NY Times article on regional and local chains

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/24/dining/24note.html?ei=5090&en=37146cdada6e540a&ex=1306123200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

This is a great read, because the author visited several local chains along the way of his 8 day odyssey between New York and California. This includes a visit to Chico's Tacos in El Paso, as well as Yocco Hot Dogs in Mechanicsburg PA. Also included are regional chains such as Whataburger and In and Out Burger.

His last 2 choices were both wrong. I would choose Fatburger over Der Weinerschnitzel
AND Del Taco over El Pollo Loco.

Good article, I read Bruni pretty regularly; the Times' Wednesday food section defintely offers some of the best newspaper food coverage out there, obviously of most use if you are a) a New Yorker and b) wealthy and c) have lots of time on your hands ....but it's a fun read regardles. Bruni is an excellent writer, pretty unpretentious despite all the **** restaurants he visits; I also love Eric Asimov on wine and sometimes beer. Can't really argue with most of the choices in this article that I'm familiar with, though I don't know why he had to eat at McD's more than once...

Another thread entitled 5/24 NY Times also features a link to this article and a few comments by RF folks. Perhaps one othe moderators could meld the two.