Chain Food VS Local Chicago Food (neighborhood, school, live)

[SouthsideTillIDie]

I know people who eat McDonalds religiously, I know people who wont touch it. Me personally, I think McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Hell, Pizza Hut aka Pizzashyt/piece of shyt, Little Ceasars, Dominoes, etc is pure trash. When I was growing up on 76th street, like most kids my parents used to send me down to McDonalds when I was hungry because it was cheap, there was a local place next door called "Fred & Jacks" that had local Chicago style fast food. When I was a kid, one day I ate some stuff from Fred and Jacks and was like, "fukc McDonalds" ever since. By my highschool years, I wasnt really eatting chain food alot anymore.

Since highschool till now [Im 23 now btw], I really just eat gyros, vienna beef hotdogs, italian beef, Chicago squarecut pizzas & deepdish, reubin sandwichs, steak sandwichs, corner store pickles, Harold's Chicken Shack, burritos and tacos from local Mexican restaurants, etc. The local hole in the wall joints in Chicago absolutely embarass the chain restaurants IMO. And when I travel to other cities, the first thing that strikes me is just how bad some of the food is in some of these cities. It makes you appreciate Chicago style food more. The same happens when Im away at school. I go to school near NIU, and when Im there in Dekalb, my body craves Chicago food so much. I eat the stuff out there and Im like, "what is this crap?".

Some people LOVE chain, so I guess it's preference but to me it's garbage. Which do you prefer, local or chain?

[marothisu]

almost always local, but I've had my fair share of **** local places in every city too. Just because it's local doesn't mean it's necessarily good. You still have to know how to cook and what not.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by SouthsideTillIDie

Some people LOVE chain, so I guess it's preference but to me it's garbage. Which do you prefer, local or chain?

There are a lot of local joints which offer not so good food, so preferring a place solely because it's locally/neighborhood owned is a bad standard of choosing someplace to eat. The chains are popular because they serve consistently good food and people like what they serve and know what they're going to get 9 out of 10 times. I stop where I have a taste for the food at the moment, without regard for who owns the place. Competition is good.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by gomexico

There are a lot of local joints which offer not so good food, so preferring a place solely because it's locally/neighborhood owned is a bad standard of choosing someplace to eat. The chains are popular because they serve consistently good food and people like what they serve and know what they're going to get 9 out of 10 times. I stop where I have a taste for the food at the moment, without regard for who owns the place. Competition is good.

I agree, although I will say that not all chains have "good food." Most are pretty marginal..average, but they don't SUCK as in you will gag on the food. Like I think Taco Bell sucks, but it's not ****ty enough to make me gag, so if I HAD to, it wouldn't be the end of the world for me, but I know there's much better out there.

As the OP said, some people just eat some of the food because it's cheap.

[nutra]

Having moved out of Chicago and moving back next month one of the biggest things I miss is Chicago's amazing local food. The only chain I ate at in Chicago was Panda Express when hungry and not wanting to wait while in the Loop.

[Irishtom29]

I think many people use chains because they have parking lots and drive throughs; parking on main streets has become a serious pain in the ass since Daley sold the parking.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I think many people use chains because they have parking lots and drive throughs; parking on main streets has become a serious pain in the ass since Daley sold the parking.

I actually think parking has gotten a lot easier, albeit it's costlier. But just from a "how many times do I have to drive around looking for a spot" standpoint, it's easier.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by emathias

I actually think parking has gotten a lot easier, albeit it's costlier. But just from a "how many times do I have to drive around looking for a spot" standpoint, it's easier.

That's true but there are new hassles; no more parking on the money someone else put in the meter for one thing. And I have to walk up the street to the box, put on my reading glasses to read the display and walk back to the car to display the ticket. It discourages me from quick, impromptu runs into bakeries, taco joints, second hand stores or whatever else attracts my attention in which cases I didn't mind simply throwing a quarter into a meter.

Of course one can always just pull up and not pay but I don't like taking the chance of getting a parking ticket as unlikely as it might be.

[ChiNaan]

I personally can't imagine ever eating at a chain restaurant in Chicago with all the great local places at every price point. It seems like a total waste of money, calories, and taste buds. Apparently plenty of people feel otherwise, though, because they're everywhere.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

I personally can't imagine ever eating at a chain restaurants in Chicago with all the great local places at every price point. It seems like a total waste of money, calories, and taste buds. Apparently plenty of people feel otherwise, though, because they're everywhere.

Any chain or just a CHAIN CHAIN? I'm the same way but there are a few chains which are not too bad. For example, Del Frisco is supposed to be really good and it's in a beautiful space..far from an Olive Garden or Chili's "chain."