# What is the best fast food chain born in the South?

> Chicken-and-biscuit counters, burger stands and a couple of seafood shacks, every one of them launched in the South.

*By YPB Team · Published November 4, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-fast-food-chain-born-in-the-south*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Chick-fil-A** — score 1000/1000
   Truett Cathy opened the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946, and the first Chick-fil-A restaurant followed in an Atlanta mall in 1967.
2. **Whataburger** — score 860/1000
   Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950.
3. **Pollo Tropical** — score 617/1000
   Brothers Larry and Stuart Harris opened the first Pollo Tropical in Miami, Florida, in 1988, serving citrus-marinated grilled chicken.
4. **Bojangles** — score 573/1000
   Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas opened the first Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1977.
5. **Raising Cane's** — score 532/1000
   Todd Graves opened the first Raising Cane's in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996 with a menu centered on chicken fingers.
6. **Long John Silver's** — score 524/1000
   Seafood chain whose first restaurant opened in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1969, serving batter-dipped fish and hushpuppies.
7. **Church's Texas Chicken** — score 469/1000
   George W. Church Sr. opened Church's Fried Chicken To Go in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952.
8. **Checkers** — score 469/1000
   Jim Mattei opened the first Checkers in Mobile, Alabama, in 1986 as a double drive-thru burger stand.
9. **Jack's** — score 407/1000
   Jack Caddell opened the first Jack's in Homewood, Alabama, in 1960; the chain serves burgers, fried chicken and biscuits.
10. **Popeyes** — score 407/1000
   Al Copeland opened Chicken on the Run in Arabi, Louisiana, in 1972 and relaunched it as Popeyes, built around Louisiana-style fried chicken.
11. **Burger King** — score 406/1000
   Founded as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1953, it was taken over and renamed Burger King by Miami franchisees James McLamore and David Edgerton.
12. **Zaxby's** — score 335/1000
   Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley opened the first Zaxby's in Statesboro, Georgia, in 1990, built around chicken fingers and wings.
13. **Hardee's** — score 253/1000
   Wilber Hardee opened the first Hardee's drive-in in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1960.
14. **Cook Out** — score 253/1000
   Morris Reaves opened the first Cook Out in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989, known for char-grilled burgers and dozens of milkshake flavors.
15. **Krystal** — score 253/1000
   Rody Davenport Jr. and J. Glenn Sherrill opened the first Krystal in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1932, selling small square hamburgers.
16. **Captain D's** — score 253/1000
   Ray Danner opened the first restaurant, then called Mr. D's, in Donelson, Tennessee, in 1969, and it grew into a fried fish and seafood chain.
17. **Sonic Drive-In** — score 156/1000
   Troy Smith opened the Top Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1953, and the chain took the name Sonic in 1959.
18. **Wingstop** — score 156/1000
   Antonio Swad opened the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas, in 1994, specializing in chicken wings tossed in a range of sauces.
19. **KFC** — score 0/1000
   Harland Sanders developed his fried chicken recipe at his roadside café in Corbin, Kentucky, before franchising it as Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1952.

Tags: brands, usa, fast food, restaurants, american south