Multiple (Kewpee's, Happy Dayz, Top Notch, Buddy's, Sandy's, El Tacorrido, Brolly Hut, Storm Burger, Jim Dandy) — Review by Joshua Weissman
Lima OH, Austin TX, Los Angeles CA, US — Fast Food (Burgers, Sandwiches, Fried Seafood, Tacos)
Josh Weissman visits 9 lesser-known fast food restaurants across the US searching for hidden gems that can compete with major chains. While most establishments suffer from underseasoning and inconsistent quality, standouts like Storm Burger and El Tacorrido demonstrate excellent execution with flavorful, well-prepared food. The video reveals that many historic or up-and-coming restaurants struggle with basic seasoning despite having potential.
What was great: Storm Burger (excellent Maillard, great bun, perfectly seasoned beef), El Tacorrido (well-seasoned chicken tacos, flavorful quesadilla), Top Notch fried seafood platter (juicy, nicely seasoned fish), Kewpee's and Happy Dayz fries (crispy texture), corn fritter at Happy Dayz
What could improve: Lack of seasoning/salt on most burgers (Kewpee's, Happy Dayz, Buddy's, Sandy's), underseasoned patty melt at Happy Dayz, cold burger at Top Notch, dry patty at Buddy's, below-average fries at Sandy's and Brolly Hut, tough overcooked steak sandwich at Brolly Hut, lack of flavor on fish sandwich at Kewpee's
The Dishes
Joshua Weissman's culinary tour across America reveals a stark truth: bigger names don't always mean better food. At Kewpee's in Lima, Ohio, the historic burger falls disappointingly flat-lacking seasoning despite its legendary status as the second-oldest fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. The fish sandwich proves inedible, with an untoasted bun and completely unseasoned fish. However, the fries are exceptional-crispy on the outside, fluffy within, and properly seasoned with the quality of vintage McDonald's fries.
At Happy Dayz, the patty melt suffers from an identical curse: zero salt. The corn fritter emerges as a hidden gem-super crunchy with a custardy sweet corn filling and actual corn pieces, delivering an addictive salty-sweet contrast. The iconic pork tenderloin sandwich disappoints with ground meat instead of actual tenderloin, though it tastes decent enough for casual consumption.
Top Notch in Austin delivers gold-standard fries that taste like vintage McDonald's-crispy perfection. The char-grilled burgers, while cold and under-seasoned, offer superior flavor compared to Burger King's fake char-grilled imposters. The fried seafood platter stands out magnificently-the fish is juicy, properly seasoned, and rivals Long John Silver's quality.
Buddy's offers phenomenal seasoned fries with Cajun-cumin spicing and perfect salt levels, but the burgers are shockingly underseasoned and dry-a major letdown for an establishment attempting to rival Shake Shack. Sandy's in Austin, despite winning "Best Burger in Austin," serves an aggressively average burger with no Maillard and steamed appearance-a nostalgia trap rather than genuine quality.
El Tacorrido emerges as the video's true gem. The chicken tacos are phenomenal-properly seasoned, fatty, and tender (avoiding the dry breast chicken trap). The quesadilla is a banger, and everything arrives within four minutes, completely slaughtering Taco Bell in comparison. These items taste like authentic street food rather than fast food.
In Los Angeles, Brolly Hut's pastrami burrito is decent-a soupy bean, cheese, and meat combination that works despite its unconventional composition. The steak sandwich, however, is overcooked beef jerky with excessive lettuce, landing squarely in "mid" territory. The fries lack salt and crunch entirely.
Storm Burger steals the show as a genuine contender against In-N-Out. The classic burger boasts perfect Maillard, excellent beef texture, and a phenomenal bun. Most impressively, the French fries achieve 9.5/10 status-displaying both crispy interior potato AND seasoned exterior crust, a rare combination that represents peak fry execution. Everything tastes handcrafted and intentional.
Jim Dandy's chicken remains tantalizingly behind glass, hinting at quality worth protecting-though the full tasting verdict remains incomplete in the transcript.
The Experience
Atmosphere varies wildly across establishments. Kewpee's wraps around the block with lines, featuring classic bright seating and an "almost AI-generated" interior that feels authentically vintage. Happy Dayz draws customers with its energetic vibe and the giant "EAT" sign greeting visitors. Top Notch delivers a casual, approachable Austin atmosphere where diners feel welcome. Buddy's proves problematic: a 30-minute drive-thru wait for only three cars ahead represents unacceptable inefficiency, despite the apology from the order window attendant.
Sandy's captures '40s-'60s fast food nostalgia with its walk-up window, tiny interior kitchen, and short menu-designed for speed and authenticity. El Tacorrido maintains a sleepy, authentic Mexican food counter atmosphere that Weissman cherishes from his restaurant days. Brolly Hut presents a clean, organized interior despite its confusing umbrella-themed exterior design and 20-minute wait. Storm Burger radiates intentionality and care in its presentation. Jim Dandy's interior features an unusual banker-style window for chicken service, suggesting the product inside commands protective measures.
Value & Pricing
Pricing spans a wide spectrum. Kewpee's offers excellent value at $10.50 for multiple items. Happy Dayz provides reasonable pricing for quality pork tenderloin sandwiches. Top Notch comes in at $30.06 for two cheeseburgers, fries, and a seafood platter-middle-of-the-road pricing. Buddy's costs $30.04 for two meals, landing on the high end of affordability despite underseasoned burgers. Sandy's charges $22.28 for multiple large burgers and fries, while El Tacorrido serves four minutes of delicious tacos and quesadillas at budget-friendly rates. Brolly Hut reaches $49.45 for two burritos, two sandwiches, and fries-expensive for quality that disappointingly underperforms. Storm Burger justifies premium pricing through superior execution across every dish.
Notable Moments
"Everything is better than Whataburger. In fact, this is better than Whataburger."