 September 6th, 2011
09:15 AM ET
Kevin Clark really, really wanted a Meximelt. He longed for the seasoned ground beef, melted three cheese blend and fiesta salsa wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. He craved its melty goodness. The only problem – Kevin was living in Australia where alas, there are no Taco Bells. So, Kevin thought outside the bun. He’d been corresponding with a friend in the states who’d asked Kevin what he missed the most. After describing his dilemma, he convinced the friend to mail him a Meximelt. Yes, you read that correctly; it was sent in the mail. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t live up to the expectations his memory had built, and he was left rather disappointed. He admits he probably shouldn’t have eaten the taco, but credits youthful indiscretion for his bravery. Now chef/owner of the aptly named Atlanta eatery Home Grown (which prides itself on farm-to-table freshness), Kevin’s food philosophy has changed. It’s a serious condition. Chain envy has long affected residents of this fine country. The condition is mostly caused by the convenience of getting what we want, when we want it. The thought of not being able to have our favorite food can be terrifying. Chain envy is usually brought on by a cross country move of some sorts. For example, a West Coast resident newly transplanted to the East Coast might suffer from chain envy upon realizing that In-and-Out Burger cannot be found east of Texas. Or, an East Coast resident might be alarmed to learn that they won’t (yet) be drinking Dunkin' Donuts coffee when visiting the West Coast. The list of chains unavailable country-wide might surprise you. Some of the most missed include Zaxby’s, Krystal, White Castle, Chick-fil-A, Waffle House, Chuy's and Jack in the Box, among others. Ignorance is bliss. If you've never had a warm chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-A on a cold Georgia morning, you wouldn’t know what you’re missing and therefore are not affected by chain envy. The rest are probably plotting ways to either recreate this southern comfort, begging friends to bring you one, or making the two, three or four hour trek to get one yourself. Chain envy can be a serious problem. Thankfully, help is available and you do have options. If you’re going to get someone to bring you a food item, make sure it’s transported properly. Separate items that need to be refrigerated or that wouldn’t travel well. For example, deconstruct your burger so the lettuce and tomato don’t make the buns soggy and ask for the sauce on the side for the same reason. Remove and refrigerate the patty and then reassemble the burger upon arrival. Most popular single-coast chains are used to requests like this and are happy to help pack your precious cargo. You can also try making your own version. A simple Google search of your favorite chain restaurant item usually brings up at least one or two forums filled with like-minded people trying to figure out just how much Sriracha goes in zesty mayo. It can be fun to experiment with a group of friends who suffer your same predicament; you can even compete to see who gets the closest to the real thing. Some food delivery services will go get your favorite North Carolina barbecue and bring it to your home in Tennessee for the right price. Just be sure to check the delivery fee before placing the order. Chain envy does not always have to leave one in dire straits. While nothing is likely to replace your beloved chain, it’s always a good idea to explore new places. Who knows? You may even develop a brand new obsession. Previously - Regional favorites may be a click away |
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This is EXACTLY how I feel about Sonic.
Cold Georgia morning? Wait... What?
I know where every Tim Hortons is on the drive From ATL to Michigan. Coffee and TimBits are stocked up on before the last one. Also my mom mails me Timmy Ho's coffee whenever I run out. She also brings a Case of Faygo Rock N Rye with her. And when i fly, i bring a Buddy's pizza with me on the plane.
She used to pack frozen Coney Sauce for my brother who lives in Boston.
After living overseas for 14 years while in the military, I have to admit of craving for certain fast foods. While in the Philippines, we used to drive to the Air Force base just to eat at Burger King! I have missed Seattle's Best, Jack in the Box, Popeyes, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts and even Taco Bell. There are still places I miss now that I am back in the mainland US, but they are generally not fast food, like Dixie Grill in Hawaii or sushi shops in Japan!
i used to love certain fast food items 'til i learned how to make them myself at home.. i don't crave for any fast food now cuz my homemade version are tastier/healthier/cleaner lol..... i'd advise most people to do the same. screw paying for overpriced garbage!!
WAIT
Isnt White Castle basicly Krystal's?
Yes and Carl Jr's is just Hardee's with a different name. Heck Carl Jr's and Hardee's are owned by the same company they have to be the same. One thing that I miss after moving away from East Tennessee is Dr. Enuf. Thats a drink if you have never heard of it before, thats fine it only ships about 125 miles away from Johnson City, TN. I have to find a way to buy it online and have it shipped up here. Central Indiana.
As a Texan, and stationed overseas in the Philippines, I dreamed of Schlotzskys!!!!! Never want to live that far away from my favorite sandwich again!!
My favorite local chain is Portillo's!! They have the best hot dogs and burgers (when they're made right!) I have had some bad experiences there in the northern Chicago burbs, but I keep coming back for the food. I like that they ship packs of hot dogs with the fixins and packs of beef! I told my husband that if we moved out of state, I would order those packs at least once a month. :)
I've lived all over the country so now I have a fair # of chains from various regions to miss :(
California Centric: Togos, Super Taqueria, In n Out
West Coast: Jack in the Box, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Texas: Freebirds
South East: Popeyes, Whataburger, Taco Cabana, Hungry Howies
South West: Jamba Juice
No, I'm not the size of a house, but I do like to try out different foods from different chains and restaurants along my travels.
Tell me about it. I don't go a day with out wanting:
Southwest: In 'n Out Burger, Paradise Bakery, Panda Express
Midwest: Culvers
Southeast: Chill
In n Out burgers are the best!!!!!
Where are you now? A lot of these chains are now national.....I'm in PA and we've got a couple of these.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is in a outlet mall near me in PA. There are two Popeyes in Pittsburgh and recently a Jamba Juice opened on a college campus.
First thing I did when I got back from Egypt was go to McDonalds.
There's no Arby's in/near Rhode Island. When I drive home I have to stop at the ones in Pennsylvania for lunch.
I moved to New York five years ago and have been in hell ever since. The extreme distance from Zaxby's has caused me to go crazy. I regularly post on Zaxby's wall about how much I miss them and the things I would do if they would just open up an NYC franchise. I made a tribute video for Zaxby's that they re-posted on Facebook.
(This is all, of course, to say nothing of my yearning for Sonic, Bojangles, Hardee's, Rush's, etc. ad infinitum)
Rush's! You must be from SC. Since I moved from there three years ago, Rush's has become a treat that I rarely get!
Living on the west coast now, I miss Zaxby's (thanks to your mention!), Moe's SW Grill & Chik-Fil-A. On a layover in Charlotte, NC, a friend met me at the airport w/ a Chick-Fil-A breakfast. Happiness!
I am flying into Philly next month and CANNOT wait to hit B/C connection for some Chik Fil a! I have not had it in YEARS
Not a chain,but still THE Best kept secret in Texas.......Fletcher's Corny Dogs !! Only available during The Great State Fair of Texas and also at Nascar races in Ft.Worth. @ Snowbunny...Only with mustard Baby.....miss you.
Fast food is disgusting and is contributing to this country's rapidly growing obesity epidemic. This article is moronic for encouraging people to eat this junk. Why not encourage healthy eating habits, CNN??????
Why don't you lighten up and eat some fries?
He doesn't want to, he is still scarred for life cuz he has to ask each customer if "they want fries with that"
This is a blog that is food-centric, hence its name "Eatocracy." The overused catch phrase "obesity epidemic" isn't caused by CNN, or any other news site, posting articles about food. What this contributed to was a light-hearted nostalgia for something nice people might be interested in reading about. If you're that easily influenced by what you read, seek help. The so-called obesity epidemic is cause by people who won't get up off their ponderous duffs to exercise.
If you don't like what's been posted here, maybe you can find a Jog-ocracy or Walk-ocracy in the stfu cafe.
Another Vegan blowing smoke out of their ass.
Let me guess, you are single, never went to your prom, own several cats and have a long list of criteria that your potential dates never seem to meet.
You must be a freakin joy to be around.
Hey, actually read the article before puking up your shallow criticism. The guy started a healthyfarm fresh restaurant, "Kevin’s food philosophy has changed," per the article. I don't eat meat and I grow my own vegetables but I love fast food fries and Krispy Kreme donuts. Do I eat them everyday? No. I indulge now and then and maintain a normal height/weight ratio. Every news or interest story does not have to be a lesson. If you want to make a point about fast food and obesity, then, get off your own butt and stand outside the drive through at McDonalds with a mirror, a scale and a sign that asks incoming customers, "R U 2 FAT 2 Graze Here?"
Excellent, thank you Possum!
A local hot dog place will actually ship what they call a "doggie pack" to anyone, anywhere. They target parents to buy and ship a "doggie pack" to their home sick college kids.
happened to me. went from west to east cost. couldn't find jack in the box or wienerschnitzels. discovered and liked hardees, had never heard of 'em. now in TX, there aren't any hardees or wieners (in my area)
Not fast food, but certain grocery items yes. Chocolate Malt O Meal is available in the Midwest but not the SF bay area. And I've brought or mailed bagels to some friends who had a particular bagel shop they liked above all others. (House of Bagels)
I have never eaten at Chick-fil-A, but a new location recently opened in Santa Clarita, CA if you happen to pass through and have a hankerin' !
Recent Las Vegan transplant – my gracious brother and family checked in a cooler filled with kolaches (sausage and cheese) from The Kolache Factory and frozen deboned whole chickens stuffed with rice, crawfish and eggplant from Hebert's in Houston. For those in the hill country in La Grange, TX, Weikel's has awesome kolaches too – fluffy dough and meaty sausage.
I miss Long John Silvers Seafood Shoppes in Utah. There was one years ago on Main Street in SLC. It closed down long ago. I had to go to Vegas on business and finally got a shrimp dinner before I left.
dont freaking risk dying thats stupid
come on....I mean.....COME ON!
I'm thinking the same thing. I mean TWO WEEKS and you eat it??? I think that is a form of insanity, not envy.
When I was in the Navy in the 1980's, I would occasionally have family members mail me an insulated package of frozen Varsity all-the-way dogs. The buns suffered a little from the freeze-thaw phenomenon, but ooooooooweeee! They were such a welcome reminder of home.
Whaddaya have, Whaddaya have, Whaddaya have,
love it. please visit http://www.heatingairconditionrepair.com
I live in rural Georgia after 30 years in Atlanta. The ONLY fast food we have within 50 miles is a Church's chicken so I miss almost all of them. About once a month, we go to the nearest city and eat out. But there are still some things I miss. There is a small local chain in the Atlanta suburbs called "Martin's" that has the best bisquits I have ever eaten. Tendenloin and scrambled egg on a two-handed bisquit...I can taste it now!
Who spells biscuit with a "q?"
bisquick spells it with a q... probably an honest mistake due to that
The manufacturers of "Bisquick" baking mix ?!
i lik biskitts!
It's a South Ga thing....my extended family does the same thing
He got a roaring case of Taco Bowel.
I bet he loved the Taco Smell.
THERE'S NO SONIC IN CLEVELAND! But, we have to endure, day in and day out, multiple Sonic commercials, with happy people eating and laughing and eating their Sonic delectables. I've been to Sonic in KCMO, and I fell in love with the food. I want a Sonic here so badly.
I completely agree! Why do they waste their money showing us ads when we can't even buy their food? It's just cruel! ...Now I want a slushie.
There are sonics in Parma and Brunswick. And almost one in Avon but it never got built.
No one in Cleveland knows how to roller skate,hence no Sonic car hops and NO Sonic for you. :)
They may not have a Sonic right near you, but they do have them throughout Ohio. Hence the reason you probably get commercials for them!
Rally's/Checkers was the fastest-growing restaurant chain for a brief time in the early '90s, but it was long enough for them to open stores in New Mexico and Texas and for me to develop a craving for their seasoned battered french fries. The chain expanded too rapidly and virtually collapsed, except one last store that remains in Indiana. When I visit my sister, I always have her take me to that store for the largest serving of Rally's fries I can get.
There are lots of Rally's in NEOhio.
Also, theyre alive & well in Florida.
PORK ROLL! If you dont know what it is, then you are NOT from New Jersey. I have lived in California now for 6 years and everytime a family member flies out to visit, they smuggle a Pork Roll in their luggage. We eat Pork Roll egg and cheese sandwhich, or plain old pork roll sandwiches with cheese and raw onions. You CAN NOT beat Pork Roll if you want quick, unhealthy, but absolutely awesome. On a side note, people in New Jersey have no idea that the rest of the country has never heard of pork roll. I find that hilarious.
LOL...we love pork roll here too...and yes...we're from Jersey! Never realized it was so localized. Bring it on...fried pork roll on a hamburger bun, pleeeeeeze....lol Horribly, horribly bad for you...but so darn yummy! :)
Rob, you can rest easy.Pork Roll is alive and well in So. Cal. if you have any Bristol Farms markets by you they have it. it's expensive but we enjoy it about once a month. They even carry the Taylor Ham brand. now if I can only find a good pizza out here!
TAYLOR pork roll is a MUST! I've lived in Arizona for over 20 years now but I STILL miss being able to go into a local Jersey diner and order a Taylor pork roll sandwich! You can't do that out here. However, if you have a Fry's grocery store where you are, they often sell Taylor pork roll in 1 pound chunks near the deli area. Like Jay said, it can be expensive but it is definitely worth the occasional splurge!
On a side note, if anyone is ever in Margate, NJ (not too far outside of Atlantic City), do yourself a favor and stop in at Dino's sub shop. They make the absolute BEST pizza-steak subs in the WORLD!
By the way, does anyone miss scrapple? I DO! :)
I currently live in Seattle, but am originally from NC. More than once, when back there visiting, I've purchased a tub of NC barbeque, frozen it, and brought it back with me.
Oh, I want a Monte Christo... Used to get them at JoJo's in Austin, then found at Bennigan's if Dallas... Neither are open. What a treat a few times a year :-(
The truth about chains is that they hire illegals to dish out your favorite fatty past times.
Now if you believe in Jesus you would realize that illegal immigrants are going against God for breaking Caesar's law.
And yet another ridiculous, ignorant comment!
Thank God for the Illegals! Tip em next time you eat out.
Who do you think cooks every meal you've ever eaten at almost any restaurant? Take a peek in the kitchen of any chain, fast food or "fancy" restaurant and you will find an army of talented chefs who happen to be from south of Texas
The first thing I do upon arriving in Phoenix is drive to the nearest Jack In The Box. When I was little I didn't like hamburgers and the Breakfast Jack was about the only other thing you could get at a burger joint. They serve that baby 24/7. Mmm mm, can't wait for my next trip home.
The Dallas area (including Garland, Richardson and Plano) have Jack in the Box, too.
I do remember JitB in Phoenix from my childhood. I never ate there, but I do remember them. That chain won't stay dead! It's been reborn 3 times in the last 35 years.
Chick fil A is the most despicable fast food chain next to McDonalds. I will NEVER set foot in either one. It is sad that a company would openly spread hate and inequality in such a public way. Food is not religious and leave it to far right nut jobs to attempt to make it that way! DONT EAT AT CHICK FIL A!!!!!!
Because of all of these angry Atheists, people like me will intentionally go out of their way to eat at Chic-fil-e. Besides, the foods pretty good if you haven't had it. They just opened a branch in the loop in Chicago, if anyone's interested.
If people didn't tell me that Chick-fil-A is Christian-oriented, I wouldn't have known. I've never noticed the Bible verses that are supposedly printed on their coffee cups (then, again, I don't drink coffee or soda). I do love their chicken sandwiches, though!
No way yo. I think Chik-Fil-A's religious ordeal is BS but who cares? There is no better chicken sandwich. Anywhere. And there is just no other chicken biscuit. MMMMMMMMmmmMMMMM Chik-Fil-A sauce too. Even if they said spewed some hateful homophobia, anyone of any background can walk into Chik-Fil-A and enjoy it. This really makes me want Chik-Fil-A... one of the best reasons to live in the south. The only reason I currently resent living in New York. Gimme a #1 with some Chik-Fil-A sauce.
The only Christian thing that affects non-Christians with Chick-Fil-A is that they aren't open on Sundays. Big deal. But on the flipside... Bojangles is here in Georgia too and though very different than Chick-Fil-A every bit as good!
Not religious but love their sandwiches and peach shakes – omg! we all gotta make money or you'll be paying the to be on welfare.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will hit CfA on the way home... and again in the morning for a chicken biscuit. There hasn't been a chicken biscuit like that since Grandma's Biscuits closed!
When living in southern Peru I had a hankering after two years of no american junk food – for some good old fashioned, bad for my arteries and body fat percentage, pizza and doughnuts. Since I lived right next to the Airport in Arequipa Peru, and since Lima, the Capital was a short hours flight away, and Arequipa still had no American fast food restaurants – I had a friend in Lima, (who was dating a flight attendant) fly me in a large Pizza Hut pizza with 2 dozen doughnuts one afternoon. They wrapped it carefully so that when I got it at the airport, it was still warm! Regrettably I overdid it and ate most of it within a day or two, still it was definitely worth it!
So funny, because my FIL grew up in Arequipa and he laments all the time about how much he misses the food.
This is the dumbest article ever.
Agreed. Besides, the worship of nasty, disgusting fast food confuses me. It causes cancer, it causes heart disease, diabetes, grotesque fatness and almost none of it has an ounce of nutritional value. Plus, it just doesn't taste good. Especially when you have had real food.
Guess what? No matter what you eat and how self-righteously you label your food choices , YOU ARE STILL GOING TO DIE ANYWAY! Unless you are the ultra Buddhist monk whom consumes nothing on their way to starvation, if you use any leather of glue or eat meat or live in a building or walk on paved roads or utilize any manufactured goods you are creating harm and are therefore in no position to criticize anyone's choices but your own. Step back and let people enjoy there own lives, and maybe you would find the time to enjoy your own a bit more
Efffing WHITE CASTLE....tuck the tails on the rat burgers!
If you grew up in El Paso,Tx. then you may understand the cravings for Chico's Tacos...
Your comment just gave me a huge grin from nostalgia.
DUDE!!!
Seriously?? none of you out of the state people miss that Chipotle burrito with their orgasmic sour cream! I'd kill for that
Fortunately, I could easily visit a Chipotle here in the Dallas, Texas, area. I just don't need to eat a 1000-calorie burrito.
I have gotten so many people addicted to Zaxby's, when I lived in Atlanta they were around every corner, there is only 2 in the Tampa area and when i'm near one I have to stop and get some wings. God the Zax Sauce is amazing!!!!
Agreed, sause is tha bomb
I have driven back to virginia with cases of white castle, re-steamed them at work after we closed, and fed all our team members. In trade, i drive up Spudnuts donuts to my family in NYC when I visit. Makes everyone so happy and happy to see me! everyone wins! (even the makers of Lipitor)
And I know plenty of gay kids who work for Chik fil A. As long as they don't practice job discrimination, how they feel is not against the law. It's dickie, but not unlawful. Thank Satan!
Bocce Pizza in Buffalo is the best!!
This was several years ago, but we had friends from England who just loved the burritos from this local taqueria in California. When they moved home, they lamented that there was nothing like it in England. So when we flew to London to visit them, we stopped at the taqueria the day before and bought 4 burritos. We froze them solid and packed them into our luggage the morning we left. When we got to London, they were just thawed so we had a nice lunch of them with out friends. They were maybe a little soggy, but not too bad!
i used to think it was chick fil a short a. what a dork i am!!!! we laughed about it all the way down to F L A!! long a
HA!, I still call it ChICK FILL-LA
(Original) Tommy's Hamburgers from the Los Angeles area - double cheeseburger topped with, among other things, Tommy's Famous Chili.
How does THIS article become featured on the biggest news site in the U.S.? Seriously, what an irrelevant piece of garbage. Don't worry about Libya or the jobs crisis; clearly fast food isn't getting enough press.
Sour grapes are not one of my favorites.
HA!
I see what you did there lol
Chick-Fil-A is a religious-based company and has every right to be. The fact that they sponsor anti-gay groups make me an advocate against them. They are very hateful and discriminatory towards gay people, but unfortunately it is not yet illegal which allows them to do so. I wonder what they think about black people? I wonder what the NAACP would do if they openly supported the KKK? Check this out: http://news.change.org/stories/yes-chick-fil-a-says-we-explicitly-do-not-like-same-sex-couples
Kyle, that's just ridiculous. Where's the love?
YUMmmmmm....I'm gonna go get some Chick Fil-A right now just because of your post. You can rest easy knowing you are responsible for increasing their profit tonight.
Personally, I think Chik-fil-a sucks. Not because of their religious leanings, their food just doesn't do it for me. But I will say that I avoid shopping at Hobby Lobby because they are always piping Gospel music over the loudspeaker.
Since its not illegal ....One must ask why your starting shit. Go live your life and quit imposing your gayness on everyone else. Your a minority. Leave straight people alone. Mind your own business. Just.....go.....away.
Thank you!! Geesh, waiting for the day when i have to teach my kids that boys kissing in the hallways is disgusting and wrong. I can't believe gayness is even something that people are debating. How does a guy ramming another guy sound normal? How does two girls rubbing their twats together sound normal? What the hell is this world coming to?!
Charles, who care what you find normal? Who are you, the normal police?
For more than 20 years Chic-fil-a has been one of the largest contributors to the American Negro College Fund as well as many other charities. I am an African American and I worked for them as I went to college. They footed the bill. I don’t know about them discriminating against gay people, but it does not sound like the company I know…
Yep, talk about intolerance...since when do you have to be gay to operate a for profit business in this country? Do I have to be Catholic, Protestant, amoral, asexual, bisexual or what? Chik-fil-a's operators happen to be religious, and happen to adhere to their values rather than selling out to the almighty dollar. I frankly was happy to not only see their arrival in California, after having grown up with them in North Carolina, where "Blue Laws" of the South in general prohibited many businesses from operating on Sundays for many years, but that even though allowed to be open all day on Sundays, one of the busiest days of the week for restaurants, Chik-fil-a is still closed on Sundays. Kudos to them for not only having values in today's world but for standing up for their values. ooohrah!
The grandaddy of the owner of Chick-fil-a probably owned a restaurant where they refused to serve blacks. And people probably said the same thing to critics then that they are saying to you now: "I'm going to go eat there thanks to your comments." "Why are you starting sh!t?" "They have a right to back whatever politics they want!" Religion was used back then to prove that blacks were inferior to whites and could thus, be discriminated against. Laws had not caught up to reason. They still haven't.
Perhaps Chick-fil-A is making progress in the area of tolerance as I understand that just recently they have stopped discriminating against gay chickens and now both gay and straight chickens are served to order for their customers. Funny thing is, no one so far has been able to tell whether they are eating a gay chicken or a straight chicken in their chicken biscuit.
Now they are everywhere, but back in the day – it was Krispy Kreme – wherever they were, and someone was going there, we were sure to get some tucked away in their luggage!
Chick-Fil-A is a RELIGIOUS-oriented fast-food company. I won't patronize them because they try to proselytize to their customers!
I couldn't agree more! They are religious biggots that spread hatred.
you sound very hateful and a name caller
There is something hateful about a chicken sandwich? People FORCE you to believe something you don’t want to before you can eat? What a narrow-minded, hate-filled opinion you have, Kyle.
I know this was supposed to be a joke, and likely local to the South Bend, IN chain... I didn't find it funny, and was able to find better places to eat for quite a while.
A Letter from the Boss
As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama is our president and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, or prices would have to increase by about 10%
But since we cannot increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off six of our employees instead. This has really been bothering me, since I believe we are a family here and I don't know how to choose who would have to go.
So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lot and found six 'Obama' bumper stickers on our employee's cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for a change, and I can give it to them.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c03f84b257.jpg
Kyle is a bigot who spreads hatred
I don't think so....Sounds like you have issues that don't have anything to do with great food and good prices
They spread hatred by saying "my pleasure" when you say Thank you? That must be so awful for them to do!! Oh, you are probably that doesnt say thanks... However, they have amazing food, and I will keep spending my money there!
Exactly one of the reasons I'm a big fan of Chick-Fil-A! If, by proselytizing you mean some stores playing Christian music. What ever happened to tolerance? I fully support your right to choose not to eat at Chick-Fil-A but, please, don't EVER call a Christian intolerant when they refuse to support businesses that operate against their values!
While we are talking about more fast foods I have only one other place to say: Coney Island and their Chili Dawgs in Detroit Michigan..... Add onions and mustard; OH soooo Good!
Derek – I grew up in the Detroit area and I loved Coney Islands. I now make them at home for my kids, in fact we had them for dinner tonight!! The other think I miss from Michigan is Olga's.
I would kill for eegee's right now. Only in Tucson, and I just can't live there anymore :(
I love Eegee's! they're the best. and their fries are excellent to.
I just have the family down in Florida scrape some road kill up and send it up to Michigan. Yum, yum. Week old taco what a maroon.
Here in PA I miss Bojangles and Mr Pibb from down south, and Old Chicago, Black Eyed Pea, and Carl's Jr from out west.
Mr. Pibb is in the north. I now live in Ga but I moved from Pa in 2005. I have been drinking Mr. Pibb since my aunt told me about it in high school during the 90's. (I really prefer it over Dr. Pepper.) So why don't y'all send a WaWa down this way? I miss their soups and subs!
Its all the way up to Maine still
When visiting Connecticut we stopped in at a Friendly's. I ordered their clam chowder and offered my little girl a taste. She promptly finished mine and ordered a bowl for herself. It was delicious. You wouldn't believe what they pass off for clam chowder here in Florida.
There are Friendly's in Florida. They are random, but they exist. I have eaten at them in Dayton, Kissimmee and Bradenton.
Too bad that Chick-Fila very publicly hates the gays in any way, and has said that they are sad that they are forced to serve them.
That's why I eat there, because they still have values!!!
Since when is refusing to serve people a value?
Oh, I meant, being sad :( about serving people. Give me a break.
Way to go, Bret! Chick-Fil-A does operate based on their values and I wish more Christians would do the same. How many of you spreading hatred against Christians have ever actually honestly (with the open mind you're always so proud of) studied the Bible and have gotten truly involved in church? If you ever really do that in a gospel believing church, you won't find any hatred of people. There are exceptions, but a big difference in Christianity and Islam is that Christians and their leaders will refute the "Christian" extremists, while Islamic leaders vastly remain quiet about their extremists. Not to turn this into a Christian vs. Islam debate, though. That's for another forum.
Hate the gays? I think you read to much internet fodder. They probably hate stupidity, like your undocumented assine statement.
Actually, in many cities, they have provided free food to anti-gay church rallies, vocally declaring their support. You can search CNN for related articles. That's one reason that they will never have my business. Another is that I'm not stupid enough to eat that crap.
I eat there because the food is good, the staff helpful and the facility is clean. The manager never fails to stop by the table to ensure that everything is all right. The staff circulates offering refills of beverages, taking trays and cleaning. One day I saw a crew member cleaning the BOTTOMS of the tables. Another day a man was crawling through the kids play place cleaning the facilities including the inside of the slides. On several occasions I have seen people I know to be gay being served with the same courtesy as anyone else. Everyone is entited to his/her own beliefs.. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I don't but hey, this is America, right?
Spicy sandwich with CfA sauce. Ftw!
My family moved from the East Coast to the most crooked, land-locked state in the union.........thanks to the USAF. No cheesesteaks to be found in any radius that match a Philly cheesesteak! We have family bring them whenever they come – in fact, they aren't allowed in the house without them!
Dare to dream, people... dare to dream.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Netherlands stop by any family owned Frites (a.k.a patat) shop. They are the best made fries. And you can't just order the fries alone. You have to ask them to dab some Mayo and Sate Sauce. Oh so good. And their other dishes are Frikadellen with curry sauce and my favorite the Dutch Kroket. Have to be very careful with this because it can be severly hot on the inside.
I lived in the Netherlands for a year and totally agree with you. The Belgians also make a great pomme frites, hopefully w. all the gastropubs popping up in the US there will be some great ones here too
Sadly,all the fast food business's I used to love to go to,have destroyed the quality of the food they sell and raised the prices on the trash they try to tell us is food so I pretty much don't go to many anymore.
I still frequent Wendy's but the corporate Vice President's who are ruining that chain are well on their way to making their fries and their burgers uneatable too.
My nomination for the positively saddest example of how foodservice CEO's can ruin a fast food chain is the Hardee's chain.
Truly,that fast food chain has been destroyed by the corporate upper management that has bought in the cheapest food product they can fine to sell.
And I am still wondering what kind of polymer reinforcing substance ( that McDonald's food chemists probably told them not to worry about using it because it passes relatively unabsorbed in the human bowel) McDonalds is using on their fryer oil to make it last three times longer then normal oil.
Their fries now taste just like they were fried in liquid plastic.
And the 'beef' McDonalds sells smells just like smelly hot fishing worms.
Yum Yum-you deserve a break today -FROM McDonalds.
"corporate Vice President's who are ruining..."
should be:
"corporate vice presidents who are ruining..."
------------------–
Let this be a lesson to all, my friends, never never abuse apostrophes and create contractions that are grammatically incorrect. Blog responsibly, my friends.
put more effort into your own grammar
You go contraction police!
everytime I go back to missouri (I currently live in Argentina) I always hit my favorite fast food joints. Namely taco bell and arby's. I can usually take care of the taco bell addiction by bringing home the taco bell pre made boxes they sell at walmart that has the seasoning and the taco shells.
I brought about 50 lbs of Belgian chocolate back from Belgie. It still is in my fridge. I was worried it would be confiscated. But it wasn't...
If you ever visit the island of St. Martinque on the Ducth side of the island in the Caribbean stop by the Belgian Chocolate Shop located on Old Street – Philipsburg. It is owned and run by a Belgian woman and when you sample her Belgian sweets your eyes will roll back into your head. We were on the 7 day Carnival Cruise and spent over $300 bringing that chocolate hoem with us. The web site is: thebelgianchocolatebox.com
From the PNW: I love me some Burgerville chocolate hazelnut milkshakes and walla walla onions. Also, Ivar's makes some damn good clam chowder for a fast food chain.
Never been to Burgerville, but after looking at their Hailbut Fish sandwich I need to take a special road trip to Calif just to try it.
My SIL buys Taco Time crisp burritos to take home for her boys when she visits Utah. Also, when I visit my folks out west, I MUST bring Graeter's chocolate sauce from Ohio. I've even brought them Graeter's ice cream on occasion, though that one's a little trickier.
Fluff. Made in MA, only available in the northeast I am told....grew up on it, raised my kids on it. My daughter went to college in Pittsburgh and I had to ship it to her. Great stuff.....fluffernutters are the best.
I'm convinced that the quality of a KFC decreases as the distance the store is from Kentucky increases.
Could be something to that theory. I had KFC in Tokyo once. Once. Nasty stuff.
Wrong... I tried KFC in both China and Thailand. Much better than in the USA. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
I agree... the KFC in China tastes good, but I won't even touch it here in the US... disgusting.
Wrong- I had KFC in Louisville and it was disgusting!
I used to hammer some KFC but lately, no way.
I am actually surprised that Rocky Rococo's was not mentioned. Whenever I have friends who come and visit us here in Wisconsin that is the place that they want to go first. Nothing like Rocky's breadsticks and sausage and mushroom pizza.
I have to agree on Rocky Rococo's. Family and friends out of state always want to go there atleast once or twice during their visits. If we travel it is expected we will bring some along.
OMG.... Rocky Rococo's. Greatest pizza and breadsticks ever. I unfortunately am about 1000 miles away from one :( Same goes for Culver's custard and Butterburgers.
I've never had Rocky Rococo's, but my boyfriend loved in when he lived in Milwaukee. So, the last time his brother visited up there, he put a slice on ice and drove it all the way back to Jacksonville, FL. Apparently, it was pretty good once re-heated. I've never missed any place that much, but I understand that the missing does exist.
The ultimate "fast food" is to walk into a pizzeria in Italy with a wood fired oven just after they open and the oven is as hot as it will be all night & it's too early for the Italians to eat. You basically have the place to yourself. The oven is so hot, you couldn't cook it any faster in a microwave. Order any pizza on the menu & it will be ready by the time they bring your beverages or quicker than it takes to get your food at Burger King.
I miss Napoli Pizza. Oh man that Buffalo Mozzarella is out of this world.
Er...we have Dunkin Donuts on the West Coast. I grew up with Dunkin Donuts in Spokane, Washington.
My wife sent a six pack Yuengling to a friend in Hawaii, one was missing when it arrived.
I spotted an empty Yuengling bottle on a table in the Opryland Hotel once in Nashville, TN and stopped at every single bar in the hotel to try and find where it was being sold! Never found anything but a bunch of strange looks when I asked for one. Must have been a suitcase import.
No one has mentioned Skyline Chili? Raised in the Deep South in a family from Southern Ohio, the real treat of going to visit relatives in Cincy was several trips to Skyline. While the canned and frozen you can buy at the grocery is OK, it isn't quite the same.
i was scanning through looking for skyline too and surprised at how few mentions there were. my mother sends cans of it home with me every time i visit them and while i miss their food, the chili in the can just isnt the same as going in and having the crackers, hot sauce, and all that.
people in chicago look at me weird when i try to explain skyline to them, its a weird concept i must admit, but it tastes great and is completely a regional thing.
I was wondering what all the fuss was about Skyline Chili. I bought some of the Skyline Chili frozen stuff at the supermarket and it was nasty. Thanks for the info.
I miss my Carey Hilliards barbecue and their awesome onion rings that I grew up with in Savannah.
Just as a correction, we do have In-and -Out in Texas. They have opened a number of locations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area this year.
YUP, they sure do, and I hear the wait is long but well worth it!
Correction of correction. The article states no In and Out Burger cannot be found EAST of Texas.
You need to read the article again. Perhaps they don't teach cardinal directions or geography in Texas, but the article clearly states that In-and-Out cannot be found EAST of Texas".
I think fast food is NASTY enough without sitting in the mail for a week. Truly disgusting that people eat this stuff as it is.
I live in Haiti and I know many expats who deal with this. I crave Chick-Fil-A and even had a whole party platter of nuggets purchased and put in someones carry one for me. I refrigerated them here and ate them slowly savoring each nugget and dip of Polynesian sauce.
I am glad someone else appreciates CFA nuggets and Polynesian sauce (which is delicious on anything...) as much as I do! Maybe we can convince CFA to expand into overseas? If I am ever in the area I will bring you 2 trays!
I'm in SC and my mom has sent Duke's mayo to relatives in Salt Lake City..While living there I missed grits the most!..Especially while pregnant and knowing I couldn't have them..Now back in SC I miss the fry sauce!
COCO's from Okinawa Japan....I miss it and beg all my buddies stationed there to send me some. Their Curry Chicken (i know curry from Japan?) is to die for. I've had 2 truly devoted friends actually do it, and I ate every last bite.
You lie!
Anybody remember the Clubburger from the long-gone Carroll's chain – taken over by Burger King – in New York and perhaps some of New England? Clubburger was a Big Mac copy – but way better and never duplicated, far as I know. Would love to have one again.
I used to live in Madison, WI where we had the Potbelly sandwich chain. They have the best hot peppers on their sandwiches, and when I was pregnant I craved them all the time. I emailed the company to tell them they should open a Potbelly in PA where I moved, and they actually sent me 2 big jars of their peppers! :) Love potbelly!
I live in VA and can have Potbelly when ever I want. hahahahahaha!
If you live anywhere near Harrisburg you should try the Sandwich Man. I recommend the italian super combo, or turkey bacon grinder with hot peppers. Their peppers are amazing.
Many years ago when I was working as a Government contractor in Bosnia during the Kosovo Conflict, I was stationed at Tuzla Main Air Base. Living on base we were all use to the regular mess hall meals. It wasn't bad, but after awhile some of us began craving for regular fast food. One of the Airmen in our group regularly flew on missions and one day he told us he was flying to Sarajevo. Well everyone knew they had a McDonalds in the city. So the Airmen collected cash from everyone and their orders. When he returned we were all waiting at the tarmac. As the Airmen got off the C-130 he was carrying two large clear garbage bags filled with boxes of Big Mac's. We went to the Recreation Center to watch a movie and chowed down on those Big Mac's. They were the most satisfying Big Mac's we had ever had.
I once took a Varsity fried apple pie to London when I went to visit my sister. Two actually, they were delicious!
Having lived in Atlanta for many years, I miss Krystal's and Steak n Shake here in Maryland. I visit them often when I go home. And I am bummed Krispy Kreme left central Maryland years ago. Still, I'm happy we have Chick-Fil-A's in the area.
I don't consider eating at Chic-Fil-A to be eating out. They make natural home cooked food there. They cook their chicken with tender loving care.
Yes! Chick-Fil-A is the only fast-food chain that actually has a whole breast deep fried in peanut oil and simply topped with pickles – something about that combination is to die for. Compared to McDonalds, Burger King, etc...the fried chicken sandwiches come with deconstrucuted chicken that has later been formed into a "patty" and then deep fried in "trans-fat free" oil > CRAP. I am so thankful I have access to Chick-Fil-A at every corner at my University. Oh, not to mention the Chick-Fil-A sauce (heaven).
When I lived in England, my best friend would ship me a large bottle of Dorothy Lynch salad dressing at Christmastime and my birthday in the spring. I missed it so much!
Dude, DL is scary easy to make. We can't get it at any of my local grocery stores but when I looked at the recipe I decided that even if we could, I'd still make the stuff. :-D
Dorothy Lynch is sometimes served in restaurants here in Nebraska (the home of Dorothy Lynch)! It's awesome!
I moved to Minnesota from the East Coast and really would like one of Hard Times burgers and a bowl of chili. But I did one better. I wrote for the recipe and I regularly buy the chili mix which they mail any where in the states. SO I do get one of the foods I love.
I moved from Minnesota to Jersey and I miss Taco John's, Rafferty's Pizza in Brainerd, The Green Mill and Old Dutch potato chips. We need to ship food to one another. :)
Anybody who believes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach flunked geography.
Culver's Culver's Culver's Culver's
That Bacon Deluxe would be hittin' the spot right now.
And a tasty Caramel Cashew Sundae for dessert.
I think my arteries partially clogged just reading that!
Never heard of Culvers but that sundae sounds sooooo good.
Anyone remember Burger Chef? You could get a kid's meal that came with a 45rpm record made from a very thin square piece of vinyl. Hard to chew, but fun to listen to.
I like Popeyes Chicken and they don't have it in this small town I live in.
I remember that!
Omaha has had a Chic-Fil-A for years inside the "employees and guests only" food court at the Mutual of Omaha headquarters. Many a person has been caught begging employees to sneak them in so that they can buy a Chic Fil A sandwich and waffle fries. Thankfully, they are opening a public store before the end of this year on the Mutual Campus.
And a stand-alone restaurant in Council Bluffs in December of 2012, which seems a lifetime away!
Speaking of Omaha, I'd love to have a Runza stuffed sandwich right about now.
OH RUNZA!!! That made my mouth water.... I was just in Omaha last week, WHY didn't I stop in Runza??
I can't tell you how many times I've craved a real Runza since leaving Omaha.
I was wondering when someone would mention Runza, a Runza and those crinkle fries...yum!
I guess people love to eat, but hate real food.
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire
Ah but it takes the truly perverted to import GENUINE UK Marmite!
No, I think the truly disgusting, I have eaten that stuff, horrible! My husband is English and we always debate bringing marmite home after a visit!
From southeast PA, went to Cali for a week, and missed Wawa. But I get get In-and-Out, so it was a nice trade-off
Wawa has the best gas station coffee ever
I LOVE WaWa. I'm from NJ and once lived in Florida for a year and hated how they didn't have a WaWa (couldn't find a meatball sub that came close). Now I'm back in NJ and WaWa is even better with more choices- smoothies, milkshakes, and of course their award-winning coffees/cappuccinos. Can't wait for October and December when they have the pumpkin spice flavor and the Candy Cane Hot Chocolate. MMMM.
Use to live S.E PA, now in GA and one of the only places my husband and I complain about losing is WaWa. Well, plus the fact we can not get a decent Philly cheese steak or a cheese burger sub anywhere....
Not fast food, but my mom brings me a whole cake from my favorite grocery store chain bakery whenever she flies up. The cake counts as her personal item when flying. haha
Not fast food... I can understand that. A mango does it for me. I attended college in Missouri...far away from home grown mature on the tree mangoes. My mon tried bring me one but it was intercepted at the airport. The immigration officer threw everything she was trying bring away except the mango. He took a whiff of it, smiled and set it to the side. That broke her heart...I was not mad at him. I knew the rules. I hope he enjoyed as much as i would.
Wouldn't happen to be Publix, would it?
Well, we now know why so many Americans are morbidly obese.
Because they eat too much and move too little?
Have you guys ever had the wings at Swamp Donkey's Libation Stall
Swamp Donkey's is great place to get a quick hot lunch.... Especially if you are working and pressed for time
Not to be rude, but Swamp Donkey sounds like a venereal disease.
I Googled Swamp Donkey and found the following – http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swamp%20donkey
This confirms I would never eat at a place by that name..
Krispy Kreme. For a while, all the Krispy Kremes in Arizona had closed unexpectedly so when me and my boyfriend drove out to california to visit his family we made sure to bring a few dozen back home. Panera was another favorite of mine that couldn't be found in AZ.
Now that we live in California, I'm missing Culver's and Sonic. Win some, lose some I guess :|
Culver's rules. They beat out In and Out, in my opinion. Tasty Cheese Curds, a Bacon Deluxe and a Chocolate Concrete Malt. Yeah, baby.
Sonic is a California chain! Do some searching...I bet there's one not far from you!
Sonic is an OKLAHOMA chain.
Yep, what Sonic Queen said...Sonic was founded and has it's corporate offices located in Oklahoma City. Sonic's are everywhere, and when I lived in the D.C. area for 2 years I desperately missed my cherry limeaides! Now we have ALL of the chains I've loved here: Chick-fil-A (I got the okay from my gay friends to eat there again, lol), Krispy Kreme, Steak-n-Shake and Jack-in-the-Box. Now, all I need is a White Castle!
Coffee Crisp candy bar and Ketchup Chips! (I moved from Canada to the US 13 years ago, still can't get over them!)
Not so much fast food as just regional foods. I left Montreal 33 years ago. I have folks bring me Montreal bagels, Whippets, Smarties, Coffee Crisp, Caramilk and Crunchie bars whenever they come. Which, sadly, isn't nearly often enough. :(
Do people still eat this stuff? America is being slowly poisoned to death.
They ship now
http://www.rosamarias.com/shipping
I also don't give a shit about their political affiliation. (Additional response to my Chick-Fil-A comment)
Do they support the National Socialist German Workers Party or something? Geeze I did not know that eating chicken was such a profound life statement.
They're very open about their christian values and anti-gay marriage amongst other things. But they make a good chicken sandwich and that's all I care about.
I thought sacrificial chickens was more of a pagan thing....
No, but they do actively and aggressively discriminate and make known that gays, blacks, Muslims, and Pagans are NOT welcome in their establishments. I once had a manager at a store in Kansas pull out a baseball bat and demanded I leave, simply because I was wearing a Wiccan pentacle. "I will not tolerate Satanic freaks in God's store," was his response. Yes, I called the police. No, he was not arrested.
James did you ask him to follow the leader and forgive you?
Apart from what James said being 100% and unequivocally false, yeah...
The idea of a fast food store manager chasing you out of his store for wearing Wiccan garb has got me rolling off my chair in laughter. Only in the US could people be so crazy, both the manager and the customer! I think it's one of America's many charms. This particular incident sounds like a comedy routine in real life.
Damn if I know!!
I was not impressed with any of the employees at our local chain. I'm not any of the above mentioned nor do I wear symbols or t-shirts, and this supposedly Christian group showed me nothing but judgment, rudeness, and condescension. Their superiority about being Christian is very confusing since this is not what Christianity is about. One even had the nerve to critique me on why I was there eating alone. She was half my age, but still felt superior enough to tell me how I should change – I guess to be more like her?? True, they have a right to their opinion, but we too have a right to voice our opinion about their behavior – not nice, not polite, and certainly not Christian.
they shouldnt be in PHX which is a public facility, not just for their views but also because they take up space on Sundays when they are closed.
now, i think they have every right to do what they want on private roperty. none of my concern. they wont let me wear my pentagram and eat, fine. but, in a place like PHX, which gets public moneys, i want to wear my pentagram and eat my Sunday chicken sandwich!
Well eat your chicken sandwich at PHX at McDonalds or someone else who is open. Chick-Fil-A leased the space, they pay for it. Any business can determine it's business hours or change them if the deem it efficient!!
I seriously doubt James comment. However I will not say it did not happen!!
Amato's, Portland Maine (and now several other locations throughout Northern New England). Nothing even close to those glorious Italian Sandwiches in DC. Sigh... you don't know what you have until it's gone.
you don't know what you have until it's gone... and it ain't easy to get back takes so long, long, long.
The Chocolate Log in Cape May has the best Fudge on the jersey shore
This is in response to all of the Chick-Fil-A comments. Personally, I really don't care for their product, it's OK. Secondly, I do not let religious affilliation or non religious affliation determine where I will get something to consume. It would be appropriate (in my opinion) to discuss the craving preferences.
I eat there because of the commercials. The cows are a little creepy but they are in my head and I have to Eat Mor Chikin. I know Jesus endorsed it and all so they can't serve up those little crack rock laden Chicken Biscuits on Sunday. I'm shomer shabbos therefore I do not roll.
Whatever, commercials don't influence me, I agree Crack biscuits don't cut it!!
We have one in our mall and its always the most crowded. I don't think it is because they are a christian company. I think it is because they have good food.
I dont understand peoples chicfila addiction. The waffle fries are not very good, the bun is standard and always flattened by the stupid foil envelope they stuff it in, and the chicken is NEVER crispy. I used to like their sauces but have gotten sick of them because they are fill with preservatives. The only good thing about them is that they are cheap.
With the exception of Wendy's I think pretty much every other chain has a better chicken sandwich, but they are too expensive. The KFC Doublicious is in the chicfila price range and its a lot better, but the size of the chicken breast seems to be a crapshoot, they need better guidelines for what goes on that sandwich.
I don't go to our Chick – Fil – A for the food. They are the friendliest group of employees I have ever met at a fast food restaurant. If your food isn't ready, they don't make a fuss about it and just bring it to your table and they walk around asking you if you want a refill. Food without attitude?! The food is always hot and fresh, but it is the service that keeps us coming back.
If you live near Orange City, Florida, stop in one evening – they are good folks.
Their waffles fries are awesome, their chicken is crisp, and their sauce is excellent. They employees are extremely friendly and the service is wonderful. They are a bit expensive though. It's like you've never eaten there.
They are not expensive, 5.40 for a combo? Thats cheaper than McDonalds. And the chicken is not crispy, the breading is sparsely applied and not capable of being crispy, at least not compared to normal fried chicken breading. Whats so special about the waffle fries? Because they are waffle shaped? They are plain frozen potatoes cooked in plain oil, you have never had good fresh cut fries or fries cooked in high quality oil. The sauces are the best you can get in a container but theres wayyyy better sandwich sauces out there like Arby's "Cravin chicken" sauce or KFC Zinger sauce.
This so ironic – just had this conversation with my bro out in Cali this morning. I'm in Atlanta and was talking to him as I was waiting in line @ the Chic-Fil-A drive thru. When he heard me order his beloved Chicken Sandwich, he said "YOU JERK!!!" Waffle House was also mentioned – still have never figured out why they don't at least sprinkle a few around CA to see how it goes. Tahoe, for instance, would be the perfect place for our beloved 3am restaurant.
Waffle House does not impress me what so ever. My husband love it! As we traveled across the country whne he had seen a waffle house we had to stop there and eat. Their food is nothing but that fake butter known as grease colored with food color to think they are useing real butter. Everything I have ever eaten at waffle house was brought to the table in a pool of this grease. We had 2 of these chains open a few years back in our town here and they had closed did not last very long.Perkins is just as fast as the waffle as far as service and their food is not laying in a pool of grease. It was on national news this A.M. a survey taken showed 5 guys burgers and fries to be the #1 fast food that was to be good. Well to me it is not beter than McDonalds or any other. The burger joints like Wendy's used to cook their burgers while you waited but they all cook way a head of time and put in the plastic warmer drawers and this makes then all taste like cardboard. Really there is no fast food that really breaks my heart if I can not get it any where there is non of it any good for anyones health.
There actually are some Chik-fil-A's in Cali. I know there is one in my hometown of Oxnard, CA. And I had it for the first time in the Del Amo Mall in Torrance, CA. They are popping up slowly but surely.
They've been around forever! We used to eat at Chick-fil-A at Northridge Mall in Salinas back in the '80s!
I moved to Pennsylvania about a year ago from West Texas and grew up in the Dallas area. My friends and I went to Rosa's taco Tuesday every week–you just can't beat 3 tacos, beans, rice, and tortillas for less than 3.50. I think we celebrated more than a few birthdays there too. I've missed it ever since and I have to go back every time I'm in Dallas since they've moved into DFW now. I also miss me some Sonic happy hour. Fortunately I never made a habit of eating there or I'd miss the food too.
Totally unrelated to food...I moved from PA to east Texas 18 months ago and man do I miss Pennsylvania.
Sorry you are not happy in my section of Texas. What don't you like?
I love Rosa's too! There are 3 in the city I used to live in, but I've since moved to Austin for college and the closest one is an hour away. I miss it all the time and have my mom bring me some when she visits.
steak n shake fisco meld, have delivered them to my daugher in eastern nc and pizza oven pizza from stark county oh can be ordered over the phone and delivered fozen, ready for the oven,doesn't get much better other than fresh out of the oven
How about The Original Pancake House..... Thier Franch Toast is f'ing scumtastic
Ahhh and their bacon..... And their apple pancake.....
Kozy Inn – Salina, KS
It's where White Castle, and the like, got their idea from. Even Kansas has something to be missed.
Cheerwine Softdrink from North Carolina to Arkansas.
Sundrop playa
We just returned to MD from Asheboro, NC. Rest assured there was a few 12 packs to hold us over till the next time we go back.
Randolph county and the NC Zoo. I dont know if the south will rise again but I assure you my pecker will!
They sell Cheerwine in Richmond VA now too. At the Kroger.
the last time i saw sasparilla soda was in Smithfield, VA . . . about 20 years ago. anyone know where it can still be found? i am in south central Texas now, and Smithfield bacon is cheaper – and better! – than the local brands.
I can (and have) made a 20 ounce bottle last a week.
Zach's Hamburgers in Charlotte NC is pretty good and Mac's BBQ
I really miss Bob's Big Boy. I used to get their fish sandwhcih and fries with the hot fudge cake for desert every Friday with my Dad when I was a kid. Rockville, MD isn't the same without it.
The whole big boy drive through experience was awesome
You have an extremely low threshold for awesomeness.
I remember going to a Big Boy expecting great food because of the reputation and ended up thinking it was a sub-par Dennys. Big Boy is all marketing nostalgia.
I loved Bobs' Big Boy as a kid as well. Would always have the Combination Burger with the fries and the salad and a hot fudge sundae. Their bleu cheese dressing was great...as well as that seasoning they had you could put on the fries. mmmmmmmm Their comics they gave you were even kinda fun too.. anyone remember those??
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Blake's LotaBurger from New Mexico...I'd sell a family member to taste an Itsaburger with cheese and extra green chile right now! They also have the best fries and cherry cokes I've ever tasted anywhere in the world!
We had a few Lottaburgers in Phoenix years ago. Their green chile burgers are indeed great. Whattaburger is promoting something very similar right now. If you live in the Southwest you become a green chile addict, especially now during Hatch chile season. Supermarkets are roasting them fresh right now. Yum!
Chik-Fil-A has the best sweet tea around. I buy it by the gallon and go thru 2 gallons a week. The help at Chik-Fil-A, are the most polite of all the fast food chains. When they hand me my food and I say "thank-you", instead of saying "You're welcome", they always tell me "My pleasure". I'm sure it's how they're trained, but it sounds real nice and genuine. My #1 complaint about Chik-Fil'Lay, they don't have onions. I like onions on my sabdwiches. They have no onions. I don't know why. I never heard of a sandwich without onions as topping choice. Why no onions Chik Fil Lay???
You ever had there chicken salad? It seems like there is a lot of potential with using there seasoned chicken hand pulled in a sandwich-salad mix. CfA needs to work on that and capitalize on their unique flavor
they must be paid higher than normal fast food because the niceness is creepy, all the chicfila's are like that
You guys have any suggestions for a good Korean Dong chow place?
OK "Dont eat that shhhut your mouth" I'll give you props ... I've looked through all the comments just to see what you posted ... some funny stuff.
The Pho at Young Phuck is amazing
I miss Arry's burgers in Montebello, CA. They have the BEST Pastrami sandwich, it's so big it can feed two people. I'll drive the two hours just to have one. I've had it shipped to me in dry ice. Hmm, Now I want one. Road Trip!
After living in Atlanta and eating Chick-fil-A once a week, I had chain envy when I moved to Connecticut to go to grad school. My boss and a few thoughtful co-workers sent me a care package to remind me of what I was missing: empty Chick-Fil-A packages (still filled with crumbs), bits of waffle fries and dirty napkins . . . along with the table scraps from a few other Atlanta eateries, too. What thoughtful jerks.
I call BS on this comment. You sir, are detached from reality and creating a commentary based on lies
You're claim of BS must be denied. I am Britt's old boss and can testify to the care package in question. The other unmentioned contents were BBQ sauce-stained napkins and containers to remind him that he had left the South and was now stranded up north among Yankees who are not equipped (culturally or physically) to provide proper barbeque nourishment.
I moved to Maryland from Minnesota 4 years ago. i never had chick fil a till i started dating my boyfriend who ive been with for 2 years now and im addicted! ill be moving back to MN in ayear and trust me i won't be turning down chick fil a between now and then.
There is at least one Chick-Fil-A in Minnesota... in Coffman Union at the University of MN Minneapolis campus
Morning Wood Fired Grill in NC
Please – Please tell me why there are no Waffle Houses in California? Groing up in Atlanta, there were three at almost every exit on I-75. I have to drive almost 6 hours to Phoenix to get a Waffle House fix. Pecan Waffle + Scattered, Covered and Smothered. I know – most people go there to hit on the waitresses, but there is no better place for 3:00 am food.
You boys like Mexico?
The Snozzberries taste like, snozzberries
While in DC had a friend that moved to San Diego CA that was back in town. She just had to have a few half cooked Dominick's pizzas to freeze overnight so they would survive the flight back.
We have a Peruvian-American chain here in S. Florida called "La Granja" that I would miss so much if I moved away. Also, this is the anthisis of fast food, but I miss Trader Joe's. I buy all sorts of fancy products from there every time I visit my grandparents. They sell a pistashio Toffee that is to die for.
I miss Taco Villa. When I lived in west Texas, I would go there regularly. Best green sauce anywhere and the dry, flour tortillas are wonderful. Every time I go home to visit, I have to get a beef burrito with green sauce. Taco Casa in Dallas-area is as close to Taco Villa as I can find.
When I was in Iraq, our battalion's courier used to bring us fast food back from the States whenever he made the trip. Nothing like eating a cold pizza from Pizza Hut on guard duty.
Who on earth would ship bbq from North Carolina to Tennessee? What an odd choice for an example.
Preach it! We in TN have nothing to apologize for. We've got both wet and dry ribs in Memphis–be ashamed to die before you have eaten at Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous–and fine, hickory-smoked pulled pork with several great variations on sauce across the state. Georgia gets it right, too.
Carolina BBQ and Memphis BBQ are totally different things with the main difference being the vinegar and mustard base bbq sauce popular in the carolinas, hence the example given
Fast food- the american epidemic.
Ricobenes breaded steak with brown gravy... From Chicago. Always make my Chicago peeps bring them on the plane to San Diego. So good!
A diner in TN would make my day. There is nothing like a pork roll, scrambled egg & cheese on a (real) hard roll.
Also miss Windmill hot dogs on the Jersey Shore.
They are still delicious Maureen!
There is a place called Cock and Camel in Oxford, England that has amazing fried fish
My parents fly me Noah's bagels, coffee, and Zachary's pizza from the bay area, Ca to SLC, Ut.
Zacharys chicago style pizza in Berkley is awesome
Ditto. I have family do the same. Peet's Coffee, Zachary's Pizza, Goldilock's Filipino baked goods.
#firstworldproblems
I have had my dad mail me a particular bakery's pie for my birthday, but have never even thought of asking for a fast food item. There are usually enough other chains that I like around to distract myself with.
Not so ashamed to admit, while I was serving onboard the USS Nimitz, I kept 2 Burrito Supremes for abourt 18hours...just so I could enjoy them at sea....
America, the land of plenty. Thank the Lord Almighty for those blessings of abundance. No matter how "bad" things get here with jobs and the economy, this country has an amazing talent at keeping its people (and those from other nations) well fed.
I have taken out-of-state visitors to Jack in the Box, but I've never even considered mailing any sort of prepared food. There is a couple of places (a Mexican restaurant, and a butcher shop) near my aunt's place in El Centro that will ship specific items via Greyhound's frieght service on dry ice. I once had the butcher shop send about five pounds of carne asada to my sister in northern California – took about 30 hours to get there.
Note: it was uncooked and vacuum packed. And they have since started selling it (also uncooked and vacuum packed) at our regional Costco stores.
Tuna taco
This isn't fast food, but every time I fly back to Mass from Florida, I bring back boxes of Drake's coffee cakes. I also miss Uno's pizza!
The Double Double from In 'n Out is my favorite. I always take it Animal style. Unfortunately I live 2 hours from the closest location. Still I would never ask someone to even pickone up and bring it to me because its no good unless its fresh off the grill
Amen Tom R, amen!!
I miss Wendy's Frosty to dip my french fries in. Also, anything burrito-y or Texmex-y. Chipotle, Qdoba, I don't care which one, just get them over here to Europe!
there are Dunkin' Donuts in oregon!
Last one on the west coast left Salem, OR, in 2008.
They're also her in Las Vegas (although I guess that doesn't qualify as West Coast anyway, but still!!
On family road trip over a decade ago, we decided not to stop at any chain restaurants and only eat at places that were locally owned. We've never looked back, and haven't missed chain food even a little bit, because food made by someone with a real stake in their business mostly seems better. Plus, I'd rather see my money go to independent owners than some huge, or even largish corporation.
Best of all, the kids feel the same way and haven't asked for Clown Food for years.
Nobody cares about your agenda. This article is a light hearted celebration of Americana
Would you like a medal?
Wow, aren't you special...
Yeah. Staying away from McDogfood's is always a plus.
I once drove 2 1/2 hours to the closest Carl,s Jr. when it opened in Texas. Now I miss Round Table Pizza from Northern Ca.
There's so much food that I miss from the USA, and I'm mostly not talking about the food from fast food chains. I'm English, and was only in Florida for a few months, but I'm really looking forward to getting back there this year.
Miss my Dutch Fast food... I missed it sooo much I made a Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101454143246102&v=wall
Taco Bueno
cook your own lousy food you lazy sacks of ____ and get some self discipline for yourselves.
blah blah blah
Aw! Someone is missing their favorite food so much, it made them a wittle gwouchy.
Australia has no Taco Bells?!
My already high opinion of Australia has just jumped even higher. Taco Bell is disgusting beyond all words.
Taco Smell!
Make a ruuu-uuuun for the toilet.....Baaa-Whoooosh!!!!
Taco HELL
taco bell sucks so bad that they couldnt compete with any other restaurant around breakfast, lunch or dinner. they had to create a meal of their own(fourth meal) where they wouldnt be compared to anything else.
taco bell is an insult to palates everywhere! its a shame it is pretty close to the best semi-fake-mexican food available in upstate ny.
thanks god we have the best bbq at Dinosaur! you tennessee, carolina and even kansas folks dont have a clue!
You know what's worse than Taco Bell? DEL TACO. It makes TB look like they're serving filet mignon.
While living in Siberia Russia with our family....we would sometimes receive a care package of our favorite foods....so, leave the good ol' USA for a few years and you'll be surprised at what take for granted.....like the simple foods... Peanut Butter or Sunflower seeds, Oreo's, Reese Peanut butter cups, just to name a few....What I would have given to have some Churches Chicken or Chick-fil-a while we were living in Russia! Yumm!
I hear you. I lived in Uzbekistan for a year and started craving late night Taco Bell bean burritos about three months in. Most of my christmas presents that year were jars of Jif peanut butter, bottles of tabasco and a couple of packets of Wick Folwer's Two Alarm Chili mix. Nothing like a taste of home to help cope with some culture shock!
I currently live in Idaho and would rather enjoy a local Chick-Fil-A or Black Eyed Pea.
Pretty sure getting 'Culverized' at Culver's in Wisconsin is amazing. However, they don't consider themselves a fast food restaurant...ummm...you get your food pretty fast. The people are clean, the place is clean, and the deep friend cheese curds are amazzzzing.
YES. Could not agree more.
Yay Wisconsin! Culvers is awesome. Any of you hear of Hansen's in GB? Incredible pizza & to die for ice cream.
Ugh...Chik-fil-a is owned by extreme right wingers. Haven't set foot in one in years and don't miss it. There are MUCH better chicken sandwiches out there, anyway.
I agree 100%...plus, the few times I've eaten there, terrible food.
Really - politics plays a role in where you eat and spend money? “I won’t use Progressive because the owner is a socialist nutjob!” or “I won’t eat Chick-fil-a because of the right-wing Christian values.” I guess everyone is free to purchase or not purchasewhat they want, but your comment is bit trite.
It isn't trite, its standing up for your beliefs.
I agree, you could not pay me to darken their doorstep. Crappy food by right wing haters. Sounds delicious huh?
That's funny, because I work at Chick-Fil-A and nowhere in our corporate goals or purpose is there anything about spreading religion or political views to those who eat at our stores. Its about being the best fast-food restaurant by providing excellent food and service (which by the way, we happen to be one of the best fast-food restaurants in the business based upon national reviews. Consumer Reports just rated our chain as the best fast-food chicken store) Yes, the founder of CFA is an outspoken Christian and has incorporated his beliefs into how the chains is designed (i.e. closed on Sunday, Christian music in stores) but I challenge you find any evidence of him forcing his religion or political views down your throat by eating at Chick-Fil-A.
Chick Fil-A fired a Muslim guy a few years back for not taking part in mandatory EMPLOYEE PRAYERS.. thats forcing your beliefs on others. Not a chance I'd support a company like that and I dont.
armorlol, thats a load of cr%p. Its illegal to fire someone because of their religion, and NO cfa has "mandatory" employee prayers. The owner might pray, but no one is forced to participate in them.
Oh, you're so enlightened. You accept everyone and would never be judgemental like those darned right-wingers. Except you refuse to eat at a restaurant owned by people who think differently than you. Those jerks close on Sundays so their employees can go to church and be with their families. The empty-headed right wingers set up college scholarships for thier employees to help them get an education. They donate millions to charitable causes. I can see why you'd want to avoid them. So very enlightened.
They could care less. Chick-fil-a is nearly always busy (around here at least).
The only 'fast food' I've ever missed is a small, family-owned three restaurant chain in the Inland Empire, called Rosa Maria's! The best darned chili verde burritos on the planet!!! Rosie's ROCKS!
I lived in San Antonio as a kid and I remember my parents would always get breakfast burritos from this drive thru Mexican place called Fajita Junction. Does anyone from TX remember that place? I heard they over-expanded and went bankrupt, but I still have fond memories of that place!
I totally remember Fajita Junction! We moved away when I was six...it's one of the few memories I have of San Antonio.
I don't remember Fajita Junction, but I remember Sombrero Rosa. I loved that place. They got bought out by Taco Cabana if I'm not mistaken. Of course, I love Taco Cabana too.
White Castles and chick-fil-a – god I miss those.
Markus, they have a couple Chick-fil-A's in SoCal.. a couple I know are in Irvine. I was extremely happy to find this out! I miss White Castle too!
Correction – David (sorry!)
Yes, there's about half-a-dozen in various places around San Diego as well. They're pretty new and well hidden though.
they're building a chik-fil-a here in nc but i get my mother, sister, neice, nephew, cousin, or whoever is coming from the north to bring me a case of white castles. this crap they have frozen in the store doesn't come close to the ones in the restaurant!
The couple of times I've had CfA, I didn't understand what the big deal was. Dry and uninteresting. And I've eaten at TB a million times and have never had a Meximelt? What is this? Is it regional?
I remember enjoying KK doughnuts every time I went out of state and wishing we'd get it here. Then we did and I never went, and they closed, LOL.
I think "dry" is the last word I'd ever use to describe CfA. Sounds like you've never been there and envy chain envy.
This has to be the funniest comment of the day, hands down. 'You must be lying about eating at CfA just to make yourself look cool'. LOL
I did the same with Long John Silvers...used to drive 40+ miles for their yummy, crispy (greasy!) fish. Then, we finally got a franchise in our town..and I've only been twice. Must be the lure of the unavailable :~)
Mack & Manco pizza Ocean City, N.J.,............
If I ever left the PNW, I'd miss Burgerville like crazy. Not just their sauce, either – I could make that if I had to. But they use fresh, local ingredients and it's nice to be able to get a quick drive-thru meal without feeling like I've got a lead brick in my gut afterward.
Taco del Mar is another fast food chain I really like, and it's not everywhere, etiher. Their fish tacos and burritos are amazing!
The only thing I miss is Del Taco. Some of my happiest times as a kid was when my parents would take me to the one on Gessner in Houston, and I'd get Del Nachos. Then Taco Bell showed up down the street–worse food but cheaper. Suddenly, DT vanished. It wasn't until many years later that I found out they still existed, in California.
I was also surprised to learn once that Mr Pibb isn't available nationwide.
Yes, there are quite a few in the San Diego-LA area.
We had a Del Taco in Houston? Last one I saw was in Utah... Taco Cabana is some good stuff, though (homemade tortillas, mmm)...
Son in Afghanistan, we routinely vacumn-pack his favroties..
blueberry pancakes, Jr.BaconCheesburger, Ultimate cheeseburger, mexi-melts too..
they arrive after a few weeks almost good-as-new.. so he claims....
beats the heck outa MRE's...
You're a great dad. That's a really awesome thing to do for your son.
That is pretty awesome!!!!
a king cake from New Orleans while living out of state
You can order King Cakes from a few bakeries, and have them shipped. We have done that before at my office, where we have a few former N.O. /South Louisiana folks. Abita Beer and Zapps chips are also prized...
I am normally a pretty healthy consumer, but I do miss Sonic tater tots and I am waiting for them to open one here in my part of Florida.
I used to love eatting at Chick Fil-A until they started playing Christian music in the lobby.
I won't eat at Chick-fil-a after learning it's owned by Mormons.
No so my friend. Truett Cathy (the founder and owner of Chick-Fil-A) is Baptist. Cathy is a devout Baptist who has taught Sunday School for over 44 years. As an extension of his convictions, all of the company's locations (whether company-owned or franchised), are closed on Sundays — a rare policy within the food-service industry — to allow its employees to attend church and spend time with their families."
No, it isn't.
Bigot, much?
I know the family and I assure you they are not Mormon.
Are you afraid you might consume some morals? Pretty ridiculous to be that averse to something or someone that has a link to a religion when they are doing nothing to force it on you.
It really amazes me that people who would usually never make any kind of racial or ethnic slur have absolutely no problem with publicly displaying their bigotry towards Mormons. Would you have made the same remark or harbored the same feelings if you had been told that the company was owned by Jews, African-Americans, Native Americans, someone with one arm and/or leg? I doubt it. Where do these hipocritical bigots come from, and what, or who, creates them?
Mormons are some of the nicest people you'll meet... isn't it funny how it's easy for some to be hateful toward people they know nothing about? Only reason I'm not one is that I just like my sweet tea too much! :-)
You're just confusing them with Mormons because they're also bigots. :)
Evansville, IN has a chain of donut shops called Donut Bank. They beat Dunkinb hands down. Donut Bank makes these flat pastries that go by sevreal names, such as "cinnamn crisp", "elephant ears", and "flying saucers". I love them, so every year, for Christmas and my birthday, my mother would send a dozen. With her passing, my brother has taken over the duty. 'Can't find them anywhere in New England. I also miss Steak 'n Shake, and "Nick's Chili Parlor" (the latter in Indianapolis).
yeah donut bank is great go there every morning, blueberry cake donuts
My wife and I both enjoyed Round Table Pizza in Northern California, and were disappointed when we moved from San Jose to Denver and found there were no Round Tables. At that time (1998), I was traveling once a week from Denver to San Jose and, because it was pre-911, I could board last minute with almost no restrictions on carry ons (used to travel with a full size Leatherman too!). So one day I ordered a small pizza to go, dropped the rental car at SJC (which used to be right next to the terminal) and boarded with my pizza still warm in the to-go box. It quickly filled the plane with the smells of cheesy goodness. A two hour plane ride and short car ride later and my wife was able to enjoy a tasty piece of home, albeit re-heated...
Whataburger!!!!!!!!!
What a Burger Should Be!
Open 24 hours a day and was the first to accept plastic. It was the essential 2am meal stop in college. Food and the service is usually excellent. It was the first thing I missed when I moved from Texas to Cali. But Cali does have its share of good places too. But when I moved to North Carolina, forget it. NC is the fastfood armpit of the United States, nothing but badly managed Wendy's and Hardee's where I was living on the coast. Glad to be back in Texas!
Hardee's..... Darn good sweet tea. Any time I visit family in NC I get a half gallon of that southern staple and drink. Gone in 2 days.
IMHO, Hardee's hasn't been the same since the Carl's Jr. merger. I still remember the pork tenderloin sandwiches. Mmmm. So bad, so good.
I haven't been to a Hardee's in NC that wasn't nasty. The west coast Carls Jr.s are actually pretty good. I think they get worse as you go east.
My sister-in-law brought tacos from Taco Bell on a plane to give to her brother living in Spain. He ate them! I miss Chick-fil-A living on the West Coast along with Crackle Barrel and Dunkin' Donuts. Always, stop at them when I am on the East Coast.
There are chick-fil-A's on the west coast now. They're sparse and almost all fairly new, but I personally know of at least six locations just in San Diego area. And I know there's more near San Bernardino and Anaheim.
Johnny's Pizza! from northeast Louisiana, I miss it so much!
Taco John's, Rafferty's Pizza, and Old Dutch potato chips from Minnesota. Live in Jersey now and I really miss these foods and snacks. Good stuff and memories.
Oh god...TACO JOHN's, taco burger with sour cream and potato ole's with cheese dipping sauce! I missed this SO much when I moved to New England (where they think Taco Bell is edible). My mom brought a few out for me in a little soft-sided cooler a few times. Nothing like actually being there though. It's the FIRST place I go when I'm home for a visit.
Then there's Hardees, Godfather's Pizza and the since-closed Mr. Donut (where the donuts don't taste like coffee...unlike Dunkin' Donuts). Last but not least, Tastee In-N-Out...Tastee Burgers (taverns, for those that know what that means) and Onion Blossoms with Spicy Dipping Sauce.
Gawd, I'm such a Midwest Gal!!!!
You and me both! The potato oles! The Green Mill and Hardees. Sigh. They don't know what they are missing out here on the East Coast.
"Tabo Bell" (Meximelt link)
Ever since I left Santa Barbara, I've missed Sambo's!
did you ever go there when they were called "little black smabos" with all the wall paper showing pictures of the little black
sambo charactors? talk about a bad marketing scheme.
Bob Evans sausage gravy and biscuts. bring em to Texas
Fast food chains are the evil of our time – pure poison, overweight children, addictive salt, sugar and fat. Australia should be glad they don't have a Taco Bell.
Oh give it a rest. Eating at any of these places in moderation never killed anyone.
Tell that to the gazillion overweight people in the U.S. suffering from diabetes and other illnesses due to a fatty diet.
Yep, I feel exactly the same way.
And yet, several times a month I zip on through a fast-food drive through and indulge. And neither I nor my kids are obese. What was that about all things in moderation?
Except moderation isn't happening. 1 in 3 children in the U.S. is considered overweight or obese. One in THREE.
Don't blame the restaurant for overindulgent parents. Kids are obese because their parents will not make them exercise or use moderation when they eat.
Go ahead and defend the fast food industry. To your dying breath.
I nearly threw up in my mouth a little, reading about the nasty Taco Bell the Australian guy actually shipped and ate. W TF! Taco Bell is only edible if you're plastered, otherwise my dog's food looks far more appetizing.
There is one Krystal and one Krispy Kreme in all of South Florida. I live an hour away and I always stop by to get my fix when I am in Fort Lauderdale. Whenever I go to Seattle, I go to Dick's on Broadway. I eat at Zaxby's in Georgia and Alabama. I was elated in college when Whataburger opened a store in Gainesville.
eat more veggies fatty fat fat heart attack.
I moved from NC to St. Petersburg a few years back. What a culture shock! Fast-food wise, I mean. Ya-ya's, Popeye's, Church's... There was even a Whataburger in Largo! It was refreshing to find a place that put mustard on their burgers instead of the ubiquitous ketchup-and-mayo combo.
But there weren't any Backyard Burgers. No Zaxby's, no Bojangle's, no Krispy Kreme! Most of all, I missed Cheerwine. When I found out that a local BBQ place off MLK Blvd. shipped Cheerwine and Sun-Drop regularly I ended up going there just to get cases of the stuff.
But now that I'm back in NC I find that I miss some of the places like Church's. Still the best fried chicken I've ever had. Even better than Bojangles! I guess that no matter where you move there'll always be places you miss...
I've lived all over the country and I would say that NC has some of the worst quality fast food. (If there is such a thing.) I guess the only place I found to be consistent was Chick-fil-A and Checkers. Unfortunately, those chains weren't very prevalent. If you ever found yourself doing a roadtrip in NC, you were usually stuck with Wendy's, Hardees, BK, or McD's.
If you lived in NC and weren't eating at Cook Out, I'd say the blame is on you. Cook out burgers or bbq sandwiches with the best fries ever and corn dogs. And sweet tea. And in July, Watermelon milkshakes! Yum! How has no one brought up Cook Out yet?!?!
I live in South Florida as well. There is actually one KK out in Tamarac, one in North Miami, and one in Fort Lauderdale by the Oakland Park/U.S. 1 intersection. Publix sells boxed KK, as do some convenience stores – which of course is not the same as a glazed donut taken right off the conveyor belt when the HOT light is on....
I know this because KK is one of my favorite indulgences. I fortunately moved away from the Fort Lauderdale location, for my own good :)
Ok so not a 'fast food' chain...but Buffalo Wild Wings NEEDS more locations in northern california! to have to drive 45+ mins to get to one, in traffic does NOT make for a fun time.
and yes, Chick-Fil-A...northern california is calling. Contrary the writer's article...I DID grow up on the east coast, therefore I DO know what I am missing.......
AND In and out is NOT all that..and isn't even open 24 hours. Never forget I walked IN to one (hence this is why they have drive thru) and immediately walked out. Almost literally tossed my cookies....
chick-o-nasty parts is closer to the truth. Waaaaaaaaaayyyyy over rated.
I concur, I have no idea what the in and out hype is all about. I got sick when I tried it and I wasn't at all impressed with animal style anything.
There's no Jack in the Box on the East Coast, and I was flying to a friend's wedding in Pennsylvania. So she asked asked if I would bring an Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger for her, which I did. It's a 3½ hour flight and I packed it with a dozen cold packs. She warmed it up and was in bacon cheeseburger bliss.
How the hell the Chick-fil-a get so popular? It's not even good enough to be called bad.
Couldn't agree more.
Idiot
Seriously... I've eaten there once and would never go back. High priced and horrid...
Let's not confuse the chicken for the Christians lol
Apparently you never ate breakfast there
i lived in hampton, va for years. i loved hardee's steak biscuit. i really liked them and nothing else is as good. i would love to find a hardee,s near my home in houston that served steak biscuits.
the other one comes from my childhood. i lived in bellevue, pa and loved isley's ice cream store. they are no more, but there will never be anything to take their place. i loved their dunce cap ice cream scoop.
i can not forget walgreen's lunch counter ham salad sandwiches. i wish walgreens would open their lunch counters again.
I grew up in Chicago and every walgreens had a lunch counter. It really brought back some memories, food was even good!
I remember those steak biscuits. They WERE good! All they have around here is Carl's Jr. now. I've only eaten at them once, so not sure about their breakfast menu.
10 weeks in the VA hospital La Jolla and friends brought me a Big Mac every night. You can't get more loyal friends than that!
Please tell me you weren't in for a triple bypass, gastric bypass, or gall bladder removal...
Sal's Pizza, with spinach, onion, fresh garlic and eggplant. YUM! I'm pretty well stocked with great chains here in NC, couldn't live without my Jack in the Box, but the six months we lived in New Hampshire and discovered Sal's... YUM.
We live about an hour from an "In & Out Burger" Restaurant; and whenever any friend goes out of town; I typically pay to have the burger brought to me with all the toppings (Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, & Pickles) on the side, along with an order of their fresh-cut shoe-string fries (made that morning inside the burger joint; NOT pre-cut or frozen). TOTALLY worth it every time! :O) (Note: It isn't mailed and is less than an 1 1/2 hrs away; always turns out great!)
i do hope you get the burger animal style! not the same without their special sauce
roscoes chicken and waffles in LA... oh what i would do for that now.
ps yes not chain fast food joint, but it is a chain restaurant
This article fails to mention that Kevin weighs 483 lbs.
Before he died of a heart attack.
Choking on his chicken...
Ok, I gotta admit that this article struck at cord with me. When I moved from Southern California to Kansas to attend college, I was incredibility sadden that there was no Jack in the Box restaurant in the whole state! I would miss my favorite delicious Breakfast Jack sandwich that I could have at anytime of the day along with crunchy, perfectly made onion rings. I tried to make it and it just wasn't the same. So when I would visit home, the first thing I wanted to go off that plane was to the nearest Jack in the Box restaurant. I know it bad for you, but it’s just so delicious to have once in a while.
There is no college in Kansas that would warrant moving from Southern California. Your story doesn't add up. If you got poor grades and couldn't get into a good school why pick amongst the low-ranked schools in a boring state like Kansas? There are poor schools in much better locations.
Right, J. Scott. Bigot much?
Yeeeeaaaaaaah, dude, she must be lying just to comment on this awesome article. That makes sense.
I enjoy the different chains in different parts of the country. I occasionally find myself wishing for something, but never enough to "send away" for it... I'll enjoy it next time I'm there.
One of the favorite things to do is just before catching a flight in Chicago, stop at White Castle on the way to the airport and buy a couple of sacks...bring some aluminum to wrap them and keep them lukewarm and take them to California with me. People on the plane would salivate at the smell and the folks at the other end would gorge themselves.....Great times.....
Arby's curly fries...om nom nom nom nom nom!
I miss Braum's Ice Cream. They have good food and the best milk! I know it's weird but their milk is delicious!
chickfila is not fast food, it's good food fast!
*rolls eyes*
apparently fried chicken on a bun with a pickle passes for a meal for you, but if I wanted something that simple I definitely wouldn't want to spend 6 bucks on it.
chik-fil-a most best. much yum.
Over-priced and mediocre at BEST. Not impressed.
Heard all the commotion about In & Out Burger and finally went there and would have rather had McDonalds... Five Guys is soooo much better.
I found 5 Guys to be overpriced and pretty average tasting, I was disappointed that it didn't live up to the hype.
Five Guys over In/Out any day
5 Guys are nasty – heart attack waiting to happen. If I'm gonna have a burger, please leave the grease on the griddle.
It's no more greasy than a burger at chilis.
Five guys better than InO? really? I don't supposed thats because its about twice as expensive.
The fact that people keep comparing InO to 5 Guys shows just how amazing the value of InO is.
someone (ie the writer of this story) has NO FNCKING CLUE WHAT ENVY MEANS. Where do retards like this get the capability to write for international venues like CNN. is cnn seriously that short on reporters that it simply plunges its hand into the ass end of an unwashed sheep's butt to find some barely recognizable p.o.s. writer to hack this drivel into some semblance of mediocrity to vomit onto the web and then have the gall to call it news? it doesn't even classify as entertainment.
I digress. This is not envy. it's called obsession. Get a hint fnktard. next time you begin to think about wanting to possibly take a stab at maybe writing another piece for any web venue, please take but a moment to drink draino first, then go with whatever epiphany hits you.
Nice attempt Moe, but it fell flat. Use this failure as a learning experience
Nice try.
I can sooooo relate to this. I'm from Canada and living in the US. Needless to say, there are lots of food items I can't get across the border. I found a great website that will send them, but its mostly stuff like chips and chocolate bars. They are excellent though. Man, I miss some of the stuff from back home. I've been dying for a Mama Burger for six months and the only A&W I've been able to find anywhere near my area closed down almost a year ago. The next closest one didn't have Mama Burgers. mmm, miss em so bad.
I used to work in Ontario: sure do miss me some Timbits! As soon as I crossed the bridge into Windsor, I'd head for Timmies...
I grew up in El Paso and the fast food I really miss is Chico's Tacos. Rolled tacos swimming in sauce with grated government cheese on top. Only available in ELP, and it doesn't travel well unfortunately. Also miss the Machaca plate at Lucy's. Lots of great Mexican food in El Paso, I'm in Albuquerque now, we have good food here but it's just not the same.
I never understood the fascination with Chicos. I also grew up in EP and it was never my thing. I have friends and family who when they visit – Chicos is their first stop. Now Lucy's is another story! I do make it a point to visit Lucy's when I'm in town.
All I want to say is, I live in Oklahoma. I have 2 aunts. One in Washington state, the other in Florida. They both absolutely LOVE coming home to Oklahoma because of their biggest sin: Sonic. Neither of them have a Sonic in their state. They love the food and drinks. I'm still stunned that they can't seem to get one in EITHER state, even in the big cities they live in. Really sucks.
Not sure where your aunt in Florida lives, but I see Sonics everywhere, and I live in Destin FL, and previously in Orlando.
Sonic does exist in WA state! There are several in Southwest Washington (ie, the Portland/Vancouver metro area).
If your aunt lives in Seattle or Spokane, that's still a ways to go, but trust me: Sonic is in WA.
In WA, there's one in Spokane and one in Buckley (near Tacoma). Those are the ones I've seen...your aunt could probably check their site for locations.
Tony Packo's, Toledo, OH. They have the best Hungarian hot dogs and their hot dog sauce is especially great. But, you can only get them in the Toledo area. When I go back to visit I am fortunate enough to find both the hot dogs and sauce packaged for retail sales at some local grocery locations and take them home to North Carolina. Some might remember Jamie Farr's M*A*S*H character Max Clinger always talking about Tony Packo's. Not a true fast food chain but it has the same effect when remembering my favorite places that are not available in North Carolina.
YES!
Not exactly fast food, but I used to have my ex-husbands family bring bottles of Club Lemon Soda with them from Ireland whenever they came for a visit. I love it! I still don't understand why lemon soda hasn't caught on in the U.S.
Five Guys. All I'm sayin'.
five guys burgers and fries are up there, but i think hodads has them beat.
I miss the REAL buffalo chicken wings from the Anchor Bar (the originators). Anytime I go to Buffalo, NY, it is definitely a stop that we make. I had some shipped to my brother in Texas once for his birthday. He had to cook them himself, but said they were terrific. Nothin beats the original.
Couple of things wrong with this article. One, there ARE Taco Bell restaurants in Australia. There is one on George Street just south of Town Hall. There aren't many, but they do exist. Two, and most importantly, customs in Australia is SO strict that they will place quarantine bins in the airport jetway for you to deposit plants when you're traveling from one state to another. There is NO WAY that you could get food through customs unless you lied about its contents and then you'd be subject to a A$10,000 on-the-spot fine if caught.
Makes for nice story, but just not entirely accurate.
It was mailed, not carried through the airport. Maybe Fedex? I dunno their rules but gotta be different kind of screening that if you were carrying it through an int'l airport.
Chik-Fil-A supports the anti-gay industry of hate and should not be supported by the public.
You know, I thought I once saw one of those Chick-fil-A cows holding a sign that read "GOD HAITS CHIKINS AND GAI PEEPLE."
Now I know I wasn't hallucinating!
I've boycotted them for years. Got my father to stop going to them as well.
I'm not gay, so I'll keep eating Chik-Fil-A. YUM!
Baloney. Chik-Fil-A does nothing of the kind. The only hate that's legit is your own (and misguided at that).
You got a computer. Do your research. It's there.
I'm sorry, what exactly does Chick-Fil-A's WinShape Foundation support then?
MMM...however, until somebody else matches Chick-fil-a in chicken sandwichy goodness, I will continue to give them my business. You pay taxes to a government that is anti-gay, at least with Chick-fil-a you're getting something good out of it.
That's exactly why I stopped eating there and encourage my friends to do the same. (Although I'm not going to lie, I crave ti all the time)!
I don't support gays either, even more reason to eat at Chik-Fil-A!
I am not gay either; but I don't eat there because it would be contribution to a religious cause. Why do you think they are closed on sunday? because they want you to go to church instead.
I love you people. You have no original thoughts and you don't actually care about anything. You only care about APPEARING to care about things. It's really annoying...
And the proof of your claim is what exactly?
Nobody cares about your cause...nom, nom, nom
So, do you boycott all corporations that donate to the Republican party or very conservative organizations? If you don't, a boycott of one fast food chain would be rather hypocritical then, wouldn't it?
I'm not sure if missing something is the same thing as envying something. The term "chain envy", while a catchy name, doesn't seem to be what's going on here.
Ok, not a chain and not even in the States but are there any military out there who've eaten at Happy Teriyaki just outside the front gate of Osan AB, Korea? Been about 8 years but sometimes I still crave the food from there. Yummmmmm.
Dude...Taco Rice and Cheese outside the gate at Camp Foster in Okinawa!
When I was in Iraq, a friend who went on leave brought me back *at my request* a 6pack of Henry Winehards Rootbeer. Mmmmm. that was the best ever, even without refrigeration!
Before you consume a taco you recieved in the mail please remember notify your supervisor and coworkers of your absence beforehand and mark it on the shared calendar. Should you make the regrettable decision of coming in to work on that or the following day please arrange tasking with your supervisor that can be completed from a bathroom stall. If you MUST work in your cubicle or shared office, please notify your neighbors that they might schedule to take off a mental / olfactory health day.
Finally, please make sure you've filled out your TPS reports.
You are brilliant. I think I might love you.
Sometimes it isn't even the lack of a chain, it is the lack of menu items specific to the chain. This was the first year in the decade I have lived in Texas that Shamrock Shakes made an appearance here.
The most frustrating thing is trying to explain Friendly's to someone here and they say "so it's like Braums".
:-( aw, I miss Friendly's! I'm from Connecticut but I've been here in Dallas for 12 years... *childhood memories *
Haha, Friendly's! They had some good stuff. That was the first job I ever had...
Moved from NC to TX 3 years ago and my mouth still salivates when I think of Bojangles. Man, I really miss that place!
I second that. There are a lot of weekends when a cajun filet sandwich, cajun fries and tea are the only things that would make me happy. Chic-fil-A is good, but gotta wanta needa getta havea Bojangles!
Colony Pizza in Stamford CT...nothing like it. The best.
The Drunken Clam in Quahog is amazing
My fiance and I moved from Las Vegas to Boulder and were totally dismayed to discover that the closest In and Out was over 9 hours away in Utah. So when my sister, who lives in LA, moved to a house less than a mile from an In and Out, on my first visit my fiance convinced me to order two double doubles animal style and smuggle them back on the plane with me. They were over 19 hours old when he heated the first one up in the toaster oven and chowed down. He did not eat the second one...I was tempted but thought better of it.
really? fast food is like the bottom of the barrel of food and people crave THIS much? can I ask what it is that these restaurants use that can't be purchased and assembled ANYWHERE in the country? someone never learned how to cook.
Sometimes it's the sauce or just the way the bread is made. Sometimes it's the biskets (KFC!!) even Micky D"s. I have just about got that down pat.
newsflash, there's nothing special about anyone's special sauce. all of their recipes are online somewhere if they're that important to you. newsflash two, bread manufacturing methods haven't changed in centuries. if you're talking about the enriched wheat flour products (the ones that fast food chains use because BUGS WON'T EVEN IT IT) as if they're better than fresh baked bread, then you must not have taste buds.
How's that high-and-mighty working out for you, rhobere?
When you're not in Wisconsin, custard just isn't the same. Culver's makes an okay version, and their operation is getting bigger, but whenever I've been out of the state, I miss Kopp's. It's not much of a chain (three locations in Milwaukee), but I've never experienced a happier path to obesity.
Im from the south and i love chick fila. But I spent a year in CAli and a year In seattle and I must say. I REALLY REALLY MISS IN AND OUT BURGER@!!!! its the best fast food ever. yum!
I hate religious people, but I love how nice they are in @ chick fila. Almost...to nice.....
... I can see why you hate 'em. Must be really irritating to be served by nice people.
But the $ there goes to fuel hatred. Not really very Christian is it?
Love your hatred Mellow...
I agree, but they have horrible gay rights policies. I've been boycotting for over 8 months now and will continue until they clean up their s#*!
Please post links to these policies so we can all read them. Can't wait to see what you can't come up with.
Isn't it their their freedom to like or dislike somethings, isn't it their freedom to hire who they will? The gays will get along working with someone else, that is the gays rights and freedoms. All I hear is the rights of the gays, the rights of the black and rights for this and rights for that. Where are the rights and freedoms for all. Don't the religious people have their rights too??? You have the right to not like a religious person, doesn't that religious person have the right not to like you? I thought that was what freedom was all about. And the resturant will still make out just fine if you don't eat there.
@gingerpeach: No, the Christians and whoever do not have a right to exclude in general business discriminatorily. When people mean these rights for gays, blacks, etc. it's fighting for the right to not suffer exclusion. Any business who supported charities designed to directly oppose Christianity or said they didn't think Christians should work there, be served, etc. would be just as wrong as Chik Fil A. Christians are just as entitled to the right to not be excluded as anyone else. The problem is that many interpret the "right to exclude" and the "right to not be excluded" as the same thing.
Hey Anon, there's a difference between disagreeing with someone's lifestyle and saying that they won"t hire a certain "group" of people. Guess which one CFA practices? I've worked at CFA for 3 years, alongside SEVERAL gay employees, one of which had no problem announcing he was gay(invited all of us to his "wedding", and guess what some of us went-inluding the OWNER). CFA doesn't agree with homosexuality, but they also don't preach not hiring homosexuals. Try doing some REAL research about the company before you spout out a bunch of ill-conceived facts.
Yes! While it's great that they are sooo nice, it's a bit creepy they way they always respond "my pleasure" when you thank them. It's a bit Stepford....
It's really just good manners. A lot of places don't have that.
Talk about stupid.
My husband craved a certain Mexican restaurant meal from AZ when I was pregnant with our first child. His best bud sent it to him with dry ice which worked perfectly.
Chik-fil-a much yum. U eet menny times.
In case no one knows what that is: it's a lame attempt to imitate a CHIK-FIL-A cow ad because her husband wanted beef instead of chicken.
My aunt sends me Hostess Chocodiles and I send her White Casltes. I've also had friends coming to visit stop by my favorite home town pizza place and brought me a half-baked pizza. I finished baking it when it got to my house and it was wonderful!
White Castles are often in the freezer section at the grocery store now.
Growing up in Illinois but spending some time on both coasts and now back in Illinois, I really find myself missing Jack in the Box. While I was away, I missed Portillo's. Strangely, I never at at Sonic or Chik Fil-A while I was in North Carolina, but now that they have finally begun to infiltrate the Chicagoland area, I'm glad that I never did, or I'd have had serious Chain Envy in the intervening years.
Honestly, the chain food scene in and around Chicago is pretty complete except for Jack in the Box. About the only thing we lack around here is good seafood. It's hard to get fresh seafood unless you like lake fish.
My family is from Illinois, but we moved to Tennessee over 20 years ago. Once every few months my father drives up there and visits family. He gets the beef sandwiches from Portillo's and puts them on ice in a cooler along with Vienna Beef hot dogs from the store and brings them back. Gene & Jude's makes great hot dogs too.
The last time I was up there was several years ago, but I noticed that Wendy's sells Italian Beef sandwiches. Probably not nearly as good, but that would be an interesting story about all the different variations of the menu in different regions.
Portillos, now that's the ticket! Two more Illinois delicacies; Harris Pizza from Rock Island and Whitey's Ice Cream. Hungry Hobo subs used to be pretty good, til they ruined them with Miracle Whip and bland Wonder Bread rolls. Thankfully, there's Jersey Mikes here and I don't even bother with HH on trips home anymore.
I have considered driving out to Las Vegas for both an In 'n Out AND a Tommy's...is that completely nuts or what?
Mona, don't drive to LV, just to Dallas – there are multipe In-n-Out burger joints there now!!
Mona, don't drive to LV, just to Dallas – there are multiple In-n-Out burger joints there now!!
I really miss Hot N Now. I know they were the nasty underbelly of the fast food industry, but I loved their food.
Ricobenne's on 26th street in Chicago. Give me a breaded steak sandwich any day of the year.
I love Ricobennes on 26th. Used to go there when I went to IIT. There's nothing like it!
Whenever we get back to Iowa we have to hit Taco Johns at least 2 or 3 times. They don't have them down south.
Gross
I
Donkey Ford's Fish and Chips, from Limerick Ireland. There's nothing like them outside of Limerick, let alone in the states!
I miss Subway. I remember growing up when I...oh, wait...there's one. Never mind.
You win.
Like
I sent my sister Buttersciotch Tastykakes to her home in California.
You...you mean there are places WITHOUT Tastykakes?!?!?!
That does it. I'm never leaving this city.
I grew up in Michigan and California but now live in Raleigh, NC for the past decade and a half. I really miss Wienerschnitzel's and Jack in the Box (closest one to me is 2-3 hours away in Charlotte).
once i needed to puke really bad so I drove 2 hours to the nearest taco bell. great success.
Few years ago while visiting my friend in Chicago, outskirts, he said they had just gotten a Sonic there. Here in Tn they are all over and in my hometown as a kid we always went therr for our Sunday afternoon dinner. But then there's Hardee's and Carl's same food different name I found out by traveling...Also Shoney's and Big Boy restaraunts
Milo's Hamburgers are the best ! ! !
I agree! When I moved away, a friend would bring some frozen deconstructed Milo's burgers whenever she visited, and we would heat them up and reassemble. Not quite the same, but close enough! At least the tea is available in grocery stores in a few more cities now!
My boyfriend is from LA, but lives in Chicago. I bought him some In-n-Out, and immediately put it on ice. I refilled the ice when I got past security at the airport, and then again halfway through my flight. When I got to Chicago, we put it in the oven, and it was delicious. Not as good as fresh, but pretty darn close.
Oh, how I miss In~n~out burger! I really wish they would open one here in Ohio!
If someone would mail me a pepperoni and fried eggplant pizza from Harry's Pizza in West Hartford, Conn., I will gladly pay shipping and handling–and name my first born child after you.
Eastern North Carolina barbecue. Whenever I go through there I get several containers, freeze and share.
They are no chick fil a's in seattle. major bummer. :(
I hear ya. Always wanted to try it.
Eh...I find it overrated, but the waffle fries are great. Although at the one I used to go to occasionally, the staff was unusually polite and pleasant. Must be part of that whole Chick-fil-A cult thing they got going on.
Jules: Chick-fil-a ... "unusually polite and pleasant ... Chick-fil-A cult thing"??? That's called good service and a clean place to eat.
Not a Texas native, but visit often...haven't been back in 4 years and I miss DQ sure we have it here but they make it better down there, Whataburger, Sonic (we just got one in Madison, WI whoo hoo), and chicken fried steak...they just don't know how to make it up here! And any time I'm away from home for too long I crave Culver's! Nobody beats a Culver's butterburger, cheese curds, or strawberry custard shake mmmmmmmmmmmmmm now I'm hungry :)
That is because Madison sucks unless you're a granola hippie who also happens to love snow.
4 years at that oh-so-prestigious institute of higher learning in Downtown Madison was enough for me.
Eegees! available only in Tucson Az when we lived in florida for a short time I missed it so much
How about Sonoran hot-dogs form El guero canelo? ;-)
Calling Taco Bell "food" is an affront to the human digestive system.
I agree. Why else is it nicknamed Taco He ll.
Freebirds is way better than Chipolte. Not that I don't like Chipolte, but Freebirds has a way better selection.
Way better selection yes, but it all sucks. I will take Chipotles small selection of god-tier burrito fixins any day over that slop at Freebirds.
Back in the early 80's when I visited a former college roommate who had moved to Los Angeles, I arrived with a sack of Krispy Kreme glazed donuts in my carryon bag for her husband. He was orginally from the South and was craving them. At that time, the only donuts to be found in LA were Winchell's cake donuts. When I handed them to him in the airport parking lot, they were still warm. He was so happy that he had tears in his eyes!
Mmmm...krispy Kreme Donuts. I used to live near one of their stores. Getting the donuts as fresh as can be is something special. Now, I'm craving one....
I am devastated because the Krispy Kreme donut place nearest to my house shut down, and I can't find another one nearby. Krispy Kreme is gooooooood....
I had a couple bring me a Filipino empanada from California. It was chicken, not what I wanted – but it was the thought that mattered.
Ketchup flavored potato chips...I've only been able to find them in Canada..
Aw, MAN - why did you have to go and bring those up? Now I need them. Grrrr.
Humpty Dumpty brand potato chips made ketchup chips and dill chips and a few other "unusual varities"
My school bus used to pass the factory everyday and it was heavenly- this was in Scarborugh/South Portland town line in Maine in the 80'ss and 90's, I know you can still buy the chips in Maine, but i beleive the plant moved
We have ketchup flavored potato chips here in Sweet Home Alabama....but they don't look to appetizing, therefore our household only buy Sweet Heat southern bbq chips....love love love them!!!
Herr's makes decent Ketchup Chips; they're available at least as far south as Virginia. Snikiddy also makes "Classic Ketchup Fries" which are REALLY good.
You can buy them online and have them shipped to you.
You might try here:
http://www.herrs.com/products/chips/ketchup.html
Amazon carries them as well.
Have a nice day!
Never fast food but when I was living in Kentuckyana (Evansville, IN to be exact) I did have NYC bagels AND ravioli and semolina bread sent as a care package for my birthday!
I really miss Pollo Tropical.
Mmmm, plantanos ...... can't get enough plantanos.
I never had a craving for any fast food, but every time I go to Brooklyn I do make sure to load up on real NYC bagels!
Has anyone gone abroad and visited a fast food chain? How was it different? Do you have a Royale w/cheese story?
I had breakfast at both McDonald's and Wendy's in Tokyo during the Spring of 2010. Even though the costs (converting to US dollar) was about what you'd pay here, the portion sizes were much smaller. I guess breakfast isn't a big deal for the Japanese.
I have a friend that visited France last year and he said the exact same thing about fast food there. Portions considerably smaller.
That probably explains why the average American's A$$ is so much bigger than the average from the rest of the world...
the European portion size is smaller, yes. I have a theory–just a theory–that that might be part, just part, of the reason that the US has so many (no offense to those who qualify) FAT PEOPLE! The US needs to adopt European serving sizes. Maybe that would help fix our obesity problem.
"If someone would mail me a pepperoni and fried eggplant pizza from Harry's Pizza in West Hartford, Conn., I will gladly pay shipping and handling–and name my first born child after you".
Yeah because Pepperoni and Fried Eggplant pizza is "healthy" Ketttel? Meet Pot
When I was in Tokyo in 2003 for several weeks, Wendy's was my go to place for something familiar. The quality there was pretty good. McDonald's was interesting because the concept of 10 piece nuggets was unthinkable, and supersizing a combo meant a medium size fry and drink. I think it's the one country in the world you could not gain weight eating fast food. McDonald's in Stockholm was McGross and McDirty. They didn't know how to mix a McFlury. They had the machine, but I guess Swede's don't do such violent things to their ice cream (called "Glass") .
Dairy Queen in Thailand was almost better than our local. McD's taste different. Didnt get a chance to get a Burger King this last visit.
KFC in London doesn't sell mashed potatoes, only fries!! Sodas over there taste different because they use real cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
Lived in Australia back in '05. Not that it's my favorite or anything, but they didn't have Burger King there. They had "Hungry Jacks." Some crappy food, same "environment", just a different name.
Macca's (McDonald's) in Oz was the same, though. Although I really dug their McCafe's and was glad to see them pop up here in the US when I got back.
Oh, and, suprising they did have an Outback Steakhouse in Sydney (though that's not technically "fast-food", so out of context for this article).
They had a 'McPork' (not to be confused with McRib) sandwich on offer at McDonald's in Barcelona. And beer.
They had a 'McPork' (not to be confused with McRib) sandwich on offer at McDonald's in Barcelona. And beer. ANd the place was absolutely packed with locals. I went in for a cold drink.
I moved to Arizona 5 years ago from Michigan. I have been craving Superman Ice Cream all summer long but it is not available here in AZ. My sister is coming here next summer for my wedding so she might pack it in dry ice for me!! So excited!
I've had that exact same problem! I lived in Michigan as a child and go back at least once a year to visit family. Every trip involves getting some delicious multi-colored ice cream!
Every time I go to Panera Bread I am always surprised. Coworkers like the place for late nights at work, its convenient. I try to keep some Cup of Noodles and cans of tuna so I can skip ordering from there because everything they do is so wierd.
For instance, all their bread has the texture of 2 day old, monster dry crust, gum chewy bread. Last time I decided there was no way they could screw up a tuna salad sandwich. Boy was I wrong. First I had to look under the lettuce to see if there was really tuna there. And when I bit into it all I tasted was mustard. Who the hell puts mustard, plain yellow nasty mustard, on a tuna salad sandwich and then tells the customer straight faced, this is the way its always served? Their soups are obviously from cans and have sooo much salt – a simple can of Cambells anything soup is superior. In short Panera Bread makes McDonalds appealing. God, I hate restaurant chains, the corporation is so focused on profits and stock performance the quality of food is only secondary to their being there. You all can keep em.
So with you on Panera Bread! Friends and family raved when they started opening in my area. I can count on one hand the number of times I have been. Total yuk factor 10.0
I've never been served mustard on a tuna sandwich at Panera, but they do use Miracle Whip. MIRACLE WHIP. IN TUNA. Any restaurant that does that deserves to be burned to the ground.
Don't know about where you're from, but the Panera where I'm at is by far THE BEST fast-food place in town. They make great food–and their bread is always fresh, sometimes it's even warm from the oven (not a heater). I have never seen mayo on anything, if you want it you put it on yourself. The place isn't always terrid. Now, I did go to a Panera in a different city once and it SUCKED, but the one near me is still great.
Panera is RIDICULOUSLY overpriced for what you get. Its one of the worst values I can think of when it comes to food. The only thing I order there is clam chowder in a bread bowl, and they only do that one day a week, I refuse to waste 9-TEN F'ING DOLLARS on a turkey sandwich meal.
Panera sucks. Only rich people like that damn place.
I regularly drive 2 hours north to Cincinnati to eat a full-sized Skyline 3-way with 2 coneys on the side. YUM!
(Yes, frozen/canned versions are available, but are a very poor substitute.)
Skyline chile canned is sooo freaking nasty. I couldn't even get my dog to eat it.
Not sure where you're driving from, but 2 hours south of Cincy would put you a little south of Lexington, KY I think... maybe you don't like it as much, but there are a few Gold Star Chili restaurants in Lexington. You probably know this, but they're also Cincinnati style chili just like Skyline. Just FYI in case you don't want to drive as far.
Shakespeare's Pizza in Columbia, Missouri. I haven't resorted to the mail sysem, but on many occasions when visiting family in the area, I've gotten a half-baked pie, stuck it in my mother's freezer overnight, then stuck it into a cooler for the drive home, and then transferred back to the freezer when I arrived. When I'm ready for it, pop it into the oven, and enjoy! Not as good as fresh, perhaps, but very close!
I miss Shakes so much! Almost as much as Sparky's Ice Cream. Sadly I'm on the East Coast now, much to far ship it cold.
You can order pizzas from their website and have them shipped to you. Nothing will ever beat their in-store pie but it'll do in a pinch.
My sister in law carefully packages and mails us Bo'Berry biscuits from Bojangles in North Carolina once a year since we've been transplanted to Washington state. She does spring for the expedited shipping though.
We still pine for Steak N Shake, or Chipotle every now and then.
Unfortunately, Steak 'n Shake has really gone downhill.. The burger patties are so thin you could see through 'em if held up to the light. :-P I used to love Bojangles fried chicken when I went to college in Mississippi!
And what about Sonic? One of the two locations in Columbus MS used to have piccolos – fried pickles. Great with a limeade.
What area of WA do you live in? There are Chipotle's all over the place in the Seattle area
This is why American are correctly reputed to have no taste.
No one is saying these are our fine dining choices, just comfort food that reminds us of home. And if having tastes means having to accept cusine such as chicken feet, frog legs, or dog then consider me an uncultured slob.
Hear, hear.
I always used to see the Sonic tv ads which made me crave a Sonic breakfast burrito, but as there are no Sonic locations around me, I had a friend bring me one from Delaware to Baltimore.
The only thing I miss about Sonic is their absence.
Choke on a fat dick and die, bitch.
Missed your anger management class this week because of the holiday, didn't ya?
No reason to attack someone because of their (albeit snarky) opinion, Poser.
So clever! Idiot.
Nope, no anger issues here.
Oh, I HATE seeing commercials for chains that don't exist within 18 hours of where you live. Long John Silver's, Golden Corral, CeCe's Pizza (which I had in Florida – it was good for cheap pizza), Popeye's...sucks when you see this delicious-looking food only to find that the closest one is 700 miles from you.
At least they finally put a Sonic here – about four years after the commercials started up.
Whats cheap about CeCe's? Its like $6-7 and is like cafeteria quality. Damn near every pizza place these days has a $5-6 medium/large carryout deal. I went to CeCe's once and was really disappointed, the food was really bad and it was more expensive than I was expecting.
Ive heard that a lot about Sonic, they must advertise using cable network commercial slots instead of local cable provider commercial slots.
I had Sonic today and I wish I didn't. It is no better than Burger King, you aren't missing anything, they don't use fresh ingredients like In N Out, just run of the mill factory produced fast food.
Leave it up to Americans to write about missing their favorite fast food joint while traveling???!!!! How about immersing yourself in the culture where you are, and trying out local cuisine rather than whining about not having taco bell. Better yet, give up fast food altogether. All it does is make you fat, bloated, and addicted to preservatives, additives, sugar and salt. Eat an apple.
Sounds to me that most folks are missing their favorite fast food after they move, not while traveling. Read before ranting.
I've traveled all over the world and sampled and enjoyed all cuisines....still as my stays in those foreign locations drag on I'm glad to find a McDonald's for a Big Mac and fries that taste the same no matter where you order them
I agree! went to Mexico at a freshman in High School in the early 90's and was so relieved to see a Subway!
Yeah, I mean it is not like Australia doesn't have Starbucks or Subway, or Burger King (Though they call it Hungry Jacks).
Or sometimes you get tired of the local food because you need a break from it. For example, British food is an acquired taste, if taste is really an attribute you can apply to British food. The best food I had in Britain was either Indian or Italian fusion. I think the only refuge I had in Britain was a Subway. And Swedish fast food chains are bland. They did have one of the best Pizza Huts I'd ever been to. Now all that being said, I love eating out, and found plenty of sit down restaraunts in Stockholm that were very good. It was just that a quick lunch was always a challenge. Some countries just aren't reknown for their food. But there are other countries were it would take a while for me to seek out something familiar from home.
*smacks you with a rolled up newspaper*
No, bad jackas$, don't ruin this article for us
No friends.
I miss Skyline Chili, an Ohio fast food staple. Thank goodness they ship cans anywhere in the U.S. It's not the same, but will do in a pinch. White Castle is up there, too; however, most supermarkets now sell frozen White Castle so there's at least a way to calm the crave.
NY is not christian enough for Chick-fil-A and it is a shame! I miss it so but I would NEVER consider having it mailed. gross.
And let's hope it stays that way. I won't patronize an establishment where it is corporate policy to ram christian beliefs down the throats of their franchisees and employees. NY is more tolerant than that.
I have never been to a Chick-fil-a where they tried to jam christianity down my throat. You people are so anti-religious, you can't even tolerate a business where you happen to know the owner is religious. I am not religious, but I appreciate that the owners of Chick-fil-a live up to their own standards (kindness to customers, not open Sundays) rather than preaching one way and acting different. Get over yourselves.
At least you're honest, because clearly you've never been to one.
Chase, I have been to one. The manager took one look at my Wiccan pentacle, pulled a BASEBALL BAT, and told me "I will not tolerate Satanics freaks in God's store." So, yeah, it does happen.
I've only eaten at Chik fil-A a few times, but apart from their not being open on Sunday, and the prices being very high, the only thing unusual about it is that the employees are extremely polite. Maybe in the South they come to your table and try to convert you or something, but in Illinois it just seems to be an expensive, slightly quirky place that's smart enough to pair pickles with chicken.
You are so right...I don't really care for CFA, but I will go through the drive-through for drinks because the employees are sooo flippin' nice to me. It's worth the extra money to be treated with courtesy!
I love Chick-Fil-A! We in the south suburbs of Chicago have one of the first CFAs to open in the state, and I love love love them. Their food is good, but the thing that keeps me coming back is their outstanding employees. They come to the table at least a couple of times during your meal to refresh your drink and see if you need anything else. I really enjoy seeing that at a fast food place, because it is definitely not something that happens very often. I have had better service there than I've had at some sit-down restaurants!
san diego taco shop. can't get mexican food that's palatable in Texas. except Chuy's but that's different.
Hmmm, I don't agree. I ate Mexican all over the state of Texas and loved it! Maybe it's where you ate. I looked for little joints with Mexican customers and ate some amazing meals. Of course, then there's the chicken fried steak, BBQ, corn and peaches! Good eatin' all over Texas.
If you think Chuy's has good food your palatte needs some serious remedial Mexican food instruction. Chuy's has good margaritas and good atmosphere. The chips and hot sauce are OK, but you can get better Mexican food in Canada!
The Mexican food (tacos, etc) is nothing special but I always liked Chuy's tri-tip.
they had one near me that wobbled for a few years and finally went under. I do miss it.
Never mind....different Chuy's.
The one I'm thinking of is Chuy's Mesquite Broiler
So true!!! I live in Houston and it's a great meeting place for friends because the atmosphere and margaritas rock. The jalapeno (green) sauce is awesome but the food is just gross....
Absolutely...the San Diego mexican food places are the best around. A true carne asada burrito from East County (Alberto's, Hilberto's, Cotija, etc.) is the thing I miss the most about SD food, now that I live in NYC.
I didn't appreciate all the amazing fast food we had in CA until I moved out of state. I crave Jack in the Box, In-N-Out, Carl's Jr. (Hardee's is so not the same), and Hot Dog on a Stick constantly! And – veering from the fast food category – nothing compares to See's Candies on the west coast. Mmmmmmm Butter Cream!
Charlies Carmel Corn and Candy in Vincennes Indiana. I wonder if Queenie has been there?
See's candy is sold throughout the U.S., sometimes in shops that are not listed on their website. You may want to contact the company....it's possible you can find it in your area.
I agree! Sees is better than any Swiss or Belgian chocolates that I've sampled while traveling in Europe!!!
In the '90s I was teaching English in South Korea. There was no mexican food there and I really missed it. My mom shipped me a box of refried beans, tortillas and salsa. It was so amazing, and she said it cost way more to ship than the value of the food. Thanks mom!
They did have Popeye's Chicken there which I had never had, and not really something I would have expected.
Of course now occasionally get the craving for Korean street vendor food. Can anybody send me some ttukppokki?
No fast food item is worth shipping – or carrying – anywhere, although there are at least two that we make a point of visiting when we're in the area – Tim Horton's when we go to Canada (for the Maple Dip and Canadian Maple donuts) and Bojangles when we are back home in North Carolina (for the Cajun Filet biscuit – no, it's not quite as good as the ones from the fire department's semi-annual chicken fry, but it's a close second). But our daughter and her husband have us bring six dozen bagels from our local (non-chain) bagel shop here in New Jersey – BagelMasters in Shrewsbury – whenever we make the trip down to NoVa to visit... seems that no one down there knows how to make a good bagel.
I moved away from Western NY 18 yrs ago and I miss Bison products. Every time my folks come to visit, they are sure to bring me a couple containers of the french onion dip. There is nothing like it!
In California you can still buy XLNT Tamales in the store. I live across the country so when I go to visit my brother I buy a big bunch of them, freeze them, pack them in my suit case and fly them home with me. I LOVE them and wish they had them here in stores on the east coast.
Amatos in Saco and Scarbough Maine
I make a must list whenever I leave Atlanta to visit the in-laws (Kansas City) or the parents (Southern Cal).
KC: Imo's Pizza (St. Louis style), Gates' BBQ, Taco John's, Culver's
SoCal: Del Taco, In-N-Out, Baker's Drive Thru, Jack in the Box, Weinerschnitzel, Carl's Jr. and Hot Dog on a Stick.
I sure miss the fresh White Castle hamburgers from North West Indiana. They are not in the South East but if only they were.
yes they are. but hard to find.
Not sure where you are, but you can get White Castle as far south as mid-Kentucky (Louisville, Lexington, etc.)
If there are any Yoopers out there craving a hometown pasty, I recently discovered that Lawry's in Marquette will ship them.
Pasties are great, and Marquette is a great little town!
I went to college 8 hours away from home, and every time I drove to my parents place I took a long order of subs that needed to be brought back from a local sub shop for friends who either didn't get home as often as I, or from friends who had visited there and loved the food. I would get back to college and would have people sitting in my living room waiting for their food. Also, as an eastcoast resident, the first stop on the way from the airport to our hotel on our biannual trips to Las Vegas is at In & Out Burger.
Cuban sandwiches from S FL, I had a friend bring me one to GA, it had not been refrigerated but I ate every bit of it. For some reason when you leave S FL or the Tampa area, restaurants think if they put some pork on a hoagie roll with a couple of pickles they have made a cuban sandwich....not even close!
Have you tried Havana...off buford just north of Clairmont? They're the best I've come across in Atlanta.
Popi's on Ponce de Leon Ave is the best. Cuban food in Atlana.
I haven't had it shipped to me, but Bojangles is my favourite. It's a surprisingly centralized little chain. We're in NC, and when we went to Atlanta to visit a friend, there were no Bojangleses. My husband tried to tell me that Popeye's is just as good, and that's when I realized I married a blasphemer.
I laughed when I opened the article and saw a picture of Chick Fil- A, that and Zaxby's make me miss NC so much, nothing even close to me.
My daughter lives in Alaska and hasn't been to Olive Garden in years. I mail her a bottle of their salad dressing every few months. It's not enough; she can't wait until she can afford a real vacation and a sit-down meal here in the Lower 48.
She is not missing much.
thats a strange restaurant to be missing, theres nothing better than Olive Garden where you live?
Is your daughter 70 years old?
In-N-Out rulz
I agree but for great fries I go to Smashburger.
what? They must order them from different vendors in different places, the smash burger fries here suck, always dried out and flavorless as if they were frozen for years
I'm just back from a trip to Colorado and can't wait for Smashburger to catch on!!
oh I forgot about "Smash" fries, which are olive oil and rosemary, Im not a big fan but I can see why people would say they are better than In N Out. They're plain fries leave a lot to be desired, if they improved them to fresh cut then the Smash fries could be a big hit and increase business a lot.
When I lived in London for 2 years i really really wanted Taco Bell but just couldnt bring myself to ask someone to ship it over for me. I did get them to ship Mountain Dew and Butterfinger candy bars.
I spent a year in Brazil and when I told my mom I wanted my first meal at home to be Taco Bell she was seriously offended. I relented and let her cook me a proper meat and potatoes dinner, but that night I hit up Taco Bell with friends. I was stuffed from mom's cooking, but I just had to have a taco!
Chicago's Gino's East freezes and delivers coast to coast. Deep Dish Spinach pizza – best birthday/Christmas or anytime present and my family and friends know it!
I get a deep dish sausage patty every year for my birthday.
We had a cousin who moved up to Alaska from the east coast. She loved Wise potato chips, which can only be found on the east coast. So, every Christmas, we would ship her a huge box of Wise bags in various sizes. I'm sure the postal worker at the counter helping us thought we were nuts. When she got the bags, she would eat one, and then freeze the rest. Supposedly they freeze very well.
Three words: Tudor's Biscuit World.
West Virginia chain, with a few locations in southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky.
I had a country ham biscuit there once. My arteries harden at the memory, but wow, it was excellent.
I just could never bring myself to go to a Biscuit World.
I gain weight every time I go home to Mom's because all I eat is Dunkin Donuts and Carvel! The ice cream doesn't travel well, but I bring home at least a dozen Choc Kreme Filled. I've tried bribing friends to ship them, but so far no one is game.
whataburger!!! we don't have it here in Mo, so everytime we go down to Texas we stop at Whataburger for their burgers and shakes... we also bring some buckets of Blue Bell ice cream, delicious!!!
YES! Blue Bell! We get a very few flavors here in KY, and I'd kill for black walnut.
Whataburger! Blue Bell! (damn, now I'm drooling!) Blue Bell Homemade Peach!
Can you tell you've got a homesick Texan here?
I think half of Tastykake's business is shipping cakes to people no longer in the Philly area. And good luck getting a cheesesteak worth eating once you leave town. My mom tells the story of how she went down south many years ago and asked for a cheesesteak, she got salisbury steak with cheese, yummy.
Anyone that's ever left Chicago will need a Portillo's sooner or later.
Giordano's & Les Brothers Family Restaurant is more like it :,-(
Check out Giordano's website for a location near you! I visited Chicago years ago, was introduced to their pizza and have never looked back. Fortunately for hubby & I, over the years, they have expanded their franchise and now we only have about a 30 minute drive to enjoy our favorite pizza. Yum!
In Kansas & Missouri – Giordanos would rule Supreme - hint hint $$$$$$$
Portillos has the best hot dogs on earth! That was our first stop on my trip to Chicago a few years back. Recently they built one in Southern California, and I've noticed they are very slowly expanding!
http://www.portillos.com/portillos/locations/
Portillo's is in Costa Mesa, CA
There is Portillo's out here in SoCal as well...and it is just as lame as the portillo's in Chicago. Their dogs taste no better than a ball park frank
My daughter who moved to LA agrees that the California Portillo's is nasty, but that's just because folks out there don't understand gourmet food. Portillos Italian Beef and Lou Malnati's pizza are what I miss most since I left Chicago. Fortunately, they'll ship them to those of us who have to work in culinary wastelands such as Texas.
My husband is from Puerto Rico. Every time someone goes down there to visit, we have them bring us some goodies back. For some reason, the donuts are way better in Puerto Rico and the BBQ is to die for!
I've delivered the West Virgina favorite, pepperoni rolls, to family from out of state before.
"In closing, I’d like to salute you tall, slender ladies out there with jack-rabbit speed metabolisms, because even though you may be able to eat more pizza than me, you’ll always have boat feet." The best!!!
Brilliant. Went to high school in Bridgeport. I've been around the country to several cities and I've never seen them anywhere else. They're amazing.
When I would take a trip to NYC (by plane), I would bring back a lot of goodies (5-10 bags) from Chinatown (to the midwest) for ex-NYC friends as there was no "real" Chinese restaurant in the area that served authentic Chinese food.
If I moved away, I can't imagine missing a fast food that much. But I'll never know 'til I move away.
As the song goes "how can I miss you if you won't go away?"
I miss haveing a descent Schlotzsky's in my neck of the woods (Chesterfield VA.) The one that is here can't make a sandwich worth a damn. The last time I went, and will be the absolutely last time I go, I ordered a RB and cheddar. The RB was thick and tough, they put bacon on it and did not put the veggies and mayo. Never mind that the bread was stale. Jeeze.
Agreed - accept no substitutsky's. None at all here in Montana, I have to go to Idaho for my nearest Schlotzsky's fix.
Other things missing in Montana: Long John Silver's, In-And-Out Burgers, Church's Chicken, decent BBQ, . . .
@Kathleen...Howard's Pizza & Broasted Chicken with a Red-Beer.....hhhmmmmmmmmmmm
Yup, Churches Chicken and Long Johns is the only way to fly! There is a little outfit in VA Beach called Pollards chicken that is pretty close, though.
Wow, you miss LJS? Never thought I'd hear that.
When it comes to seafood, I don't pretend to have a refined tastefor it and make zero excuses. I want it deep fried with tons of MSGs. The only way to fly for me.
Not looking for refined, just never thought enough of LJS to think that anyone would miss it. I sit corrected.
But Montana has Taco John's...way better than Taco Bell.
In N Out Burger is expanding to Texas, which leaves me one less reason to remain in California :)
OMGGGGGGG.......Schlotzsky's can't beleive i forgot about them in Greensboro NC
Yeah, when it is made right, it is the best!
Hate to rub it in, but I had it two days ago. It was delicious!!!
Another thing about living in Minnesota you can't get East Coast oysters only Pacific which are tough and uneatable to me and I would love a bowl of oyster stew.