Eastern or Western NC? We love Greek, but never get it in NC because of BBQ. Still… someday, maybe.
I may be the only one who doesn’t like Five Guys fries very much - too mushy for my taste. I like quality over quantity (though respect that some folks like the taste too - just not me).
South-Central… think big city in NC in that area. As for BBQ, we go to the Improper Pig but that is more fast-food meets retro meets fine dining.
Our Five Guys is not too mushy when it comes to fries. Maybe ours just makes them different. But I hate mushy fries as well.
I rarely see cars around our Five Guys so it could very well be the specific location. We’ve definitely eaten at one that was better, but it’s not near home. Others - eh - not enough for us to fall in love with them. I do like that one can get a burger without the bun and as many fixings as one wants. I like mine with pepper, onions, and mushrooms - sometimes cheese.
oh yes the toppings are the best part. I always get the Mushroom, onions, and cheese. I also like the big box of unshelled peanuts at the front. I love to shell peanuts.
I thought of this thread when I was at the mall today (a rare occurrence these days) and picked up Chipotle. It was pretty tasty.
We have a new 'Canes here (who wouldn’t open a new restaurant during covid?) so we tried it. Nope. It’s just chicken strips.
And the drive thru? What a nightmare. You drive in and drive alllll the way around the building, then circle through the drive through, then circle around the building and cross back over to exit. Felt like I was in a death spiral with a quick right to exit across the cars pulling in to order.
The Chik-fil-A on the next block has nothing to worry about.
No one has mentioned KFC! About once a year, I get the original recipe chicken and the cole slaw which is the best! The cole slaw dressing is sweet and a real treat.
Otherwise, I like Panera or as it’s known in the midwest, St. Louis Bread Company.
However having just completed a month long cross country driving trip, I’m glad to say that I didn’t eat any fast food. Better for the diet.
Actually we didn’t eat at any chain restaurants (except one Longhorn steakhouse). I was glad to give the local mom and pop restaurants, who really got hurt during the pandemic, my business.
Maybe I haven’t lived, but I have never tried KFC. I know, I know… But seriously there are like no KFCs where I live. The closest one is like 50 miles away.
I think at least in my part of the country KFC isn’t that popular. I love fried chicken and fried chicken sandwiches but I reserve them for special treats.
I like Five Guys but I always end up feeling sick after. The drive through lines at In and Out have been crazy during the pandemic. I like In and Out but I wouldn’t wait an hour in line for it. Panera just permanently closed in my city. I never understood the appeal as it was always terrible. I wonder if it was just my location.
KFC used to be popular in places we go to, but then Popeye’s came in. I can’t think of anyone I know who prefers KFC to Popeye’s, but there have to be some because they’re still in business (doing more business in towns where they don’t directly compete).
I never cared for Panera either and thought it was just me (and H). Maybe it’s the location. We’ve never tried anything other than our local one.
KFC chicken is actually on my list of things that I would eat first if I could eat gluten again. I love their skin and never liked Popeyes.
Also on my list: Philly soft pretzel, wonton soup, McDonald’s fries.
Yes! The crispy skin on KFC chicken breasts! Love it!
Kentucky Fried Chicken , forget the chicken jist get the mashed potatoes and gravy! Probably not a Nick of nutrition but comfort food!
My opinion on Panera is that the quality is not what it was years ago. I’m had some salads that were poor excuses for a salad. It will do in a pinch - we actually have one inside our hospital complex - people choose it over the cafeteria so maybe that is saying something about one of them!! I did always have a soft spot for their scones - more sweet and glazed like a donut but the strawberry one was delicious.
We used to get bagels there when there was one close to home - had them bread slice the bagels - didn’t eat as much that way!
I’ve never lived in a place with a Popeyes. I tried to get their chicken sandwich pre Covid in a airport but they were sold out. Growing up my sister worked at Pioneer Chicken. I loved the skin and crispy coating.My inlaws like to get fried chicken from Albertsons (the supermarket) it’s actually decent.
I like the potatoes and gravy at KFC but it gives me heartburn every time.
Is it just me or is Panera EXTREMELY expensive. We stopped going there for their mediocre soups. I personally was fine with the Tomato Cream soup but it was super expensive.
Favorite Pizza chain anyone?
Our family loves Dominoes. Don’t get anything else. PJ is trash here. PH is not much better.
How about favorite toppings? What is your dream pizza?
Our go-to pizza is a large original crust pizza with roasted red pepper, sausage, and bacon. 
Local pizzerias (or local chains) will beat national chains as long as you find a good one. The last “new” local pizza place we tried on a trip was Moondoggy’s in GA:
We have a favorite local to us too, but that could zero in on my location too much. Often we check online to find places with great reviews to select which one we try in an area.
Our favorite pizza has a regular or thin crust (stuffed crust if the place has it, but not all do), red sauce, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, sliced or diced tomatoes, spinach, and extra cheese (only mozzarella).
We’re not vegetarian, but I discovered long ago I don’t care for meat on pizza - probably due to the grease. If we opt for a Supreme rather than custom made, then I can tolerate the pepperoni and sausage mixed in, but if custom made I will always leave them out for a better (to me) taste.
We’ll eat Digiorno’s frozen stuffed crust supreme before we’ll buy from any national chain. That frozen pizza is pretty darn tasty. We add mushrooms to it though. I can’t imagine a pizza without mushrooms. Even mushroom and cheese is better than anything without for me.
Where I live, the local pizzerias are really bad.
We went to this one called Anzis’ Pizzeria because of school hype (classmates said it was the best). When we walked in, the first thing we smelled was not fresh dough and pizza sauce goodness…nope…we smelled mothballs. We were the only people there and it smelled like an extremely territorial cat had been living in the place for years.
Although I would love to say the pizza was first-rate, after giving the physical description of the place, one could probably infer that the pizza was not far behind quality-wise. Not only was a large pizza like 35 dollars, but the sausage was also this pale gray color. It tasted like rubber. Either that pig lived next to a chemical plant or Anzis’ was trying to pass off erasers as sausage. The crust, I can guarantee you, would give you a solid jawline in a week. Gave my teeth a workout as well. The pizza sauce was tasteless. 
Pretty much…it sucked. Therefore, I eat Dominoes. They actually use real sausage.
Well anyways, about to go to a piano recital. Wish me luck!
Does anybody here like Brixx? Not a fan of wood-fired pizza but some are crazy about it. The Brixx location near me is like crazy packed ever. single. day.
I mean like out. the. door. line