Being afood loverin the United States has its benefits.
I’ve lived in the Mid-Atlantic, specifically the D.C. and Delaware areas, as well as New England.
So, from my experience, here are four chains that have what it takes to go national.
Wawa / Facebook
And everyone living there is spoiled by having Wawa in their back yard.
Do I want an Icee?
The world was my oyster, except Wawa doesn’t sell oysters.
Wawa / Facebook
Still, it holds a special place in my heart.
Royal Farms, Sheetz, and of course Wawa.
And that formula is working.
Courtesy of Quickway Hibachi
For context, McDonald’s has 1,800 locations across those five states.
In those five states, Wawa manages to accumulate an annual revenue of$11 billion.
Ans that’s no accident.
Aroma Joe’s Coffee / Facebook
Imagine a Dunkin', a Subway, a 7/11, and a gas station all rolled into one.
That’s what Wawa brings.
With wildly cheap prices, too.
Raising Cane’s / Facebook
If a regular gas station is a Motel Six, a Wawa is a Ritz Carlton.
It isn’t just the number of conveniences rolled into one.
It’s the quality of them.
But at Wawa, I like the iced coffee, the sandwiches .
and they’re actuallygood quality.
Sushi, dumplings, and spring rolls are also on offer.
Quickway was founded in 2011 and operates over 30 locations in the D.C. area.
In 2019, it clocked in at$22 million in annual sales.
This restaurant is profitable, growing quickly, and, above all, delicious.
Aroma Joe’s
To sayAroma Joe’sgot me through college would not be enough.
Aroma Joe’s got me through a pandemic.
It’s the kind of thing you don’t think you need in your life until you have it.
The chain also has a line of energy drinks called energizers with well over 30 flavors to choose from.
But the best part is thebreakfast sandwiches.
An elevation of the fast-food breakfast sandwich is beyond necessary, and this place delivers with quality ingredients.
The ham is not flimsy but thick and impactful.
The croissants is flakey and crunchy with a soft interior.
The chorizo offers a great amount of spice with a creamy cheesy compatriot to compliment it just right.
But the hash browns.
Oh my god, the hash browns.
They’re larger thanDunkin’sversion but smaller than ones fromMcDonald’s, and almost look like a latke.
They aren’t as crispy but don’t need to be.
Raising Cane’s
By definition,Raising Cane’sis a national chain already.
But I take issue with the lack of locations they operate.
The closest one is in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Which is not close.
I need mychicken fingers.
It’s the thing your picky friend gets at a fancy restaurant and embarrasses you.
It’s tasty, but it certainly isn’t anything special.
But at Cane’s, you’ll experience a new level of chicken tender.
The chicken is moist all the way through.
The breading doesn’t make you feel like you just ate a brick.
It’s light, crunchy, and all it needs to be.
The bread is inexplicably amazing.
The fries are, well, just crinkle-cut fries, but they complement the chicken well.
My best guess is mayo ketchup and Worcestershire sauce along with some spices.
But it’s a savory, umami heaven.
It has the potential to take the country by storm and assert itself alongsidePopeyesandChick-fil-A.
