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I've written before about my enjoyment of regional dishes. . Close behind that is my enjoyment of iconic regional chains. I'll grant you that they rarely serve haute cuisine but I don't care. Fast food is popular because it's usually reasonably palatable and consistent. Often, I just want some food, not a dining experience.

If you're ever in my neck of the woods (North Carolina), two places you definitely need to check out are:

  • Cook Out - home cooked, hand patted burgers. Get it Cook Out style with slaw, chili, mustard and onions
  • Smithfield's Chicken and Barbecue - Pork barbecue served with vinegar based sauce, southern fried chicken, banana pudding and copious amounts of sweet iced tea

When visiting Texas, a couple of can't miss chains are:

  • Whataburger - a solid choice for a burger
  • Buc-ees - You need to experience a Buc-ees to understand it. They are gigantic interstate rest emporiums that not only sell food, they also have over a 100 gas pumps and a whole crew of people just to sell beef jerky

California

Midwest

Miami

I'd love to know what's iconic where you live. You never know where I could go.

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