Regional fast food choices for your road trips
When you are on a road trip it’s easy to find a McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy's. It's even getting much easier to find Chic-fil-A, the home of that savory chicken sandwich once found only in the South. While you could settle for one of these restaurants when you travel, you would be missing out on some great tastes served up fast.. Here are a few chains I’ve encountered on my road trips that are worth a visit when you pass by one. Some might even be worth driving a few miles out of your way to enjoy!
The original Pal’s restaurant is in Downtown Kingsport, TN.
Pal's Sudden Service
If you’ve ever lived in or visited the Tri-Cities of Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia chances are you've passed by a Pal's. These brightly colored box like restaurants with a giant hot dog, fries and drink sitting on the top are hard to miss. Pal’s Sudden Service has about 30 restaurants total. Nearly all of them are drive through only, but a few sit down locations exist. Cravings for Frenchie Fries, a Big Pal Hamburger, Chipped Ham and Cheese, Bar B Dogs, milkshakes and Pal's signature Big Sweet Tea are as big as the food on the sides of the building.
The original Pal's Sudden Service is in Downtown Kingsport, TN. It's missing the big food items on the roof, but provides a truly nostalgic dining experience with it’s walk through ordering line and bright red and white striped decor on the outside of the building.
Petro’s Chili and Chips
In 1982, millions of people heeded the call to "be there" when the World’s Fair came to Knoxville, Tennessee. While they were there, they gobbled up Petros, a tasty twist on the chili pie. A bag of Fritos Corn Chips were turned over on their side with the bag cut open, doused with a generous helping of chili then topped with cheese, green onions, tomatoes, black olives, jalapenos and sour cream. They were such a big hit that Petro's eventually franchised the idea.
Eventually, Petros made their way out of the bag and into cups, but the taste hasn’t changed. You can get them on Frito’s corn chips or pasta and even substitute the original chili with a vegetarian one if you want. While you’re at Petros be sure and wash down your chili and chip creations with a Hint of Orange Sweet Tea. Petros are served up at more than a dozen locations in the Knoxville and Tri-Cities area, with a few stores at Love’s Truck Stops in Arkansas and a few locations in North Carolina.
Buddy's Bar-b-q
The South is known for its Barbecue and there are often plenty of choices when it comes to places to enjoy it. In the Knoxville area Buddy's Bar-b-q has been serving up tasty creations for decades and you don't have to wait long to get your hands on BBQ ribs or pulled pork. Buddy’s BBQ has 14 restaurants in the Knoxville area and like Petros, also served up food at the World’s Fair.
While you won’t find burgers on the menu at Buddy's, this is fast food. Just walk up and order, pick up your tray of food and cup, pour your drink then find a seat. Don’t let the fast nature of the place make you think you won’t be getting top notch BBQ because that simply isn’t the case . And if you run out of hush puppies, don’t worry, someone will likely be making the rounds to help replenish your supply.
Mission BBQ
The first time I ate at Mission BBQ I was on a blogging trip in Jacksonville, NC. I had been in Charlotte earlier that day and tried my best to make it to Mission BBQ before Noon so I could see everyone standing for the National Anthem. I didn’t make it in time, but it was very evident this BBQ place holds a special place for the men and women of the armed services.
At the time of my visit in the summer of 2019, I wasn’t aware of the many other Mission BBQ locations (at the time there were more than 70 ). This fast service restaurant isn’t exactly regional anymore, but many of the locations are near military installations like Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC and Ft. Campbell along the TN/KY state line. Mission strives to offer up regional recipes for its BBQ and sauces making it a great place to sample different kinds of BBQ. And while they offer up delicious sweet (and unsweet) tea and a variety of fountain drinks, there’s always an ice filled tub filled with a wide variety of bottled beverages to enjoy.
After my visit to Mission BBQ in Jacksonville, I was glad to find a location in Clarksville, TN (near Ft. Campbell Army Post) while on another one of my road trips. Mission BBQ also has a location in the Opry Mills Mall in Nashville. The food and the atmosphere definitely make it a place to stop for a meal. In fact, we’ve even planned it into a recent road trip.
Ward’s
If you’ve ever driven I-59 through Mississippi, you know there aren't many towns along the interstate other than Meridian, Laurel and Hattiesburg . The area known as the “Pine Belt” is home to a refreshing fast food chain that’s about 40 stores strong.
Ward’s is famous for it’s “Big One” hamburger which is topped with homemade chili. You’ll also find hot dogs, chicken and shrimp on the menu, but the real treat is what you’ll find to drink. Just like A&W restaurants, Ward’s makes its own root beer and it’s decadently delicious. So, if you're in the "Pine belt" take time and try this taste of Mississippi. .
Jack's Family Restaurants
Throughout northern Alabama the big red circle with “Jack’s” spelled out in bright white letters is easy to spot on the Interstate signs. This somewhat ordinary looking fast food joint has grown into a chain of nearly 200 restaurants, with a few outside Alabama including some in Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia.
It’s been a few years since I’ve eaten at Jack’s, but the times I have eaten there, the food and the prices made it worth the stop. In addition to the burgers like the “Big Jack,” chicken and fries, Jack’s is also known for its breakfast biscuits, even ones served up with “chocolate gravy.”.
Cookout
My first experience with this North Carolina chain was during a family trip to Boone, NC many years ago. The restaurant there was drive through only, but offered combos for $4 (they’re now closer to $6). Combos (then and now) came with two sides.
My son was excited to get a BBQ sandwich, until he found out it had slaw on it, which was fine with me. Somehow it all worked out and from then on we were hooked on Cookout and couldn’t wait to get one closer to us in Tennessee.
Today there are more than 230 Cookout restaurants in 10 states and you can find many of them across Tennessee. It’s one of the few places where chicken nuggets and corn dogs are considered “sides.” You can also substitute one of their 40 flavors of milkshakes for a drink in the combo for just a buck more.
The Varsity
If you've driven through downtown Atlanta, chances are you've seen the giant red "V" surrounded by a wide array of skyscrapers. This is The Varsity and its been part of the rhythm of life in Atlanta for 90 years. Its one of the largest drive-in restaurants you'll find anywhere and if you're in the city you need to try it out.
As you step up to the long counter inside (or order from the stalls outside), employees greet you with the slogan, "What'll You Have?" Be sure and grab a slaw dog and onion rings and top it off with the hometown drink, Coca-Cola. If going downtown isn't your thing, there are seven other Atlanta and Athens area locations, but going to the original certainly dials up the nostalgia.
Lion’s Choice
Growing up if I wanted a roast beef sandwich my choices were limited to Hardee’s, Arby’s or Rax (if you remember that chain). Now after years of driving through Saint Louis we know there is another great choice for savory roast beef sandwiches and another one of our favorites frozen custard.
Lion’s Choice has more than three dozen locations around the Saint Louis and Kansas City Metro areas. A couple of years ago we finally stopped at a Lion’s Choice restaurant in Troy, a small town northwest of St. Louis. It was definitely worth the stop as Lion’s Choice truly knows how to serve up roast beef with a distinctive seasoned taste.
According to the Lion’s Choice website, the first restaurant opened in 1967 in Ballwin, Missouri. The beef is slow roasted on-site for three hours. And if you aren’t into roast beef, they also serve up turkey, ham and hot dogs.
Maid-Rite has been serving up these tasty loose meat sandwiches since 1926.
Maid Rite
Fans of the TV show Roseanne probably remember the years when she and her sister Jackie opened up the Lanford Lunch Box, a restaurant that served up loose meat sandwiches.
For fans outside of Iowa, this ground beef creation probably seemed a bit strange since it wasn’t a sauced up creation like a sloppy joe and it wasn’t served up as a patty. However, in Iowa places like Maid-Rite have been serving up loose meat sandwiches since the 1920’s .
(You might recall that Roseanne and her husband at the time, Tom Arnold opened up their own loose meat sandwich near Eldon, Iowa which is home to the famed American Gothic House. It was not a Maid-Rite restaurant and closed after the two split up.)
The ground beef is seasoned with an assortment of spices, served up on a bun, and usually topped with ketchup, mustard and pickles and onions. You can also get a Cheese-Rite, a pork-tenderloin sandwich (an Iowa favorite) or several specialty sandwiches, wraps and salads.
The Whataburger on U.S.90 on the west side of Mobile, Alabama is easy to spot with its bright orange and white stripes and A-framed look.
Today, you will find Maid-Rites all over Iowa and in Missouri, Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois. Altogether there are nearly 40 locations.
Whataburger
Just a few miles from downtown Mobile, AL along U.S. 90, the bright orange and white stripes on an A-Frame Drive-In lets you know you have arrived at the famed Whataburger. Based in Texas, this fast food favorite has grown to about 800 stores in several states (and are set to return to Tennessee soon).
A Whataburger comes with a signature mustard (you can buy at some Walmart stores) along with chopped onions, and whatever else you want on them. On our trips down to New Orleans, we try and stop at Whataburger when we can.
Where do you like to go?
I know there are many other small fast-food chains across the country that are definitely worth a visit. When we go to Ohio we try and eat at Gold Star or Skyline Chili. I remember the joy of eating again at a Roy Rogers in Maryland a few years ago thinking they had disappeared entirely. Mrs. Winners Chicken and Biscuits went out of business a few years ago but there are a few left with new ones planned for the future. In-and-Out burger is another chain I keep hearing about, but haven't been able to try just yet.
Krystal and White Castle are two great places for “sliders” and there seems to be a dividing line somewhere each chain won’t cross. One exception that comes to mind is Nashville, TN where you can find multiple locations of both restaurants.
In the comments, let me know what are your favorites on this list and what other regional or local chains would make your list for road trips?
Check out more about these restaurants at the links below.