The results are in! Here are the top three national food chains readers want to see in New Bedford.

NEW BEDFORD — There are plenty of local restaurants to choose from in the Whaling City, but there are some national chains that aren’t located in the area that people still love and wish were nearby.

That’s why the Standard Times invited readers to vote for the national chain they would like to see set up in New Bedford.

And the winner goes to In-N-Out Burger.

In-N-Out Burger, a fast-food chain that serves hamburgers, fries and milkshakes, is celebrating its 75th anniversary, according to the website. The chain was founded in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder, and is currently owned by their granddaughter Lynsi Snyder.

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In-N-Out is known for its fresh burgers, featuring 2-ounce beef patties cooked to a medium rare and served on toasted buns. Burgers typically include lettuce, tomato, and a spread similar to Thousand Island dressing, and can be ordered with or without onions.

The chain has locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho, and plans to expand to New Mexico and Tennessee. However, there are no locations in New England.

Could there be an In-N-Out Burger in the future?

According to the website, at In-N-Out Burger, quality is paramount. That’s why, in a world where food is often overly processed, pre-packaged and frozen, In-N-Out does everything the old-fashioned way and doesn’t want to disrupt that model by shipping its burgers to the East Coast.

However, if there is a burger plant within a 300-mile radius, In-N-Out might consider opening a franchise, so there is a chance it could set up shop in the New Bedford area in the future.

In our survey, we also considered other chains like Shake Shack, PF Chang’s China Bistro, and White Castle. Here are the ones that made the top three.

The closest Cracker Barrel to New Bedford is located at 825 Centre of New England Blvd, Coventry, RI. Despite the same name and spelling, Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Cracker Barrel Cheese are unrelated.

It takes dedication to please people and treat our customers and staff like family. Maybe that’s why for more than 50 years, millions of people have trusted Cracker Barrel as a home away from home where they can enjoy a hot, comforting meal, according to its website.

With “daily home-cooked dinners under $10” on its all-day breakfast menu, the restaurant is also known for its fried chicken options and country dishes such as hash brown casserole and breaded fried okra.

Like Cracker Barrel, the Cheesecake Factory closest to New Bedford is the one at Providence Place Mall in the heart of downtown Providence. With over 250 menu items, the restaurant not only offers several delicious cheesecake options, but also a slew of favorites like Cajun Jambalaya Pasta, Mac and Cheese, Almond Crusted Salmon Salad, Chicken Pot Stickers, and Hot Crab and Artichoke Dip.

Standard-Times editor Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@st.com. For more information, visit sethchitwood.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Standard-Times today.

This article was originally published on Standard-Times: New Bedford residents vote on which chain they want in New Bedford