Decades ago, fast-food enthusiasts often talked about their favorite chains, such as Culver’s, Cook Out, and Bojangles, precisely because they were scarce, requiring a road trip to enjoy the food. However, over time, these chains have expanded according to Reddit. This wave of new openings triggered a broader trend, transforming regional fast-food chains into multi-state operations; we’ll break them down for you below!
Whataburger
Whataburger was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950, and the fast-food chain has been linked to that state ever since. Menu items such as the original Whataburger, the Patty Melt, and the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit built a strong customer base. However, the chain later expanded toward the Southeast. The new states targeted for expansion include Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Reddit user [borrado] commented: “Whataburger is great, has way more variety in their menu than other fast-food.”
Culver’s
Culver’s originated in Wisconsin, making its mark with ButterBurgers and frozen custard. Having surpassed the 1,000-restaurant milestone, it continues to expand into other states to the South and East. Reddit user SpearandMagicHelmet remarked: “Culver’s has high quality ingredients, is consistent and always hot. Lots of good stuff there in addition to burgers.”
Bojangles
Bojangles has historically focused on the Southeast, with its origins in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bojangles’ recent expansion agreements have included Texas, New York, and New Jersey, allowing millions of people to try its Cajun Chicken, Bo-Berry Biscuits, and seasoned fries. Reddit user Rolands_missing_head opined: “I never had anything in my life like a Bo Berry Biscuit, it blew my mind.”
Cook Out
With over 40 milkshake flavors, Cook Out is by far the most popular fast-food chain in North Carolina and has traditionally been limited to the Southeastern states. Its most recent expansion was into Florida, though it continues to seek growth in neighboring states. The Cook Out Tray, char-grilled burgers, and milkshakes will soon be available in more states. Reddit user brytek mentioned: “I’d take a Cook Out burger over almost any national chain near me.”
Portillo’s
Portillo’s Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs have made it an Illinois institution, leading to its expansion into Texas, Arizona, and Florida. Viewing drive-thrus as the restaurants of the future, the company is betting on that model while continuing to sell its signature sandwiches. Reddit user baccus83 observed: “Still love Portillos and it’s probably my go to place for a quick bite, still better than most comparable fast food options.”
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Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
One of the fastest-growing regional fast-food burger concepts is Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Although it originated in Wichita, Kansas, it has expanded into the Southeast, the Mountain West, and the Mid-Atlantic regions. Its direct competitors are Culver’s and Shake Shack. Reddit user wowthisguyoverhere observed: “Freddy’s has significantly better quality than Steak ‘n Shake. The fries are super good and the fry sauce is super good as well.”
Mountain Mike’s Pizza
The locations that first opened in California expanded westward and beyond for Mountain Mike’s Pizza. This fast-food chain now operates in more than a dozen states and continues to expand. Its signature offering is the family-sized pizza, known as ‘Mountain-Sized’, while the curly pepperoni pizza also draws the attention of many customers. Reddit user Effective-Angle237 commented: “They’re absolutely fantastic! They make everything fresh, basically all their pizzas have extra toppings.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken opened its doors in Los Angeles and has expanded rapidly compared to other fast-food chains. Dave’s continues to add locations beyond California’s borders and is also planning for international growth. Reddit user DowntownBobbyBrown99 expressed: “It’s my go-to fast-food place, good quality, and reasonably priced. The ‘reaper flavored’ is my favorite, but lately it’s even spicier.”
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Biscuitville
For decades, the North Carolina-based breakfast chain has focused its operations on North Carolina and Virginia. Biscuitville, which is one of the regional fast-food chains, has gradually opened more locations nationwide, allowing more customers to enjoy its freshly made biscuits and commitment to regional sourcing. Reddit user MikeMcKnightDev remarked: “Biscuitville’s hot honey biscuit is objectively better than any other biscuits.”
Blake’s Lotaburger
Blake’s Lotaburger has been building its reputation in New Mexico since 1952. A standout item on its menu is the green chile burger, which has driven the chain’s expansion into neighboring states while allowing it to maintain its Southwestern identity. Its expansion is a great way to introduce the region’s cuisine to other areas. Reddit user cilantro_so_good noted: “Blake’s is delicious, a double with green chile and seasoned fries would hit the spot any time.”
Zaxby’s
Zaxby’s, one of the regional fast-food chains focused on chicken that originated in Georgia, is another brand that has been expanding over the years, entering markets in the Midwest and Northeast. Competition within the chicken sandwich category has been fierce in recent years. Reddit user Dude_Who_Cares commented: “Their sauces are good. It is the best fast-food sauce in my opinion. I usually get the Wings & Things traditional with Nuclear or Insane sauce.”
Braum’s
This burger location is one of the regional fast-food chains, which originated in Oklahoma, and also sells ice cream highly regarded by customers, had initially decided to limit its expansion to a range reachable within one day from its own dairy operations. Consequently, the company continues to grow, albeit more slowly, within that geographical limit of a one-day transport journey. Reddit user Dobby_Bodpin remarked: “Braum’s is great! They have good food and it’s reasonably priced. The breakfast is good too.”
Chicken Salad Chick
With roots in Alabama and an expansion into the Southeast, Chicken Salad Chick continues to open locations in new states to grow as one of the best regional fast-food chains. Its menu features more than a dozen varieties of chicken salad, representing yet another take on the U.S. chicken market. Reddit user oapster79 revealed: “Their salads are different than the ones I grew up eating. My mom didn’t put fruit and stuff in hers, and that’s ok, trying something different can be enlightening.”
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Andy’s Frozen Custard has captured the market of regional fast-food chains in Missouri and subsequently expanded into the South and the Midwest. In suburban markets, its customer base tends to grow alongside the population. Its most sought-after item is frozen custard. Reddit user bilgewax indicated: “Andy’s drive-thru is way more efficient than others. Very similar to the gold standard, and if the line is long, usually there’s somebody walking through it taking orders.”
Scooter’s Coffee
Scooter’s Coffee’s expansion into the Midwest followed the company’s growth in Nebraska, driven by its drive-thru sales model. Agreements of one of these regional fast-food chains with the new franchises aim to capture a larger share of sales and compete with Starbucks and Dutch Bros. Reddit user [borrado] commented: “Scooter’s is way better than Starbucks. It’s mostly about selling coffee flavored sugar bombs.”
Burgerville
Burgerville is a Pacific Northwest favorite whose sales were traditionally limited to Oregon and Washington. One of these regional fast-food chains has been slower than that of many others, but customers appreciate its seasonal menus, which feature local ingredients. Reddit user crazyfist remarked: “I wish they could sell burgers without fries. I used to like ‘Killer Burger’ a lot but I can’t justify throwing away so much food.”
Conclusion
Regional fast-food chains have expanded to the point of achieving national recognition, each at its own pace. Whether through slow, strategic growth or rapid expansion into neighboring states, the quality and freshness of these dishes must not be compromised. Best of all, these pizzas, burgers, biscuits, and other offerings have become more easily accessible to customers.
