 "2010-08-03T00:45:45Z")
There’s a small chain out in WA State (mostly in Eastern WA, I believe) called [Zip’s Drive-In](http://www.zipsdrivein.com/). They used to have a lot of locations but their numbers have dwindled over the years. Each restaurant is independently owned and operated, it seems, because it can be really hit or miss quality-wise and some of the stores carry slightly different menu items. There is a location though in Richland, WA, on Lee Blvd, that is so stupid good that I have to go there anytime I’m back home visiting my family. There are certainly much better burger places around where I live now (Chicago) but there is also something unique and delicious about Zip’s. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/32 "2010-08-03T02:12:51Z")
God, In-N-Out. I miss it weekly. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/33 "2010-08-03T02:16:46Z")
Rubio’s fish tacos restaurants, which are mostly in California. They also have shrimp tacos and maybe even lobster burritos there. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/34 "2010-08-03T02:48:25Z")
A couple of DC-area chains: [Red, Hot, and Blue](http://redhotandblue.com/). – Delicious barbecue. Founded by Lee Atwater, Republican representative and political strategist. [The Original Pancake House](http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/). Their Dutch Baby pancake is heavenly, and I’ve never seen them anywhere else. [Junior’s Cheesecake](http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/). Best cheesecake in the world (the Cheesecake Factory isn’t even in the same game, let alone the same ballpark). Great deli sandwiches, too. The last real kosher deli around here closed about 25 years ago, but that’s common; it hard to find a real kosher deli even in New York City. It’s all “kosher-style,” which isn’t the same. Unless they refuse to sell you milk with your roast beef sandwich, it’s not kosher. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/35 "2010-08-03T02:51:38Z")
I’m in Arizona but I miss 2 chains from the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. [Taco Cabana](http://www.tacocabana.com/) [Taco Bueno](http://www.tacobueno.com/) Of course, Phoenix has [Del Taco](http://deltaco.com/) which is not yet in Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/36 "2010-08-03T02:57:28Z")
Someone has suggested that this thread might do as well or better in Cafe Society, and thus I"ve moved it. **samclem** Moderator, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/37 "2010-08-03T02:59:38Z")
> [@rayman5321](#): > > I wouldn’t go to Chick-Fil-A or Cracker Barrel. They both discriminate against Gays and Lesbians. As far as hiring them, you mean? I don’t think it’s something they can ask about in an interview or on an application.. Chick-Fil-A also discriminates against Jews, in a way, by being open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/38 "2010-08-03T03:15:15Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > Not me, but my father moved from Phoenix to California (Originally Laguna Hills, but now Ventura) and his favorite gift from me on holidays is [Honey Bear’s BBQ](http://www.honeybearsbbq.com/index.html). > > So about every other road trip out to see him, we drive to the “bad part of town” to purchase Honey Bear’s and then stuff it all in an ice chest with cold packs for the 7+ hour drive. > > But man, they do have some incredible barbeque pork sandwiches. Daaayum. The location on Central isn’t the bad part of town, that’s my neighborhood! ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/39 "2010-08-03T03:34:00Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > In & Out Burger - Had a meal there in Vegas. Dayum. I agree, except for the unsweetened tea. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910/40 "2010-08-03T03:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a small chain out in WA State (mostly in Eastern WA, I believe) called Zip’s Drive-In. I remember them! When I went to Gonzaga, their nearby location pretty much kept me alive. Is the one in Kennewick near the mall any good? While we’re discussing eastern Washington, there are two locations of Arctic Circle in Yakima. It’s a burger chain with superb chicken sandwiches, fries with a great buttery taste, and that amazing condiment known as fry sauce (which they supposedly invented). There are a ton in Utah, but the rest are scattered across the West. Does anyone know if Godfathers’s Pizza is still around? They’re the only national chain of pizza that I liked, especially their delectable dessert pizza. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-restaurants-you-cant-get-at-home/548910.md?page=3)