10 Iconic Regional Fast Food Chains You Must Try

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Fast food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King are as quintessential to the American experience as apple pie. No matter where in the country you live, it’s almost inevitable that these national brands have been a part of your life in some way.

But if so Really Luckily, you grew up knowing and loving a regional chain that only exists in certain parts of the country. Some of these gems serve premium versions of the fast food items we already know and love, like high-quality burgers, sandwiches, and chicken tenders. Others delight customers with amazing regional specialties like authentic Chicago Italian beef or Southern-style fried chicken.

Fast food lovers might feel like they’re missing out if they don’t live near one of these popular regional chains. But there is also something very special about traveling somewhere and experiencing a restaurant that is very important to the culture of a region. Great local fast food is like pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and gingerbread at Christmas – you only eat it on special occasions, but it makes you enjoy it a little more.

So if you’re traveling to a new place or looking to deviate from your usual restaurant haunts, consider one of these 10 legendary regional chains that everyone should try at least once.

Culvers

Culver’s has become a major fast food chain for Midwesterners since it first began serving customers in 1984.and it’s not hard to see why. The chain serves classic fast food menu items like burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches. But everything is a little more upscale as all food is made to order and made from fresh, carefully selected ingredients.

First-time visitors should definitely try the restaurant’s famous butter burgers, which take their name from the toasted and buttered buns. The Wisconsin cheese curds and fresh, ultra-creamy frozen custard are also a must on the menu.

Culver’s currently operates nearly 1,000 restaurants in 26 states, according to data firm Scrapehero.

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Whataburger

Whenever you’re craving a juicy burger in the Lone Star State, run – not walk – to the nearest Whataburger. This popular regional burger chain has been serving customers since opening its very first restaurant in 1950 and shows no signs of stopping. The company currently operates over 1,000 locations in 15 states (or 372 cities, to be exact).

At Whataburger, customers can find fast food classics like traditional cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, but unique local flair can also be found on the menu. Then the Green Chile Double and the limited-edition Southern Bacon Spicy Chicken Sandwich with crispy slaw, pickles and a southern-style sauce is just the thing for you.

Slim chickens

Slim Chickens hasn’t been around nearly as long as some of the other legendary regional chains. Still, the company has grown explosively in size since it began serving customers in 2003 and currently operates an impressive 255 locations. Not to mention, the chain has announced plans to open an additional 1,200 stores in the next few years.

If you didn’t guess from the name, this restaurant brand is all about chicken. It serves hand-breaded chicken tenders, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, wraps, salads and even the comfort food chicken and waffles. Just make sure to pair your devices Main course with some classic southern sides and homemade dipping sauces for the ultimate Slim Chickens experience.

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Portillos

The Chicago area is full of great retail stores offering urban favorites like Italian beef and Chicago hot dogs. But every local knows that some of the most reliable and delicious versions of these Windy City delicacies can be found at Portillo’s.

Half of this chain’s charm comes from the nostalgic vintage restaurants and staff uniforms. The menu itself is also excellent, but be sure to bring a big appetite if you’re stopping by for the first time. In addition to Italian beef and hot dogs, Portillo’s is also known for its chopped salads, cheese fries, chocolate cake, and chocolate cake shakes, which mix a whole slice of the decadent dessert with ice cream.

Portillo’s currently operates more than 100 restaurants. Most of these are in Illinois, but the chain also has locations in Arizona, Florida, California, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin.

Fazolis

Part of what makes Fazoli’s special is that it serves Italian-American fare in a fast-food setting, which is rare when you look at the burger slingers and chicken chains across the country.

Fazoli’s menu is packed with delicious options like pizza, baked pasta dishes, subs and salads. However, one of the biggest benefits of being a guest at Fazoli’s is that you get unlimited breadsticks with your meal. So if you’re a carb lover, be sure to enjoy the bottomless, freshly baked bread every time you visit.

Fazoli’s currently has 208 restaurants in the Midwest and South.

I tried the spaghetti and meatballs at four major Italian chains and one of them tasted homemade

Wawa

Don’t knock gas station food until you’ve tried Wawa. There’s a reason this supermarket/fast food chain is so important to East Coast consumers –The food is really solid and very customizable.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Walk into any Wawa and you’ll find a number of touchscreen ordering systems that allow you to browse the chain’s various breakfast sandwiches, cold subs, hoagies, salads and quesadillas. And once you’ve made your selection, you can tweak and refine every element of your meal until it’s just right, from the seasoning to the type of bread.

There are currently more than 1,000 Wawa locations in seven states, with the chain primarily focused in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to Scrapehero.

Taco John’s

Taco Bell is probably the first choice for many Americans when they crave Mexican-inspired fast food comfort. But if you’re in the Midwest or mountain states, you should know that there’s another popular chain that offers fast food tacos in its own way: Taco John’s.

With a wide selection of different tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and bowls, even the pickiest Mexican foodie should find something they like. And for Taco Bell fans who never really recovered from the loss of the Double Decker Taco, Taco John’s has a Double Decker Taco Bravo that just might make up for the loss.

Whatever you choose, be sure to try Taco John’s famous Potato Olés, crispy bites of seasoned potatoes perfect for dipping in a variety of sauces. The chain is currently operational 365 restaurants in the United States.

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Bojangles

Hand-breaded chicken, homemade buttermilk biscuits, Southern side dishes… If any of these delicious descriptions pique your interest, be sure to stop by a Bojangles next time you’re in the southeastern part of the country.

Bojangles is a destination for fast food lovers who appreciate southern cuisine and, of course, great fried chicken. The signature crispy, marinated chicken is the star in some of Bojangles’ most famous menu items, such as its chicken sandwiches, breakfast chicken biscuits and tender chicken dishes. If you’re looking for the ultimate Southern meal, don’t forget to add some of Bojangles’ ingredients and a cup of classic sweet tea to your order.

Scrapehero said Bojangles currently operates more than 800 locations in 16 states.

Habit Burger Grill

In-N-Out Burger isn’t the only wildly popular regional chain born on the West Coast. Between over-the-top burgers, sandwiches, and handcrafted shakes, The Habit Burger Grill is also a must-try if you’re ever near one of its restaurants.

Although technically a fast food joint, the food at Habit is a bit more upscale as it maintains high quality standards. This means the beef on your burgers is never frozen and filler-free, the ahi tuna is sushi grade, and the tri-tip steak is USDA Choice Quality Seal. Not to mention, Habit is home to the Double Char – a signature burger that recently earned the coveted title of #1 Best Fast Food Burger of 2024 USA Todays 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. (We tried it and it lived up to the hype!).

The Habit currently operates more than 380 locations in 14 states. The vast majority of these restaurants are located in California and surrounding western states, but customers can also find a few locations on the East Coast.

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Runza

Runza is another Midwest fast food staple, but the menu is just one little more something special than what you find at your typical fast food chain.

While Runza serves burgers and chicken sandwiches, its signature Runza sandwiches are something much more unique. They all have freshly baked bread filled with ground beef, onions, a secret spice blend and cabbage. Runza also offers several flavors of the original, such as the Cheeseburger Runza Sandwich filled with classic burger toppings and the Southwest Runza Sandwich with approxHeddar cheese, salsa and tortilla strips.

Even though it’s a somewhat unconventional specialty compared to other fast food brands, customers clearly love the regional chain. Since opening its first restaurant in 1949, the company has expanded to more than 80 locations in Nebraska and surrounding states. If you don’t currently live near a Runza but can’t wait to give it a try, the chain delivers its famous sandwiches to all 48 states in the mainland United States.