Runza

Runza is the reason that the rest of the country thinks everyone in the midwest is fat. I ate there because a coworker who got his PhD at Nebraska kept telling me that I had to try one. Well I can check this off of my bad bucket list. I’m pretty sure my cholesterol is now at an unacceptable level and I’m going to die morbidly obese and alone.

You know that small section in the frozen foods aisle with tv dinners and things that people typically avoid putting in their mouths? That’s where Runzas taste like they come from. And I’m pretty sure the only reason the fries are so famous is because they take away the taste of the Runza. That is, until you take the next bite…

I was visiting the Nebraska area for the first time and I had heard that I had to try a Runza sandwich. Well, I did and WOW! Delicious! Bread is soft and filling is tender and flavorful. And for a fast food place the staff was very helpful. We mentioned that we were from out of town and the worker told us that next time if we call in advance they could freeze some for us so we could take them with us. Only downfalls are that some locations are not open Sundays and definitely not diet friendly, so probably good that I don’t have any of these around me!

It’s fast food, enough said.

«Try a Runza, a tasty Runza, ground beef and spices, wrapped in golden bread. There’s no meal or sandwich like so you’ve really got to try it, it’s a Runza, a meal in a bunza!»
That was the jingle from their television commercials from back when I lived in Council Bluffs, and it pretty much sums up what the sandwich is. I wish they would put that ditty on their own web site, if only for nostalgia purposes. A trip back to the Midwest is just not complete without indulging in an original recipe Runza. (If you like, they have Italian and other styles there, too, but I prefer the original.)
Anyway, I was back a couple of weeks ago, and as with previous trips, I was not disappointed. I do not even know where to begin to look for something that tastes like this in Los Angeles. And the girls behind the counter were very cheerful and friendly, especially after I sang the jingle for them. This is something completely different in fast service dining.

OK so my friend Jen Cowan suggested, nay, demanded, that I check out Runza. It’s a fast food chain that I guess is regional and their fare is super quick and reasonably priced (even gas here is ridiculously cheap at $ 2.84/gal!!!).
Anyhow, I got the frings, which I thought would be some frankenstein-​esque merging of friends and onion rings, but instead was both fries and onion rings mixed together, so I had to dock a star for that.
Otherwise the cheese runza I got was pretty good albeit a bit greasy but hey this is fast food we’re talking about. I felt that it would be a great preventative measure if you go out drinking and/​or in the morning after drinking.
Either way, it’s an interesting stuffed bread with meat and cheese on the inside. It was kinda creepy how the bread has this incision on the bottom where I guess the insert the meat and cheese from.
Anyhow, that sounds a bit gnarly but check out their corporate site to read the official PR scoop.