East Coast Fast Food and Restaurant Chains to Go National

Bojangles is a chain that serves comfort food and breakfast all day.

North Carolina-based restaurant Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits is known for its all-day breakfast dishes. Although the restaurant mainly serves places up and down the East Coast, it has a few locations in states like Tennessee and Kentucky.

Just as the name suggests, this fast food chain serves up hot, freshly baked biscuits that come stuffed with any number of toppings, including chicken, egg, cheese, sausage and gravy. The chain is also known for its old fashioned sweet tea.

Mainly located in the southern parts of the east coast, Cook Out serves delicious fast-food dishes.

North Carolina-based restaurant Cook Out, located primarily in the southern part of the east coast, is known for its delectable dishes.

The chain can to satisfy a variety of appetizers as it serves hamburgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken, barbecue and more. They also offer a menu of over 40 different milkshakes, so don't leave without getting dessert.

Wawa has food and coffee, some people just can't get enough.

Although primarily a convenience store, Wawa beat out even some of the more popular fast food chains and was voted America's favorite sandwich shop in 2018.

It's known for its quick bites, including classic creations like meatballs and cheese paninis.

Also known for its economical coffee, the Pennsylvania-based chain has hundreds of locations up and down the East Coast.

Magnolia Bakery is a chain known for its delicious desserts.

Located only in New York, Magnolia Bakery has been baking some of Manhattan's tastiest treats since 1996. Although the bakery serves dozens of desserts—cakes, pies, and cupcakes included—it's perhaps most famous for its creamy banana pudding varieties.

Xi'an Famous Foods is a fast casual restaurant based in New York.

Xi'an Famous Foods restaurants can only be found in New York City, and its fast-casual menu of Xi'an-style Chinese food makes it worth a visit during a trip to the concrete jungle.

Along with traditional soups and noodle dishes, the chain also serves pork stew and spicy cumin lamb burger on folded buns.

Legal Sea Foods is an upscale chain based in the Northeast.

Legal Sea Foods opened its first location in Cambridge, Massachusetts 1950.

Located primarily in Massachusetts, the upscale restaurant prides itself on serving up classic seafood dishes using only the freshest coastal catches.

Located exclusively in Maine, Gifford's Famous Ice Cream has only a few locations.

Gifford's famous ice cream has some seriously devoted fans for good reason.

Its ice cream and frozen yogurt come in over a dozen flavors, including classics like Cookie Dough and Cookies 'n' Cream along with more inventive flavors like Sugarloaf Mint Chip, Lemon Wafer Cookie and Peanut Butter Pie.

Fortunately, for those who can't visit a Maine location in person, pints of the famous Gifford's ice cream can be purchased at grocery stores around the US.

Head to Georgia-based restaurant The Varsity for burgers, milkshakes and more.

Found only in Georgia, The Varsity offers plenty of classic American food such as burgers, fries, hot dogs and fries.

One of The Varsity's greater successes is the Frosted Orange, a milkshake made with vanilla ice cream and The Varsity's special orange soda.

Head to the southern part of the East Coast to experience the Biscuitville regional chain.

Available in North Carolina and Virginia, Cookies brings fresh southern food to the breakfast table.

The restaurant prides itself on working with a single local BELONGS TO THE FAMILY flour mill to make its biscuits and also prides itself on serving only locally sourced chicken, eggs, sausages and coffee.

Friendly's is a family restaurant located primarily in northern east coast states such as New York and New Jersey.

Located only along the East Coast of the US, Friendly's specializes in ice cream desserts and also serves classics like burgers and fries. Most famously, this restaurant serves giant ice creams that can be customized with dozens of toppings upon request.

Luckily, even if you can't visit an actual Friendly's location, you can buy the brand's line of ice cream at many grocery stores in the US.

Editor's Note: Some of these chains have a few locations outside of the East Coast, but since they are based on the East Coast and primarily serve that region of the US, they are included on this list.

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