Everybody has irrational love for a particular fast food establishment or chain restaurant -- witness the 2,484 fans on the 'I Love the Taco Via!!!' Facebook group. And so I decided to think about what chains could improve the lives of the residents in the city of fountains.
Dunkin' Donuts would have been a natural fit for this list -- but the first of several area stores in Overland Park (7722 W. 151st Street) opens today! So below are the five other chain establishments that Fat City wishes were coming to Kansas City:
5. Friendly's -- This East Coast chain serves the classic diner food: melts, chicken fingers and burgers. But the reason you eat all your chicken fingers is so you can have dessert -- from Candy Shoppe Sundaes to the Fribble, a shake that requires maximum effort on the other end of the straw. (For Charles Ferruzza's take on two classic Kansas City diners, read this week's Cafe review.)
4. White Castle -- Kansas City hasn't been the same since White Castle slid out of town. Mini cheeseburgers make the world go round and the classic sliders that turn the white bag shiny with grease before you're out of the parking lot would be welcomed back with open mouths.
3. Pinkberry
-- The Los Angeles-based frozen yogurt shop with the outlandish topping
bar is what started the second froyo craze. And while there's Mochi-Yo
in Leawood, the original deserves a chance to be tasted
2. Tim Hortons -- Kansas City has already lured one Canadian import in
Fran's Diner, so it only seems natural that more Canadians would follow.
Plus, every town needs a great rivalry and we'd all benefit from a
coffee and donuts war between Tim Hortons and Dunkin' Donuts.
1. In-N-Out Burger -- In a town that's particular about its burgers, another
California chain -- In-N-Out -- could find some real converts. This is
homemade fast food with hand-cut fries and burgers that make you
realize that something doesn't need to be gourmet to be elevated to
another level.
[Image via Flickr: soupstance]
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