11 West Coast chains we wish would go national
The West Coast has plenty of beautiful sights and notable landmarks, and it also has some tasty food.
Some of its chain restaurants are so good that no distance can come between the food and those who love it. But for many, getting a bite of the West Coast's best is still just a dream.
Here are some West Coast chains we wish would be available in more places around the globe.
Editor's Note: Some of these chains have a few locations outside of the West Coast, but since they're based in the West Coast and primarily serve that region of the US, they're included on this list.
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In-N-Out Burger is a West Coast staple.
Located almost exclusively in California, In-N-Out is a West Coast cult classic.
The restaurant serves up tasty but inexpensive burgers and legendary "animal-style" fries topped with cheese, Thousand Island spread, and grilled onions.
As much as we'd love the chain spread, In-N-Out vice president of planning and development Carl Van Fleet told Business Insider in a prior 2017 interview that the company has no plans of expanding beyond the six states it currently operates in.
Burgerville serves up food made with local ingredients.
Located along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, Burgerville prides itself on using local produce, meat, fish, and dairy in its meals.
According to the Burgerville website, 72% of the chain's food comes from within 400 miles of Vancouver, Washington.
The menu, which includes things like hamburgers, veggie burgers, and fish and chips, only displays options using in-season ingredients.
Top your hot dog with anything from chili to fries at Wienerschnitzel.
With locations primarily throughout California, Wienerschnitzel is known as the "World's Largest Hot Dog Chain."
Its inexpensive menu satisfies all hot-dog needs, and customers can choose from toppings such as chili, relish, cheese, kraut, bacon, and fries.
Although most of the chain's locations are located on the West Coast, it has started to spread to places like Illinois and Louisiana.
Umami Burger is starting to expand outside of California.
Umami Burger centers itself around the umami flavor, a Japanese word that roughly translates to "savoriness" and is considered the root of many common food cravings.
The burgers are carefully crafted to satisfy those cravings using ingredients like miso paste, cheese, onions, and umami ketchup.
Although mainly available to Californians, the chain has a few locations in Chicago and New York City.
Fatburger has been serving classic hamburgers since 1952.
Fatburger started as a makeshift burger stand back in 1952 where Lovie Yancey served the likes of stars like Redd Foxx and Ray Charles.
Since then, it has become a beloved West Coast chain with just a few locations in other parts of the US, like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
At the chain, customers can enjoy classic burgers, veggie burgers, and even carb-conscious "Skinny Burgers" alongside three varieties of fries and five varieties of shakes.
Eggslut uses fresh, cage-free eggs to give its menu a gourmet feel.
Though the chain only has US locations in California and Nevada, Eggslut's tongue-in-cheek name and menu are known nationwide — especially among those who love brunch.
The restaurant specializes in egg-centric plates, serving up sandwiches, burgers, and salads made with fresh, cage-free eggs.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles gives Californians a taste of Southern cooking.
Though chicken and waffles is primarily known as a Southern dish, Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles is known for delivering tasty soul food to Californians.
With just seven locations around Los Angeles, the restaurant serves chicken and waffles alongside other Southern comforts like biscuits and gravy, mac and cheese, cornbread, and collard greens.
King Taco serves just about everything from tacos to tamales.
Many West Coast fast-food chains serve up signature burgers, but King Taco seeks to satisfy a different craving.
The popular Southern California taco chain started in the 1970s as a single food truck and grew to have over 30 brick-and-mortar locations.
The chain dishes up burritos, nachos, and tamales, but it specializes in tacos that can be served with your choice of nine different meats.
Stack your burger with a tower of toppings at Original Tommy's.
Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers can only be found in California and Nevada.
The chain is known for chili cheeseburgers, serving up food in large portions, and offering heaps of extra toppings like onions, chili, and tomatoes for no extra charge.
Farmer Boys makes it easy to get farm-to-table meals.
If you're looking for farm-fresh fast food along the West Coast, Farmer Boys is the place to go.
With several locations across Southern California and Nevada, the restaurant serves burgers and breakfast foods made exclusively with ingredients from six select local sellers to prioritize the farm-to-table aesthetic.
They also serve up a number of specialties like homemade dressings and in-house ground coffee.
Blake's Lotaburger pays homage to a New Mexico delicacy.
Available mainly in New Mexico, Blake's Lotaburger was named one of the country's best burger joints for its green-chile cheeseburgers, which is a staple fast-food dish in the state.
In fact, the restaurant has its own special line of green chile called "Hatch Valley" that customers can add to any order.
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