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.
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? 
White Castle
Chicken Holiday
Eat n’ Park - (mainly for the smiley face cookies)
Friendly’s
Le Peep
I wouldn’t go to Chick-Fil-A or Cracker Barrel. They both discriminate against Gays and Lesbians.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
There’s a small chain out in WA State (mostly in Eastern WA, I believe) called Zip’s Drive-In. 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.
God, In-N-Out. I miss it weekly.
Rubio’s fish tacos restaurants, which are mostly in California. They also have shrimp tacos and maybe even lobster burritos there.
A couple of DC-area chains:
Red, Hot, and Blue. – Delicious barbecue. Founded by Lee Atwater, Republican representative and political strategist.
The Original Pancake House. Their Dutch Baby pancake is heavenly, and I’ve never seen them anywhere else.
Junior’s Cheesecake. 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.
I’m in Arizona but I miss 2 chains from the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.
Of course, Phoenix has Del Taco which is not yet in Dallas.
Someone has suggested that this thread might do as well or better in Cafe Society, and thus I"ve moved it.
samclem Moderator, IMHO.
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…
The location on Central isn’t the bad part of town, that’s my neighborhood!
I agree, except for the unsweetened tea.
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.