The Oklahoma-based chain is a combination ice cream shop, burger joint, and grocery store
There are few things about living in Dallas-Fort Worth that make me feel smug. It’s hot as hell here, there’s too much concrete, and the traffic is miserable. My city doesn’t boast the stunning natural beauty of San Francisco, or the hallowed cultural institutions of New York City. But it is, at least, home to a location of Braum’s, the best American fast-food chain that I’d wager most Americans have never heard of.
Founded in Oklahoma City in 1968, Braum’s is a decidedly unique concept. It’s equal parts burger joint, ice cream shop, and small grocery store, all tucked under one roof. The menu is classic American comfort food — think burgers, fries, a chicken strip dinner served with a side of chocolate pudding.
And although it is small, the grocery section at any Braum’s location punches well above its weight. After eating a cheeseburger and slurping down a chocolate malt, you can stock up on eggs, butter, bacon, and fresh produce staples, but the real allure is the chain’s milk. Growing up in small-town northeast Texas, there were plenty of folks I knew that made the special trip to Braum’s to buy a gallon of milk instead of the grocery store.
In a time when many fast-food chains are chasing every trend and trying to keep up with the times, Braum’s is almost aggressively the same as it’s ever been.
Most of those 300 locations are in small towns, which means that Braum’s is a bit of a well-kept secret, especially for folks who don’t often find themselves vacationing in Branson or road-tripping to Oklahoma City. But if you’ve got one within 100 or so miles of where you live, it’s definitely worth making the drive to experience the surreal, of-another-time vibe — and excellent ice cream — that only Braum’s can offer.