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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhite Castle grand opening in Orlando - the lines go on for miles
And it was only 9 a.m.
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LisaL
(46,247 posts)kirkuchiyo
(402 posts)sdfernando
(5,332 posts)I had the displeasure of trying their "meat" (obscure MONK reference) many years ago on a business trip to Lexington Kentucky. I was actually excited to be able to visit one of their restaurants and get a fresh burger. To say I was disappointed is an understatement...I didn't even finish, threw out what was left.
kirkuchiyo
(402 posts)There was a WC in the area and everyone raved about it. We went there once and ended up throwing that shit away and going somewhere else.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)FelineOverlord
(3,753 posts)House of Roberts
(5,638 posts)Krystal is only barely edible at 3am, and with a lot of beer.
dhol82
(9,420 posts)I liked White Castle. Just havent had one in years.
It was the place to go after high school.
csziggy
(34,189 posts)I spent a week in Daytona with a friend at her grandmother's and we were "treated" with a trip to White Castle. I was completely unimpressed - at eleven years old. It did prepare me for Krystal Burgers years later when I went to college.
Both prepared me for the description of Bobert's pork sliders that sent so many to the hospital.
lucca18
(1,297 posts)Growing up on Long Island, as a kid I loved going to the White Castle located in Hempstead.
Recently, I saw White Castle Hamburgers in the frozen section, and I was tempted to buy a package.
Maybe next time I will buy one!
Tommy Carcetti
(43,481 posts)I've had White Castle before. It's barely a hamburger patty. More like a slice of roast beef.
If out of state chains are going to be expanding here, I'd much rather see whether or not In and Out lives up to the hype.
jimfields33
(18,420 posts)But all I heard is rave reviews from a whole host of people. Id love to have one. Bring it to Orlando is a great idea.
chowder66
(9,770 posts)I can get a much better burger in my kitchen with a nice ground sirloin and a cast iron skillet.
MineralMan
(147,301 posts)So can I, but that's not really the point.
The point of fast food restaurants is "fast." Also, no work to do to get your burger. No clean-up, either. You just pay your money and eat.
In N Out is pretty good, in terms of fast food burgers. They pay their employees well, cook your burger and fries after you order, and use fresh ingredients. However, everyone has their own favorite burger place, I suppose. That's a wonderful thing. You can go to the place you like best and skip the rest.
I'm a Smashburger fan, but they are very messy burgers to eat. Most often, I order a Whopper at Burger King if I want a burger, which isn't a common thing for me to want. However, once in a while, if I am out at lunchtime, I will drive through a Burger King and order a Whopper with cheese and a small order of onion rings and eat them in the parking lot, near a trash can, so I can get rid of the paper stuff when I'm done.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)I've had two bad experiences with them lately, and considering I only eat there once (twice in this occasion) in a blue moon I found this annoying. I've done two road trips to get my Pfizer jabs, so my latest BK was the other day. The cheeseburger had a slice of cheese on it that was literally still cold. The burger was room temp. I had to wait in the drive through for awhile, so I was thinking, at least the food would be fresh. I was so disappointed.
I actually filled out the survey form on the receipt just because of this, and I was given a code which I assume will purchase a new meal for me. But I was so turned off, I don't know if I'll ever use it. All I ever order is a cheeseburger and onion rings. Simple enough. The onion rings were hot. The order 3 weeks ago was fairly icky too (different restaurants), so I'd chalked that up to a one off and was looking forward to the one the other day. Blech. I think I may be forever off Burger King now. Just one of those silly treats one looks forward to on a drive, and they've ruined it forever!!!
chowder66
(9,770 posts)Growing up in KCMO spoiled me when it comes to meat. I live in CA now and the best burgers and BBQ were back home by comparison. That has changed and there are good burgers to be found but I still haven't found ones that compare.
I was told it is because the cattle in MO were fed corn vs. grass.
In & Out was shockingly bland to me so instead I typically make my burgers at home since I rarely eat fast food and I rarely eat beef.
When I go back home for a visit the gloves come off.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)I'm sure that most of them will have a rude awakening.
I live close to a major White Castle -- their headquarters are located in Columbus OH -- production and distribution center, and trust me! They're not great sandwiches!
Harold and Kumar were lying!
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)I remember college friends bringing in Coors before we could get it in the east. People were insane about it.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)He brought back Coors after a trip to Colorado in the 70's (he later moved there in the 80's), and his buddies were so excited to finally try it.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)What idiots we all were!
stopdiggin
(12,638 posts)(and, yes, way over hyped) 'Smuggled' in from out of state. Very 'elect.' And then it became nationally available -- and everybody quickly figured out -- really miserable second rate beer. (then, later -- kind of a shi*ty company making it as well!) Talk about a let down!
Initech
(101,554 posts)Pretty much erases the White Castle magic!
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)Sounds pretty accurate, though!
Their heavy sweating in the first movie, after stuffing themselves, seemed accurate too.
It's like immune systems reacting to a massive invasion of foreign substances.
GoCubsGo
(32,875 posts)It's transplanted Midwesterners who miss their White Castle. The same thing happened when they opened up a shop in Phoenix. Lots of transplants and snowbirds from Ohio, Chicago, and the rest of the Midwest there, just as there are in Florida. They miss their hometown restaurants. Which is why Portillos, Giordano's, Lou Malnoti's, and other Midwest restaurant chains set up shop there, and are doing fairly well. White Castle is only following in their footsteps.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)Perhaps a few natives down there who got caught up in it too, believing their former Midwestern neighbors to their own gastrointestinal doom.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)support for correlation. Especially since they likely average young. (Ah, youth!)
Vinca
(50,867 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)*sigh*
Ron Green
(9,839 posts)Whats not to like about this?
dhol82
(9,420 posts)Trailrider1951
(3,441 posts)When I was a child, my Dad would occasionally bring home a sack of 15 burgers and an order of fries for each of the 6 people in the family. Each of the 4 kids got 2 burgers and fries, with the rest going to Mom and Dad. I wasn't much impressed by the burgers, which were small patties of greasy beef with holes (?) in them, smothered in grilled onion bits and placed on a soggy bun. The fries were better than the burgers, but McD's were much better. LOL, it takes a lot to make Mickey D's taste gourmet in comparison. I haven't had a White Castle burger in decades, but I don't miss them at all. YMMV.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)It allows someone to "brag" about eating a dozen of them at one sitting, or whatever.
Then others will often reply that they're called sliders for a reason, as the proud glutton will soon learn.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Some people have not been told their glutton hole and breathing tube is the same pipe.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)But my past coworkers proclaimed they were aptly named for the other reason.
I actually think they tasted better decades ago. They were never great-tasting to me, but the quality seemed even worse the last time I ate a couple of their sliders a few years ago.
Captain Zero
(7,416 posts)Hope they're all stocked up on Loperimide.
sarisataka
(20,791 posts)We would routinely buy them 100 at a time for 4-5 people and there were no leftovers. We knew however there would be a price to pay...
4 is plenty for me now but there is still a price
Ferrets are Cool
(21,775 posts)Treefrog
(4,170 posts)She seemed incredulous lol. I'm just not much of a fast food eater though.
jcgoldie
(11,971 posts)They opened one in my hometown about 20 years ago and there was similar hype then. My buddy I worked with was so excited he ate it 40 days in a row! Not recommended 🤒
BannonsLiver
(17,662 posts)NightWatcher
(39,353 posts)alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Still gross.
sarisataka
(20,791 posts)You will love them or hate them. We mail 100 frozen ones out to family on the West coast every year.
MineralMan
(147,301 posts)I don't like White Castle burgers, and don't eat them. However, their onion chips are quite a treat.
There's one not far from my home. Occasionally, I'll stop in for a bag of onion chips. Sliders? Meh...
They're a tradition, though. So, opening one in Florida, land of immigrants from the eastern half of the country, makes some sense. Those transplants will go there out of nostalgia. Then, they will be disappointed, once again.
I think that any fast-food burger place you can name has its fans and detractors. Good luck to that White Castle that opened outside of its native territory.
sarisataka
(20,791 posts)Every few months and head to WB ave or Rice. I am a traditionalist and get the sliders but definitely with the onion chips. The rest of the family prefers their chicken.
I think their shakes are better than Wendy's frosty but are equally thick so ask for a spoon
MineralMan
(147,301 posts)I haven't tried their chicken sandwich. Frankly, I don't stop by there very often. I'm not a big fast-food fan, really.
Sliders don't travel well. Even bringing them home a few blocks away is too long. Eat your sliders immediately is my advice. And remember: "Don't eat more than six!"
However, I may stop in soon, just based on this thread.
Buckeye_Democrat
(15,022 posts)... are Esther Price chocolate candies.
I still haven't found chocolate that I think is better, and I tried some highly-regarded chocolates from Europe too.
sarisataka
(20,791 posts)Moved to Oregon about 30 years ago. She is such a fan (addict) that when she visits Minnesota if you do not have a bag of Castles in the car she will have you drive directly to the nearest store.
jalan48
(14,287 posts)Brother Buzz
(37,577 posts)I did the White Castle thing in Cincinnati, and they were just alright. Sustenance in a sack, for sure, but nothing to write home about.
BannonsLiver
(17,662 posts)Looks like a bunch of people desperate for a case of the shits.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Ok, that cracked me up.
Renew Deal
(82,832 posts)I like White Castle. Burgers and fries are pretty good. Chicken rings are no worse than other major fast food. And they have clam strips.
Still, that kind of line is surprising.
MineralMan
(147,301 posts)Lots of Midwesterners in Florida. That is what accounts for the crowd. White Castle is an icon here in the Midwest.
Not good, but nostalgic, I suppose.
Renew Deal
(82,832 posts)And young people too. I hope they succeed and get better.
MineralMan
(147,301 posts)from their youth, and crave some more of it.
I'm old enough to remember a time before McDonalds. We had local burger drive-in joints instead. There was one, called the Tip-Top Drive-In, in my home town that was hugely popular with the teenager set. In 1962, you could get 12 little burgers, similar to White Castle sliders for $1. As a perpetually hungry 16-year-old boy, I'd often buy and eat a dozen of them after school.
Then, I'd eat supper at home about three hours later. Those little burgers weren't very good, but they were cheap and filling if you ate enough of them. Am I nostalgic about them? Maybe a little, but I know I'd be disappointed if I ate them now.
Many of my age-peers here in Minnesota have moved to Florida. I'm sure they grew up gobbling White Castle sliders. They're the ones who are lining up in Orlando, no doubt. The reality won't match their memories, though.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)and they have been hyping this up for a year at least. I know plenty of people are excited about it opening (as evidenced by the long lines) and, as far as I know, this is the first one here in a long time if there ever was one.
We are used to Krystal's here so WC will get the same crowd and additional transplants pining for home. I liked them when we tried them in Indiana (trip to visit wife's family) and I will check this new one out but not until those lines die down.
We also are getting a shiny new Portillo's and I am looking forward to that too. I love me a Chicago dog and I hear Portillo's knows how to make them.
Mosby
(17,257 posts)I mean they're hamburgers, people, not beef wellington.
A lot of them are way overrated, like shake shack, in and out.
Phoenix has pretty much every chain, and another from tx is coming. The burgers sound gross, can't remember the name.
Renew Deal
(82,832 posts)That could be the reason. The hamburger is the defining item on almost any menu. If the burger is good, the place has potential.
GoCubsGo
(32,875 posts)Some of these places have a lot of transplants from elsewhere, Phoenix and Florida, especially. They come from places where White Castle, Shake Shack, and In-and-Out originated. These places remind them of home.
Mosby
(17,257 posts)Some of the places are pretty good, like Culver's, the Habit and Hopdoddy.
There were a couple white castles that opened in the 80s, I liked them. They closed at some point. The one I went to was in an old jack and the box location that had no indoor seating.
Phoenix is a tough market, steak and shake just pulled out. Some burger place called Mooyah is coming soon, good luck.
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)Where I lived in Chicago there was always a "White Castle" about 1/2 mile from where I lived...no
competition...I think the burgers were 10 or 12 cents...In 57, 58, or 59..a McDonalds opened up within
two city blocks from the White Castles..
...McDonald burgers were 15 cents then. Just standing in line at McDonalds, no inside eating. Well the McDonalds was totally crowded and the lines were great..just like that White Castle is today.
..(by the way, I rarely eat at either one today, elsewhere there are real burgers, not fake ones)
SaintLouisBlues
(1,252 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,729 posts)So, many nights, I had a half-dozen sliders for lunch. Sober. Yeah, I know.
Once in a while, we'd chip in for bridge toll and send someone over to Canada to pick up some Chinese take-out. Now, THAT was some good stuff.
But most of the time, White Castle.
Now, it's been a million years since I loaded hard drive disks into the drive units, but still no nostalgia for White Castle.
msongs
(69,928 posts)Wingus Dingus
(8,292 posts)I can't see waiting hours to try one. Still waiting for the In-N-Out frenzy to die down in their Colorado locations so I can sneak over and get one (had it before, was good) without too much of a wait.
FelineOverlord
(3,753 posts)Link to tweet
The worlds largest White Castle
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White Castle is loving the free publicity (currently trending at #2 on Twitter)
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roamer65
(36,962 posts)🤢
Luciferous
(6,227 posts)moondust
(20,371 posts)Would make more sense.