Fast Food in California

One of the first things we noticed when we came out to California in October was the preponderance on fast food establishments in Riverside, where we were staying with Elly's cousin.  We often commented to each other, "doesn't anybody cook out here?"  It seems that nobody really does cook.  Everyone eats out and they eat "Fast Food"

We have the usual food places that we have back east: McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC/Taco Bell, Jack-in-the-the Box, Long John Silvers, Subway and Denny's.  They have Starbucks, but no Dunkin' Donuts yet. They also don't see to have to other doughnut chains like Dippin' Donuts or Honeydew Donuts. But there also are a lot of chains that we never heard about or seen before we came to California.  Here is a rundown of the most common ones we see.

 IN-N-OUT Burger

(click here for Menu) (click here for Wipedia Entry).

This was the first & only fast food restaurant we have tried in SoCal.  They make great hamburgers.  You can see my report in one of my October blog entries.  The hamburgers with just lettuce & tomatoes reminds Elly of the hamburgers that you still can get at the Fairfield Duchess Restaurant.

In addition to the "normal" menu that you see above, they have a "secret menu" that everyone knows about but is not displayed or even mention anywhere at the restaurant.  The Secret menu can be seen here.  Some of the items are "heart attack capable."  Speaking of heart attacks, there is another restaurant out here called the Heart Attack Grill where the waitresses are dressed as nurses and the patrons are given hospital johnnies as bibs.  In the news this week, they said that the Heart Attack Grill recently claimed its second victim with the "Double Bypass Burger".  You can read about it here. 

Carl's Jr.

 (Click here for Menu) (click here for Wikipedia Entry)

Carl's Jr is the 5th largest fast food chain in the US.  They always advertise that their breakfast biscuit is a freshly made "Made From Scratch Biscuit."  They have even trademarked this "Made From Scratch Biscuit." name.

El Pollo Loco 

(click here for Menu) (click here for Wipedia Entry).


These seem be everywhere and very popular.  It means "crazy chicken" on Spanish.

Del Taco 

(Click here for Menu) (click here for Wikipedia Entry)

These seem to be the West Coast version of Taco Bell. They too are everywhere.

 Wienerschnitzel

 (Click here for Menu) (click here for Wikipedia Entry)

This place is famous for that well know "delicacy": The Corn Dog!

Juice It Up

(Click here for Menu)

According to their website: "Juice It Up! is a franchised smoothie and juice bar chain that specializes in blended-to-order fresh fruit smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices and other beverages served in a relaxed, family-friendly environment. Juice It Up! combines fruit, proprietary fruit juices, non-fat yogurt, sherbet and nutritional and vitamin supplements to create smoothies that are consistently voted “best tasting” in blind taste tests among the top smoothie and juice bar chains."

Farmer Boys Restaurant

 (Click here for Menu) (click here for Wikipedia Entry)

Farmer Boys is a local Riverside County fast food chain almost like a cross between MacDonalds and Fridays. 

That's about it for now.  Maybe we will try one of these if we a re real hungry and desperate1