I’m a firm believer in supporting small businesses and, most importantly, independent restaurant chef-owners and proprietors. Typically, I’ll go out of my way to patronize a hole in the wall or local favorite I discover through conversations with strangers. But when you’re on a road trip, half the fun is the license to eat fast food on the go. And in the South, there are real gems to be found among the global franchises. After all, both Waffle House and Popeyes started down here, and they’re national treasures.

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