I’ve never had an In-N-Out cheeseburger. Most of the country hasn’t either, but since I grew up in California, where Double Doubles and Animal Style reign supreme, that makes me somewhat of an anomaly. Unless I ditch vegetarianism, there’s little chance of that changing, but people here are so devoted, it makes me wonder what I’m missing. Friends of mine have driven miles out of their way, passing many other burger chains in the process, just to wait in a long drive-through line at In-N-Out. It’s still fast food, but clearly something sets it apart from McDonald’s and the rest.
This isn’t just a West Coast thing, either. We have In-N-Out here, but the other side of the country calls White Castle king. In the South, there’s Krystal hamburgers. In fact, numerous regional fast-food chains across the country inspire cultlike fanaticism among patrons. These places aren’t just quick and cheap eateries—they’re institutions and, in some cases, even tourist destinations.
1. Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits
You can find Bojangles in eleven states across the South. The chain specializes in sweet and savory biscuits (sweet potato, cinnamon, boberry, etc.), crispy Cajun-spiced chicken sandwiches, sweet tea, and other regional culinary delights. Members of food-appreciation sites like Serious Eats and Chowhound constantly mention Bojangles as one of the best chains around.
2. Whataburger
Whataburger is to Texas what In-N-Out is to California, though it’s found in a few other states too, like Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. The menu has the usual burgers and chicken sandwiches, but also offers a surprisingly large breakfast menu—including items like Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits and breakfast taquitos—from 11 p.m. until 11 a.m. every day.
3. Capriotti’s
This specialty sandwich shop chain can be found in ten states, including Delaware and Nevada. It offers a plethora of different sandwiches, but the Bobbie, with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo, is the national bestseller.
4. White Castle
White Castle’s best known for its sliders, mini-burgers that are so popular, they come in Crave Cases that hold thirty of them. You can also buy them frozen in supermarkets across the country, but the experience just isn’t the same. Aside from being popularized in movies (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle), this institution has the distinction of being America’s first hamburger chain.
5. Krystal
Like White Castle’s, Krystal’s hamburgers are small and square-shaped. Unlike White Castle, Krystal is found in the South, in more than 380 locations. The chain also offers Pups, mini-hot dogs topped with cheese and/or chili.
6. Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
Taco Bell might be the chain numero uno for tacos in other areas, but Southern California residents like theirs courtesy of Wahoo’s. If you ever watched MTV’s Laguna Beach, you saw the teen stars hitting up Wahoo’s fairly often. And now the chain’s been extended to Texas and Colorado, too.
