Cleveland finally got a Raising Cane’s a few years back and there’s actually now nine locations in Northeast Ohio. And now, with news that Bojangles is finally coming to the area with a plan to open ten locations, that’s another subtraction from our list of chains that should be in town. That’s cool, but it got us thinking about national and regional fast food chains that aren’t in Northeast Ohio that we totally need.


Wawa The first WaWa food market was established in Folsom, Pennsylvania in 1964. It may be a convenience store, but those in the Mid-Atlantic swear by their hoagies and other fast food items. There are currently around 900 locations. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Aaron F. Stone
In-N-Out Burger – In 1948, the first In-N-Out Burger was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California. There are currently 358. Credit: Scene Archives
Pal’s Sudden Service – In 1956 Fred “Pal” Barger opened his first “Pal’s” restaurant in Kingsport, Tennessee. The franchise is still mostly in the south, with 30 locations. Credit: Scene Archives
Biscuitville – Incorporated in 1966 in Burlington, North Carolina, the biscuit sandwich franchise still hasn’t come our way. There are currently 65 locations. Credit: Scene Archives
Blake’s Lotaburger – Lotaburger has been the home of the original Green Chile Cheeseburger since 1952, when it was established in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are currently 110 locations, mostly in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. Credit: Scene Archives
Burger Street – Open since 1985 this burger chain has 14 locations across Texas and Oklahoma. Credit: Scene Archives
Del Taco – The American/Mexican chain was established in Barstow, California in 1964. There are currently 596 locations across the country, mostly in the Western and Southern United States. There are three locations in Ohio but none in the greater Cleveland area. Credit: Scene Archives
Jollibee – This chain from the Philippines was established in 1978 and came to the United States with a California location one year later. There are currently 1,500 locations worldwide and in 2021 they announced they plan to open 509 more locations throughout Canada and the United States. We’re crossing our fingers that the American/Filipino fusion cuisine makes its way to Northeast Ohio. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Xander Wu
Hip Hop Fish & Chicken – Hip-Hop Fish and Chicken serves up fast food to the state of Maryland, with 33 locations. It was established in 2009 in Randallstown, Maryland. Credit: Scene Archives
Jack In The Box – This popular burger chain has been in business more than 60 years with 2,200 locations in 21 states and Guam, but not Cleveland. It was established in San Diego in 1941. Credit: Scene Archives
Papa Murphy’s – Papa Murphy’s is a take and bake pizza chain with 1,500 locations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. The first location was in Petaluma, California in 1984. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Krystal – This burger joint serves sliders similar to White Castle. It was established in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1932 and currently has 360 locations in the southeastern United States. Credit: Scene Archives
Tim Horton’s – The Canadian chain with 4,949 locations, including ones in Akron, Mansfield, Ashland and Columbus but none in the Greater Cleveland area. It was established in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1964. Credit: Scene Archives
Taco Cabana – This Tex-Mex chain was established in San Antonio, Texas in 1978. They currently have 148 locations throughout Texas and New Mexico. Credit: Scene Archives
Tony Luke’s Cheesteaks – This cheesesteak chain was founded in Philadelphia in 1990. They have 16 locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey and one location each in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Texas and even Bahrain. Credit: Scene Archives
Whataburger – This popular burger chain serves the southern portion of the US, and founded in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950. There are currently 880 locations. Credit: Scene Archives
Zaxby’s – This fried chicken wing chain was established in Statesboro, Georgia in 1990. There are currently 941 locations in 17 states. Credit: Scene Archives
Carl’s Jr – This popular burger franchise was established in Carpinteria, California in 1941. There are currently 1,062 domestic locations and 2,124 outside of the United Staes for a staggering total of 3,186 locations in 44 states and 38 countries. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Griffin5
El Pollo Loco – This Mexican-style grilled chicken chain was established in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico in 1974. There are currently 487 locations throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Louisiana. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Church’s Chicken – This fried chicken chain was established in San Antonio, Texas in 1952. There are currently over 1,700 locations throughout 26 countries. There was a Bedford Heights location that closed in 2011. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Michael Rivera

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