[NellieBall]

Anybody know of exclusive fast food restaurants, or ones that are close to being exclusive?

IE: Texas has Jack In The Box and Whataburger. Chicago has White Castle. These are in other states but only a few.

[Chest Rockwell]

In-N-Out is in California and Nevada exclusively I believe.

Jack in the Box is based out of San Diego, and is pretty much nationwide now.

One of my all time favorites is Blake's Lotaburger out of New Mexico. Those of you driving through should definitely stop by for one of these tasty burgers!

[Buzz123]

What do you mean by "exclusive". If you mean they are only in those states mentioned, the restaurants you named are all over the place. We have close to 100 Jack in The Box restaurants in Las Vegas alone. I had my first White Castle in Jacksonville, FL years ago. WhataBurger used to be here in Vegas years ago but they all closed, and I've seen them in New Mexico. New Mexico has LottaBurger that I've never seen outside the state but would love to see here. The best hamburger in Las Vegas is found at the Best Burger stand in the Meadows Mall but I haven't seen them anyplace else. Maybe I just wasn't looking. The best burger and best milk shake (for Las Vegas) at a burger chain is found at Fat Burger. There are several around town, both in and out of casinos, but they need more locations outside of casinos. I do not believe there are any restaurant chains exclusive to Las Vegas unless one or two locations, such as a couple of local pizza joints, or Montesanos Italian delis, constututes a chain.

[olecapt]

Cracked Egg is local. Two locations now with one at Ann and 95 opening this Summer.

Claim Jumper is CA chain. I think they may be close to national now. Know why Claim does a job on rotisserie chicken? Because their initila store front was taken over from a kosher srestaurant that failed but had a wall full of rotesserie.

[Buzz123]

She was asking about local fast food chains I guess. Don't know of any. As mentioned, New Mexico has Blake's Lottaburger. Garduño's a local Albuquerque restaurant chain has expanded here, brought in from their home town by the Maloof's when they opened the first Fiesta, then the Palms. Both Blakes and Garduños have New Mexico green chilis going for them that makes their food exceptional and unique.

Here's what makes me hungry for hometown food: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=49

[NellieBall]

By exclusive, I meant places that ain't like McDonald's. Where they on every corner in every city.

I'm in Tampa, FL and we don't have Jack In The Box or White Castle here. I've eat both, though. We have Whataburger and we have something like White Castle, it's called Krystal's. Small burgers and all.

And yeah, I'm a guy.

[Buzz123]

Sorry NellieBall. Your handle threw me.

Most everything in Vegas is relatively new and cookie cutter. There is no particular home grown food that is unique to Las Vegas, and few, if any, individual mom and pop fast food joints. I guess it's too hard to compete with the big boys. Besides, for some reason, the population of Las Vegas generally has poor taste in food, given the favorite restaurants they pick every year in the RJ's reader poll. Although, there is one non-franchise Philly steak sandwich stand on Decautur and Alta which is really popular with locals. Most of our chains are west coast chains, and they are just the usual kind that you see in every city, and in every shopping mall food court.

There might be some mamá y popi joints in the Hispanic neighborhoods that are probably pretty good, but it's been a long time since I tried one of those. Those would serve mostly Tacos, etc., but some serve the breakfast of champions...menudo...ummm! You probably don't have In-N-Out Burger, or Fat Burger, which are both better than Burger King or McDonalds. Wendy's isn't bad, but still plastic franchise food. Jack in The Box is nothing to write home about, but beats Micky D's, and they haven't killed anyone for several years now. There are plenty of family owned pizza joints, and for some reason that I don't understand, there are more Chinese and Thai restaurants than you can shake a stick at.

I don't know if it is popular everywhere, but breakfast (usually served all day) is a big thing here. Maybe it started when the casinos offered darn near free breakfasts to bolster the slow business of early morning hours. In my younger, more foolish days it was always great to sober up over 49 cent bacon and eggs at the Showboat, or $1.49 steak and eggs at the Silver Slipper, then watch the sun come up after a night of carousing on the Strip.

The Original Pancake House is always crowded, as is The Cracked Egg, and Mimi's. The Egg and I, which I believe is locally owned and not affiliated with the Colorado chain of the same name, does a land office business. They also have another location under a different name, on W. Flamingo and, I think, Ft. Apache or Buffalo. Both offer Cincinnati chili, which, since Buzz knows chili, is really bland. Sorry Cincinnati guy.

The Coffee Pub, both the original, and the spin-off which name escapes me, are local versions of California bistros where you'll find all the local movers and shakers having brunch. We need more of those.

[Buzz123]

Hey, NellieBall. Tampa has a great little Tapas joint in a neat looking center a short walk from the convention center. At least I think it's the convention center. I think there was a large building housing a newspaper near-by. Didn't see much of Tampa, but what I saw I liked except for the humidity.

[Pyrocat]

Would you guys consider Roberto's a local "fast food" place?

[Lakewooder]

Old time real Vegas:

http://www.pamplemousserestaurant.com/

Ask for John