Two popular fast-food chains that are renowned throughout the southeast got their start in North Carolina. Bojangles launched with a single location in Charlotte in 1977 and Cook Out began in Greensboro in 1989.
But how well do these homegrown chains compete with global fast-food giants for attention (or at least internet interest) among Tar Heel State residents?
Ahead of Fast Food Day on Nov. 16, BetCarolina.com – your home of the best NC sports betting promos – took a nibble at analyzing the most popular fast-food chain restaurants for North Carolina residents. We looked at search results of each chain from Nov. 7, 2023, to Nov. 7, 2024. Coffee chains were eliminated from our research.
Rank | Restaurent | Interest Over Time Period |
1 | McDonald’s | 4 |
2 | Chick-Fil-A | 3 |
T3 | Wendy’s | 2 |
T3 | Taco Bell | 2 |
T3 | Bojangles | 2 |
T3 | Cook Out | 2 |
T7 | Burger King | 1 |
T7 | Zaxby’s | 1 |
T7 | Wingstop | 1 |
T7 | Raising Cane’s | 1 |
T7 | Chipotle | 1 |
T7 | Moe’s Southwest Grill | 1 |
The global leader in fast food also tops the chart in the home of North Carolina sports betting. That would be McDonald’s, which had a search interest score of four over the one-year span that we studied.
McDonald’s was founded in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, and took off when Ray Kroc came on board in the 1950s. Now McDonald’s signs brag “Billions and Billions Served” and indeed the chain is all-pervasive, with 36,500 locations in more than 100 countries – more than 20,000 of which are outside of the United States, according to company literature.
In second with a search volume of three is Chick-Fil-A, which was born in Atlanta in 1967. Its fame comes from chicken sandwiches and the chain thrives even though every location (even those in airports) are closed on Sundays.
Folks using North Carolina sportsbook apps definitely love their two local entries in the great fast-food sweepstakes. Both Bojangles and Cook Out tied for third on our list with a search volume of two, the same as two far more widespread names: Wendy’s and Taco Bell.
Bojangles now has about 800 restaurants in 17 states, according to the company’s website. According to the same site, the chain’s name was stylized as Bojangles’ until 2020, when it dropped the apostrophe at the end. Bojangles locations are as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Texas.
As for Cook Out, the chain is known for the usual staples such as burgers, fries and shakes, but it also offers North Carolina barbecue. Cook Out has more than 300 locations in 10 states, from West Virginia to Mississippi and throughout most of the southeast.
The other two chains tied for third in search interest are more well-known nationally. Wendy’s was founded in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, and now boasts more than 6,000 U.S. locations, 400-plus in Canada, plus restaurants in about 30 other countries. Taco Bell launched in 1962 in Los Angeles and has grown into its current size as the top Mexican food chain, with more than 8,000 locations worldwide.
Are you’re hungry for a more elaborate sit-down meal, especially with family and friends? Then check out the BetCarolina.com story on North Carolina’s favorite Thanksgiving side dishes that we updated in November 2024.
USA Today Network photo by Mike Hensdill/The Gaston Gazette
Author
Jim Tomlin has more than 30 years of experience at such publications as the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition. He now lends his expertise in sports, betting and the intersection of those two industries to BetCarolina.com, among other sites.
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