Skyline Chili named No. 1 regional fast food chain in America

It's a good day to be a Cincinnati chili-lover.

Skyline Chili was named the No. 1 regional fast food chain in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The chili parlor has become a staple of Queen City culture, founded in Cincinnati by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides in 1949. Today, there are more than 150 locationsthroughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and even Florida, where locals can get their three-way and coney fix while on vacation.

The chain's signature formula of chili with cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg poured over a plate of spaghetti and topped with a mound of cheddar cheese is arguably as emblematic of the Greater Cincinnati region as the Bengals or the Roebling Bridge.

After being vetted by 10Best editors and voted on by the public, the Cincinnati chili chain has claimed the No. 1 rank among nine other regional chains. Cincinnati has won in several other 10Best categories this year, including best street art, botanical garden, marathon and riverwalk.

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Here are the 10 winners for best regional fast food:

1. Skyline Chili (founded in Cincinnati, Ohio).
2. Biscuitville (founded in Burlington, North Carolina).
3. Dick's Drive-In (founded in Seattle, Washington).
4. Z-Burger (founded in Washington D.C.).
5. Lion's Choice (founded in St. Louis, Missouri).
6. Hattie B's Hot Chicken (founded in Nashville, Tennessee).
7. Taco Cabana (founded in San Antonio, Texas).
8. In-N-Out Burger (founded in Baldwin Park, California).
9. Whataburger (founded in Corpus Christi, Texas).
10. Schoop's Hamburgers (founded in Hammond, Indiana).

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