Any Checkers-Rally hamburger fans here?

RRP

Local fish wrapper has a piece that the FL based Checkers-Rally company has set it site on Peoria for the first venture into IL. says they have 800 shops in 27 states. Honestly - I'd never heard of them, but we have so many big name chains here now I don't see what our appeal is to them except they must like to fight for the business! Within the last few years Five Guys, Smash Burger, and Red Robin chains have opened here with stiff competition from the entrenched Steak n' Shake, Mickey D's and Carls.

RRP

Meant to mention an odd characteristic about their business model that it emphasizes drive-thru service. "It represents 90 percent of our business," he said. Most of the stores don't have indoor seating unless they've taken over another restaurant location. 

ScottNC

I don't get out much for burgers anymore

RRP

ScottNC said:

I don't get out much for burgers anymore

I know exactly what you mean - but could I ask you another question? How did you see this thread? It doesn't show up when I check the forum unless I specifically click on the Off Topic forum. I thought I used to be able to read all threads without doing anything special. I checked my settings and I see nothing. Any idea?

SGH

RRP
As far as fast food burgers go, Checkers is pretty good. I like both Checkers and Whataburger better than Mule Donald's, Butt King and Carl's/ Hardee's. To me, Red Robin, Five Guys, Smash Burger and Steak and Shake are not typical "fast food" or crap in a sack. They are all actually pretty darn good. I guess I would call them semi-fast food instead. Of the choke and pukes, I like Whataburger the best followed by Checkers. At one time (back in the 80's) Hardee's (not Carl's) and Wendy was the best of the choke and pukes. No so anymore. They have both went way down hill. 

RRP

RRP said:

 How did you see this thread? It doesn't show up when I check the forum unless I specifically click on the Off Topic forum. I thought I used to be able to read all threads without doing anything special. I checked my settings and I see nothing. Any idea?

I just figured out the problem was my bookmark - fixed that and I see everything! never mind!

ScottNC

Ron, it was just ya know...there
Gotta agree with SGH, there is some pretty tasty stuff out there, just not here... Murphy, NC!

ScottNC

ScottNC said:

I don't get out much for burgers anymore

Let's see that burger again! LOL

buzd504

Checkers/Rally's is pretty poor, IMO, although I haven't eaten fast food for years.

GregW

You know, Checkers and Rally's were pretty good when they first arrived in Alabama in the 80's. Their quality has been in a steady decline. They used to be very good for the money.
Steak and Shake was a favorite of mine. They used to be pretty expensive to eat at. They have now changed their business model. The prices are now in line with McDonalds and they have had a comparable reduction in food quality.

Hardees back in the 80's was good. Quality went down the tubes when Carl's Jr bought them. Haven't ate there in years.

Five Guys is ok, but very expensive for what you get.

texaswig

I always try different places when traveling. Found a place called Christie's burger in Waco yesterday.  A double cheese burger was 3.80 it was just a thin pattied burger. But cooked with tons of practice. One of the best burgers I've ever had. It was so good I was half way eating it and told them "how awesome it was and I want another the same way". Good people with good food. 

nolaegghead

There are a few of them in the NOLA area.  Haven't eaten at one in years (I eschew fast food).  They used to fill the niche of being the very inexpensive fast food burger joint - no frills, maybe 500 square foot buildings with double drive throughs.  Not sure what they are now, other than I won't be eating there.

stlcharcoal

I don't eat fast food but there are a ton of them around St Louis, including the Illinois side.  Used to be called Zipp's or something when I was a kid, then they either went out of business, got bought, or some way became Rally's.  

RRP

stlcharcoal said:

I don't eat fast food but there are a ton of them around St Louis, including the Illinois side.  Used to be called Zipp's or something when I was a kid, then they either went out of business, got bought, or some way became Rally's.  

Interesting - I just quoted from our local fish wrapper that this would be the first venture into IL, but I'll take your word over theirs! It also said they are looking to put in 9 shops locally. Personally our locale is swamped already with burger chains so whoever did their market research must be nuts.

saluki2007

I ate it often when I lived in Memphis. And by often I mean when I had the late night munchies. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I like Krystals and White Castle the best.

NPHuskerFL

I provide service to multiple Checkers. I've had food from ONE of them. Not bad "fast food" but, it's not great either. I'd hit Sonic before them. Checkers/Rallys is less $ but, the food reflects that. I'll eat at any of the many Sonics I service. I can't say the same about the other.
Bottom line I'm not a fast food connoisseur of sorts. 

GregW

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I like Krystals and White Castle the best.

Krystals could be awesome if they could get their service act together.

MaC122

NPHuskerFL said:

I provide service to multiple Checkers. I've had food from ONE of them. Not bad "fast food" but, it's not great either. I'd hit Sonic before them. Checkers/Rallys is less $ but, the food reflects that. I'll eat at any of the many Sonics I service. I can't say the same about the other.
Bottom line I'm not a fast food connoisseur of sorts. 

ditto

jtcBoynton

I put them a step above BK and MickyD.  Very limited menu aimed at drive thru business with price being major selling point.  I would not go out of my way to get lunch there, but have stopped when short on time, hungry, and one is nearby.  

gonepostal

They were all over my area of Alabama when i was in my 20's. That's been a few years! I liked their seasoned fries alot from what i can remember. I very seldom see one anymore.

SmokeyPitt

@Focker mentioned this in another thread- their seasoned fries are pretty good.  It has been years but the fries are good.   The burgers are just ok at best.  I wouldn't get my hopes to high .  Get one burger and a large order of fries and share it with your wife and you will both eat for like $3.50.  

Hungry Joe

Not the bottom of the barrel but I'd rather eat warmed over

meat I cooked on the egg.

Hi54putty

Their fries and milkshakes are really good. I like their burgers too. I only eat fast food on a very rare occasion but I would pick Checkers if it was available. 

Fred19Flintstone

It's FF so I don't think it qualifies as cuisine.  I've eaten their grub and didn't die.  Meh.

78 T140E

I live in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area.  There's 20 Checkers restaurants within a 15 mi radius of my house.  All of them that I know of are "drive thru" only.  It's a small building with a drive thru on each side.  There's adequate parking and a patio area with picnic tables and seating with sunshade umbrellas.  I don't eat fast food burgers often, but every once in a while, I get an uncontrollable urge for a Checkers Big Buford Burger, Seasoned Fries and  a Chocolate shake.  The seasoned fries are very good and the Big Buford is pretty good also!

GregW

gonepostal said:

They were all over my area of Alabama when i was in my 20's. That's been a few years! I liked their seasoned fries alot from what i can remember. I very seldom see one anymore.

They are still around in Birmingham, All in bad areas of town.

Texag06ish

There used to be Rally's in Texas but not since I was a kid. Whataburger is king around here.

MotownVol

In North East Tennessee, Pal's is a great fast food burger chain out of Kingsport.   Really good fast food.

johnnyp

Fred19Flintstone said:

It's FF so I don't think it qualifies as cuisine.  I've eaten their grub and didn't die.  Meh.

Fred, without trying to incite a riot here, didn't you start a lengthy thread where you talked up both Chick fil a and Waffle House?  Why so dismissive here?

johnnyp

@RRP I used to have a rally's within stumbling distance from my house.  They have a great fries and decent burgers.  Their specialty burgers used to be fantastic, really top notch (for fast food) but a few years back they trimmed back their menu and have the usual offerings instead of the creative, specialty burgers