10 Chain Restaurants That Are Actually Worth Going To

Nobody expects chain restaurants to produce unique, one-of-a-kind meals or have personality. Still, some chains surprise you with consistently high-quality food, unique menus, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

If you're ready to go out to eat more and need suggestions that blend convenience with quality, here are 10 chain restaurants that are actually worth your money.

Culver's serves unique butter burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches, and french fries to dozens of hungry customers each day. Patrons love its frozen custard, available as a cone, shake, malt, and more.

Frozen custard aside, Culver's uses real cheese curds in its burgers, staying true to its Wisconsin roots. Online reviewers rave about the high-quality ingredients and hail Culver's burgers as "the best they've ever had."

Red Robin draws crowds in with its juicy burgers like the Banzai Burger and daily deals, including a monster deal of super-sized burgers and milkshakes at low prices.

Reviewers' favorite items include the Monster Burger with pepper jack cheese, as well as onion rings and garlic fries. Fans tout Red Robin as good quality for the money and love that it uses fresh, tasty ingredients.

The Cheesecake Factory made a name for itself with its signature cheesecake, extensive menu, which can be borderline overwhelming, spanning over 10 pages, and large portions.

Online reviewers find the chain slightly overpriced but still a good value since everything is made from scratch and the portions are generous. In addition to the cheesecake, fans rave about the bread, chicken madeira, ahi tuna, and fried mac and cheese.

Chick-fil-A changed the chicken game with its high-quality, hormone-free meat, great customer service, and unique menu items like waffle fries and, of course, its signature sauce.

Is it worth going to? According to one satisfied reviewer whose sentiment is echoed by many others, the answer is definitely yes. "Chick-fil-A is hands-down one of the best fast-food experiences you can have! The food is consistently fresh, delicious, and made to order without the long wait you'd expect from such quality," they say.

Customers love Panda Express for its down-to-earth American Chinese cuisine, including crowd favorites like orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp, and Beijing beef.

While the food quality varies based on location, most reviewers appreciate Panda Express for its convenience and affordable prices. Some also love that the chain hasn't betrayed its roots, putting out authentic recipes with inexpensive ingredients that hit the spot.

In-N-Out is only available on the West Coast, and its claim to fame is delicious burgers that compare favorably with top restaurants' offerings at affordable prices.

The "animal-style" burgers (mustard, extra spread, and grilled onions) come with cheese, tomato, and lettuce and are a perennial favorite. And don't sleep on the animal fries—fries topped with cheese, grilled onions, and their famous In-N-Out sauce.

Bonefish Grill stays true to its Florida beginnings by offering wood-grilled fish and seafood dishes like the bang bang shrimp. The chain also serves fast food staples like burgers, tacos, and steak.

Patrons love the restaurant's welcoming atmosphere and great customer service. When it comes to the food, they adore the bold, flavorful dishes and large portions.

Shake Shack is the place to go for specialty burgers, chicken sandwiches, and delicious shakes. Some customer favorites include the Shack Stack, which features a deep-fried portabella mushroom stuffed with cheese, and the crispy fries. They're signature milkshakes featuring unique seasonal flavors are also nothing to sleep on.

If you agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, First Watch is the place for you. This chain specializes in breakfast and brunch options like waffles, pancakes, over-easy or scrambled eggs, and delicious breakfast sandwiches with sausage patties.

Redditors rave about the restaurant's variety of dishes and healthy options for breakfast. They also can't help but be impressed by the food presentation, with one member summing it up as: "First Watch breakfast always looks like it came out of an Instagram photo and tastes amazing!"

BJ's main claim to fame is its Pizookie dessert. It's a warm cookie topped with ice cream that the chain offers several variations of, including a Snickers Pizookie. BJ's also serves favorites like deep-dish pizzas, Fryckle fries—a pun on pickle fries–and boneless and bone-in wings.

Online reviews praise BJ's cozy ambiance and food, especially the wings and prime rib. As it suits a brewhouse, the beers also receive high praise from Reddit users who call them their "guilty pleasure."

Each of these 10 restaurant chains is worth exploring for dependable dinner options and well-made food that hits the spot. To avoid wasting money on your next chain meal, look for a place that doesn't rely on frozen ingredients.

Reviews are your friend, not just to ensure you pick a place worth your money, but also to check for consistency across locations, especially for larger chains.