Midwest Restaurant Named Best Regional Fast Food Chain in U.S.

There are a lot of great regional fast food chains throughout the area, but only one Ohio-based chain can now boast it's the best.

Everyone has their own list of "go-to" restaurants that become weekly dinner staples. For me, it's hard to pick a favorite when it comes to the larger chains; however, I do have a few local favorites. One of those is the American Table, which has a handful of locations in Indiana. I've eaten dinner there more times than I can count, and I've probably had just about every item on the menu. (The fried catfish is my favorite.)

USA Today recently shared the results of their "Best Regional Fast Food" survey in the entire United States. It's safe to say I was not at all surprised by this pick, and if you grew up in the Midwest, you probably won't be either. While I haven't eaten at this restaurant a lot, I have been there enough to get the full experience. Is it my personal favorite chain? No. However, when in a certain city, it is a great place to enjoy a Midwest-style meal.

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To find the best restaurants, USA Today surveyed a panel of fast food fans who made their top picks for restaurants across the U.S. Readers then decided the winners by casting votes for their favorites. When it came down to the best regional fast food chain, there was one clear winner. As you may have guessed, we're talking about the Cincinnati-based chain known as Skyline Chili.

According to the fast food favorite, Skyline Chili was founded by Nicholas Lambrinides, who was originally from Kastoria, Greece. His family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the early 20th century, and Lambrinides opened the doors to his first restaurant in 1949. The business now has over 100 locations across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and even way down in Florida.

Skyline Chili is still made with the original secret family recipe passed down through generations of the Lambrinides family. The meat-based chili is served in a variety of ways, such as over spaghetti noodles, on hot dogs, burritos, fries, or even just in a bowl. No matter how you decide to enjoy the chili, you can expect a heaping pile of shredded mild cheddar cheese on top of your dish. It's been a while since I've visited one of these chili palaces, so perhaps it's time for a little road trip.