With a White Castle and a Portillos finally on the way, Orlando is already fast-foodie central. But that’s no reason to rest on our laurels – not when these tasty chains are still out of our grasp. Or at least out of driving distance for our lunch breaks. Burgers, burritos, lattes and more: Everybody likes a little franchise food once in a while.
Jollibee
An absolute wonderland of random combinations, Jollibee is a hit Filipino fast-food joint that’s caught fire in the U.S. Jollibee is coming to Tampa Bay, but no Orlando plans have yet to be announced. That means we’re deprived of the chain’s signature Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti, and sandwiches constructed of Spam and corned beef. When it comes to sweets, desserts are takes on cuisine staples like Ube Pearl Coolers.
Photo via Jollibee/FacebookFatburger
Never mind the name; Fatburger is among that small circle of health-minded burger-chains that offer veggie burgers. Although, it also offers Extra-Large Fatburgers. And Extra-Extra-Large Fatburgers. And Extra-Extra-Extra-Large Fatburgers. But who are we kidding? Nobody goes to Fatburgers for their health, or for vegetables. They go for the biggest, juiciest burgers that the human jawbone will allow. Now if only they didn’t have to go to LA — or Panama, Shanghai, or Cairo — to get one.
Photo via lady_s.hwi/InstagramArctic Circle
Black Angus burgers and real, crispy halibut are just two reasons why we’d love to see this Utah-based franchise make its way south to the City Beautiful. A third reason? Their top-secret FrySauce.
Photo via Arctice Circle Restaurants/WikipediaYoshinoya
Yoshinoya takes a modern spin on Japanese-inspired cuisine with a menu full of flavorful rice bowls. You may not have heard of Yoshinoya, but it is nothing new. The chain launched its first restaurant over a century ago in Tokyo, and the chain arrived in the U.S. West Coast back in ‘79. Today, Yoshinoya has over 2000 locations worldwide. With that kind of success, we’re bound to see a Yoshinoya in the Bay one of these days.
Photo via Yoshinoya/FacebookWienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel serves burgers, sandwiches and breakfast, but the real draw is the dogs. Smothered in chili, battered and fried or just stuck in a bun, Wienerschnitzel is the largest hot dog chain in the world. In the words of Wienerschnitzel itself, “Nobody should have to live without Wienerschnitzel.” Well here we are, living without a Wienerschnitzel.
Photo via Wienerschnitzel/FacebookPotbelly Sandwich Shop
In each Potbelly sits an antique kindling stove, so as to honor the chain’s humble, Chicago origins as an antique shop. Maybe they’re just having trouble finding antique stoves? Whatever the case, this quirky toasted-sub shop already made its move to Tampa, Florida. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that it soon brings its signature subs to Orlando. Pastrami, grilled cheese, tuna salad, and even PB & J.
Photo via potbellysandwichshop/InstagramSkyline Chili
Chili is more than just a bunch of spicy beans. It’s also a steamy salve for the horrid icy winter that will soon be upon us. We don’t know how long it takes to build a Skyline Chili restaurant, but let’s hope it happens soon. No amount of stylish outerwear can match the soul-warming qualities of Skyline’s 3-way noodle, cheese, and chili combo.
Photo via Skyline Chili/WikipediaEl Pollo Loco
Not to be confused with Pollo Tropical, El Pollo Loco is what happens when the SoCal lifestyle meets Sinaloa, Mexico flavor. Salsas are made from scratch, avocados are sliced fresh, fire-grilled chicken is never frozen and, true to L.A. fashion, vegetarian options are available. Now let’s get those L.A. Mex flavors over here in the Bay.
Photo via El Pollo Loco/FacebookSchlotzsky’s
Schlotzsky’s traditions fit right into the slogan of its home city, “Keep Austin weird.” Over the years, Schlotzsky’s has expanded from serving a single sandwich option on a frisbee, to offering a variety of sandwiches, unique salads, pizzas and now sliders. From fresh-baked bread to unconventional flavors, it’s high time for the Bay to get a Schlotzsky’s.
Photo via Schlotzsky’s/FacebookBiggby Coffee
Operating out of Daytona, the baristas of Biggby’s are so close you could almost call them, order a hot Butter Bear Latte, and get it delivered to Orlando before it got cold. Except they don’t deliver. And who’s got time for that? We Orlandoans didn’t get where we were by compromising. Let’s make our unquenchable thirst for boutique cafe drinks heard, and get Biggby’s to the real Central Florida city.
Photo via Biggby Coffee/WikipediaPortillo’s Hot Dogs
Portillo’s entered the Sunshine State with its locations in Brandon and Tampa in 2016. Word has it they may work their way East to Orlando — for the sake of their food, let’s hope that word is true. Loaded hot dogs, beef and sausage sandwiches, ribs, and more.
Photo via portilloshotdogs/InstagramStewart’s Shops
Known for many flavors of delicious ice cream, their kind-of creepy catchphrase “We are closer to you” is unfortunately about 1,000 miles from the truth. Or 1,128 to be exact. But this Northeast chain shouldn’t stay confined to the icy wastelands of New York and Connecticut. With subs, ice cream, and coffee, there’s something everyone from everywhere can love about Stewart’s Shops.
Photo via Stewart’s Shops/FacebookPizza Ranch
The story of Pizza Ranch is the story of a small-town country boy with a big American Dream: to get some pizza without taking a dadgum midnight train to the next town over. This dream came true, and it’s now turned into a pizza franchise that spans 13 states. Maybe one day soon that pizza dream can come to Orlando and bring its fun cowboy pizza names, like Bronco and Prairie and Texan Taco.
Photo via pizzaranchrestaurants/InstagramLion’s Choice
You’re unlikely to find any roast-beef-bovines roaming the wild Serengeti, and you’re equally unlikely to find any lions roaming the St. Louis kitchens of Lion’s Choice. But oh, if they could. Top-round roast beef, slow-roasted daily and thin-sliced for a menu of delicious roast beef sandwiches. Sure, we’ve got Arby’s. But businesses thrive in competition, and so do our carnivorous cravings.
Photo via Lion’s Choice/FacebookCorner Bakery Cafe
Formerly an actual literal bakery, in Chicago, Corner Baker Cafe has grown into a fast casual sandwich shop of nearly 200 locations worldwide. Or, in other words, 200 communities getting served tasty Uptown Turkey Avocado melts before us. The City Beautiful has a forgiving nature, but it also has a hungry nature. Let’s cross our fingers we’re number 201.
Photo via Corner Bakery Cafe/WikipediaBiscuitville
Biscuits, oh yes. But at Biscuitville you can also find tasty lunch sandwiches, breakfast food, and fresh North Carolina pickles. Unfortunately, you can’t find Biscuitville anywhere outside North Carolina. No moves to Florida have been announced, but who knows?
Photo via agentpheeb/InstagramJack in the Box
Texas likes doing things its own way, and apparently that way means keeping the objectively excellent Jack in the Box locked away like Rapunzel. But from purple Coca-Colas to sourdough bacon burgers, we Orlandoans ought to see plenty reason in sneaking into The Lone Star state and sneaking Jack in the Box back out. Is anyone doing that yet? We need to be doing that.
Photo via jackintheboxinc.comFlying Biscuit Cafe
Born in the kitchens of our slightly-Northern-neighbor, Gainesville, these biscuits don’t need wings to fly. Neither do Flying Biscuit’s grits, shrimp, meatloaf, or any of the other items on their menu. And their breakfast menu? It’s served all day. That’s no Limp Bizkit; that’s a Flying Biscuit. – Oh, yeah, and we know there’s one in The Villages, but that isn’t Orlando!
Photo via Flying Biscuit Cafe/FacebookThe Varsity
This family Atlanta institution has been owned and operated by the Gordy family for over 90 years. Over those 90-odd years, The Varsity has created its own dictionary for the menu of hot dogs, hamburgers and onion rings. For example, “Heavy Weight” = Hot dog with extra chili, “Glorified Steak” = Hamburger with mayo, lettuce and tomato and “Please” = bring The Varsity to Florida. Okay, so we made that last one up, but can you blame us?
Photo via The Varsity/FacebookWhataburger
Eggs for breakfast and burgers and chicken sandwiches for lunch. The fare may seem standard, but Whataburger succeeds on the backs of its intriguing spicy cheeses. Right now just a day’s drive away in Jacksonville, we’re hoping it’ll soon be a minute’s walk away in Orlando.
Photo via whataburger/InstagramHarold’s Chicken Shack
A cultural icon of Chicago’s South Side, we think all cities — and all sides — could appreciate a little loving from the Chicken Shack. In “Fredo Santana’s Jealous,” rapper Kendrick Lamar sings that he flew his private jet straight from Rome to Chicago, all for some sweet, sweet Harold’s chicken. We don’t know if that’s true, but we do know we want that chicken too.
Photo via logan__harris23/InstagramBig John Steak and Onion
Perhaps no other franchise we’ve listed has held onto its original spirit quite like Big John Steak and Onion. Their oldest sandwich — the Steak and Onion — still dominates the restaurant’s banners and menus. And while Orlando is home to many of its own hometown restaurant darlings, who could deny that we could use a few more?
Photo via great.laker/InstagramTim Horton’s
Coffee, understandably, comes best from the folks who know to appreciate heat: Canadians. But don’t worry, Tim Horton’s will gladly serve you an iced mocha-whatever, too, right after you grab a sweet, fluffy donut or some TimBits (aka doughnut holes). Currently, you’ve got to travel about 8 states up to get to Tim Horton’s. But with some luck, maybe this quintessential coffee shop will work its way south before the Ice Age, so we Floridians can see what all the foos is aboot.
Photo via beaudesigned/InstagramYaYa’s Flame Broiled Chicken
Healthier and flamey-er than its fried counterparts, YaYa’s chicken comes on plates, in wraps, or on delicious flatbread. Maybe one day it’ll come to Orlando, too.
Photo via yayas.comIn-N-Out Burger
This SoCal burger chain is all about what’s classic. They’ve got classic burgers, classic milkshakes, and even classic cute paper hats. Now all they need to do is get moving. In-N-Out has been around for 69 years. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in less than a fifth of that time. Why’s it taking you so long with Louisiana, In-N-Out?
Photo via aldo.kooooo/InstagramCook Out
Cook Out runs the gamut of delectable fast food offerings with over 40 milkshakes, fresh char grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, chicken, corn dogs, quesadillas, hushpuppies, fries and more. The North Carolina-based operation opened its 250th location in 2018. Hey Cook Out, want to make it 251?
Photo via Cook Out/FacebookChico’s Tacos
If you ever run into someone from El Paso, Texas, mention Chico’s Tacos. The family owned Mexican joint is a right of passage for the border city, receiving shout outs from politicians, rock stars and comedians who have fallen prey to the allure of sauce-drenched tacos and mountains of cheese. From what we hear about Chico’s addicting tradition, we’re ready for what comedian Gabriel Iglesias calls the only tacos you can drink.
Photo via Chico’s Tacos/FacebookRaising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
Raising Cane’s simple mission boils down to this: make the best chicken fingers and make them everywhere. The Louisiana-based chain doesn’t fool around with food fads or extravagant creations. The menu is simple, but anything but plain with top-notch chicken fingers, fries, Texas toast and coleslaw. With Raising Cane’s locations in every state bordering Florida but none in Florida itself, we just have one question: Are you mad at us?
Photo via Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers/FacebookMilo’s Hamburgers
Milo’s claim to fame? Its fan-favorite secret sauce, handspun milkshakes and burgers with “a little something extra.” Milo’s started by slinging patties for the toughest-of-the-tough in Birmingham — steel workers. In order to fill these macho-men’s ravenous appetites and thank them for their loyal business, the growing chain started slapping extra chunks of patty onto its saucy burgers. Now with nearly 20 locations in Alabama, we’re asking for “a little something extra” to come our way.
Photo via Milo’s Original Burger Shop/FacebookBojangles’ Famous Chicken and Biscuits
Bojangles’ never-frozen chicken is delivered daily and it’s culinary wizards crank out a batch of biscuits every 20 minutes on average. Needless to say, it’s good stuff. Unfortunately, this southern staple of chicken frying and fresh biscuit baking is woefully absent in the Bay. There are three Bojangles’ in Jacksonville. Three! Get it together Bojangles’! – We know there’s one in Ocala, but that isn’t Orlando!
Photo via Bojangles’/Facebook
