# Regional Fast Food Restaurants

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 14, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980 "2002-05-14T05:53:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Mr.Green\_Fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mr.Green\_Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Green_Fool)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/41 "2002-05-14T21:06:30Z")

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Burger Master of MONTANA. Yes there are other Burgermaster’s around the country bu they are not affiliated.

Burger Master’s in Montana have tow amazing menu items.  
The Ramp Burger- a mushroom burger unlike any other. Two thin patties literally smothered in this cream of mushroom soup melted with cheese sauce. So messy they serve it in a coffee filter so you can hold it.  
The Root Beer Cooler- the best root beer milkshake/float you will ever have.  
I moved away from Montana when I was 12 but damn the memories still keep me full  
(BTW they have one of the coolest mascots as well. A Muppet’s Swedish Chef looking character)

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**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/42 "2002-05-14T21:31:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Drum God \*  
> **Dairy Queen (every town in Texas has a DQ, or it’s just not a town)**

True! I went down to College Station this past weekend for graduation / final review and was so glad to see all the Dairy Queens. I wanted to stop at each and every one on my trip!  
3 in Texarkana Texas (1 in Texarkana Arkansas)  
2 in Atlanta  
1 in Linden  
1 in Jefferson  
1 in Tatum  
1 in Henderson  
2 in Jacksonville  
1 in Rusk  
2 in Alto  
1 in Madisonville  
5 in Bryan / College Station

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**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/43 "2002-05-14T22:51:44Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by glilly \*  
> \*\*In addition to the **Kum ‘n’ Go** , in Des Moines there is a **Pump ‘n’ Munch** gas station/convienience store.  
> \*\*. \*\*

glilly, do you know where this store is located? I work in West Des Moines and have been in central Iowa for quite a while, and I’ve never seen it. (If there’s only one, that’s not surprising – the Des Moines metro area is pretty durn big.)

I know it lacks the innuendo, but I visited Colorado last summer and was surprised to see many “Loaf ‘n’ Jug” stations – doesn’t exactly sound poetic to me.

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**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/44 "2002-05-14T23:19:41Z")

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Here in central Indiana we have a great 50’s style drive-up burger/chilidog joint called Dog-n-Suds. They were much more prevalent back in the 60’s when I was a wee Shark pup, but most didn’t last. I know of at least two that survived the lean times, and recently they have started to open new locations.

The original stores ususally didn’t have indoor dining, only drive-up service. The one in the town I live in now is one of the old style, where you drive up, place your order, and they bring it out to you on a tray that they hang on your rolled-down window. No rollerskating waitresses though.

Besides having great footlong chili-cheese dogs, they serve the best rootbeer in an honest-to God chilled glass mug.

They are only open from spring until fall because who wants to sit in their car with the window open in the winter. The lines of cars waiting for a spot are a sight to behold when they open each spring. They actually have off-duty cops directing traffic in the parking lot.

I think I just decided what I’m going to have for dinner.

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**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/45 "2002-05-14T23:27:04Z")

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Manhattan Bagel doesn’t have much of an operation outside the East Coast, which is a shame because bagels are so cheap that unemployed high school students like myself can practically live off them, and I like them more than any of the local places. California Pizza Kitchen seems to have a similar presence, with the exception of California of course.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/46 "2002-05-15T00:42:36Z")

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**epolo** , I have deleted most of the article you quoted. It is best not to quote more than a paragraph or two of a copyrighted work. The rest can be read by following the link.

The only General Question here is the locations of Jack in the Box outlets. That is answered here: [http://www.jackinthebox.com/site-cgi/jackbit.pl](http://www.jackinthebox.com/site-cgi/jackbit.pl)

The rest is MPSIMS material, so I’ll move this over there.

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/47 "2002-05-15T00:53:25Z")

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Actually, Jack-in-the-Box made it to Texas in the '60s. And a local non-chain I can recommend if you make it to Houston is the **Ragin’ Cajun**. A small chain (I know they’ve got a few in Austin and Houston) that’s good for a greasy burger and a longneck is **Dirty’s**. And for those of us who miss the now absent (Der) Weinerschnitzel, **James’ Coney Island** does a fine chili dog.

We’ve had quite a few of the chains mentioned appear and subsequently retreat from the local market. **Hugh Jass** , thanks for mentioning Roy Rogers, as I was going to ask - that’s where I held my first “real” job, in 1967, and I’d wondered about 'em, as they disappeared from Texas within a few years.

And New Orleans’ **Takee Outee** (they may be elsewhere, I just don’t know) is great for a quick fix of Chinese cholesterol.

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**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/48 "2002-05-15T01:07:52Z")

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Augusta, Georgia has a local fried chicken chain called Wife Saver. Really. The food is good, but egad, that NAME…!!!

You can tell the people who’ve been here a while because the name doesn’t bother them, while the rest of us almost had heart attacks and wondered what planet we’d moved to anyway?

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**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/49 "2002-05-15T01:14:09Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sysop \*  
> **Schlotzsky’s–FANTASTIC sandwiches on sour dough**

I prefer Quizznos, but they are good.

> [@](#):
>
> **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**

Two things here…I kind of agree on the LJS or Capt’n D’s, I just get these cravings for them.

As for the other… **Mr. Gatti’s** still exists!!! We used to have one here in Dayton, but they got bought out by a Noble Romans (Long since gone as well) and do I ever miss the Gatti’s crust.

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**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/50 "2002-05-15T01:23:52Z")

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I can’t believe there are 40-some responses and no one’s mentioned **Culver’s.**

This is mostly a Wisconsin thing, although in the last few years they’ve started bleeding into neighboring states. My parents used to drive for an hour to go to a Culver’s (yes, my parents’ jobs are boring.)

It’s tagline is “Home of the Butterburger.” It has a billboard near Chicago that just says “THE BUTTERBURGER. What a country.” Doesn’t that just have Wisconsin written all over it?

I kind of like Culver’s, though. I never thought I’d eat a whole bag of something called “cheese curds.”

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/51 "2002-05-15T02:03:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> …here in Dayton…

**Narile**?

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**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/52 "2002-05-15T02:13:00Z")

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Not a fast food restaurant per se, but deserves mention:

WAFFLE HOUSE

Where else are you gonna get a huge plate of hash browns scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, topped, diced and peppered? (that’s how you order it)  
No Waffle Houses here in So Cal, or back in my hometown area of New England.

Props also to:

ROY ROGERS - it hasn’t been totally discontinued…I was at one a year ago in Newington, Connecticut, and they still are in the service plazas along the NJ turnpike.

IN-N-OUT - Just today for lunch I had a 3X3 with spread only…yum!

SONIC - I finally found one in Southern California (Anaheim, on Lemon north of the 91 freeway)…but before that it was a very rare treat whenever I visited Las Vegas. What kind of a country allows 2 Sonics in Gallup NM of all places, but none in New England?? Heresy!

KELLY’S ROAST BEEF - They opened one on Route 1 in Saugus, but you have to go to the original on Revere Beach…get your sandwiches and those awesome fries and go across the street at sit on the benches overlooking the beach - but watch out for Seagulls divebombing you to get your fries!

BAKER’S - Based in and around San Bernardino, CA. Delicious burgers and real ice cream shakes. For those of that persuasion, they also have a “Loma Linda Menu” featuring meatless burgers, tacos and burritos.

EL POLLO LOCO - The best chicken ever - runs rings around the Kentucky Colonel.

On the other hand -

WHATABURGER - I ate there only once…in Texarkana. Suffice it to say, Whataburger makes my stomach cry…blecchhh!

DEL TACO - aside from the Spicy Jack Chicken Quesadillas, nothing here that good.

Within 5 miles of my house, I have:

Jack In The Box  
Wienerschitzel  
Burger King  
2 Del Tacos  
Taco Bell  
In-N-Out Burger  
3 McDonald’s  
El Pollo Loco

but still no SONIC…grrrrrrrr  
Phouchg  
Lovable Rogue

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**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/53 "2002-05-15T04:22:59Z")

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I’ll only eat at Whataburger under duress. The chicken strips are alright, but their fries and burgers don’t do anything special for me. I hate the commercials and the ugly brown color scheme they always seem to have.

Austin’s Thundercloud Subs put Subway to shame. Their bread is a lot better and they have the Office Favorite, which features egg salad, cheese and bacon. With mayo, if you so desire. I’ll only allow myself to eat a half-size OF a couple times a year.

I just tried Chipotle recently. It’s a Mexican food chain in Austin, with a store right by campus. They have fajitas and tacos, but burritos are their speciality. You get to go down a cafeteria line and choose among the ingredients. My definition of burrito perfection is their chicken (pleasantly spicy), black beans, rice with lime, and lettuce. They’re huge as well.

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**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/54 "2002-05-15T07:07:37Z")

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I’ll second the **Culver’s** thing for the Midwest, but if you want to talk perfect fast food, my vote is going to go for **Kopp’s**.  
[www.kopps.com](http://www.kopps.com)

Apparently there are only three of them and all in Wisconsin, but my gods, people. That is some good burger right there, and it is the best ice cream I have ever had in my life. Ever. EVER.

Nym - who says “EVER!” one more time to prove her point.

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**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/55 "2002-05-15T13:43:45Z")

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With so many Austin-ites here, I wonder that no one has mentioned Freebird’s over at Hancock Center (on Red River). I think they have a College Station location, too. Great burritos!!! I have yet to finish one, and I always get the medium. The large is HUGE. You order by what tortilla you want, then you tell them what fixin’s you want on it. It is stuffed with meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, whatever you want. I don’t get to eat there often because it’s not really kid-friendly. When I’m by myself, though, it’s awesome. It’s also a great place to people watch. It has a huge college crowd, and since I’m a bit past that time in my life, it’s fun to watch that crowd.

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**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/56 "2002-05-15T13:57:49Z")

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With so many Austin-ites here, I wonder that no one has mentioned Freebird’s over at Hancock Center (on Red River). I think they have a College Station location, too. Great burritos!!! I have yet to finish one, and I always get the medium. The large is HUGE. You order by what tortilla you want, then you tell them what fixin’s you want on it. It is stuffed with meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, whatever you want. I don’t get to eat there often because it’s not really kid-friendly. When I’m by myself, though, it’s awesome. It’s also a great place to people watch. It has a huge college crowd, and since I’m a bit past that time in my life, it’s fun to watch that crowd.

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**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/57 "2002-05-15T19:15:10Z")

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“‘Loaf ‘n’ Jug’ stations – doesn’t exactly sound poetic to me.”

Isn’t there a famous quote: “A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou”?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/58 "2002-05-15T19:38:33Z")

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Mosburger, I think, is Hawaiian, not Japanese. Though they have at least one location in Tokyo.

Mrs. Moto and I ate there often on our recent Honolulu trip.

My vote for regional chain is Primanti Brothers. Many locations in the Pittsburgh area, all serving kick-ass sandwiches.

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**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/59 "2002-05-15T19:39:51Z")

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Well, I guess I’m the first Pacific Northwesterner to show up, since no one’s mentioned **Burgerville**. They’re an Oregon and Washington chain that advertises “all-local ingredients”…Tillamook cheese, blackberry shakes, Walla Walla sweet onion rings (which I find unbelievably disgusting, but a lot of folks like 'em), and so on. They have really good fish & chips.

There’s also **A&W Root Beer** restaurants here and in Washington and California (that I know of). They’re similiar to Dairy Queen, and have good chilli dogs, curly fries, and chicken.

I remember **Roy Roger’s** from when I lived in Maryland and Virginia. They make pretty good burgers for a FF place.

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**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-fast-food-restaurants/108980/60 "2002-05-15T20:16:25Z")

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My wife saw the Pump 'n Munch in Des Moines, but I don’t know where. I did a little search and couldn’t find the ones in Des Moines, but I found these a little closer to me:

> [@](#):
>
> Pump N Munch 17 3601 Noble Ave N Minneapolis MN 55422
> 
> Pump N Munch 29 318 W Broadway St Monticello MN 55362

I did a white pages search and didn’t find it. She probably saw it 3 yrs ago. Maybe it’s been bought and renamed since then.

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