Pretty much everyone has heard or seen a Sonic menu.
And with more than 3,600 Sonic locations in 45 states, the majority of Americans have likely eaten at one as well. However, despite our vast experience and best intentions, Sonic has remained a gaping hole in our fast-food repertoire. Never had the neon-blue waves of the famous Ocean Water slush lapped our lips, nor had we dined on the intimidating Footlong Chili Cheese Coney hot dog.
On Tuesday, Arby's parent company Inspire Brands announced it would be acquiring Sonic in a $2.3 billion deal.
During a recent road trip to the chain's base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we decided to end our ignorance once and for all. Here's what we discovered on our lofty culinary quest:
Sonic's iconic drive-up layout is a common sight in the Midwest and South — but this was a first for us. However, it's pretty straightforward: drive up to the individual ordering kiosk, choose what you want, and voilà, your order is brought to your car by a smiling carhop.
There's also some seating available for those who want to enjoy their food "en plein air," but in-car eating seems to be the preferred choice. Plus, the food is engineered to be convenient and handheld for on-the-go ease.
Sonic has a pretty extensive menu, so it's hard to get a concise crosscut of the chain's most popular items. On our original trip to Sonic, we followed the recommendations of our editor, a native Oklahoman.