There are a lot iconic restaurant chains throughout the country, but only a few are so beloved that one bad word gets you into a guaranteed heated debate!
Here are those most beloved chains by region:
– New England
– MidAtlantic
– Midwest
– South
– West
– Southwest
Let’s get to them…
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Weird to have a coffee and donut shop as the #1 chain in the New England area?
Only if you haven’t seen the amount of devotion Boston and company have their hometown chain (headquartered in Canton, Mass).
You might be better off insulting the Red Sox before messing with Dunkin’.
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The MidAtlantic loves its hoagies and swears by the ones at Wawa, the popular convenience store/gas station out of Wawa, Pennsylvania.
You can certainly get a better sandwich in the region (e.g. name your favorite Philly cheesesteak place) or maybe a more popular candidate in one area (e.g. Phillips Seafood in Maryland), but it’s hard to think of a chain of restaurants that has the universal love that Wawa has.
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We couldn’t decide between two chains in the Midwest…maybe because so many amazing chains start there!
The first is Wisconsin-born Culver’s. Like Chick-fil-A, this is a fast food chain that prides itself on quality and a mom-and-pop feel. Every item on the menu is amazing (even the North Atlantic Cod Dinner…aka fish and chips!).
This is the restaurant everyone wants to stop at on road trips.
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Portillo’s is the other Midwest charmer we couldn’t keep off the list.
Famous for its Italian Beef, its hot dogs, and its chocolate cake shake, Portillo’s has thankfully been expanding.
The long-but-worth-it lines speak to the love Midwesterners have for Portillo’s.
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Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-A have cases to make here, but Waffle House is certainly beloved. And beloved in a way that people who aren’t from the South (specifically the Southeast near its Georgia HQ) have a hard time understanding.
Until a dominant, universally-loved chain of barbecue restaurants comes to challenge it, the throne is Waffle House’s to lose.
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I mean, duh, this one was a slam dunk.
California and its surrounding states love In-N-Out’s burgers and fries. From Hollywood to everyday folks.
They love the secret menu, the animal-style-ness, stacking patties and cheese, and the value.
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Based in San Antonio, Whataburger has about 1,000 locations in Texas and its nearby states.
People in Texas love Whataburger like people in California love In-N-Out.
And, also, whataname!
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Here are the most beloved restaurants by region:
– New England: Dunkin’
– MidAtlantic: Wawa
– Midwest: Culver’s and Portillo’s
– South: Waffle House
– West: In-N-Out Burger
– Southwest: Whataburger
Disagree with our list? Tell us how we’re wrong in the comments!
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