UofMstateU
Legend
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I Root For: Memphis
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-15-2016 06:48 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: Has anybody mentioned Popeye's. I F'ing love Popeye's chicken.
The Popeyes near me has one of the best customer experiences of any fast food chain. Their chicken and sides are pretty good too.
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05-15-2016 09:53 PM |
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UofMemphis
Official MT.org Ambassador of Smack
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I Root For: Univ of Memphis
Location: Memphis (Berclair)
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RE: Southern Food Chains
y'all got me on that one...Popeye's is amazing...love their red beans and rice, and spicy chicken.
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05-15-2016 10:08 PM |
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boroeagle2
1st String
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Southern Food Chains
(05-15-2016 09:18 AM)nzmorange Wrote: (05-13-2016 08:44 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote: (05-13-2016 08:39 AM)vandiver49 Wrote: Chik-Fil-A. If you've had a White Castle then you don't need to worry about going to Krystal's. The only other thing I would recommend is getting a half dozen hot Krispy Kreme donuts.
Do southerners eat donuts? Seriously, I always thought that most native southerners were biscuit afficianados.
By the way, in upstate New York, Krispy Kreme has been a failure. Tim Hortons dominates the market.
KK is severely overrated, as is Krystal and Zaxby.
Cookout is decent, as is Bojangles. However, Bojangles isn't anything to write mom about.
I have to agree about Zaxby's, it originated in Statesboro, Ga at Georgia Southern, and the original food was really good. Even after it became a chain, the food quality at the Statesboro location stayed pretty good-I guess because it was the original market, but I have had some pretty bad food at Zaxbys in other areas. Kinda makes me think that the Chick-Fil-A consistent quality which was talked about in that other thread (or maybe this one, I don't remember) is an important and meaningful thing, and definitely lacking in its fellow GA chicken chain.
Add in the fact that Zaxby's corporate is huge sponsors/fans of the uga dwags despite their origin at Georgia Southern, and they can eff off.
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05-15-2016 11:30 PM |
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UofMstateU
Legend
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-16-2016 12:57 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: As long as Chicken chains are being mentioned, you can't leave Gus's Fried. Chicken out. Several locations in the Memphis area, but starting to expand elsewhere.
The absolute best chicken you will ever have.
I have not eaten at the original, But the one in Brentwood and the one in Collierville, well, let's just say the chicken was about as good as that which I buy at Kroger, only with more heat. They had really good sides, but their chicken wasnt that good. My inlaws are coming in from Birmingham and were wanting to go there, but we just ate at the one in Collierville for the second time, and neither my wife or I think its that special. So we are going to go elsewhere.
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05-16-2016 08:19 AM |
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Kaplony
Palmetto State Deplorable
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Location: SC
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-16-2016 08:19 AM)UofMstateU Wrote: (05-16-2016 12:57 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: As long as Chicken chains are being mentioned, you can't leave Gus's Fried. Chicken out. Several locations in the Memphis area, but starting to expand elsewhere.
The absolute best chicken you will ever have.
I have not eaten at the original, But the one in Brentwood and the one in Collierville, well, let's just say the chicken was about as good as that which I buy at Kroger, only with more heat. They had really good sides, but their chicken wasnt that good. My inlaws are coming in from Birmingham and were wanting to go there, but we just ate at the one in Collierville for the second time, and neither my wife or I think its that special. So we are going to go elsewhere.
We don't have a Kroger around here but I have to say that the rotisserie chicken at the Publix here is dang good. The fried chicken isn't bad.....it's better than KFC...but the rotisserie chicken is worth every penny.
That said, it'll be a while until we buy chicken anywhere. The local meat shop had a deal for Mother's Day for a 40lb box of leg quarters for $18.00 so we bought two and stocked the freezer. Hopefully for Memorial Day they'll have pork butts or ribs on special and we'll be set for the entire supper.
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05-16-2016 06:56 PM |
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chess
Heisman
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I Root For: ECU & Nebraska
Location: Chicago Metro
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RE: Southern Food Chains
If you were driving through Chicago, I would suggest-
1. Portillo's
2. Culver's
3. Lou Malnati's/Gino's East
4. Potbelly Sandwich Shop
In the Washington, DC area choose-
1. Five Guys Burgers
2. Armand's Pizzeria
In North Carolina, look for
1. Smithfield's Barbeque (this is a chain of eastern NC BBQ. It is good.)
2. Char-grill (Raleigh)
3. Bojangles (I was disappointed last year on vacation. I forgot how greasy this food is).
If in Atlanta, try Varsity Dogs near Georgia Tech.
(This post was last modified: 05-16-2016 09:49 PM by chess.)
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05-16-2016 09:48 PM |
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chess
Heisman
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-15-2016 03:37 PM)dawgitall Wrote: (05-15-2016 11:47 AM)nzmorange Wrote: (05-15-2016 09:53 AM)dawgitall Wrote: (05-15-2016 09:18 AM)nzmorange Wrote: (05-13-2016 08:44 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote: Do southerners eat donuts? Seriously, I always thought that most native southerners were biscuit afficianados.
By the way, in upstate New York, Krispy Kreme has been a failure. Tim Hortons dominates the market.
KK is severely overrated, as is Krystal and Zaxby.
Cookout is decent, as is Bojangles. However, Bojangles isn't anything to write mom about.
I wouldn't call KK overrated. The donuts are far superior to any others I've ever had. When they are hot and fresh they melt in your mouth and when they are a couple of days old and you put them in the oven they are almost as good! But I understand that certain foods are regional / traditional in nature and this is on of them. Sometimes that doesn't translate when expansion takes place. One of the fond memories many of us in NC of a certain age have is the fundraisers. Those of us from small towns remember well the Boy Scouts, high school cheerleaders, or key clubs selling KK boxes, going door to door after someone had driven to Fayetteville or Raleigh early in the morning and brought back a hundred or more dozen. It was a great treat that we didn't have access to otherwise!
Also remember that we are talking about chain food here. Bojangles is so so when compared to mom and pop restaurants but I think as far as chains go they very good. The Chedder Bo is hard to beat. Hardee's also has a very good biscuit.
Well, let me be more specific about KK. The ones in Tennessee aren't special, and the ones out of the southeast were so not special that a lot (most?) of them have closed down. I've never had KK in NC. Maybe they're special there. I don't know.
As for BJ's, I honestly don't think that they're appreciably better than their competitors. They're not bad by any means, but I don't think that they're special.
Like I said, some things don't translate well when businesses expand. The best donuts for the record are from Britt's at Carolina Beach NC.
I will be having a Britt's donut soon.
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05-16-2016 09:51 PM |
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UofMstateU
Legend
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-16-2016 06:56 PM)Kaplony Wrote: (05-16-2016 08:19 AM)UofMstateU Wrote: (05-16-2016 12:57 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: As long as Chicken chains are being mentioned, you can't leave Gus's Fried. Chicken out. Several locations in the Memphis area, but starting to expand elsewhere.
The absolute best chicken you will ever have.
I have not eaten at the original, But the one in Brentwood and the one in Collierville, well, let's just say the chicken was about as good as that which I buy at Kroger, only with more heat. They had really good sides, but their chicken wasnt that good. My inlaws are coming in from Birmingham and were wanting to go there, but we just ate at the one in Collierville for the second time, and neither my wife or I think its that special. So we are going to go elsewhere.
We don't have a Kroger around here but I have to say that the rotisserie chicken at the Publix here is dang good. The fried chicken isn't bad.....it's better than KFC...but the rotisserie chicken is worth every penny.
That said, it'll be a while until we buy chicken anywhere. The local meat shop had a deal for Mother's Day for a 40lb box of leg quarters for $18.00 so we bought two and stocked the freezer. Hopefully for Memorial Day they'll have pork butts or ribs on special and we'll be set for the entire supper.
Publix in Brentwood had really good fried chicken. You cant beat the price for the value of the chicken.
Wife and I just bought a new grill, so its about time to watch the meat markets for some specials. That was a good deal on that chicken. We can eat thighs and leg quarters every other da yaround here.
(This post was last modified: 05-16-2016 10:21 PM by UofMstateU.)
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05-16-2016 10:20 PM |
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HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine
The Black Knight of The Deplorables
Posts: 9,618
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-13-2016 09:53 AM)UTSAMarineVet09 Wrote: Harmon, whats the route you'll be taking?
I-95, I-26, 1-77 to I-81
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05-20-2016 05:19 PM |
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HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine
The Black Knight of The Deplorables
Posts: 9,618
Joined: Oct 2013
I Root For: Army, SFU
Location: Michie Stadium 1945
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RE: Southern Food Chains
(05-13-2016 11:25 AM)UTSAMarineVet09 Wrote: Harmon, have you had whataburger?
Nope. Hopefully, one day.
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05-20-2016 05:21 PM |
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