These eateries seem to be everywhere… but here

You may have seen the commercials, eaten there while traveling, or just heard about them from friends, but, there are a number of popular restaurant chains that may be big elsewhere, but have no presence in the Greater Boston area. We took a look at some of the most prominent ones that might be everywhere else, but they aren’t here.

CiCi’s Pizza

Billing itself as an “endless pizza buffet,’’ this chain offers all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, and more for a low price (sometimes as little as $5 a person). The chain currently has over 500 locations.

Golden Corral

Springfield has one, but that’s the only iteration of this all-you-can eat chain that serves up comfort food like fried chicken, meatloaf, and more in the Bay State. The chain has restaurants in 40 states.

Waffle House

With its iconic yellow sign, Waffle House peddles its namesake waffles all across the South, but not anywhere in Massachusetts. The chain offers a full range of breakfast items as well as burgers, chili, and steak. There are Waffle House locations in 25 states.

Checkers

While Checkers has announced plans to open multiple stores in the greater Boston area, that has not happened yet and we remain without the retro-style fast food chain. Locals in 30 other states, including Washington, D.C., can drive through.

• Checkers burger chain coming to Boston

Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. has gotten a lot of news coverage for its racy ads featuring celebrities like Paris Hilton eating their food provocatively. The company is known for its burgers, but also has a full breakfast menu. The chain has locations in 15 states.

Stuckey’s

A Southern chain, Stuckey’s is most known for its Pecan Log Roll, which it describes as the “taste of fluffy, cherry-laced nougat wrapped in fresh caramel and pecan.’’ Stuckey’s has locations in 19 states, but Bostonians can buy the Pecan Log Roll online from the Stuckey’s store.

In-N-Out Burger

This West Coast chain is famous for its burgers and its “Not-Secret menu,’’ a list of items that can be ordered that aren’t on the regular menu. You can find In-n-Outs in just five states: California, Texas, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.

Whataburger

There are more than 700 Whataburger locations, but none are closer to Boston than the ones in Florida. The company is famous for its burgers, but it also has chicken, breakfast, and a selection of shakes.

Red Lobster

New Englanders could always use another seafood joint, right? Red Lobster, however, has yet to make waves in Boston. The chain has over 600 locations worldwide.