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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Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips. The best! Used to be one on Johnson Drive when I was a kid. Also Waji's on 18th Street!
I would love to have a Pinkberry here. I'm sick of seeing celebrities write about it on twitter.
I kinda liked El Pollo Loco, but I hardly eat any fast food so I won't be a frequent visitor
Yeah, In-N-Out! A great pick for #1.
But...Friendly's? That might be #50 for me, but not #5. The ice cream is OK, but the food is barely edible. Truly, an irrational food choice.
BTW, I knew a guy who had his mouth wired shut post jaw surgery. His mom would dump whole White Castle burgers in a blender and puree them so he could drink them through a straw. Now THAT is dedication!
Tim Hortons will be here soon, they are inching closer and closer, they are already in Kentucky and Indiana now.
Man... Cora's Breakfast & Lunch needs to come to KC. What an amazing fruit-laden breakfast I had in Toronto.
http://www.chezcora.com/a/01-b...
I kind of wish we had a Jack in the Box somewhere around here. (Since you already had my #1 wish on your list with In-n-Out.) They're out in St. Louis, so why the heck arent they here in KC? There are some mornings that a breakfast Jack would really hit the spot!
Also, I hate that we have Hardees instead of Carl's Jr. They are NOT the same, I don't care if they are owned by the same company. Hardees sucks, whereas Carl's is just pure awesomeness.
Ooooh, Friendly's! Yeah! I spent all of my allowances @ their walk up ice cream window when I was a kid.
WHITE CASTLE....not taco cabana or whatever else you damn obama supporters think should be on the list....WHITE CASTLE IS THE ANSWER..... then in & out....followed by whatever you damn food nazis think...
WHITE CASTLE....
BRING IT BACK!
Whataburger. Right near Westport... the chicken strips w/gravy are an absolute drunk food staple.
Tokyo Bowl - was in OP back in 80's. One in Denver.
Goodberry's Creamery (way better than Sheridan's - localized to North Carolina)
White Castle is hideous. I was happy they left KC/OP. I knew many people who threw up after eating there. Seriously.
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