# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/161 "2009-12-11T03:25:25Z")
Never seen or eaten at #15, Jack in the Box. Seen it advertised plenty, seen it on the news for contaminated hamburger meat, but never actually seen one. Have to drop down to 72 to find one I’d never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/162 "2009-12-11T03:41:26Z")
We may not have Walmarts in NYC, but it’s amazing how many of these chains we have, although many are only in outer boros or have one lonely counter at a larger place (like the KFC on 14th with an “Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips” in the corner). Gotta say it’s sort of a weird list, with stuff like Starbucks and 7-eleven compared with full-service sit-down ten-page menu places, but hey. Never been to: #15, Jack in the Box. Must be a West Coast thing. Never seen: #26, Papa John’s. Pizza? Never heard of: #38, Red Robin. Too bad you didn’t have a category “Ate in once and swore on \ grave you would never, ever cross the threshold of again.” I could go on and on… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/163 "2009-12-11T03:44:28Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > 1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? Never ordered anything at Starbucks (#4), but have been in one. Never been to Sonic (#13), although there is one in the Lafayette (IN) area, where I live. > [@](#): > > 1. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? Carl’s Jr. (#32) I’ve never even been to any of the [states](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%27s_Jr.) where the chain has locations. > [@](#): > > 1. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? Zaxby’s (#58). I don’t spend much time in the [Southeast](http://www.zaxbys.com/locations.html). ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/164 "2009-12-11T04:04:01Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > As a corollary, what’s the lowest one you’ve been to, and what’s the lowest you’ve heard of. There’s a Ram (#372) in downtown Indianapolis. I think I’ve been there. I know I’ve had several meals at various Le Peep (#369) locations. I’ve heard of The Spaghetti Warehouse (#400). There used to be one in Cleveland, and I lived most of my life in that city’s suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/165 "2009-12-11T04:51:59Z")
Just to set the record straight about **Panera Bread** Panera Bread and St Louis Bread Company are the same thing…Atalanta bread is an inferior wannabe. Panera bread is the majority stockholder of Paradise Bakery but Paradise is NOT the same concept; Paradise is a recent acquisition of Panera LLC. Panera Bread was in the top 10 performing Stocks of 2008…not just restaurant stocks but ALL stocks. You financial types may want to look at our long term performance. 😉 [Panera Bread](http://www.panerabread.com/) see the menu, search for a cafe or just find out about the concept. Just for the record, I work there and we are MUCH more than a “sandwich shop” though we have some mighty fine sandwiches. Oh, and we are now international as we have locations in the Toronto Ontario area. ThisSpaceForRent ---
**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, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/166 "2009-12-11T05:32:25Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Are you thinking of Sonic, which is infamous for airing commercials in areas hundreds of miles away from the nearest Sonic? Sonic tends to run their ads on cable channels (which cover the entire US), which gives them an affordable media buy, though it has the side-effect of running the ads in markets in which Sonic doesn’t operate. I do suspect that they do this, in part, to build awareness of the chain for when they _do_ enter new markets. They’ve traditionally only operated in warmer markets, since they are _only_ a drive-in, with no inside seating, but they have been slowly entering colder, northern markets. When they opened up restaurants in suburban Chicago last year, they did incredible business for a while, likely because of years of Chicagoans seeing the ads. 🙂 ---
**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, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/167 "2009-12-11T05:40:05Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Never seen: #26, Papa John’s. Pizza? Yup. Started in Indiana, based now in Louisville. > [@Mehitabel](#): > > Never heard of: #38, Red Robin. A casual-dining chain (like Applebee’s or Chili’s), though they specialize in burgers. Founded in Washington State, and thus, more prevalent in the West, though they’re national now. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/168 "2009-12-11T07:18:14Z")
1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? **#10 Dunkin Donuts** 2. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? **#17 Chick-fil-A** 3. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? **#22 Panera Bread** ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/169 "2009-12-11T07:21:16Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Sonic tends to run their ads on cable channels (which cover the entire US), which gives them an affordable media buy, though it has the side-effect of running the ads in markets in which Sonic doesn’t operate. > > I do suspect that they do this, in part, to build awareness of the chain for when they _do_ enter new markets. They’ve traditionally only operated in warmer markets, since they are _only_ a drive-in, with no inside seating, but they have been slowly entering colder, northern markets. When they opened up restaurants in suburban Chicago last year, they did incredible business for a while, likely because of years of Chicagoans seeing the ads. 🙂 When our local one opened they were forced to pay someone to direct traffic. For the first few months they formed a queue in a nearby parking lot for cars waiting for a spot. Naturally, the novelty has most definitely worn off since then. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/170 "2009-12-11T07:41:00Z")
1. Never eaten at #54 Romano’s Macaroni Grill 2. Never seen #67 O’Charley’s 3. Never heard of #67 O’Charley’s Lowest ranking I’ve been to is Ker’s WingHouse (377). There is one about a mile from where I work. When I started working for my present employer, my boss asked if I wanted to go there for lunch so I asked him what it was. He described it as “like Hooters but sluttier”. It’s a pretty accurate description. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/171 "2009-12-11T10:37:52Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > .Chik-Fil-A and Waffle House are Southeastern chains. Whataburger is only in southern states, running from Arizona to Florida. Chik-Fil-A has been operating in the Pittsburgh area (on a limited, now greatly expanded basis) since the mid-80s and I can assure you that we’re not the Southeast. 🙂 > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > 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. Hardee’s was also northeastern. There was one five minutes from my house when I was in early elementary school 30+ years ago, and I know I’ve seen Hardee’s in Maryland, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/172 "2009-12-11T11:44:53Z")
> [@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? I’m in Arizona, and aside from a couple years in Las Vegas, have never lived anywhere else. My answers are: 1. Chick-fil-A (#17), Cracker Barrel (#25) 2. Hardee’s (#29) (Heard of it so often I’m feeling like I may have seen one once, but I think we don’t have them in this area. If I did happen to see one, the next one I have never seen but heard of would be White Castle, #71) 3. Bob Evan’s (#44) ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/173 "2009-12-11T11:50:14Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > Lowest I’ve heard of: > > #384 Roly Poly > Lowest eaten at: > > #373 - Red Hot & Blue Neat wrinkle! I’ll play… Lowest I’ve heard of: Sushi Samba (#390) I think, otherwise, Hot Dog on a Stick (#388) Hot Dog on a Stick is also the lowest I’ve eaten at. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/174 "2009-12-11T12:34:10Z")
1. #15 Jack-in-the-Box 2. #41 Whataburger 3. #53 California Pizza Kitchen Lowest one I’ve eaten at: #376 Olga’s Kitchen Sidney - if you love real burgers, you need to try Red Robin at least once. Maybe not the best ever, but they have a great variety of good quality. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/175 "2009-12-11T13:23:18Z")
1. What is the highest ranking chain that you’ve never eaten at (or otherwise visited)? #4 Starbucks, I walked into one by accident, I don’t understand a $5 cup of coffee. #11 Applebee’s #12 Chili’s #19 T.G.I. Friday’s #22 Panera Bread I’m a Yuppy chain H8T’er 1. What is the highest ranking chain you’ve never seen in person (but may have heard of)? #36 Chipotle Mexican Grill #37 Red Robin Gourmet Burgers #41 Whataburger They don’t have these where I am. 1. What is the highest ranking chain you never even heard of? #46 P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, What The Hell Is That? I’d say I’ve been to 200 of these places, the other 200 aren’t in my area or are a Yuppy magnet faggot shit. (not that theres anything wrong with that) 😉 ---
**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, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/176 "2009-12-11T15:30:10Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > #4 Starbucks, I walked into one by accident, I don’t understand a $5 cup of coffee. OT: I don’t get this “$5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks” meme. The largest cup of house coffee at Starbucks (Pike Place Roast, I think it’s called) is about $2. Sure, you can pay $5 for coffee at Starbucks if you order [something complicated](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=303919), but such drinks aren’t so much “coffee” as “dessert”. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/177 "2009-12-11T16:03:05Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > As a corollary, what’s the lowest one you’ve been to… #392: Crispers. It’s one of those places where they charge you eight bucks for a turkey sandwich made from about a dollar’s worth of the same stuff you have in your own fridge. What do I win? ETA: Damn, I already lost. ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/178 "2009-12-11T17:00:16Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Chik-Fil-A has been operating in the Pittsburgh area (on a limited, now greatly expanded basis) since the mid-80s and I can assure you that we’re not the Southeast. 🙂 OK, Chik-Fil-A was _traditionally_ Southeastern. They’ve clearly expanded beyond that now, but they still aren’t national. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/179 "2009-12-11T17:13:30Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > I’ve heard of The Spaghetti Warehouse (#400). There used to be one in Cleveland, and I lived most of my life in that city’s suburbs. The one in downtown Akron is very popular. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674/180 "2009-12-11T19:22:13Z")
The only ones from the top 50 that I haven’t been to: #22 Panera Bread #30 Ruby Tuesday #36 Chipotle Mexican Grill #43 Texas Roadhouse #47 LongHorn Steakhouse #49 Hometown Buffet/Old Country Buffet #50 Perkins Restaurant & Bakery [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-u-s-chain-restaurants-where-havent-you-been/520674.md?page=10)