Established in 1960, Hardees is a chain of restaurants that serves a selection of burgers, sandwiches, side dishes, desserts and beverages. Its restaurants specialize in omelets, chicken breast strips, french fries and steak biscuits. The chain s signature dishes include Western Bacon Thickburger, Chili Cheese Thickburger, Big Hot Ham N Cheese and Low Carb Breakfast Bowl. Its restaurants also serve strawberry, coffee, vanilla and chocolate ice-cream shakes and malts. Hardees maintains more than 1,900 restaurant locations in the Midwest and southeastern United States. The chain offers gift cards of several denominations, as well as operates an online nutrition calculator. In addition, it provides a range of franchise opportunities. The chain is operated by Hardees Food Systems, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants.