The Peoria area is passionate about new chains.

A Journal Star question garnered over 60 email replies with 150 suggestions for new chain restaurants and grocery stores.

But the Facebook response was even stronger, with well over 400 comments.

In all, 582 votes were tallied for 131 different chains – from Argo Tea to Zipps Sports Grill. Here are highlights from your picks.

Still hungry?: 31 of the best places to eat and drink in the Peoria area as voted on by readers

And the winner is ...

In a landslide, the biggest vote recipient was Trader Joe's. With 141 votes, the California-based grocery chain inspired an impassioned response. Some replies were all caps, some in bold text, many with exclamation marks. Trader Joe's has 530 stores nationwide. The locations nearest to Peoria are in the Chicago and St. Louis metro areas and Coralville, Iowa.

More: Here are 16 of our favorite things about Peoria

Burgers

In another landslide — landslider? — White Castle dominated the burger ballot, with 44 votes. The Ohio-based chain has 377 locations, the nearest in Joliet – 130 miles from Peoria.

The race for No. 2 was heated, with California-based In-N-Out Burger leading the way with 18 votes. Fans of the burgery will be happy to see there is a location in Peoria. That's Peoria, Arizona. Otherwise, the nearest of the chain's 300-plus locations is a short 700-mile hop to Texas.

Jack in the Box tallied 17 mentions. The California-based chain has over 2,000 locations, with its nearest outpost in Litchfield, some 117 miles south of Peoria.

Whataburger garnered 14 votes. The Texas-based chain has 670 locales in the South and Southwest.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers received eight votes. The Kansas-based fast-casual chain has more than 380 restaurants across 32 states, with two locations in Springfield.

More: Restaurant chain known for steakburgers — no, not that place — seeks a Peoria-area spot

Casual dining

The category of casual dining — restaurants typically providing table service — was fiercely contested.

Leading the way was Waffle House, with 24 votes. The Georgia-headquartered chain has 2,100 locations in 25 states. Its 24/7 schedule has inspired the urban legend that "Waffle House doors have no locks" as well as the Waffle House Index, an informal measure of a disaster's severity. ("If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That's really bad," said a former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.) The nearest location is in Collinsville, some 150 miles south of Peoria.

Coming in a close second was The Cheesecake Factory, with 21 votes. Known for its massive menu, the California-based chain has 200-plus locations, the nearest in the Chicago and St. Louis areas.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro garnered 10 votes. The Arizona-based chain has more than 300 locations across the United States and worldwide. The closest are in the Chicago and St. Louis areas.

Outback Steakhouse notched eight votes. The Australian-themed chain is headquartered in Tampa, Fla. Of more than 1,000 locations globally, the nearest is in Bloomington.

More: 5 of the best places to get a tasty burger in the Peoria area. Here's why we chose them

Chicken

The poultry-chain polling was close, with two contenders vying to rule the roost.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers garnered 18 votes. The Louisiana-based fast-food chain has hundreds of locations, including many in the Chicago and St. Louis areas. The nearest location to Peoria is in Davenport.

Zaxby's received 14 votes. The Georgia-based fast-casual chain specializes in chicken wings, fingers, sandwiches and salads. It operates hundreds of locations, mostly in the Southern U.S. The nearest is in Indianapolis.

You may like: This popular Southern chicken restaurant says it's planning an expansion into Peoria

Fast casual

Among fast casual restaurants — those without full table service — two stood out, both receiving five votes.

Schlotzsky's is an Atlanta-based sandwich and pizza chain with more than 330 locations throughout the United States. The nearest is in Chesterfield, Missouri – a measly 190 miles southwest of Peoria.

Fazoli's is a Kentucky-based chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine with some 200 locations nationwide. The nearest are in Moline and Champaign.

More: What should every Peoria resident do or try at least once? Here are 5 things

Pizza

Greater Peoria prefers its pizza deep.

Giordano's set the pace in the pizza race, its 11 votes leading the pack. Known for its Chicago-style stuffed pizza, the chain has expanded beyond the Windy City to over 70 locations in the Midwest and elsewhere. The nearest location is in Bloomington.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria garnered six votes. Famed for its deep-dish pies, the Northbrook-based chain has 72 locations, mostly in the Chicago area.

Gino's East tallied three votes. Another favorite of deep-dish devotees, the Chicago-based chain has eight locations, the nearest in Wheaton.

Imo's Pizza was the choice for thin-crust advocates, receiving three votes. The St. Louis-based chain has more than 100 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas.

More: Here is the Best of the Best pizza in the Peoria area as voted on by readers in 2021

Grocery stores

While Trader Joe's dominated the grocery vote, interest in other stores was strong.

Whole Foods Market garnered 24 votes to lead the also-rans. The Texas-based supermarket chain known for its organic offerings has 500 stores in North America. The nearest are in the Chicago and St. Louis areas.

Meijer gathered 14 votes. The Michigan-based retailer has some 250 stores in the Midwest and Kentucky. The nearest is in Normal.

Publix received seven votes. The Florida-based chain has more than 1,200 stores across the Southeast.

The Fresh Market got six votes. The North Carolina-based gourmet supermarket chain previously had a location in Peoria. Of its remaining stores in 22 states, the nearest is in Geneva, west of Chicago.

More: Aldi is opening in Morton. Here's a sneak peek inside the grocery store

Honorable mention

Lastly, a handful of chains merit mention for moniker alone. Hungry Hobo, Hurts Donut, Meatheads Burgers & Fries, The Merry Piglets Mexican Grill and Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop each received a solitary vote.

Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments! We're always hungry for more.

More: 17 ideas to make Peoria a better place to live, play and visit

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria residents yearn for these popular restaurants to open here