National Chains That You Have Never Dined In

[captainlee]

I have never stepped foot in Taco Bell. Probably the BBQ chains too, for no real reason, as they really aren't or haven't been readily available .

[smokenoob]

I’ve never had a pizza from Godfather’s Pizza in the Loves Country Store in BV. 😁😂

[captainlee]

Me too, also the chicken place.

[STEbbq]

Damn, I am jealous of you captainlee , I deeply regret the very few visits I have made to Taco Bell usually under duress.

My first thought was Bob Evans, but also the very famous Waffle House. I’d be happy to visit either, well the House more, if one was even remotely feasible to visit.

[STEbbq]

As a ex-Canadian I’d have requested Harvey’s. Love that place and just glad it hasn’t been ruined like Timmy’s.

[Draznnl]

I think all my visits to Taco Bell have been under the influence.

[Jfrosty27]

The waffles at Waffle House are like crack cocaine. Addicting.

[GolfGeezer]

"Never" is a long time! Having lived in Cali, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, New York and Texas (very briefly) in the States and traveled to most others, I'm sure I've hit most. Plus having lived in the Middle East, traveled extensively in Asia and Europe, so I'll stick to national chains in the States:

1. Golden Corral
2. Sonic
3. Shake Shack
4. Poppa John's

Geez, this is gonna bug me for the rest of the day!

[realdocBBQ]

I don't think I've ever seen a Shake Shack. I know I haven't ever eaten at Steak & Shake, though.

[Draznnl]

Haven’t been to Dickey’s. Nor Chick Fil-A or Waffle House. There are a bunch of others. Some by choice and some because I’ve never had the opportunity.

[Jfrosty27]

No Taco Bell. Never have, never will. To be honest and fair, I really don’t like taco’s.

[Troutman]

What? Not liking tacos?

[DaveD]

Holy crap! barelfly you got your work cut out for you here dude!

[barelfly]

OMG…come visit and I’ll make you some birria tacos…I’ll change your mind Even Troutman - his taco series! Any one of them…the corn tortilla is just a blank canvas for some yummy goodness!

And Taco Bell….bleh….

[Spinaker]

Never been to Waffle House. They don't have them up here in the north.

[barelfly]

Same here….I don’t know if we have them here anymore though.

[shify]

Biggest one I can’t think of is that I’ve never been to a Red Lobster. Not sure what I am or am not missing - I know everyone talks about the biscuits but rarely hear about the seafood for probably obvious reasons. Being I don’t really hit up chains, don’t really expect to knock this one off the list.

I’m sure I’m missing others but off the top of my head, the only other big national chain (at least those that have locations in or near NY) that I haven’t been to is Sonic and can pretty much guarantee that will not change

[STEbbq]

The biscuits are available at the grocery store and the only reason to go to Red Lobster. The food is not great.

[texastweeter]

STEbbq cheddar bay drop biscuits are stupid easy to make too.

[STEbbq]

texastweeter agreed. But this is a thread on fast food so good food rarely exists here. I eat a lot of fast food as well, so it serves a need for those days where your schedule is a nightmare.

[Mosca]

Idk. Never? If never, then that means either I never had the opportunity, or that I just don’t think about them so I can’t recall not having been there.

I don’t get the Taco Bell hate. Burrito Supremes are awesome.

[Jim White]

We estimated that our older daughter was about 40% Burrito Supreme by weight when she was born. We were there at least once a week during that time.

[synodog]

Chalupa is my kryptonite…back when I was a poor high school or college student TB was the go to.

[mrteddyprincess]

Last March was my last trip to Taco Bell. I found myself eating the food and thinking to myself, "This doesn't taste good." I'm a big guy, so quitting Taco Bell isn't so much a statement about their food as it is my food choices...

[Murdy]

Of the ones near me, Sonic, Chik-Fil-A, Beefaroo, Cane's, and probably a few others.

[Openfire]

Beef A Roo is pretty good. I haven't been there since they sold out though. Heard they switched to smash burgers.

[Carolyn]

There are many I have been to and will never return, but these I have never stepped foot in:
Five Guys
Which Wich?
White Castle
Taco Cabana
Marie Calender's
Souper Salad
Ruby Tuesday
Shoney's

[realdocBBQ]

I stopped at White Castle once on a drive through where I'd seen one, ordered some sliders just to see what it was all about.

Took a single bite, pulled up to a trash can and chucked the whole bag, drove over to Arby's or Wendy's I don't remember which.

[mrteddyprincess]

One of the strategies for driving from Indy to Chicago is to buy White Castles in Indy, eat them, let them do their work on one's digestive tract, and then keep the windows of the car rolled up on the way through Gary, IN to get to Chicago. :-) It smells better that way.

[J-Melt]

Taco Cabana is definitely a Texas thing. It is one of the places I always go to when I’m in Texas, which is funny because I didn’t really come to like them until right before I moved away.

[Bkhuna]

I have never stepped foot in Taco Bell. Probably the BBQ chains too, for no real reason, as they really aren't or haven't been readily available .

You'll probably never run out of Imodium you whole life.

[Purc]

It's Sonic and Dickey's for me, or rather not for me. I have only had 3 medium size black coffees at Starbucks and that's the way I ordered them!

[Bkhuna]

The wife and I have pretty much stopped eating at chains. The few we do visit are usually because we're on the interstate and looking for a quick breakfast. There are good Waffle Houses and bad Waffle Houses. Same with Cracker Barrel. I've never met a Chick-fil-A I haven't liked.

Burger joints are almost a universal disappointment. I'm getting to the point in my life that I won't waste the time or money on chains, I figure I only have so many meals left so where I go has to please me.

[Purc]

I agree about Chick-fil-A, everyone that I have been in was very clean and good.

[Carolyn]

I have found that the few Waffle Houses I have gone too were pretty consistent with the exception of some lumpy grits I have gotten. Maybe I just got lucky. I was talking with a trucker at one, and he said he always goes to Waffle Houses because the coffee is consistent. I have had a couple bad Cracker Barrel experiences like raw chicken.

[Bkhuna]

Carolyn We have two Cracker Barrels over here in Brevard County. The one in Melbourne is terrific. The one in Titusville is an abomination. I believe it decline began when a new manager (a New Yorker) took over. The biscuits and the grits turned into swill.

Coincidence? I wouldn't bet on it.

[Attjack]

The vast majority of them. I grew up in a town that didn't allow fast food and chain restaurants and now I live in one with a vibrant and approachable food scene. I recently branched out to try a local fast-food joint and was utterly disappointed.