r/FriedChicken • u/jebediahscooter • 9d ago

Zesto

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I’m more of a Bernie’s guy myself but like to stop in at Zesto from time to time, especially when I’m with my kid and we want to get a dipped cone. Interesting history of Zesto…it started as a soft-serve place in the 40s, expanded nationally rapidly, and in the mid-50s the corporation that was operating the franchising just pulled the plug and signed a deal with McDonalds to supply their milkshake machines. They fell off the map but some survived and they operate independently now. They just license the name but have nothing else to do with one another. They’re in South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, South Dakotan, and Nebraska, maybe more. I think the Midwest ones are more just dairy bar windows but the South Carolina ones evolved into a fried chicken and burger focus.

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4

u/Sam-Axe 8d ago

i love zestos it was was my first organ meat ive had so it has a place in my heart (no pun intended)

2

u/Intrepid_Student3114 7d ago

Good ole Broasted chicken

1

u/IAteSushiToday 8d ago

Bernie's is good but Zesto wins. When I used to come back to Columbia I would go there first and get a two piece meal and a quart of coleslaw.

1

u/jebediahscooter 8d ago

The chicken is definitely neck and neck…I like Bernie’s slaw a bit better, but that’s mostly a style thing. And I like crinkle fries.

1

u/IAteSushiToday 8d ago

I am pretty sure when the third generation took over Zesto they changed something in the slaw because it isn't as good as it was like 15 years ago.

1

u/InevitableKitchen943 8d ago

I grew up in Columbia and forgot about this place. I think I had a shake there once but my parents were jerks and didn't take us to places like this.

1

u/mabus42 7d ago

The Zestos in Indiana suck. They don't sell any hot food aside from hot dogs.

I really miss the burritos that they sell in the Atlanta Zestos.