Franchises That Don't Suck

[livius drusus]

Inspired by the good Rev's unwilling attraction to KFC, I thought I'd go positive and see if we can muster up some quality franchise/fast foody eating experiences.

My first and loudest props must go to Sonic which just plain rules all around. I love drive-ins, I love a fine cheeseburger, and I worship and adore Cherry Limeaid.

I could also strap a feedbag of Popeye's biscuits to my head and live in utter bliss until my internal organs began the liquification process, but the rest of their shit isn't worthy of the name shit.

Now Bojangles: that's the money chicken. Too bad about the name.

[lisarea]

Well, I will forever have a deep and abiding affection for Chipotle, despite the fact that I cannot and will not link to their fucking Flash-requiring website.

The original one was right down the street from our old house in Denver, and the Little Muffin I would go there a lot on our Sunday rotation. (We used to go ride our bikes around every Sunday, and get lunch at different places.) I can't substantiate this or anything, but there was an article I read around that time about how the manager or the owner or something started this program where they would give their non English speaking employees free ESL lessons, I think on the clock, even, and they had like zero turnover because everyone loved working there so much. So we went even more often because of that. And the employees did all seem happy. I love going to places where the employees like their jobs.

I worried some when they started spawning so quickly, and I worried about them when McDonald's bought 51%, and I worried about them when I saw that episode of the Osbournes where Ozzie wouldn't eat anything else.

But we're surrounded with them now, and I can still go in any one and get a barbacoa, and it's still really a Chipotle burrito, and I don't have to commute down to south Denver for it, which is good.

[seebs]

Actually, I think McD's is, on the whole, very well-run. They do a lot of research on running stores efficiently... Most importantly, they provide a consistent product that's edible and reliable. (With the exception of apple pies, where the good ones are only available outside the U. S.)

They've put a lot of work into being stable and trustworthy, and I think they're quite good at it. The food isn't great, but it's not awful.

[SharonDee]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

My first and loudest props must go to Sonic which just plain rules all around. I love drive-ins, I love a fine cheeseburger, and I worship and adore Cherry Limeaid.

Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah! This one is my guilty pleasure, simply because I can drive into a berth, take my sweet time figuring out what I want without feeling the pressure from others behind me in line, and enjoy my meal while listening to the music they play so loudly them other folks can't play their radios. This past Sunday, though, I had my first disappointing Sonic visit while visiting the folks. It was a new store and I had the worst service I have ever experienced at a Sonic. *sigh* Even after giving the gal my order four times she still got it wrong.

Oh well, into each life a little rain must fall... and shit.

Another franchise I enjoy is Longhorn Steakhouse, but mostly because they have the area's best chicken fingers and I also like their salmon.

[RevDahlia]

I'm assuming it's okay to mention chains, even if they don't follow the franchise business model.

From where I'm sitting, the be-all and end-all of chains is Zankou Chicken. For now Zankou is only in Los Angeles, but I'm convinced it's poised to take over the world any second now. It's a Middle Eastern rotisserie chicken joint, which doesn't sound that impressive, but the chicken is the most magical I've had anywhere and at any price. Crispy golden juicy perfect. It comes with a garlic sauce that may be the most addicting condiment on Earth. Just to give you an idea of the majesty of Zankou, I once took A Boy there on a first date, and between the two of us we put away two chickens, with tides of garlic sauce, in one sitting. On a first date, people. Such is the power of Zankou. (Their hummus is really good too, and everything comes with delicious pickled turnips-- the only reason to eat a turnip, IMO.)

Every so often somebody will say they've found a chicken place that's better than Zankou, but they are always dead wrong. Zankou's only flaws are that the service, although lightning-fast, is always really surly, and that the Hollywood location is the only one that carries tabbouleh. A shame, because Zankou's tabbouleh is something else altogether.

If any of you ever find yourselves in Hell-A, hie thee to the corner of Sunset and Normandie immediately. You want the half-chicken plate. With a side of tabbouleh.

In other chain news, I can't not mention In-N-Out Burger. Yes, I know it's run by JWs or Mormons or something, and that "John 3:16" is printed on all their drink cups, but those are some TASTY burgers. They are also exremely humane to their employees, and it shows in the cheerfulness of the service. I like the brevity of the menu and the cute "secret" catchphrases you can use to customize your order. ("Make mine an animal!") Damn. Now I want to drive all the way out to Pinole for In-N-Out, and I have too much housework.

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by seebs

Actually, I think McD's is, on the whole, very well-run. They do a lot of research on running stores efficiently... Most importantly, they provide a consistent product that's edible and reliable. (With the exception of apple pies, where the good ones are only available outside the U. S.)

They've put a lot of work into being stable and trustworthy, and I think they're quite good at it. The food isn't great, but it's not awful.

Hmmm... MickeyD's has one very important attribute for which I am very grateful...clean restrooms. Particularly, the cleanest functional western-style toilet in Beijing. As for their food, well...I'd just as soon flush it down the clean functional western-style toilet _before_ consumption. It's not bad food, but it's not good food, either.

One small chain I've found where I truly appreciate the food is Swagat, an Indian buffet chain that has two outlets in Portland and several others in northern California. From the looks of it, they may have outlets in Tokyo and Munich, too. That, or the name is fairly common for Indian restaurants. Their chicken mahkani is to die from...mmmmmm.

godfry

[Penni]

Originally Posted by RevDahlia

I'm assuming it's okay to mention chains, even if they don't follow the franchise business model.

From where I'm sitting, the be-all and end-all of chains is Zankou Chicken. For now Zankou is only in Los Angeles, but I'm convinced it's poised to take over the world any second now. It's a Middle Eastern rotisserie chicken joint, which doesn't sound that impressive, but the chicken is the most magical I've had anywhere and at any price. Crispy golden juicy perfect. It comes with a garlic sauce that may be the most addicting condiment on Earth. Just to give you an idea of the majesty of Zankou, I once took A Boy there on a first date, and between the two of us we put away two chickens, with tides of garlic sauce, in one sitting. On a first date, people. Such is the power of Zankou. (Their hummus is really good too, and everything comes with delicious pickled turnips-- the only reason to eat a turnip, IMO.)

Every so often somebody will say they've found a chicken place that's better than Zankou, but they are always dead wrong. Zankou's only flaws are that the service, although lightning-fast, is always really surly, and that the Hollywood location is the only one that carries tabbouleh. A shame, because Zankou's tabbouleh is something else altogether.

If any of you ever find yourselves in Hell-A, hie thee to the corner of Sunset and Normandie immediately. You want the half-chicken plate. With a side of tabbouleh.

In other chain news, I can't not mention In-N-Out Burger. Yes, I know it's run by JWs or Mormons or something, and that "John 3:16" is printed on all their drink cups, but those are some TASTY burgers. They are also exremely humane to their employees, and it shows in the cheerfulness of the service. I like the brevity of the menu and the cute "secret" catchphrases you can use to customize your order. ("Make mine an animal!") Damn. Now I want to drive all the way out to Pinole for In-N-Out, and I have too much housework.

OOOO, maybe Zankou will come down to San Diego next!

I have to disagree about In N Out Burgers, though. I know I am likely to be stoned for this heresy, but I am not fond of the burgers. The meat has a weird taste to it...maybe it's all that damn freshness !! I admire their business practices and it's probably just my own tastebuds, but I actually never have burgers from anywhere else, but a fresh burger on the grill at home doesn't have that weird taste, to me (can't describe it, like it's still raw or too bloody, even though it's perfectly well cooked). BUT, their fries are obviously the best on the entire planet, and fries dipped in a chocolate or strawberry shake are a special treat.

I'll also have to disagree again, and risk the wrath of the majority by admitting I don't like Chipotle. I don't see why I should pay $5 for a burrito that I could make at home. It tastes just like the ones I make at home. baja Fresh, though, they make some good burritos and tacos, that I could never make at home. The employees at our BF seem pretty happy too.

Finally, Jamba Juice. I love smoothies and they seem like a good chain. Their place is always so clean and everyone seems happy. I cheer up whenever I go there. Lots less guilt than normal fast food, too.

[lisarea]

Originally Posted by Penni

I'll also have to disagree again, and risk the wrath of the majority by admitting I don't like Chipotle. I don't see why I should pay $5 for a burrito that I could make at home. It tastes just like the ones I make at home. baja Fresh, though, they make some good burritos and tacos, that I could never make at home. The employees at our BF seem pretty happy too.

Well, maybe you should move to AFGHANISTAN or something, then, Traitor! FEEL MY WRATH! FEEL IT!

I have to kind of agree and kind of not. I like my own burritos better myself, but that is only because I rock so much and stuff. But depending on how many people you're feeding, getting all the stuff together and preparing it can be prohibitive. You have to marinate, cook, and shred the meat, make the rice and beans, chop up lettuce and tomato, grate the cheese, than add the salsa, sour cream, etc. For the time and effort, particularly if you're the only one eating and/or if you don't already have the ingredients at hand, the $5 expenditure pales.

Consider yourself PWN3D, you...you...wrath-inducing person.

[Penni]

I quiver before the Chipotle-defender! Since I'm pretty much the only person that I've ever met that doesn't care for it, I will admit I'm weird. I might not mind it, but there's always a Baja Fresh nearby, so the choice is simple. Baja Fresh by the way, has the most awesome salsa I've ever had...it's black and I think it might be made of chipotle

[livius drusus]

Both Chipotle and Baja Fresh sound like a cilantro epidemic waiting to happen. I would have to pick everything apart to be sure it wasn't infected.

[viscousmemories]

I never made it to a Chipotle while in Cali. I wonder if they're here in Dallas. I've had In-n-out a couple times and I liked it, but I wasn't ready to die for it or anything. I heard about In-n-out in Fast Food Nation before I moved to California so I really appreciate their business philosophy too, though.

Hmm... I'm actually one of those weird people who likes all fast food. I love Whoppers, any fried chicken (KFC, Popeyes, Church's, whatever), fries from anywhere (but Burger King particularly), shakes, anything from Taco Bell except those one things I had once that sucked, etc. But after reading FFN my consumption of fast food dropped dramatically and has never resumed anything close to the frequency with which I used to eat it.

[Shake]

I'd have to second the vote for Sonic! Always very good! Another place I liked which I found when I was down south was Checkers! Yummy! Sure, a bit greasy, but very tasty!!!

[Goliath]

A few years ago, some friends of mine and I were in Minneapolis. We ate at Chipotle's for lunch and then went to Sahib's (a non-chain Indian restaraunt--NO! an ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY DELICIOUS non-chain Indian restaraunt) for dinner. My digestive system didn't mind the combination (and I didn't mind Chipotle's) but my friends........well, let's just say that there were some...hasty exits.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Shake

I'd have to second the vote for Sonic! Always very good!

Oh yeah, I forgot to say I'll have to check that place out. I definitely saw one or two on the drive from Cali to here, though I don't remember if I saw any here in Dallas...

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

Oh yeah, I forgot to say I'll have to check that place out. I definitely saw one or two on the drive from Cali to here, though I don't remember if I saw any here in Dallas...

I've never seen a Sonic! I checked out the online map and there are none in my locale. The cherry limeade sounds thirst-quenching. I'll have to check them out when I go southbound.

For those of you straying into the Pacific Northwest, there is the Burgerville USA chain regionally. I think their seasonal fruit milkshakes are inspired, but I have a thing about ice cream in its fluid state. Their burgers are standard fare, if slightly greasy. I have no idea of their politics or management style.

Ice cream brings up Baskin & Robbins 31 Flavors. B&R, in my estimation, far outshine their competitors in consistantly putting a quality product, in an ever-changing collection of flavors, in front of customers over many years. I haven't the damnest what their politics or management style is, either. They do, however, make a wicked milkshake.

godfry

[trendkill]

I'll second the In 'N Out Burger recommendation. I didn't know they were run by hardcore religious types, but I'd venture to say that if John 3:16 is printed on stuff there (guess I never noticed), they're probably not Mormon-owned.

[livius drusus]

I've never had a B&R shake. I shall have to change that sorry state of affairs asap.

[Roland98]

About the only fast food place I will eat at with any regularity is Wendy's. But even they have changed their grilled chicken into some fancy-sandwich-wannabe so I rarely go there anymore.

Occasionally I'll take the kids to Big Boy, because they're fairly cheap, we get waited on, and they always have plenty of crayons. They're definitely not consistent place-to-place, though. I've been in some really good ones and some really horrible ones.

[livius drusus]

Oh, and welcome Trendkill!

[trendkill]

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Roland98

About the only fast food place I will eat at with any regularity is Wendy's. But even they have changed their grilled chicken into some fancy-sandwich-wannabe so I rarely go there anymore.

Oh yeah, I forgot about Wendy's. I've ordered a single, fries and frosty a million times. There's no other fast-food combo meal I like as much.

Occasionally I'll take the kids to Big Boy, because they're fairly cheap, we get waited on, and they always have plenty of crayons. They're definitely not consistent place-to-place, though. I've been in some really good ones and some really horrible ones.

Big Boy is cool. I don't think they exist outside of the midwest, though. At least I haven't seen one since I left Michigan. On my drive out to California my van broke down in the middle of the Mojave desert and I was stranded in a little town called Baker for a few days. While there I ate here. Look familiar?

Btw, trendkill.

[Penni]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Both Chipotle and Baja Fresh sound like a cilantro epidemic waiting to happen. I would have to pick everything apart to be sure it wasn't infected.

I'll never understand people's aversion to cilantro! What's not to love? I could live off that stuff! It's not like it's anise or something similarly heinous.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Penni

I'll never understand people's aversion to cilantro! What's not to love? I could live off that stuff! It's not like it's anise or something similarly heinous.

I honestly don't get it either. I worked as a prep cook in a Mexican restaurant and we put cilantro in everything (before that I didn't even know it existed). Frankly I have no problem with it at all. I can't say I go out of my way to eat it really, but I certainly don't hate it.

[livius drusus]

Originally Posted by Penni

I'll never understand people's aversion to cilantro! What's not to love? I could live off that stuff! It's not like it's anise or something similarly heinous.

It tastes like lemon dishwashing detergent, and overpoweringly so. It taints everything it touches. I have never encountered a localized cilantro infection; it spreads like the Spanish flu Roland's going to write about soon to make me happy.

Anise rules! All the liquorice flavors rule.

[lisarea]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

It tastes like lemon dishwashing detergent, and overpoweringly so. It taints everything it touches. I have never encountered a localized cilantro infection; it spreads like the Spanish flu Roland's going to write about soon to make me happy.

I use cilantro only rarely myself, but not long ago, I made some sort of burritoey smorgasboard crap for dinner and I had a bunch of fresh cilantro, which I put in the meat, the rice, and the salsa, and silently christened that night's meal the "livius drusus honorary cilantrofest." I kept meaning to tell you about that, but I only just remembered now.

Then, I made Lemon Joy-ade to wash it down with, in case anyone missed the point.

Anise rules! All the liquorice flavors rule.

I like licorice and anise, but I hate those nastyassed faux licorice black jellybeans. I don't really like jellybeans as a rule, but glugh, those black ones are teh nas-tay.