Sonic Corporation NASDAQ: SONC (operating name: Sonic Drive-In) is an American fast-food restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that recreates the drive-in diner feel of the 1950s, complete with carhops who sometimes (and traditionally) wear roller skates. There were 3,500 restaurants in 41 U.S. states, as of September 9, 2009.
In the 1960s, Sonic meals were traditionally accompanied by a peppermint candy and small colored plastic animals called zoo-picks hanging on the side of drink cups until they were outlawed by consumer product safety laws as a choking hazard. The traditional peppermint candy is still served with Sonic meals today.
Sonic has featured unique menu items like hand-made Onion Rings and Pickle-Os (breaded deep-fried dill pickle slices) as well as such drive-in staples as hamburgers, Coneys (hot dogs covered with chili and shredded cheese) and corn dogs, shakes and malts. During its early years, some Sonic franchise locations also featured regional items on their menu. Other notable menu items include Ched 'R' Peppers (a form of the popper) and tater tots. Dessert frozen treats such as Oreo/M&M's/Reese's/Butterfinger Blasts are also available. Sonic also offers Jalapeño Tater Tots as an option as a side with a combo meal.
Different flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, cherry, strawberry, cranberry, apple, etc are available and can be added to drinks. Popular drinks include Ocean Water (Sprite with blue colored coconut flavoring added) or Limeades (Sprite with lime or other flavors added). Sonic uses the slogan of "Your Ultimate Drink Stop" due to the 168,894 possible drink combinations. Its advertising also states that "You could have a new drink every day for the next 462 years". The true number of possible combinations is higher.
www.sonicdrivein.com
