Krystal

Rody Davenport Jr. and Glenn Sherrill opened the first Krystal in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in October 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression. The name came from Davenport’s wife, who saw a crystal ball lawn ornament and suggested the restaurant should be “clean as a crystal”, spelled with a K to stand out. It is the oldest burger chain in the South.

Krystal is inevitably compared with White Castle, and the family resemblance is real: small square burgers steamed with onions on soft buns, bought by the bag. The difference is mustard. A Krystal gets a squirt of yellow mustard and a pickle, which gives it a sharper, tangier bite that Southerners defend with surprising passion.

A few hundred restaurants across the American Southeast.

• Kewpee Hamburgers (United States, since 1923). The second-oldest hamburger chain in America, and the one that gave Dave Thomas the idea for Wendy’s. Also built on beef.
• Culver's (United States, since 1984). Wisconsin in a burger: buttered buns, cheese curds and frozen custard. Also built on beef.
• Johnny Rockets (United States, since 1986). A 1950s diner fantasy with a jukebox, red vinyl and ketchup drawn into a smiley face. Also built on beef.
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (United States, since 2002). Thin, crispy steakburgers and frozen custard, named after a WWII veteran. Also built on beef.