# Your Neighborhood Food **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111 "2012-01-20T05:44:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/21 "2012-01-20T18:03:33Z")
I honestly couldn’t live somewhere that didn’t have at least a dozen restaurant choices within walking distance. Right now… let’s say in a square mile… I have at least 30 options–not counting chains. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/22 "2012-01-20T18:08:26Z")
The only thing in walking distance from my house is Mexican grocery stores. They have excellent food but it’s all just take-out. The closest restaurant is a little Mexican place but it’s past the interstate; not a place I’d feel safe walking. In that little section there’s the Guadalupana, Dixie Queen, Krystal, Rally’s, Yum’s Deli, BK, KFC, Subway, Little Caesars, McDonalds, Wendy’s and Back Yard Burger. On down a bit there’s a Popeye’s and a Chinese take-out I forget the name of. I only wish there was a Taco Bell and life would be complete. ---
**Author:** ![svrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/23 "2012-01-20T18:13:07Z")
Closest thing to me is 4 km away. It’s a non-chain fastfood grill and icecream place that is only open in summer. I’ve run there before, so I’ll count it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![limegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/24 "2012-01-20T18:50:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The only “neighborhood food” available to me is whatever I can bag (or scoop up off the roadside) for an old-fashioned [Kentucky-style burgoo](http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/12/22/143539.shtml?s=us). This is me! That would be probably deer, squirrel, or rabbit for me. Coon and possum are too greasy. Blackberries, mulberries and strawberries in season, but everything’s pretty scarce on the ground right now. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/25 "2012-01-20T18:51:22Z")
Within reasonable walking distance of my house are: - McDonald’s - Popeye’s - Subway - Taco Bell/Pizza Hut - Another Subway - A non-chain pizza place - Two or three non-chain Chinese places - Starbucks - Denny’s That’s about it. I live near an “auto row” so most of the stuff near me is car dealerships, which take up big chunks of land. The other restaurants are in a strip mall close by and a larger strip mall (anchored by a large supermarket) a bit further away. Go a bit farther, though (not walking distance for me–I’m not really into long walks) and I can find just about any sort of restaurant I could possibly want. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/26 "2012-01-20T18:55:05Z")
As this is such a diverse board with members from all over the country I find it is kind of a shame that in America the same food is available all over the country. Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/27 "2012-01-20T19:08:10Z")
Within a 15 minute walk I have Frozen yogurt and ice cream Sushi Pizza Sports bar Applebee’s Boloco Chipotle Pizza Pizza Burgers (home of the 5 pound challenge burger) Dunkin Donuts And possibly another Japanese or Korean place. The sushi place is good but a little pricey, everything else is sort of meh. But if I extend my walk to 30 minutes, there is a whole neighborhood full of yum. There’s a lot of pricey but truly creative stuff, a Chinese place, a Russian place, and an amazing bakery. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/28 "2012-01-20T19:38:10Z")
There are way too many for a complete list. I’m counting only places which I have actually walked to or past. 3 McDonalds Burger King Wendy’s Hawaiian BBQ place High class Italian place Good Sushi place Applebee’s Bagels (they sell sandwiches) Popeye’s H. Salt Hooters (not that I’d ever go.) 3 Mexican places Rainforest Cafe Chinese buffet (2 or 3) At least 4 or 5 Afghan restaurants, since we’re in walking distance of one of the centers of Afghan people in the US. Thai place 2 or 3 Subways 2 or 3 Starbucks The 5 or 6 usual suspects in the mall, which I have walked to when I dropped off my car at the Saturn dealer. At least two other places in our other shopping center - they change so fast I’ve lost track. Two supermarkets A donut place A take and bake pizza place. And there are definitely more I’ve forgotten. My wife and I have talked of someday starting a project to eat at every place within walking distance - it would take quite a while. However my definition of walking distance is greater than hers. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/29 "2012-01-20T20:00:27Z")
Walking distance, probably just these: Applebee’s KFC Sonic Buffalo Wild Wings Chinese place I can’t remember Expand it out to “five-minute drive”, and add these: Little Caesar’s Papa Murphy’s Wendy’s another Sonic McDonald’s Burger King Whataburger Beef O’Brady’s Pizza Hut Dairy Queen Fazoli’s Casa Ole Taco Bell Taco Cabana Long John Silver’s Cujo’s Sports Bar Daylight Donuts Domino’s Pizza Cracker Barrel Five Guys Rosa’s Mexican Cantina Chicken Express Subway x2 Quizno’s ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/30 "2012-01-20T20:15:56Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I honestly couldn’t live somewhere that didn’t have at least a dozen restaurant choices within walking distance. Right now.. let’s say in a square mile… I have at least 30 options–not counting chains. :shrug: I couldn’t live in such a conjested place. Don’t have neighbors, and don’t want them. And since I like to cook, it’s not a big deal for me. Not dising your choice at all though. I can understand the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/31 "2012-01-20T20:23:07Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > As this is such a diverse board with members from all over the country I find it is kind of a shame that in America the same food is available all over the country. Just sayin’ If this makes you feel any better - I live in an area with a large Latin American (mainly Cuban) population. Within one mile of me I have all the usual suspects (national chain fast food joints, pubs, diners, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Chinese food, pizza places) there are a number of little hole in the wall places that specialize in a particular cuisine - Cuban, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Mexican, etc and so on. Mmm, ropa vieja… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/32 "2012-01-20T21:05:54Z")
Within a mile: Ethiopian Philippine Thai Japanese/Sushi Indian Pakistani Hawaiian Several good-quality pubs & grills Italian Chinese - the real deal, with dim sum and stinky tofu Fancy pizza Gyros Takeout Teriyaki/Bento boxes McD’s & Arby’s Mexican - Taco truck and sit-down Five Guys Burgers There’s also a mall with fairly decent mall food - Panda Express, Teriyaki, Gyros, 31 Flavors, Thai. Oddly enough, it’s rare for me to eat out. ---
**Author:** ![mikenj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@mikenj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikenj)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/33 "2012-01-20T21:05:56Z")
I live in a residential area on the Jersey Shore. I live only about a mile from the beach so there are plenty of bars and fast food places nearby. Off the top of my head: Seafood restaurants: 6 Fast food/subs: 11 Bar & Grill: 10 Fine dining (more or less): 8 Beach Bars: 5 Diners/Cafes/Breakfast spots: 12 Boardwalk Snack bars: 12 (probably more) Pizza: 3 (that aren’t already included in the above) So 67 spots, and I’m sure I’m missing at least a couple of smaller spots. And these are all within about a 3/4 mile radius. If I were to go by the OP’s 2 mile radius and you don’t mind walking across one of the bridges you could just about double this number. Thankfully, other than most of the fast food places, none of these are chains. So no Applebees or Friday’s are in town. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/34 "2012-01-20T21:19:01Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > If this makes you feel any better - I live in an area with a large Latin American (mainly Cuban) population. Within one mile of me I have all the usual suspects (national chain fast food joints, pubs, diners, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Chinese food, pizza places) there are a number of little hole in the wall places that specialize in a particular cuisine - Cuban, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Mexican, etc and so on. > > Mmm, ropa vieja… It does. My hometown (Wash DC metro) ethnic restaurants are abundant. Similar to your list. > [@mikenj](#): > > I live in a residential area on the Jersey Shore. I live only about a mile from the beach so there are plenty of bars and fast food places nearby. > Off the top of my head: > > Seafood restaurants: 6 > Fast food/subs: 11 > Bar & Grill: 10 > Fine dining (more or less): 8 > Beach Bars: 5 > Diners/Cafes/Breakfast spots: 12 > Boardwalk Snack bars: 12 (probably more) > Pizza: 3 (that aren’t already included in the above) > > So 67 spots, and I’m sure I’m missing at least a couple of smaller spots. And these are all within about a 3/4 mile radius. If I were to go by the OP’s 2 mile radius and you don’t mind walking across one of the bridges you could just about double this number. Thankfully, other than most of the fast food places, none of these are chains. So no Applebees or Friday’s are in town. Nice list, I bet most if not all are very good. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/35 "2012-01-20T21:22:01Z")
I live just outside of DC. Within 5-10 minute walking distance are 4 grocery stores, a beer-wine deli, 2 Peruvian charcoal chicken joints, a bakery, 6 sit-down Latin restaurants, 2 chinese carryouts, 2 7-11s, a Dominos, a Pizza Movers, a Taco Bell, and a McDonalds. Within a 10 minute drive, hundreds. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/36 "2012-01-20T21:25:49Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Using GrubHub, I just tried GrubHub for the first time, and got 102 places withing a 1 mile radius. The interesting thing is that only 5 of those places are chains (Numero Uno, Acapulco Restaurant, Pollo Loco, and Quiznos two times). ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/37 "2012-01-20T21:29:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I live just outside of DC. > > Within 5-10 minute walking distance are 4 grocery stores, a beer-wine deli, 2 Peruvian charcoal chicken joints, a bakery, 6 sit-down Latin restaurants, 2 chinese carryouts, 2 7-11s, a Dominos, a Pizza Movers, a Taco Bell, and a McDonalds. > > Within a 10 minute drive, hundreds. Arlington? / Baileys Crossroads? / 7-Corners? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/38 "2012-01-20T21:30:40Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Arlington? / Baileys Crossroads? / 7-Corners? Other side of the river: Takoma Park. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/39 "2012-01-20T22:15:33Z")
We’re in the suburbs, and we walk a lot. Within a half mile: two pizzerias, two Chinese take-outs, and a chicken take-out. Within a mile: another pizzeria, a bagel shop, two Italian restaurants, a diner, a bar and grill, a Subway, two Carvels, another hero shop, and a bakery with table service. Within two miles: a Chipotle, a Mexican restaurant, two more bagel shops, two more pizzerias, another Subway, another chicken take-out, another Chinese take-out, a Chinese buffet, a Friendly’s, and three Dunkin Donuts. Strangely, there are no McDonald’s, Burger King, or other burger chains within a two mile radius. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111/40 "2012-01-20T22:41:56Z")
Make that 10 minutes and we have: 5 Dunkin Donuts (Rhode Island is on a course to have 1 Dunkin Donuts per capita by 2019) 2 Ice Cream shops (seasonal) 1 lame sandwhich shop 3 half decent pizzerias 2 lame pizzerias 1 excellent Schezuan restaurant 1 economical basic Chinese take out 1 Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese/Japanese restaurant with excellent Sushi 1 Chinese/Japanese restaurant with lame Hibachi grill and sushi 1 mid-scale bar and restaurant 1 slightly higher scale bar and restaurant 1 large American food restaurant 2 sports bar and grills 1 Unos 1 seafood restaurant 2 MacDonalds 1 Burger King 2 small breakfast restaurants 1 diner 1 99 restaurant 1 Friendly’s 1 TGIF 1 Longhorn Steakhouse 1 Panera Bread 1 Portuguese restaurant 1 Guatemalan restaurant Probably several more. Go out to 15 minutes and it’s 10 times that number. Yet we seem to be out in a semi-rural area with active farms. It’s just not that far to a couple of commercial areas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-neighborhood-food/610111.md?page=3)