Well, here in Texas, we’ve got Jack in the Box which has some of the greatest advertising known to man. But, I know there aren’t any Jacks in Louisiana, nor in Atlanta, GA, but I’m curious…who else out there has a Jack in the Box in their nieghborhood?
And what other fast food restaurants are native to your local? (just in case I’m ever traveling your way, so I know where to eat 
)
Southern California has the In And Out Burger chain.
Best hamburgers in the world. Sorry, no cite. I’m sure others will back me up though.
Please tell me you’re kidding about that name
I’ll agree on In and Out hamburgers (or at least, best fast food hamburgers).
I’ve only seen Wendy’s and Arby’s in the Northeast, and I’ve only seen Jack in the Box, In and Out, Carl’s Junior (or whatever it’s called) out here in CA. Taco Bell, McDonald’s and Burger King are everywhere, as far as I can tell.
Now if only I could trade Safeway for Wegmans…
Boom’s is only in South Dakota (only has two or three locations the last I knew) has the fantastic Boom Burger. Man I haven’t had one of those in years. Mmmmmmmm…
Anyone else know about Boom’s? Please?!?
Mr. Burger in west Michigan has a pretty mean Olive Burger. And I can’t get enough of their chilidogs with everything.
I used to like Mr. Fables, also only in w-Mich, but alas…
stv
stv
derTintenfisch, I’ve seen both Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants in Arkansas and Illinois. In fact, I think I got a case of food poisoning from the Wedy’s in Little Rock (across the street from the Dept. of Health, ironically enough).
About ten years ago, in Texas, I fell in love with What-A-Burger (or is it just Whataburger?). At the time I was told this chain only existed in the Lone Star State, but I’ve since learned that they are also in Louisiana and at least one city in Arkansas. I wish that franchise would expand to the north and east a little–I’d go out and grab a few burgers.
A year or two ago I ate at a place called–forgive the spelling–Wienerschnitzel’s (did I get it right?) in San Diego. The place sure looked like a chain restaurant, although I don’t think I’ve seen one anywhere else.
What about Sonic? I grew up in Illinois, and never saw one; here in Arkansas, they’re everywhere–they seem to be more popular even than McDonalds and Burger King. Has Sonic started colonizing the north yet?
The thing that people miss most when they move away from Sacramento CA, is Jimboy’s Tacos.
There are quite a few locations in Sacramento, enough to qualify it as a chain, but I don’t think there are any out of the Sacramento area. I know a guy who makes a three hour drive from Santa Cruz at least once a week to eat there.
I live in Texas, grew up in Corpus Christi for the most part…home of Whataburger, the place it was founded over 50 years ago. I must say, Whataburger does have some decent burgers, good shakes, very salty fries…but GAWD, you have to wait at the drive-thru FOREVER and a DAY! I now live in Austin…and I’m 5 blocks west of the Capitol Building as I sit here and type (at my secret job). Anyway, when I’m hungreh fer summ grub, this is what I have to choose from:
Jack In The Box (Jack In The Crack)–decent food, good curly-fries
Wendy’s–spent over $200 there in one month
Arby’s–been there maybe twice in 15 years
Taco Bell (Taco Hell)–can’t beat the price, food mostly lukewarm
McDonald’s–okay for breakfast, funny-smelling hamburger meat
Burger King–seems like a great value, overall good fast food
Whataburger–only if you’ve got the time (but it’s 24/7)
Wienerschnitzel–did I spell it right? had a soda there once
Sonic–nice, juicy hamburgers, good variety of food/desserts, fair price
Schlotzsky’s–FANTASTIC sandwiches on sour dough
Taco Cabana–more food, less dinero…I think NOT! fajita meat rocks
Church’s Chicken–cheap cheap, okay value
Popeye’s Chicken–expensive expensive, good and SPICY!
Kentucky Fried Chicken–don’t visit often, but damned good food
Short Stop–GREAT juicy hamburgers, cheap deals, nice slushees
Dairy Queen–dipped cones, chicken strips, hamburgers, other desserts
Dan’s/Fran’s Hamburgers–GREAT GREAT hamburgers/breakfast tacos
Long John Silvers–I’d rather eat “seafood” here than at Red Lobster
Mr Gatti’s Pizza–I worked for their regional call center, decent pizza
I’m sure there are a bazillion other places, but I’ve covered the main fast food joints…don’t EVEN get me started on the regular dine-in locations. With my busy schedule, I don’t ever cook, I just go out to eat all the time, fast food or dine-in restaurants. I consider myself an expert on the average dining places, don’t care much for the fancy schmancy, hoity toity places that are too expensive (even though I can afford them). Well, these places can be found in Austin (but I think the Wiener-place was actually in Cedar Park, to the northwest), so now you know where to go.
We have several Jack-in-the-Boxes here in NC, thought none of them are more than 2 or 3 years old.
We have a What-a-Burger that has been here since the 1950’s but I’m not sure if it’s related to the ones out west.
And I’ll just echo that In-n-Out has the best burgers 
** In and Out Burger** aint bad. In Omaha we have ** Cum and Go ** gas stations. Yes its spelled that way.
As for the OP, we had/have Jack in the Cracks in the St.Louis metro area. Checkers and Rallys seem to be a midwest/east/south thing. White Castle is also a midwest thing with the Krystal being its clone in the south. Sonic’s seem to be spreading everywhere. Didn’t we just do this a couple of weeks ago?
dead0man
Never got the In’N Out thing.Just like Wendy’s IMO,except it’s cooked to order.Not enough depth to it.the fries are terribly overrated,too.Sure they’re fresh,but they’re still served just a little past the blanching stage.French fries should be CRISP outside.Ditto the milkshakes.Yes it’s mixed in shaker w/milk,but that’s what a milkshake is.The stuff at the other joints is just ice milk given a shot in the blender,if that.
The best chain burgers I’ve encountered are Fatburger.True to it’s name it is semi-fat (thick) and cooked to order like In 'N Out,but because of the thickness it retains some juice, therefore, some meat flavor.
Mickey D’s has ruined this country’s perception of what a burger (or palatable food quality) should be.
I live near Seattle, WA. We have Jack-in-the-Boxes all over here. I love them and think they’re the best fast-food restaurant going. I have, however talked to friends in Iowa and Minnesota who had never heard of Jack, so I guess it isn’t around in that part of the country. We also have Wendy’s here, which is very good too. We’ve got Skippers…not sure how widespread that is. Taco Bell and Taco Time…Taco Time is much better. We have Arby’s, but no Hardee’s that I know of.
As far as sub shops go, we have Subway, Blimpie, and Quiznos.
On my trip to the Nashville area last week (ok, Murfreesboro and Lebanon, TN) I noticed that Jack in the Box has moved into that area in a big way - I don’t remember them being there when I lived there in 1997/1998.
Here in Atlanta we have the Varsity. I can eat there about twice a year without feeling that I’m going to have an immediate heart attack. Like the other Southern states, we also have Krystal. Another grease haven.
If you’re in Ireland, don’t forget to visit Supermacs (a disastrous local version of McDonald’s), and the famous Abrakebabra.
Where they come from (originally, as best as I can find)
**
Jack In The Box (Jack In The Crack)–San Diego, CA(?)
Wendy’s–Dublin, Ohio
Arby’s–Boardman, Ohio
Taco Bell (Taco Hell)–San Bernadino, CA
McDonald’s–San Bernadino, Ca
Burger King–Miami, FL
Whataburger–Corpus Christi, TX
Wienerschnitzel-- Newport Beach, CA
Sonic–Shawnee, OK
Schlotzsky’s–Austin Texas
Taco Cabana–San Antonio, TX (never heard of them)
Taco Time – Eugene, OR
Church’s Chicken–San Antonio, TX
Popeye’s Chicken–New Orleans, LA
Kentucky Fried Chicken–Louisville, KY
Short Stop–(never heard of them and no web presence that I can find)
Dairy Queen–Minneapolis, MN (?)
Dan’s/Fran’s Hamburgers–(Austin, TX(?): never heard of them and no web presence that I can find)
Long John Silvers–(No idea, but HQ is in Lexington, KY)
Mr Gatti’s Pizza–Austin, TX
**
Well in AZ there’s Filiberto’s / In and Out Burger, Crystal Burger,
anyone heard of Subway?
Fatburger is definitely better than In-N-Out. For one thing, they put salt and pepper on thier beef patties. You gotta cook 'em with salt and pepper, not give the customer little packets afterwards. Also Fatburger’s fried (you have your choice of skinny or fat) are much, much better. “Fat”, according to the tray liners, was the '50s version of “Phat”. So “Fatburger” not only means that the burgers are big, but also that they’re very good.
I don’t like mustard or relish on my burgers, and at Fatburger you have to tell them not to put them on.
There is a Fatburger in Redmond, WA, one in Nevada, and one in Arizona, but they’re basically a California chain.
There is a Fatburger/In-N-Out thread in Café Society. (BTW: In-N-Out burgers are very good. I just like Fatburger better.)
Re: Wienerschnitzel. They used to be Der Wienderschnitzel, but I guess enough people informed them it should have been “Das”. Oddly, you can’t get Wienerschnitzel at Wienerschnitzel; but what you can get are some of the best fast-food chili-cheese dogs on the planet. Yeah, Johnny Rocket’s and Jodi Maroni have dogs that actually snap when you bite them; but there’s just… “something”… about Wienerschnitzel’s chili-dogs.
I’ve never seen Wimpie’s outside Ontario, though I’ve got a vague feeling I’d heard something about them elsewhere, but it’s very, very vague…::Shrug::
ShibbOleth: Re: your “where they came from” list.
In Barstow, CA there was a guy named Bell who had a hamburger and taco stand. He sold it, and the guy who bought it named it Del Taco (“of the taco”? 
) and focused on “Mexican” food. Bell moved to (San Bernardino? I thought it was Glendale) and opened Taco Bell. This according to Huell Howzer’s Visiting series on PBS.
The original Hot Dog on a Stick in still on Venice Beach, I believe.
South Park did an episode on the guy who lost weight eating Subway sandwiches.
