August 8, 2007
What We're Missing: Dog Days of Fast Food
The oven-like heat outside reminds us of summers off from school, which in turn got us into a conversation about the fast food we remember from those days. Maybe it's a good thing that the D.C. area, and the city in particular, isn't overrun with these places, but it doesn't mean we don't remember them fondly -- or, for that matter, dearly wish they had a few outlets closer by at times like these.
A lot of (mostly Southern) DCists, as well as we're sure many of you, have a soft spot for Waffle House, which is criminally absent from much of the area. IHOP's cheaper and countrier cousin, the House has all manner of greasy grub at all hours. While there are some international pancake locations around, IHOPs don't have a jukebox with only songs about IHOP. The closest WH locations appear to be in Dumfries and Frederick. Get the hash browns scattered, covered, and chunked.
Another south of the Mason-Dixon favorite is Chick-Fil-A, especially the standalone locations, which just seem to be more appealing for some reason — maybe it's the fact they we're not in a food court. We see them in malls occasionally and there used to be one at GW, but it's been awhile. Alert DCists note standalones in Silver Spring and near Reston. No waffle fries, tasty chicken, or Polynesian sauce on Sunday though, they're closed.
D.C. lies south of White Castle territory and north of its Southern cousin, Krystal, but both are delicious if you prefer eating a whole bunch of small greaseburgers and chicken sandwiches instead of one big one. These places are the jumbo slices of many a college town, and considering how much this city likes its jumbo slice, you'd think one of them would put us out of our misery and open up a D.C. branch.
Creative Commons photo by Flickr user ElektraCute
We can't tell you how frustrating it is seeing all the commercials in D.C. for Sonic, which taunt us with their complicated beverages and improv comedians, all while not actually having any locations near us whatsoever. The closest Sonic is over 50 miles away, in Fredericksburg, VA. Dear Sonic: we seem to recall from our childhoods that your food was not bad, but please stop being so mean and advertising on our basic cable channels. Thanks.
And of course, who can forget In-N-Out Burger. Delicious, fresh burgers and fries with a cult-like following, but only on the other coast. There always seems to be some rumor that they're going to open up a store in Manhattan, but those rumors are always false. Until they do figure out how to expand further out from the West, In-N-Out will remain one more reason for you to angrily yell at your friends who grew up in California, "Well why don't you just move back there then, if it's so freakin' great?!"
Lastly, no one in their right minds would ever suggest that Dairy Queen is actually good, but it certainly fulfills our childhood summertime nostalgia hankering, and has the added bonus of having stores in Falls Church, Alexandria, Bethesda, Wheaton, and others. So we might just pop over and get ourselves one of those creepily satisfying softserve cones with the hard chocolate shell today.
What other fast food or junk food outlets do you wish had stores in D.C.?
|
There's a Waffle House (spelled, amusingly enough, Wafle House) in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA.
Also, there's a Chik-fil-a in Landmark Mall in Virginia, and a Dairy Queen on Beauregard St. in Alexandria, too. Oh, and there's a DQ at Bailey's Crossroads across the street from the Target. And on Thursday this week, DQ is donating all Blizzard sales to the Make a Wish foundation or some such charity. I'm sure the deal is on their Web site.
Sonic, home of the foot-long chili-cheese dog and Route 44 cherry lime slush.
there's a chick-fil-a at AU, though I can't say its a standalone.
Steak n Shake -- particularly for those side-by-side milkshakes.
Buffalo Wild Wings (yes, there's one in Winchester and one in Frederick) -- especially now that Wingmaster's is closed
Fazoli's -- a fast-food Italian chain with whole-wheat pasta on the menu, and hot-n-tasty subs
Skyline Chili -- The "5-way", mmm...
i really miss jack in the box. especially jack's tacos. if you open one up and take a look at the "meat" you'll feel like losing your last meal. but they're damn good if you just dig in and throw caution to the wind! really sucks that there are no jack in the box locations anywhere near here :(
I really wish that there was a Waffle House in this area. Hell, they have them in Ohio and even Colorado - why not the nation's capitol? At this point I might even settle for freakin' Huddle House.
Actually, no, I don't think I would.
I don't think this counts, but it's a good time to plead once again for Wawa! I still get depressed every time I set foot into a 7-11.
oh sweet greasy goodness, i miss waffle house. the scrambled eggs-n-cheez and raisin bread, with a side of smothered and covered hasbrowns will right most wrongs in the world. for real.
Chick-Fil-A is not just a southern place. It's a favorite stop of mine whenever I go home to NJ for their delectable chicken nuggets and waffle fries.
R-A-X.
Are there any Little Tavern hamburger joints left? They used to be all over the DC area. Not saying they were good, but they certainly filled the local "white castle" niche.
Good call on Steak and Shake. The Wafle House in Alexandria may be a separate thing, it's not on their website's store locator.
Krystal is awful. Waffle House is great. Waffle House is the only place in the South where I've seen drag queens and truck drivers eating together in complete harmony at four in the morning.
I don't feel like we need an In-N-Out. doesn't Five Guys fill that niche here? And am I mistaken, but didn't there used to be a Sonic on New York Ave roundabouts Montana or Bladensburg?
Did the Waffle House on Wisconsin between Freindship Heights and Tenleytown close down?
Isn't there a Wawa in College Park? I do miss the Wa as well. Let's see, what else... I guess there are a few Checker's here, so that takes care of Rally's. Skyline would be great, but with Ben's and all I don't think people would take it very seriously. Is the Del Ray "Wafle House" a real WH or just a knockoff? I seem to remember my aunt, who also grew up in Kentucky and would know, saying that it wasn't actually part of the chain. If you can't go in and hear "Special Lady at the Waffle House," then it's not the real deal. We've got Ollie's Trolley (best fries ever!), if that one in Chinatown is still around. Steak n Shake is excellent, but I guess it's kind of like Sonic in that you probably don't want to get anything besides the drinks. We are sorely lacking in White Castles, but it's probably better to not have Slyders at the ready. Sheesh, all this food talk is making me hungry...
The family knows whenever I get off the plane in CA-it's off to In-N-Out for a Grilled Cheese Animal Style-Immediately. It makes great plane-food, too. Actually, it makes embarrassing plane food. Way too messy, but soooooo yummy. Mmmmm, animal-style. I really miss it, but do I want it here? I think it might be THE reason I visit home. Oh, don't get the fries-they suck.
Isn't the last Little Tavern in Laurel? I remember getting a half-dozen miniburgers at the one in Georgetown, and then in College Park. What a bargain!
What about Papaya King...does that count as fast food?
Jack in the Box.
Rubio's.
Robertos.
Also not sure it's applicable, but more Dunkin's please.
I've only been to a Waffle House a few times, and I have to say I don't get it. The waffles made Eggos look gourmet.
A few more Friendly's would be nice too. There used to be one on Lee Highway, but that closed a while ago. Right now I would kill for one of their Reese's Pieces sundaes.
The Waffle House in Del Ray has all the same signage as the other Waffle Houses. And one of its signs is spelled right. It's right over by the Birchmere.
Guest[12]: Little Tavern lives on only in adaptations of its once-pervasive green-roofed huts and on the Web.
Wafle House is actually Wafle Shop. Absolutely no relation to the Golden Squares.
Dairy Queen is delicious. And who doesn't love those waffle bowl & soft serve love commericials?!
The incorrectly spelled Wafle place is Alexandria isn't a Waffle House. It's just some random restaurant w/Wafle in the name.
In-N-Out and Del Taco are the only way to fly.
Southern auto trips with the folks always meant a stop a Stuckey's, home of deadly Divinity Fudge and perilous Pecan Logs.
Former Jersey girl here. I think we need (or need more of):
1. WaWa
2. Real diners that are open 24 hours
3. Small, independently owned pizza places that serve good pizza and hoagies
4. Indie coffee shops that are open very late (the 24 hour Starbucks on 7th St doesn't count)
5. Rita's Water Ice (there are a few around here, but not enough!)
6. Chick-Fil-A (again, as others have noted, there are some but i wish there were more)
7. BYOB restuarants
8. Decent bakeries. Why doesn't anyone outside of the NJ/NYC/Philly area know how to make good bread??
I was in Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights for two years before moving back to southern California. And while I won't complain about living within a three-mile radius of two In-N-Outs, I do get the occasionally hankering for burgers from Ollie Trolley at 12th and E. Though, the best burger I ate in the metro area was, shamefully, at Mon Ami Gabi, a French restaurant next to the Bethesda Row Cinema. A juicy burger with fries and a bowl of lobster bisque. Fantastic.
#15, the place you are thinking of on Wisconsin is a Steak & Egg Kitchen, not a Waffle House.
Wow. What a great call on RAX! Without a doubt, a million times better than Arbys!!!!
FYI to commenter number 4, the Chick-Fil-A at AU is closed, as is all the food places in that building. If I cared enough, I might know when (or if) they were opening back up, but I really don't.
I don't know if this qualifies as fast food, but I'm missing Little Ceasar's Crazy Bread like...well...crazy. Buttery-parmesan-doughy-goodness, where are you??
There's a Friendly's in Silver Spring (I think I gained 10 pounds the summer three of my best friends worked there) and there's definitely a WaWa in College Park on Route 1. Not that I think you would, but don't go at 2 am on Saturday night, you will be met with 23894739 college students. Amazing food to eat when you're drunk, though.
On a roadtrip to Tennessee earlier this summer I had my first Sonic experience...it was good! The slushes are awesome, the food is average. There's one on the way to Ocean City though, on the other side of the Bay. I forget exactly where but I always pass it.
#5 are you from Cincinnati? My dad grew up there and still makes his parents send cans of their chili sometimes, hehe. And it's funny to see someone clamoring for more Dunkin Donuts - I go to school in Boston now, where I think they outnumber Starbucks. New England is definitely Dunkin territory.
Jersey girl, as a native Jerseyan, I think the bagels and bakeries there are better because the water is different there. Yes, I really think this.
Everett, from exit 8.
And the best thing about Wawa is that it sells Tastykakes. If we're gonna get real about the junk food, let's talk Entemann's and Tastykake.
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Roy Rogers. The DC area used to be littered with them, but the only one I've seen in years is at BWI (if that one even exists anymore). When I was a fat kid, I'd routinely indulge in the Gold Rush, the bacon cheeseburger, and the Roy's Roast Beef.
Um, yeah, all once. Shut up.
As a former Texan, I miss 24-hour taquerias where the food is really good and really cheap: gigantic tortas are less than $4, the tacos pastor are $1.35 and the cerveza is $2. If anyone knows of any good late night taquerias (no $7 tacos please) I will be in your debt forever.
...and I miss Whataburgers for the best burgers South of the Mason-Dixon (and also 24-hours).
I mean all AT once.
Tubby's from Detroit. Their subs beat Quiznos and Subway hands down! Also National Coney Island from Detroit for a great 24 hour diner type place!
If #5 is from Cincy, I'm very jealous, because they've got the trifecta of great tasting/bad for you foods: Skyline, Goetta, and Graeter's.
Raising Cane's in Lousiana: www.raisingcanes.com. The best chicken fingers, made to order, along with crinkle cut fries, texas toast, and secret dipping sauce. Everytime I go home, it's a must!
1. Friendly's
2. Sonic
3. Dunkin Donuts
4. Amato's (sub shop chain in Maine, makes the best Italians ever!)
There is a Chick-Fil-A at the Ballston "mall", but it's a food court version of course.
I miss Whataburger (as in "What a burger!"). http://www.whataburger.com/
A south (east and west) chain usually open 24 hours.
Delicious.
Amen to Sonic -- I always get cheddar bites with ranch dressing and a cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper. They have the best ice ever (those little pellets)!
Also amen to Steak and Shake.
And do not forget Gumby's Pizza, a college town staple -- the pizza sucks but their Pokey Stix are so, SO good. With ranch dressing, of course, not the marinara crap. I am drooling right now thinking about them.
The 'Wafle House' in 'Del Ray is not part of the chain. In fact, it is not even called Waffle house; it's Waffle Shop: http://alexandriadailyphoto.wordpress.com/tag/chirilagua/
The Wafle House in Del Ray is neither a real "Waffle House" or actually in Del Ray. That part of Alexandria in actually Chirilagua...check it out: 100% Salvadorian
I would kill for a D'angelo's around here. Yum! I also second the call for more Dunkin Donuts. It should be pretty obvious where I am from.
Maybe this isn't fast food, but there is no good pizza in the district. We need more pizza.