# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/141 "2009-12-10T20:23:50Z")
1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? #13 - Sonic Next four would be: #29 - Hardee’s (if you insist on keeping it separate from Carl’s Jr.) #44 - Bob Evans #47 - Longhorn Steakhouse #55 - Carrabba’s Italian Grill Amusingly (to me anyway), the only reason Long John Silver doesn’t make the list is because I ate at one in Singapore. 1. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? I have no recollection of ever seeing Longhorn Steakhouse, but looking at their locations map it is likely I’ve actually seen the one in Orlando. 2. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? Longhorn Steakhouse again. ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/142 "2009-12-10T21:47:05Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > 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. Jack in the Box is largely a West Coast chain. Looking at their web site, they’ve got a handful of restaurants west of the Mississippi (mostly in North Carolina, oddly enough). When I was a kid in the 70s, they expanded into Chicago, but they haven’t operated here in at least 20 years. Chik-Fil-A and Waffle House are Southeastern chains. Whataburger is only in southern states, running from Arizona to Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/143 "2009-12-10T21:48:11Z")
#22 Panera Bread #32 Carl’s Jr. #44 Bob Evans I’ve seen Panera Bread in larger cities but never stopped there. My town just got a Five Guys and a Chipotle in the last few months though, so hopefully Panera is soon to follow, I’ve heard good things. For **BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed** ’s corollary I’ve been to #399 Maggie Moo’s, Just had a smoothie but it was good. #400 Spaghetti Warehouse, Olive Garden food in a different atmosphere. ---
**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, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/144 "2009-12-10T21:57:09Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > 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. Cheesecake Factory is nominally a national chain ([see their map](http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/Locations/locations#)), but in a lot of states, there’s only a few, usually in big cities (for example, there’s only one CC in Minnesota, in Edina). ---
**Author:** ![sideshowkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sideshowkar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sideshowkar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/145 "2009-12-10T23:32:23Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I mean..Waffle House…isn’t there one off of almost every interstate exit ramp? [Mason-Dixon Line Renamed IHOP-Waffle House Line](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/36622) 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? **#4 Starbucks** 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? **#13 Sonic** 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? **#38 Buffalo Wild Wings** ---
**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, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/146 "2009-12-10T23:48:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > … they’ve got a handful of restaurants west of the Mississippi (mostly in North Carolina, oddly enough). Damn. Had _no_ idea that happened. Better buy some updated road maps before I next head to Asheville. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/147 "2009-12-11T00:32:10Z")
> [@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. #5, Subway 2. #60, Culvers 3. #79 Jason’s Deli For the lowest eaten at: #388, Hot Dog on a Stick, if getting just lemonade counts, if not then #356, Pomodoro (if it’s what’s commonly known as Pasta Pomodoro.) I don’t understand why Carl’s Jr/Hardees are different entries when it’s the same restaurant. They have the same commercials and signage and everything. The Carabba’s Italian went out of business here because nobody went there. We ate there twice and weren’t impressed either time. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/148 "2009-12-11T00:59:35Z")
Never eaten at: #30, Ruby Tuesday Never seen : #43, Texas Roadhouse Never heard of: #57, Carrabba’s Italian Grill Lowest I’ve been to: #399 MaggieMoos Restaurant I have been to the most: #20, Red Lobster, used to work there ---
**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 11, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/149 "2009-12-11T01:12:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Jack in the Box is largely a West Coast chain. Looking at their web site, they’ve got a handful of restaurants west of the Mississippi (mostly in North Carolina, oddly enough). When I was a kid in the 70s, they expanded into Chicago, but they haven’t operated here in at least 20 years. > > Chik-Fil-A and Waffle House are Southeastern chains. Whataburger is only in southern states, running from Arizona to Florida. There are sixteen Waffle House locations in and around Cincinnati (and IHOPS, too!) There are eight Chick-Fil-A’s. Ohio is in the Midwest. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/150 "2009-12-11T01:14:24Z")
1. Never eaten at: #11, Applebees 2. Never seen: #17, Chick-fil-A 3. Never heard of: #22, Panera Lowest I’ve eaten at: #343, Tully’s Coffee (that’s not really a restaurant, though…) ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/151 "2009-12-11T01:22:03Z")
1. #15 Jack in the Box 2. #15 Jack in the Box\* 3. #58 Zaxbys’ - I’ve only been to SoCal once, 22 years ago, for a month, so while I must have seen one while driving by one at some point, I don’t actually remember seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/152 "2009-12-11T01:28:58Z")
#15. Jack in the Box. Regional, nowhere near me. We’ve started getting commercials for it lately, which if the timing of the Sonic finally appearing is any indication, means we’ll get one in about six years. After that I get to #32 Carl’s Jr. (isn’t Hardee’s similar?) and #37, Red Robin, which is the first one we have in town that I haven’t been to. #75, Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Barbecue, is the first one I’ve never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/153 "2009-12-11T01:33:43Z")
Also, I’ve eaten at #400, Spaghetti Warehouse. ---
**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 11, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/154 "2009-12-11T01:37:41Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > There are sixteen Waffle House locations in and around Cincinnati (and IHOPS, too!) > > There are eight Chick-Fil-A’s. > > Ohio is in the Midwest. True, but Cincinnati is just across the river from The South. 🙂 ---
**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 11, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/155 "2009-12-11T01:39:24Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > After that I get to #32 Carl’s Jr. (isn’t Hardee’s similar?) Carl’s Jr. was originally a West Coast chain; Hardee’s Midwestern and Southern. Carl’s Jr. bought Hardee’s some years ago. I’m pretty sure that the menus are similar now, if not identical. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/156 "2009-12-11T01:48:11Z")
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? 4. #8 Taco Bell 5. #13 Sonic 6. #25 Cracker Barrel ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/157 "2009-12-11T01:53:50Z")
\> 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? **#39 Church’s Chicken**. Most I’ve seen are in really rough neighborhoods. I won’t hesitate to go to a neighborhood with a bad rep to visit a good restaurant or someplace that was recommended to mme, but I wouldn’t head there to visit a fast food chain. For most Dopers, I thought it would be #11. 😃 \> 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? **#112 Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub** - this is exclusing other chains higher up that I’ve never seen or heard of. \> 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? **#68 Zaxby’s** A twist: the chains at the bottom of the list I’ve been to: # 272 Bakers Square # 285 First Watch # 300 bd’s Mongolian Grill # 316 House of Blues # 321 Texas Steakhouse & Saloon # 336 Grandy’s # 357 Cheeburger Cheeburger # 360 Ground Round Grill & Bar (they’re still around?) # 369 Le Peep # 384 Roly Poly (a case of unfortunate placement; it’s between Dress Barn Woman and Lane Bryant at the Golden Gate Plaza in Mayfield Heights, Ohio). # 400 The Spaghetti Warehouse ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/158 "2009-12-11T02:12:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > There are a _lot_ of fast-food restaurants around NE Ohio, and even those we don’t have, I’ve heard or seen ads for 'em. Are you thinking of Sonic, which is infamous for airing commercials in areas hundreds of miles away from the nearest Sonic? In the Buffalo area, Ruth’s Chris airs commercials during _local_ talk shows, among the _local_ commercials for basement waterproofing services, attorneys and auto dealers, even though the nearest location is in Pittsburgh. Go figure. The Cleveland area’s first Sonic opened in Streetsboro a couple of years ago. Buffalo probably has the lowest ratio of relative chains relative to the regional population. Of the top 100, the Buffalo area only has 42; for 101-200, Buffalo has 7. Many prominent chains (Wendy’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut) have only a token restaurant or two in the area. The region’s first Chipotle just opened _today_, years after most other similarly sized metro areas in the country landed one. There’s a crapload of local chains and very prominent local restaurants that have been offered the opportunity to go national, but they universally refuse to do so, fearing they’d lose their authenticity cred among locals. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/159 "2009-12-11T02:46:38Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > 1. Never eaten at: #33, Golden Corral Buffet & Grill. Seen 'em, just never been tempted to stop in one. > 2. Never seen: #68, Ryan’s Grill Buffet Bakery > 3. Never heard of: #68, Ryan’s Grill Buffet Bakery A good piece of advice is: stay away from buffets, especially Ryan’s. If I never eat there again, it will be too soon. _blech_ I only wish I could say I kept on driving. In my defense, we had a coupon and were trying to keep it cheap. I now understand that nobody would actually eat there were it not for the coupons. As for me: 1. Never eaten at: (it pains me to have to get all the way to) #31 Popeye Chicken Addendum: I have only eaten at Cracker Barrel under duress. I feel it necessary to stipulate that I would never choose this myself. 2. Never seen: #39 Church’s Chicken 3. Never heard of: #41 Whataburger BTW, since when is 7-11 a restaurant? A chain of quicky marts, okay. But how does nuke-yourself frozen burritos and 432 oz drinks make it a restaurant? On the flip side: Lowest I’ve eaten in: #397 Big Apple Bagels (once…I don’t really remember much; color me unimpressed) Non-relevant aside: I grew up passing the old A-Frame IHOP along the 5 on the way to San Diego to visit my aunt. My dad, having worked in an IHOP as a teen, never trusted the cleanliness of said establishment often referring to it as the International House of Ptomaine. I didn’t get the reference until much later in life and had no idea he actually did have the acronym correct. It was such a disappointment to not get the opportunity to eat there. Alas, there was always Sambo’s. I adore breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/160 "2009-12-11T03:15:23Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > The Carabba’s Italian went out of business here because nobody went there. We ate there twice and weren’t impressed either time. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen. Oh man, [Carraba’s Chicken Bryan](http://www.google.com/search?q=Carraba%27s+Chicken+Bryan&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) is great. Love their ciabatta and agli olio con pizazz. The Open Kitchen is great, too. Cooks can get tipped! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=9)