# Top U.S. Chain Restaurants - where HAVEN'T you been? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674 "2009-12-10T02:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/121 "2009-12-10T17:05:12Z")
Note: I live in a major market, I travel quite a bit, and I have had several clients in the restaurant industry, so my numbers are going to be skewed. 1. Highest ranked, never eaten at: #39, Church’s Chicken 2. Highest ranked, never seen: #65, Logan’s Roadhouse 3. Highest ranked, never heard of: #68, Ryan’s Grill Buffet Bakery Lowest ranked, eaten at: #372, Ram Restaurant and Brewery (it’s the preferred hang-out at the GenCon gaming convention in Indianapolis) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/122 "2009-12-10T17:08:05Z")
> [@Loisseau](#): > > Of the top ten listed, I haven’t been in or eaten food from: > #2-KFC > #4-Starbucks > #6-Pizza Hut > #8-Taco Bell As a YUM stockholder, and employee of the ad agency for #2 and #8, you make me cry. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/123 "2009-12-10T17:22:29Z")
**1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)?** 1. The Cheesecake Factory **2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)?** 1. The Cheesecake Factory **3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of?** 1. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/124 "2009-12-10T17:25:15Z")
I too hadn’t even heard of **Zaxby’s** until a few weeks ago when one opened up in our neighborhood. We ate there. It is pretty fair chicken wings and chicken strips in various iterations. But it is waaaaay overpriced for the quality. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/125 "2009-12-10T17:31:16Z")
#13 Sonic, although it must be nearly 20 years since I ate at #2 KFC and I’ve only been to #8 Taco Bell once. Never heard of or been to #41 Whataburger. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/126 "2009-12-10T17:35:02Z")
I put down Carl Jr’s for the lowest restaurant that I haven’t been to or eaten at, but maybe it’s really Starbucks. I’ve never actually been to a standalone Starbuck’s- I’m not really sure if this counts, but I bought a bottled juice or something at a Starbuck’s sponsored or franchised “coffee counter” in, of all places, a hospital. So I guess they got their corporate claws into me without any choice on my part. It seems like the demarcation for marketing recognition and experience for me are the California based limited Franchises (Carl’s Jr and Cheescake Factory) which is interesting to note. West coast chains can’t break the top 15 (with the exception of Taco Bell). I only know about Carl’s Jr because of that Paris Hilton carwashing commercial, otherwise I wouldn’t even know they existed. I’ve heard popular culture references for the cheesecake factory here and on TV, I think it was some comedian, but it just flies over my head and doesn’t register… Somebody asked about Golden Corral above, and I figure I will have to reference it as such… think a really, really, good Steakhouse Buffet ala Ponderosa or Sizzlers. It’s more like a Ryan’s Steakhouse, however, if you’ve heard of one of those. They grill cheap sirloin and serve all you can eat, with a huge buffet of salad bars, sides bars… fish and chicken a couple different ways, roast beef, sausage, meatloaf, a taco bar, a baked potato bar, a dessert bar… everything, really. It’s one of the better buffet style restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/127 "2009-12-10T17:44:53Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? > 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? > 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? 1. Jack in the Box #15 2. Carl’s Jr. #33 (It’s Hardee’s in the Midwest) 3. Whataburger #37 ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/128 "2009-12-10T17:47:34Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > I’ve been looking at [this](http://www.rimag.com/info/CA6670228.html) list of the Top 400 Restaurant Chains in the United States in 2009, as ranked by Restaurants & Institutions (R&I) in order of 2008 sales. There are many that I’ve never hear of! > > 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? > 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? > 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? > > For me the answers are: > > 1. #13 Sonic - I see them all over when out driving, but I really don’t have any desire to eat in my car! > 2. #43 Texas Roadhouse - Never been there. I have to say, this is a rather forgettable and generic sounding name for a chain! > 3. #57 Carrabba’s Italian Grill - supposedly some are in my area, I’ve just never noticed them. > > Now I feel like I should try to visit all 400 at least once, or at least the ones I haven’t already been to! > > The homepage of the report is [here](http://www.rimag.com/article/CA6669984.html). It breaks down the ranks by segments (Casual, Chicken , etc.) and has some other interesting information. 1. #29 2. #50 3. #50 I have eaten at 161 of the 400. Not bad. huh? ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/129 "2009-12-10T18:12:29Z")
Never eaten at a (10) Dunkin’ Donuts. Never seen a (13) Sonic. Never heard of a (22) Panera Bread. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/130 "2009-12-10T18:21:03Z")
Craziness. I live in the Cincinnati area and I have seen, heard of or eaten at almost every single place you all mention never having seen or been to. Chick-Fil-A? Panera? Logan’s? Texas Roadhouse? Sonic? Popeye’s Chicken? Cheesecake Factory? Perkins? Waffle House? (Really?) Ruby Tuesday? Etcetera. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/131 "2009-12-10T18:26:55Z")
1. I’ve never been to a Church’s Chicken, #39, though there seems to be one on every corner where I live. 2. I’ve heard of California Pizza Kitchen, #53, but have never seen one. 3. Never heard of Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, #75. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/132 "2009-12-10T18:31:18Z")
Chick-Fil-A? **The McDonald’s of Chicken Burgers** Panera? **Soup and Sandwich place. Surprisingly Good** Logan’s? Texas Roadhouse? \*\* BBQ, Steaks, Burgers, and fixin’s, as in I’m fixin to eat!**Sonic? Burgers Popeye’s Chicken? Watch the movie “Little Nicky”. Spicy Fried Chicken… Cheesecake Factory? It takes 20 minutes to read through the menu, not including the 20-odd flavors of cheesecake they sell. Perkins? Waffle House? (Really?) \*\* - It feels good at the Waffle House… Hash browns 7 different ways…c’mon now!** Ruby Tuesday? - **Who could hang some food on you?..ouch!** ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/133 "2009-12-10T18:40:12Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Chick-Fil-A? **The McDonald’s of Chicken Burgers** > Panera? **Soup and Sandwich place. Surprisingly Good** > Logan’s? > Texas Roadhouse? \*\* BBQ, Steaks, Burgers, and fixin’s, as in I’m fixin to eat!**Sonic? Burgers > Popeye’s Chicken? Watch the movie “Little Nicky”. Spicy Fried Chicken… > Cheesecake Factory? It takes 20 minutes to read through the menu, not including the 20-odd flavors of cheesecake they sell. > Perkins? > Waffle House? (Really?) \*\* - It feels good at the Waffle House… Hash browns 7 different ways…c’mon now!** > Ruby Tuesday? - **Who could hang some food on you?..ouch!** Wait, I was saying that I _have_ eaten or heard of _all_ these places (and a lot more of them) living here in the Cincinnati area. I was expressing my surprise at many of the names on the list that so many had never heard of. I mean..Waffle House…isn’t there one off of almost every interstate exit ramp? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/134 "2009-12-10T18:41:11Z")
To completely answer the OP (I had previously only answered the first question): 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? Burger King 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? Chik-Fil-A 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? Panera Bread ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/135 "2009-12-10T18:41:15Z")
I, too, have eaten at 161 of these places. Some of them (Miami Subs) I didn’t even know were chains. My wife and I have a special fondness for Waffle House - it’s the first restaurant we went to after we were married and we try to eat there every Christmas. After all, it’s the only restaurant _open_ on Christmas. We probably don’t go but once, twice a year however - it’s not the healthiest food in the history of mankind, that’s for sure! Also like Ruby Tuesdays and their salad bars. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/136 "2009-12-10T19:00:01Z")
Never eaten at: #22 Panera Bread Never been to: #35 Cheesecake Factory Never even heard of: #38 Buffalo Wild Wings #58 Zaxby’s I think I might have passed by a cheesecake factory here or there, but I never ate there. I know it is the first place I ever heard of that handed out beepers to people waiting for a table. Thinking about it I might have heard of Buffalo Wild Wings. Is that the chain with the tv commercials were the fans are able to change sporting events so they can stay and eat and have more fun? If it isnt that. It isn’t ringing any bells. I have never heard of Zaxby’s. I have no idea what that is. Lowest I have heard of: #400 The Spaghetti Warehouse Lowest I have eaten at: #373 Red Hot and Blue #353 Fresh Choice If that Red Hot and Blue is the same BBQ joint that was in DC 11 years ago or so, I have been there. Otherwise Fresh Choice gets the prize. Kind of neat to see that even after national chains have taken over the fast food world some regional chains can rank so highly. Fun list thanks for sharing! ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/137 "2009-12-10T19:11:34Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > Having only been to the states once and ignoring McD’s and Burger King, the best palce I’ve found to eat was Chilli’s in Ft Lauderdale, the staff were superb and the food was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the 2 for one offer on beer and the quantities of the shorts. 2-for-1 beer may have contributed to your opinion of their food… Joe ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/138 "2009-12-10T19:45:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I was expressing my surprise at many of the names on the list that so many had never heard of. > > I mean..Waffle House…isn’t there one off of almost every interstate exit ramp? I’ve never heard of it. Or Panera, or Chik-Fil-A, or Whataburger. However, I’ve lived on the West Coast all my life, and I’ve only been east of the Rockies twice. The one that blows me away is that so many people haven’t seen or heard of Jack In The Box. I thought they were a national chain, but I guess not. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/139 "2009-12-10T19:57:56Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > The one that blows me away is that so many people haven’t seen or heard of Jack In The Box. I thought they were a national chain, but I guess not. I never saw one until I moved to St. Louis - I grew up in NH. I’m not sure if they’re in the northeast, but if they are, they’re not common. I’d heard of them, but only in the context of the e coli incidents. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/140 "2009-12-10T20:20:36Z")
I’ve lived in a number of big cities and travel a lot all over the country, so I thought I’d have to go way down the list, but not really as it turns out. 1. #17 Chick-fil-A 2. #47 Longhorn Steakhouse 3. #58 Zaxby’s Lowest on the list is # 398 Good Times, but they’re headquartered about 15 miles from here. I feel sorry for all the people who have never heard of Panera Bread. Of the ones I’ve been to, it is the best on the list until you get to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. For fast/moderate food, it is the best of all of them. [http://www.panerabread.com/menu/cafe/](http://www.panerabread.com/menu/cafe/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=8)