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I share your frustration living in suburban America and not a trendy suburb. Every time a new restaurant breaks ground I get excited for the chance of something

I share your frustration living in suburban America and not a trendy suburb. Every time a new restaurant breaks ground I get excited for the chance of something not fried being the main attraction. I haven't been not disappointed in 8 years. I don't really blame the franchisers as much as I blame my neighbors, but I do blame both a little. Here's a great movie that I loved on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(2012_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(2012_film)

pm90 9y ago
What surprises me is just how accepting and tolerant most Americans are to what is really unhealthy and disgusting food. Is it just that these foods are cheap? I'm not sure if this has something to do with the building codes in suburbia that require a sprawling parking lots for every restaurant. In South Korea, for instance, there are mom and pop restaurants in every city that serve fresh, delicious food (chain restaurants do exist, but are not as common).
- humanrebar 9y ago
  > I'm not sure if this has something to do with the building codes in suburbia that require a sprawling parking lots for every restaurant Americans drive themselves around a lot, both for work and for other reasons. When you're looking for something particular or easy, it helps to find a chain location you've had consistent success at. My theory is that something like Yelp (but with less work to use) would help disrupt this quite a bit. Perhaps Yelp has already helped a bit. I know I've gone to some local places I wouldn't have otherwise because they've had good ratings.
- bllguo 9y ago
  Marketing and that they grew up with it? I don't know. My perception is that foods that are viewed as quintessentially American are almost all unhealthy. Burgers and fries, steak, bbq, fried stuff, mac and cheese, and hot dogs are the first to come to mind. It's what people grow up with and it's glorified in media for being "American" despite any health concerns. After all, most people like fried foods and meat and things that are, strictly speaking, unhealthy. But historically they've been rarer. Meat is still kind of a luxury in rural China, for example.
- rconti 9y ago
  Unhealthy? Yes. Disgusting? I don't know, it's engineered to taste good, satisfy cravings, and create subsequent cravings for it. I don't know whether or not that disqualifies it as "disgusting". It's not price that keeps people coming back, it's the cravings. Maybe the price draws people in, but I don't think "cheap" is the primary driver behind crap chains. And yes, buildings codes require sprawling parkings lots for every restaurant. The people are going to drive there anyway. The codes are meant to require that businesses invest adequate resources in parking so that they don't negatively impact other businesses, street parking, neighborhoods, etc. I don't particularly like it (in fact, I think they should be required to have sidewalks in every row of cars so you don't have to worry about getting run over walking through one), but there you are.

pm90 9y ago

What surprises me is just how accepting and tolerant most Americans are to what is really unhealthy and disgusting food. Is it just that these foods are cheap? I'm not sure if this has something to do with the building codes in suburbia that require a sprawling parking lots for every restaurant. In South Korea, for instance, there are mom and pop restaurants in every city that serve fresh, delicious food (chain restaurants do exist, but are not as common).

humanrebar 9y ago
> I'm not sure if this has something to do with the building codes in suburbia that require a sprawling parking lots for every restaurant Americans drive themselves around a lot, both for work and for other reasons. When you're looking for something particular or easy, it helps to find a chain location you've had consistent success at. My theory is that something like Yelp (but with less work to use) would help disrupt this quite a bit. Perhaps Yelp has already helped a bit. I know I've gone to some local places I wouldn't have otherwise because they've had good ratings.
bllguo 9y ago
Marketing and that they grew up with it? I don't know. My perception is that foods that are viewed as quintessentially American are almost all unhealthy. Burgers and fries, steak, bbq, fried stuff, mac and cheese, and hot dogs are the first to come to mind. It's what people grow up with and it's glorified in media for being "American" despite any health concerns. After all, most people like fried foods and meat and things that are, strictly speaking, unhealthy. But historically they've been rarer. Meat is still kind of a luxury in rural China, for example.
rconti 9y ago
Unhealthy? Yes. Disgusting? I don't know, it's engineered to taste good, satisfy cravings, and create subsequent cravings for it. I don't know whether or not that disqualifies it as "disgusting". It's not price that keeps people coming back, it's the cravings. Maybe the price draws people in, but I don't think "cheap" is the primary driver behind crap chains. And yes, buildings codes require sprawling parkings lots for every restaurant. The people are going to drive there anyway. The codes are meant to require that businesses invest adequate resources in parking so that they don't negatively impact other businesses, street parking, neighborhoods, etc. I don't particularly like it (in fact, I think they should be required to have sidewalks in every row of cars so you don't have to worry about getting run over walking through one), but there you are.