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You can find A&W in parts of the midwest from time to time. They tend to be rather scarce though. When I was growing up there was on in the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City. I think there was a drive-in one on the outscirts of town or out in Coralville. What I remember of the food was so-so but believe me the root boor is a hell of a lot better on tap than it every has been out of the bottle or can. Root Beer Float - that's what you have to get when you go to an A&W.

Love Jack-In-the-Box.

Chick-fil-A is one of my favorites and as far as I know they don't have it in the Midwest.

So many places have been going national over they years. I remember when Iowa City got it's first Wendy's, Hardees (they used to have this great breaded tenderloin sandwhich), Long John Silvers.

Where I lived in Bettendorf got it's first Taco Bell back in 1987. Before that the closest ones were in Chicago.

One chain that I still only see in the midwest is Godfather's Pizza. It's pretty decent and was rather big when I was a kid.

On the really small chain front: Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor. When I was a kid they had them in at least the Quad Cities and Iowa City but I don't know if they still exist or if they were spread out any further than that.

How about Shakey's Pizza? I know they at least used to have them in Iowa and I ate at one in the early 90's in California, so are they still around and in what parts of the country?

One place I like that I've only seen in Florida is Crystal Burgers. Little nasty burgers, and dogs. I absolutely love the chilli cheese pups but don't look too closely at them. IIRC the place outside NTTC Corry Station in Pensacola used to stay open all night, or at least close to all night.

Sonic - we have the drive in versions here in Arizona.

Steak and Shake - Saw those back in Iowa and the midwest this summer but as far as I know we don't have them here. From what I recall the couple times I ate at one (20+ fucking years ago) they were pretty good. People who like shakes seem to really like them. IIRC their hamburgers were a little more meat tasting than most of the burger chaings at the time.

York Steak House - I don't think they exist anymore but they were right up my alley. It was a walk in walk through the line steak place. I think you still had to sit down for a few minutes while they flash fried your steak but it was faster and cheaper than going to a place with a waiter. Those were only in the midwset that I can remember.

Answered my question about Happy Joe's. They are still around and only in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Missouri.

Funny enough the founder of Happy Joe's once worked as a manager at a Shakey's Pizza.


Shakey's looks like it is in Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Washington and Wisconsin. http://www.shakeys.com/
That seems very odd.

Plus, going by thise website: http://www.asiatravel.com/shakey/
They are also in the Philipines. Actually the more I look at it the more it appears that there are some very strange franchise things going on with the Shakey's name.

Hungry Hobo, great fastfood sandwhich place that I liked as a kid.

Looks like they are only in Iowa and Illinois,

http://www.hungryhobo.com/Locations.htm

Tsyroc wrote:You can find A&W in parts of the midwest from time to time. They tend to be rather scarce though. When I was growing up there was on in the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City. I think there was a drive-in one on the outscirts of town or out in Coralville. What I remember of the food was so-so but believe me the root boor is a hell of a lot better on tap than it every has been out of the bottle or can. Root Beer Float - that's what you have to get when you go to an A&W.

I've seen maybe two in Florida, both in mall food courts. One down in the Edison Mall in Fort Myers, and I think there's one in one of our many malls in the Tampa area.

Tsyroc wrote:Chick-fil-A is one of my favorites and as far as I know they don't have it in the Midwest.

Such a shame. We have one at USF. It's a food court thingy, so it's selection is kinda limited (I guess, never having gone to a full one), but there's one sort of within walking distance from USF along Fowler, and if I'm not mistaken yet another one in the University Mall food court.

Tsyroc wrote:One chain that I still only see in the midwest is Godfather's Pizza. It's pretty decent and was rather big when I was a kid.

The name's familiar for some reason but I can't place it...

Tsyroc wrote:One place I like that I've only seen in Florida is Crystal Burgers. Little nasty burgers, and dogs. I absolutely love the chilli cheese pups but don't look too closely at them. IIRC the place outside NTTC Corry Station in Pensacola used to stay open all night, or at least close to all night.

I do believe that is Krystal. Never tried 'em out before.

Tsyroc wrote:Steak and Shake - Saw those back in Iowa and the midwest this summer but as far as I know we don't have them here. From what I recall the couple times I ate at one (20+ fucking years ago) they were pretty good. People who like shakes seem to really like them. IIRC their hamburgers were a little more meat tasting than most of the burger chaings at the time.

I'm not a huge fan, but they tend to be open late, so...if I happen to be with anybody they tend to want to go there. The shakes are good but I was never impressed with the food selection. *shrug*

Well, I can tell you a few places I know in N. Alabama. There's a couple of cities I don't drive too and sometimes they have a rare one. However here in this town, we have a Hardees, which was bought out by the people who own Carl Jrs, so they use the star logo, which they have for some time now. They've got some great monster burgers but thier service is keeping alive a very horriable tradition. Bad attitude and bad service. Instead of White Castle we have several 24 hr Krystals. Those things are so fucking awesome. Plus they have chili dogs. As far as regional those are the only ones I know that we have that are so to say counterparts to other style resturants. I'm trying to keep up with everyone's posts. We do have a few Chik Fil A's, Sonics, I think we're down to two Checkers now, their service thrives on sucking I swear. Waffle House, there's a Huddle house or two floating around, A city close by has a Steak n Shake and that place kicks ass. I wish they'd bring one to Huntsville, I didn't get any Egg Nogg shakes from them this year. This city is pretty damn full of FF Resturants. Plenty of MC D's and BKs, and Taco Bells.

Jack in the box and Tommy's are my two favorites with Sonic coming in at third.

another one i nearly forgot about that's absolutely fab, is Sbarro's italian place. absolutely great italian food if a bit pricey. considering most of them are built like fast food restaurants i figure it'd classify as one.

Popeyes came out of New Orleans. I dare you to find a fast food joint with better fried chicken and biscuits.

Wicked Pilot wrote:Popeyes came out of New Orleans. I dare you to find a fast food joint with better fried chicken and biscuits.

Either my local Popeye's or the chain itself changed the recipe...the biscuits used to be fluffy but now they're hockey puck-shaped. Still good though.

Darth_Zod wrote:another one i nearly forgot about that's absolutely fab, is Sbarro's italian place. absolutely great italian food if a bit pricey. considering most of them are built like fast food restaurants i figure it'd classify as one.

Sbarro's is kinda crap, especially when it's in a university student center

Tsyroc wrote:Steak and Shake - Saw those back in Iowa and the midwest this summer but as far as I know we don't have them here. From what I recall the couple times I ate at one (20+ fucking years ago) they were pretty good. People who like shakes seem to really like them. IIRC their hamburgers were a little more meat tasting than most of the burger chaings at the time.

Dear lord how could I forget Steak N Shake. My sister and mother are freakin adicted to this place. So far as I know we haven't found one in Maryland yet but there are a few in Virginia and the carolinas as well IIRC.

Wicked Pilot wrote:Popeyes came out of New Orleans. I dare you to find a fast food joint with better fried chicken and biscuits.

This I have to agree with. It's fried chicken is heart clogging...and for the most part the biscuits have a good track record(sometimes I swear they screw up a batch...but most of the times I can feel the butter).

Dalton wrote:

Darth_Zod wrote:another one i nearly forgot about that's absolutely fab, is Sbarro's italian place. absolutely great italian food if a bit pricey. considering most of them are built like fast food restaurants i figure it'd classify as one.

Sbarro's is kinda crap, especially when it's in a university student center

Gah. That had to blow. For me...Sbarro's is really lower end. I mean it's okay Fast food pizza...but Italian food especially is something I need slow cooked.

Kidd Valley for hamburgers .... Toshi's used to be good for teriyaki at their old Greenlake location but they've gone downhill.

Dalton wrote:

Darth_Zod wrote:another one i nearly forgot about that's absolutely fab, is Sbarro's italian place. absolutely great italian food if a bit pricey. considering most of them are built like fast food restaurants i figure it'd classify as one.

Sbarro's is kinda crap, especially when it's in a university student center

maybe the one near you is just kinda shitty. the one here is fairly decent for italian food on the go when you don't want to wait around for 30 minutes.

Wicked Pilot wrote:Popeyes came out of New Orleans. I dare you to find a fast food joint with better fried chicken and biscuits.

Those biscuits are indeed crack, but I can fry chicken better them then though it surely kill anyone who dares to eat it. Popeyes has also published their recipes though when you season the chicken you'll get the shit burnt out of you. Over here our newst franchise is Kane's chicken fingers by Mr. Copeland who also started Popeyes and Copeland's; it's pretty good though everybody is eating there right now.

Darth_Zod wrote:maybe the one near you is just kinda shitty. the one here is fairly decent for italian food on the go when you don't want to wait around for 30 minutes.

As I said, university student center. Thus, it had every hallmark of poor-quality cafeteria food.

Dalton wrote:

Darth_Zod wrote:maybe the one near you is just kinda shitty. the one here is fairly decent for italian food on the go when you don't want to wait around for 30 minutes.

As I said, university student center. Thus, it had every hallmark of poor-quality cafeteria food.

Ah. The Sbarro's I've eaten at (both in standard mall food court fashion and a couple that are an actual sit down place) do have pretty good pizza. Not so sure about the other stuff.

And on the pizza track, there was, IIRC a Villa Pizza down at Edison Mall in Fort Myers. That was some damn good pizza.

Does this thread make anyone else hungry?

Captain Lennox wrote:Over here our newst franchise is Kane's chicken fingers by Mr. Copeland who also started Popeyes and Copeland's; it's pretty good though everybody is eating there right now.

Copeland is God, and Kane's is like a drive through version of heaven. Everytime I come home my usual first or second stop is at a Kane's window. Screw the cole slaw, give me an extra sauce.


mmmmmmm, sauce...

I'm not sure if it's just a local thing, but in most malls here we've got Auntie Ann's pretezels, which are just heavenly. Nice warm soft pretzels, which come in quite a few different flavorings.
Also, Sbarro's pizza. Gigantic sized slices, and still not too expensive.

Can't hurl a brick without hitting a Tim Horton's in Southern Ontario.