Major restaurants and stores not in your area?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Roy Rogers I've actually never even been to, so I couldn't say.

 

Local grocery stores: Safeway, Albertsons, Food Max

Southern California (as of years ago): Ralph's, Lucky's, Von's, Food 4 Less (basically the same as Food Max)

Tampa: Publix, Winn Dixie, Kash N Karry

 

I have never shopped at a Piggly Wiggly unfortunately.

 

Very similar to what I'm used to.

 

Portland grocery stores: Safeway, New Seasons, Whole Foods, Zupan's

Miami: Publix, Winn Dixie, Navarro

L.A.: Ralphs, Vons, Pavilions

[CanadianChris 0]

I don't know if this effects all of Canada, but at least in my travels through Souther Ontario, there are no White Castles, Hardees/Carls/Checkers, Sonics, non KFC chicken places, or non Taco Bell taco places anywhere.

There are a few that I've seen -- Mary Brown's still has a few stores open, although not as many as they did when I was in university. Dixie Lee is another chicken franchise; their stores are mostly in smaller towns. I remember from my childhood that we always used to pass one on the way to my grandmother's house in Napanee.

 

I also remember there being a TGI Fridays in the Clifton Hill area in Niagara Falls the last time I was there. It's the only Fridays I've ever seen in Canada, though.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

There are Wah Wahs (glorified convience store/sandwich shop) in New Jersey but I don't think there are in NY

It's Wawa, not wah wah.

[Guest •]

Does Brown's Chicken have any sort of foothold outside of Chicagoland? If so, do their freezers have dead bodies inside like ours? That ruined Brown's Chicken for me, unfortunately. I have an aunt whose parties always have food from Brown's. The parties are always held in the garage.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Nah, no Brown's Chicken in the tropical South, West Coast, or Northwest from what I saw.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

There are Wah Wahs (glorified convience store/sandwich shop) in New Jersey but I don't think there are in NY

It's Wawa, not wah wah.

 

WawaaaaIT DOESNT MATTER WHAT ITS CALLED!

 

Sorry couldn't resist

 

Went there once out near Rumson, New Jersey around 2AM and was able to get a freshly made sandwich and decaf coffee. Now THAT is pretty darn nifty.

[Red Baron 0]

I don't know if this effects all of Canada, but at least in my travels through Souther Ontario, there are no White Castles, Hardees/Carls/Checkers, Sonics, non KFC chicken places, or non Taco Bell taco places anywhere.

There are a few that I've seen -- Mary Brown's still has a few stores open, although not as many as they did when I was in university. Dixie Lee is another chicken franchise; their stores are mostly in smaller towns. I remember from my childhood that we always used to pass one on the way to my grandmother's house in Napanee.

 

I also remember there being a TGI Fridays in the Clifton Hill area in Niagara Falls the last time I was there. It's the only Fridays I've ever seen in Canada, though.

 

There's two TGIFridays in Niagara Falls now. The only Canadians that go their are the employee's or people going for a drink. No one goes in there for the food because how expensive it is. If you want to pay pricey food, The Keg is around the corner.

 

Burger King is across town and same with Quizno's and Subway.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Having never been in there, I don't know if that's indicative of TGI Friday's, or simply just because of its location.

 

The Keg is indeed pricey, but they're also damn good.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Niagara Falls chain food is overpriced. The Denny's there is supposed to be outrageous (and is also the only Denny's in Southern Ontario I'm aware of).

 

Sometimes when I'd visit a friend of mine in London, we'd go to a Chinese buffet place called King's. Their map indicated they had locations all over Ontario but just stopped expanding south of London, meaning I don't have on here.

[CanadianChris 0]

Niagara Falls chain food is overpriced. The Denny's there is supposed to be outrageous (and is also the only Denny's in Southern Ontario I'm aware of).

Only the Clifton Hill restaurants are way overpriced. I went to a Denny's away from downtown (on Lundy's Lane) and the prices seemed pretty much normal.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I can second that. There's one on Lundy's Lane right when it starts getting tourist area-y, and they were typical Denny's prices. The one about ten minutes closer to the actual Falls, just across from the new casino is brutal.

[Karnage 0]

In Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver, there used to be a Popeye's Chicken which I was shocked to see because I thought they were only in the States. Unfortunately, it got turned into one of those hybrid KFC/Taco Bells. We also use to have a lot of K-Marts but they all but disappeared a few years ago.

 

[CanadianChris 0]

Yeah, K-Mart pulled out of Canada completely a few years ago.

 

The one in the neighbourhood where I grew up had a great row of arcade games. It shared space with a Loblaws. Made Saturday morning grocery shopping with Mom more tolerable.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Speaking of Canada, I WANT A TIM HORTON'S HERE IN NYC! Hey Tim was a Ranger for two seasons, so we should have at least one!

[Nighthawk 0]

Tim Horton was a hockey player? I had no idea.

[Red Baron 0]

Yep, he died because he made a bet with some of his players that he could outrace a plane with his sports car from Toronto to Buffalo. Crashed in St. Catharines no less.

 

The Denny's is no longer there across from the Fallsview Casino as the Hilton Fallsview Hotel bought out the property to expand their hotel.

[In Credible 0]

I always see commercials for Sonic and Jack in the Box, but I dont think we have any in the state.

[migoli 0]

There is alot not around here, Jack in the box,Sonic CiCi's. Then there is alot of places that there is like one location and thats it like Hardees, Little Ceasers, and i heard they opened a Popeyes in St Paul somewhere

[Nighthawk 0]

Albertson's became Lucky's again. Seems pointless, they obviously spent a lot of money changing the signs and everything. It's not like people were going "Fuck Albertson's, I'm not shopping there... oh, Lucky's. Well, that's different then."

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Dear Gino's East of Chicago,

 

After enjoying a classic Chicago Style Deep Dish couple of weeks ago I just have this to say:

 

PLEASE COME TO THE NEW YORK CITY AREA!

 

Thank you,

Steve Rogers

 

Seriously, I think Unos is the only Chicago based pizza joint that is in the NYC area.

 

Speaking of mid-west eateries, also ate at a Red Robins. Tasty, but they are not in New York, a couple out in New Jersey though.

[Guest Soriano's Torn Quad]

Did you go to the one at Woodfield? I like that one. It's my favorite Woodfield eatery now that John's Garage started being awful. The one at Hawthorn out in Vernon Hills was shut down for health code violations, I believe.

 

Lou Malnati's is my favorite deep-dish place, but it's the sort of meal you risk burning out on. Thin-crust pizza with deep-dish-style cornmeal crust is so good.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Did you go to the one at Woodfield? I like that one. It's my favorite Woodfield eatery now that John's Garage started being awful. The one at Hawthorn out in Vernon Hills was shut down for health code violations, I believe.

 

Lou Malnati's is my favorite deep-dish place, but it's the sort of meal you risk burning out on. Thin-crust pizza with deep-dish-style cornmeal crust is so good.

 

Nope, Shaumburgh again. Speaking of health code violations, did go out to Crystal Lake to a dive called "Cuckoo's Nest" I decided not to sample the food based on knowledge that the bartender (another friend of my cousin's) was also the cook that night and she, well, isn't the best of cooks!

[Maztinho 0]

Albertson's became Lucky's again. Seems pointless, they obviously spent a lot of money changing the signs and everything. It's not like people were going "Fuck Albertson's, I'm not shopping there... oh, Lucky's. Well, that's different then."

 

I work for Albertson's we like tossing lots of money at stupid shit that is supposed to increase the bottom line, but never does.

[migoli 0]

Did you go to the one at Woodfield? I like that one. It's my favorite Woodfield eatery now that John's Garage started being awful. The one at Hawthorn out in Vernon Hills was shut down for health code violations, I believe.

 

Lou Malnati's is my favorite deep-dish place, but it's the sort of meal you risk burning out on. Thin-crust pizza with deep-dish-style cornmeal crust is so good.

 

Hell fucking yeah, Lou is the best pizza i ever had,last 2 summers i went to Chicago because a friends brother lived right near the place, changed my life. Even got a real hot waitress, and got told that because i had a beard i knew how to roll a blunt by some drunk maybe homeless looking dude waiting out front

[Guest Vitamin X]

I've heard so much about Lou Malnati's that I've considered dropping the $50 to order a couple of their pizzas and have it shipped over here. Yes, they do that.

[Guest Soriano's Torn Quad]

Woodfield is that giant mall in Schaumburg, Steve.

 

Yeah, Leo, definitely order some.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I seem to see a Sonic's ad during every commercial break, regardless of what I'm watching, even though I think the closest one is a legit seven-to-eight hour drive. The closest IHOP is almost an hour away. White Castle is about 45 minutes away, although I'm not necessarily complaining on that front. No Jack in the Box, either. Or Chipotle. Or Panera Bread.

 

Is it any wonder I'm not usually hard-pressed to indulge in fast food?

[Jericholic82 0]

I went to Dunkin DOnuts the other night, and they were OUT OF DONUTS! wow. Then again I did see a police car outside.

 

They have Jack in The Box ads on tv but none in my area (then again I only went there maybe 4 time in my entire 12 years of living in SOCAL). I do kind of miss Inn-N-Out Burger I guess

[Guest Vitamin X]

Were you there to get jelly donuts, Private Pyle.

[Scroby 0]

Long John Silvers, Arbys, White Castle, Sonic's, can't think of any others.