first sonic in minnesota, what the..?

Question

So, I've been seeing sonic commercials in our market for years but it seems that we have our first franchise here in Minnesota (the closest one otherwise looks like sioux falls, IA)
I drove by today and there was a giant crowd at the opening (actually kind of sad and doesn't say much for the eats around here maybe..)

So what gives? I need some testimonials from the Sonic connoisseurs out there..what's good? why is it good? why is it such a big deal? (here you may have to imagine yourself seeing sonic commercials for years and then suddenly having one pop up in your midst maybe..)

What's the skinny? (or i'm guessing not so skinny..if I'm wrong tell me!..)

Answer

The sandwiches are pretty much average for fast food. Their hook is a wide variety of good drinks (cream pie shakes, flavored limeades, power ade slushes, etc.) and some decent and occasionally rotating sides.

Answer

As others have said, I think the drinks are the major draw for Sonic. They used to have a killer peach smoothie/slushy thing that had big chunks of peach in it. They may still have it, but it might depend on the location. The food is so-so. I don't think I've ever really enjoyed any of the food I've had, but my sister loves their breakfast burritos.

And FYI -- Sioux Falls is in South Dakota, Sioux City (about an hour south on I-29) is in Iowa. It's important for residents of both states to get that right.

Answer

A cheeseburger with chili, tater tots with cheese and a cherry lime aid- doesn't get much better than that!

Answer

chili cheese dogs YES

Answer

Killer chocolate double malteds...mmmmmmm

Answer

Their fresh fruit slushes cannot be beat on a hot summer day. I also admit to a lingering childhood affection for tater tots. :-) Their hamburgers are decent as well - not as good as a sit down resto, but definitely better than Mickey D's.

Answer

i agree with TDQ. msp has great eats without crappy chains from cali or wherever sonic is from moving in. i also understand we have those crappy cali pizza kitchen places here now. nonetheless i do go to that byerly's across the street from the new sonic and i see the uniformed cop directing traffic into the place and a patio stuffed with fast-food-loving folk. there is no accounting for taste and if america had no fast food restaurants it would have a population of 16 and i even might find myself out of a job. i am sure the place is no more heinous than mcd's or bk or wendy's or pizza hut but come *on* the indies in msp are doing much better food. i guess if you open a sonic next to a taco bell down the street from a mcdonald's the suburbanite caste believe they are getting variety in their diets. phooey.

Answer

Just in case anyone is interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Drive-In

Sonic is a chain out of OK.

FWIW: many Sonics sell ice by the bag. There have been some passionate threads in the past about how good their ice is...I've never really paid much attention to the ice, so can't venture an opinion!

Answer

Sonic came into the Des Moines area around 6 years ago. I ate there shortly after they opened. I don't remember what I had, and I never went back, so that must mean it was uneventful. The Des Moines locations closed a couple years ago, but there are still a few in the suburbs. Maybe a franchisee problem.

Answer

I think the skinny, at least for me, is that I'm from the midwest where sonic was born. Sonic would come to small towns where no other chain would tread. It became a part of growing up in small town Oklahoma/Kansas. A place to meet up after school, a place your friends worked to make extra cash, the "turn around" point on the main drag on Saturday night. 
I don't know if that's going to sell in a big market... but years later, I still enjoy dropping in for a cherry slush.... or if I'm being good they now have diet cherry flavoring for a diet cherry coke.

Answer

My favorites at Sonic: Cherry Limeades (get 'em between 2-4 p.m. for 1/2 price), foot-long chili cheese coney w/onions and mustard (they're bad for you, they're probably full of things you shouldn't know about, but I need one every few months) the tater tots if they're hot and fresh (sometimes they come out a little cold). The Java Chiller coffee drinks are pretty addictive, too. I can't vouch for their breakfast items, I'm never up that early. 
And here in Kansas, the carhops don't wear skates anymore.

Answer

I grew up in Sonicland, and I have enjoyed seeing it grow to some of the markets that weren't blessed with Sonic before I moved there. Sonic has seen some quality issues with their rapid expansion, but as many have noted, their drinks are probably their biggest seller. They will make almost anything, and that pellet ice is awesome. I just wish the closest one to me wasn't so far from my house or I would buy from them instead of from the store.

My biggest piece of advice to all who are trying Sonic for the first time is DO NOT GET THE CHICKEN!!!! I promise, if you get anything with chicken in it you will hate Sonic and never want to return. It happens to every person I know who goes to a new Sonic and has a chicken sandwich or the chicken tenders or some other chicken item. Get a burger. Get a coney. Get some tots. Get a drink. Get anything, but whatever you do don't get the chicken.

Answer

I tried the Sonics in St. Paul....I have eaten at tons of them down South. Maybe because it is new, it seems like the service and taste is off-key. The one in St. Paul feels like you are in the "hood" with the people serving you with baggy pants/ hip-hop wear and poor manners. I was disappointed in this Sonic.

Answer

My mom took us to Sonic all the time growing up and it is one of the few fast-food places I'll go to. I like the fact that you can get Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Cherry Coke whereas most places don't give you that option. Their strawberry lemon slush is also boss. Foodwise I generally only get the onion rings or a vanilla soft serve cone.

Answer

I'm waiting for the one in Bloomington to be built before I try it. I rarely venture over to St. Paul. A Sonic will be going up a block south of Southtown where a KFC has been and has just closed.

Answer

I went to the St. Paul Sonic two weeks ago with my husband and we were very disappointed. My husband ordered a burger (which was unseasoned), french fries (that tasted like air AND were cold) and cheesecake bites. The cheesecake bites were good, but I wouldn't go back for just those.

I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, which also had zero flavor. I was starving and I couldn't finish it. It was gross.

I don't know if we went on a bad day, but I don't think I'll go back when Wendy's is so much better!

Answer

My idea of the perfect Sonic commercial...Just as either of the idiots starts to speak, a guy raises from the back seat with a short piece of 2x4 & knocks them both out to shut them up. Nothing gets me reaching for the remote faster than the current Sonic commercials.

Answer

i'll be in minnesota for a few days. will definitely try and check out this local upstart. i'm all about supporting little drive-ins like this

Answer

Whatever all you haters!!!! 

Chili Cheeseburger + mustard and onions = Delicious
Onion Rings
Cherry Limeade vs. Chocolate Malt

There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes...it's time for SONIC!

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first sonic in minnesota, what the..?

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