Runza

First time trying Runza’s. My verdict it’s neutral. Good, happy service but wasn’t that impressed by the food itself. At least, I can say I’ve tried it and would probably try again, but wasn’t that impressed.
I will keep searching around Omaha for more tasty, local food.

This is one of these places that people tell you about when you move to NE. I’ve been here for a year, so I figured I’d try it. And, honestly, although the staff was nice, I don’t get it. The Runza sandwich was on some funky hotdog-​ish bun. The meat was odd – sort of sloppy joe meat, but no sauce. Kind of a mush of meat and onions and grease. And, I had a salad-​typical fast food restaurant salad with iceberg and stuff. Nothing to write home about, and not a place I’ll be going again any time soon.

When the guy in the back handed the girl up front my order, he said, «This needs fat free ranch.» She was reading tickets and didn’t respond. He went, «You got that? It needs fat free ranch.» She said, «Got it», then turned around and handed me my salad. No ranch. Seriously? This time I was smart enough to ask her for it before I left the building.

I love runzas — and the Runza Hut classic for me is just that, a classic. A runza is a bread dough filled with ground beef, onion, and cabbage; and for me, perfect comfort food that reminds me of Nebraska. I love it. I can make a great homemade version but like a hot dog at a baseball game; a runza from Runza Hut just evokes a visceral feeling of happy, of home and of my childhood in Lincoln, Nebraska that can only happen with an original Runza in Nebraska. They have cheese runzas and I even saw (gasp!) a swiss mushroom runza; which I’m sure are good. Today, straight off the plane, I drove to the nearest Runza Hut, bought 2 ORIGINAL style runzas, onions rings and a root beer. Heaven and Home in one simple, fast-​food bite. Takes me right to my happy place.

Been wanting to go to a Runza since I moved here… I ordered a double cheeseburger and onion rings… the rings were pretty good, and the burger was better than most fast food chains… Price wise it was in line with other burger joints and I didn’t feel like I got ripped off… but I was really impressed with the people who worked here… one guy in particular was constantly cracking jokes and in general struck me as a very happy and upbeat person… it’s something that’s unfortunately rare these days in fast food joints… I’ll certainly come back to this location in the future…

Okay, I admit it, I feel for the «When in NE, you must try a Runza» line. I don’t get it! Reminded me a fast food version of hamburger helper stuffed in bread and layered with an nice extra layer of grease. Was is tasty? Yes. Should I ever do that to my arteries again? Never. The fries were super tasty, the Runza was an experience. Check that off the list kinda thing. I guess is boils down to being a «Nebraska thing» I’ll never understand.

(06/​04/​2012) Yes, had to do it. Heard the virtues of the runza extolled on the web boards and actually got a cab to take me through a drive-​thru while visiting Omaha; the drive-​thru because apparently this location closes the dining room at 5 pm, but you can drive, like, 4 feet and order from the window. The runza is like a giant piroshki, slightly sweet, slightly dense, slightly chewy, hot, baked, roll of dough stuffed with seasoned (lots of ground black pepper) ground beef, sauteed onions and American cheese. Awesome.

Keep hearing about these things called Runza. Everyone is saying you gotta try one, so we ran across one while visiting in Omaha, and well, we stopped in to try one.
It turned out to be bread stuffed with ground beef, cheese, mushrooms, and onions, served with french fries. it was w unique taste, reminds me of Arby’s. No something I would go out of my way for, if it was a choice, I would wanta know what else I had to chose from!

I think of a Runza as like the White Castle/​Krystal Burger of Omaha. I’m not their #1 fan but I understand the obsession. Their fries (which you can request «well done») were, however, awesome.