I ate at Braum's, a beloved Southern fast-food chain. Its chicken strips were as good as Chick-fil-A's.

Business Insider

2 days ago

I visited Braum's, a southern fast-food chain that only has locations in five states.
I bought almost every item on the menu, including burgers, fries, chicken strips, and ice cream.
The burgers and chicken strips were great, but I still think ice cream is the best thing to order.
The West Coast has In-N-Out. The Midwest has Dairy Queen. I'd argue the South has Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store.
In 1933, Henry Braum started a small butter plant in Emporia, Kansas, which expanded to include milk and ice cream production. In 1968, Henry's son Bill opened the first official Braum's store in Oklahoma City.
Today, the family-run business has more than 300 locations across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. According to the company, every store is located within a 300-mile radius of its processing plant in Tuttle, Oklahoma.
Braum's is best known for its wide range of ice cream and frozen yogurt, from classic flavors like vanilla to stranger concoctions like pineapple upside-down cake. But it's more than an ice cream shop — it also has staples of the American diet like cheeseburgers, chicken strips, shakes, and malts.
One of Braum's locations sits about two miles from my childhood home in Fort Worth, Texas. When I was a kid, on Fridays after a long day of work, my dad would bring home a tub of ice cream. If I were really lucky, we'd go to the store. Together, we'd sit, ice-cream cone in hand, in silence, savoring the flavors.
I wanted to see if Braum's still had its charm, so my husband and I took a trip to the closest one near us in Dallas. Here are some items I tried from the menu — some I'd order again, and others I'd probably skip.
Even though it's a chain, Braum's gives off the vibe of a mom-and-pop shop.
Unlike fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King, which have embraced modernity in both their branding and menu presentation, Braum's has done the opposite. It has retained its cozy, classic vibe, making it feel both familiar and comforting.
Maybe that's what makes it special.
When I visited the store, I spent a lot of time reminiscing about the times my dad and I shared there. It all felt so nostalgic.
It's a convenient place to grab a snack.
Braum's has dozens of ice cream flavors to choose from. But it is also a grocery store with a small market. Customers can buy everyday items like bananas, tomatoes, onions, and even hamburger buns if they'd rather grill their own at home.
Braum's ice cream is pretty affordable.
Braum's sells its ice cream in various sizes, but most tubs contain three pints. Each tub is typically priced under $5 — a steal compared to other brands.
A single pint of Blue Bell ice cream is sold for $3.97 (excluding tax) at Walmart, and a single pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream at Target is $4.99, according to both companies' websites.
Braum's has more than 100 ice cream flavors.
The company sells traditional flavors like vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, but it also has quirky options like bubble gum and Mother's Circus animal cookies.
I wouldn't recommend the latter — it was too sweet for my taste buds, and didn't have enough animal crackers.
Braum's also sells frozen yogurt.
Ice cream is typically made with dairy from cream, whereas frozen yogurt is made from cultured milk. On most days, I'd choose frozen yogurt — which might be a controversial opinion.
While I haven't tried all of Braum's frozen yogurt flavors, their vanilla cone always hits the spot. I doubt I'll ever get around to trying the pineapple upside-down cake flavor, though.
Braum's makes several flavors of sugar-free ice cream.
Sugar-free ice cream isn't really my cup of tea, but I understand why some people prefer it or choose it for dietary or medical reasons.
If that's you, then you're in luck — Braum's offers many sugar-free flavors.
I have to admit the vanilla chunk chocolate tub looked pretty tempting.
My husband and I ordered a lot of food.
To get the full Braum's experience beyond ice cream, we ordered about 10 different items from the menu:
A double quarter pound sweet 'n spicy Gouda burger combo meal with medium fries and a large sweet tea — $8.89
A cheeseburger combo meal with medium fries and a large strawberry shake — $8.29
Four-piece chicken strips — $5.19
A grilled chicken sandwich — $4.79
Medium chili cheese fries — $4.64
A medium strawberry malt shake — $1.99
The chicken strips were better than I expected.
In the chicken strips war, restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Zaxby's usually reign supreme. But I'm throwing Braum's into the fight.
Braum's strips were crispy on the outside, yet still soft inside. I also appreciated that they weren't overly salty — just the right amount. For me, they rivaled Chick-fil-A's.
I really wanted to like the chili fries.
I was probably most excited to try the chili fries. Crispy potatoes dressed in perfectly melted cheese and sauce— what more could anyone ask for?
Well, in my case, a bit more seasoning. Ultimately, they tasted bland, and it felt more like I was eating canned beans on fries than actual chili.
Braum's burgers are simple and delicious.
My husband and I split the double quarter pound sweet 'n spicy Gouda burger and the cheeseburger.
While I thought the Gouda burger was good — and a bit spicy — it didn't quite compare to Braum's traditional cheeseburger.
It wasn't fancy — just meat, buns, lettuce, tomato, and cheese — but it felt classic, exactly what I imagine when I think of a good burger.
The grilled chicken sandwich was just OK.
The grilled chicken sandwich was all right. It didn't quite compare to a sandwich I'd get at Chick-fil-A, but I had no trouble finishing it. For $4.79, I'd say it's worth the price.
Dessert was my favorite part of the meal.
After dinner, my husband and I went back to the counter to order ice cream.
He bought a double scoop sopapilla cheesecake sundae for $3.79, and I got a small chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt cone for $1.45.
His sundae tasted like the real deal. The cinnamon-flavored ice cream sat on top of a spongy cake, draped in golden caramel. I think it's perfect for someone with a sweet tooth.
However, the frozen yogurt cone was right up my alley. It was simple and sweet, and the flavors weren't too overpowering.
We bought so much food that we had to take it home.
I left the restaurant full, but not without taking a to-go bag. The next day, my husband and I devoured our leftovers for lunch.
I'll be visiting again soon.
While the burgers and sandwiches at Braum's were good, the ice cream and frozen yogurt were what made the visit stand out among other chains.
Overall, going back to Braum's was a sweet experience. It was nice to try new-to-me foods, reminisce about my childhood, and create new memories with my husband.