What's your favorite fast food?

[malthaussen]

Those of us who aren't food snobs might confess to occasionally grabbing a quick meal at one of the many fast-food franchises that dot the landscape. So what's your favorite? I'll go with the Baconator from Wendy's, which is a little more expensive than other burgers, but at least not as expensive as Five Guys. And, of course, it has bacon.

-- Mal

[JoseBalow]

1. In-N-Out Burger

It's simple, fresh, and none of the ingredients are ever frozen. There are no freezers in the place.

They cut the fries on premises, fresh daily.

And the milkshakes are made with REAL ice cream. All other fast food shakes are made with that sticky goo instead.

Also, the employees are always friendly and helpful. Always.

And they have a (not so) secret menu you can find by doing a simple online search.

[fierywoman]

4. Oh! How I miss In-n-out! Double double with a milkshake, OMG -- is it really fast food?

[JoseBalow]

7. Oh, it's fast alright!

And soooo delicious!

[malthaussen]

22. Yeah, I hear great things about In-n-out, but they haven't made it to Pittsburgh.

Probably a good thing, if they got that large, quality would probably go down.

-- Mal

[JoseBalow]

23. They're family-owned, with no franchises

They are growing, but mostly in the west. I believe they are planning to open across the Mississippi in Tennessee, so they're getting closer to you.

Maybe worth a road trip!


PS - They use paper straws, to help reduce single-use plastics pollution. I don't know of any other fast food places that do that.

[Danmel]

42. In Suffolk County NY they all do

It's the law and I understand why but paper straws suck.

[JoseBalow]

43. The straws at In-N-Out are like a thick cardboard strength

I only use them for their thick shakes, I've never had any issues with them - they're sturdy and work fine.

[Danmel]

44. Need them here, lol

I have no issue with the ban

[Dulcinea]

24. We hit In-N-Out Burger whenever we travel out west!

I've never seen one outside of California or Nevada. That's not to say they don't exist in other places; I've just never seen one.

[JoseBalow]

45. Most are in CA, but they currently have locations in 8 western states

The chain is headquartered in Irvine, California, and has expanded outside Southern California into the rest of California, as well as into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho, and is planning expansions into New Mexico and Tennessee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger

[Enter stage left]

2. Jersey Mikes cheese steak, but order it with mushrooms. Yummm!

[dai13sy]

3. I love Taco Time crunchy bean burrito and Mexi-fries with lots of their salsa - So Good

Although if you add bacon to almost anything I will eat it. Also McDonald's French fries should never be rejected - the best

[Aristus]

5. Taco Time is a Northwest treasure!

Their food is so good, and so much of it is prepared fresh every day. Their food supplies are sourced locally, and they engage in sustainable business practices.

[dwp6577]

56. replace the meat with bean and try this (awesome on night 1 / not crispy, but still good reheated)

Copycat Taco Time Crisp Meat Burritos

Makes 10 Burritos

1 lb. ground beef or turkey

2 tsp. dried onion flakes

1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup salsa verde

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

10 (8-inch) flour tortillas

cooking spray or olive oil



1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

2. Combine onion flakes, garlic, chili powder, cumin and salt in a small bowl and then mix into ground beef or turkey. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned and no longer pink. If needed, drain grease and return pan back to the stovetop.

3. Pour in salsa verde and stir until combined. Stir in shredded cheese until melted and then remove from heat.

4. Scoop 1/4 cup beef mixture onto the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about an inch from the edges. Roll up the tortilla and place seam down onto the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture and tortillas.

5. Make sure none of the burritos touch and spray each lightly with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.

6. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

[Aristus]

6. I used to love Burger King's chicken sandwiches.

BK has dropped to about the fifth tier of fast food joints in recent decades. Their stores are filthy, run-down, and poorly managed.

But once upon a time, they offered their chicken sub in several different varieties: cordon bleu, Italian, and regular. I loved them all, and ate them unashamedly.

Haven’t had one in years, since I worry about the diseases I could contract just by going near one of their locations. But once upon a time…

[Diamond_Dog]

8. Decades ago they had a veal parm sandwich I loved.

You’re right though, Aristus, they have really gone downhill the last few years.

I probably eat fast food about 4x a year.

[Aristus]

12. I don't think I ever tried the veal parm.

Sounds wonderful!

[BOSSHOG]

14. I'll take a Whopper with Cheese about once a year

The closest one is about 50 miles away. And it is close to how you describe them.

50 plus years ago my favorite was Mr Quick Burgers, but they’ve been gone for decades.

I dread the day when fast food places won’t accept cash.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

15. McD is about the same but for breakfast sandwiches

Those flapjacks? Cooked, flash frozen, shipped, microwaved, served. Avoid. Their biscuits and gravy are good here but that may be regional.

The McD I visit here are clean, but poorly supervised in store staff have driven me back to ordering in the drive thru.

Our go-to for fast food is a regional chain named Braum's, Popeye's Chicken or a local Mexican drive thru only restaurant.

[True Dough]

28. Which is worse?

The fifth tier of fast food joints or the ninth circle of hell?

[whopis01]

32. Those chicken sandwiches were darn good

I doubt they were very good for me - certainly were the definition of processed food - but I loved them.

I don't know what happened to their stores though - I agree with you - they are absolutely terrible now.

[rsdsharp]

58. The regular chicken sandwich used to just be called "chicken sandwich."

I ordered one once, and the counter guy asked “Which one?” I pointed to the menu board and said “The one called ‘chicken sandwich.’”

[ProfessorGAC]

60. We Have A BK Here, That...

...runs so ridiculously lean, that one can wait in the drivethru for over 10 minutes.
It ceases to be fast food at that point.
The Whoppers still taste good, at least.

[Jerry2144]

9. California Fish Grill

Very good seafood

[kimbutgar]

31. Love that one also !

My fav is the dynamite shrimp bowl !

[Figarosmom]

10. Popeyes

Spicy chicken sandwich.

[Different Drummer]

11. Checkers has become my favorite.

In some parts of the U.S., they're known as Checkers and, in others, they are known as Rally's. Love their hamburgers (even though they put mayonnaise on them, which I consider to be an abomination) and nuggets, and their fries are to die for!

[whopis01]

33. Checker's fries are fantastic

And I always liked mayonnaise on a burger.

[Upthevibe]

13. malthaussen.....

In - N - Out!

I grew up on What-a-burger (being a native Texan until I moved to CA in '88). IMHO, In - N - Out is better than What-a-burger....

[LudwigPastorius]

16. I'll confess to craving a Taco Bueno beef potato burrito every once in a while.

flour tortilla, ground beef, crunchy potato bits, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and queso

So bad for you, but so good.

[bedazzled]

17. I like culvers veggie burger

It's the only option since burger King has those awful impossible burgers

[quaint]

18. Another confession: El Pollo Loco veggie tostada and a BRC burrito.

Slight salt overdose.

[Emile]

19. Breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and fries at Suzi Q's

local stand with outdoor seating.

[TommieMommy]

20. Wendy's Jr Bacon Cheeseburger 😁

[unc70]

21. Bojangles Cajun filet chicken sandwich

Comes with LT. Sweet tea.

Bojangles biscuits are good, but prefer the sandwich. This is my default meal when doing my six hour "commute" to Knoxville.

[OldBaldy1701E]

25. It's either Taco Libre or Popeyes.

Although the recipe has changed, Popeye's dirty rice and spicy chicken are hard to beat. The biscuits are not bad either!

When you go into Taco Libre and order one dish, that dish is usually enough to feed you twice. I can't lose weight if they keep on doing that! Especially when it is so good, you try to eat it all at once anyway!

[MichMan]

26. Chick Fil A

Usually order Chicken Strips and Waffle fries


Just found out they are building one not too far from home.

[brewens]

27. It was Taco Bell, but the last time I ate there I got the farts so bad I had to burn the clothes I was wearing. :) n/t

[True Dough]

29. C'mon!

If the farts were really that bad, you wouldn't have had any clothes left to burn!

[LakeArenal]

30. Franchise wise: Culver's bacon butter burger deluxe.

Culver’s



Small town: Tamarack Portage WI



The best burger ever and Mr Lake was a chef and made many burgers. None better than this one. Mmmmmm

[aeromanKC]

34. Reminds me of French Dip at Friar Tuck's in fond du lac. Mmmm!!!

[LakeArenal]

36. I graduated from LP Goodrich High!!!

Been to Gilles? Yum!!!’

[displacedvermoter]

35. Sonic

None here in New England I know of?

[MiKenMi33]

37. Culver's

I’ve never gotten anything bad there, and the employees are always nice.

[viva la]

38. Popeyes red beans and rice

I might run out and get some now that you've reminded me!

[Elessar Zappa]

39. Taco Bell, Popeyes, and Chick-Fil-A.

And yes I know Taco Bell’s not actual Mexican food but it really hits the spot sometimes.

[Silent Type]

40. Chick-fil-A sandwiches. If I want to be a little healthier, I'll get a large fruit bowl too. Arby's sometimes.

[ColinC]

41. Del Taco/ Tasty Burger

[Kali]

46. most of them

[True Dough]

47. Congrats

on 13 years of DU membership, Mal.

[Iggo]

48. Burger King.

Jack in the Box, sometimes. But I only get one thing there.

Carl’s is good, but messy.

McD for eggamuffins, and that’s it.

But they ALL skimp on fries, so I go to hole-in-the-wall burger places instead whenever possible.

[sakabatou]

49. It really depends on my mood, but Popeyes and Subway

[Auggie]

50. Gott's, San Francisco Bay Area

[RandySF]

51. Subway

[applegrove]

52. Quarter Pounder with cheese. Loved it my whole life.

[malthaussen]

67. I did too, but they seem to have changed the way they make their burgers...

... and they don't seem the same to me. Man, when I was 17 I could wolf down three of those suckers in about 10 minutes, plus fries and Coke. Nowadays, one burger stuffs me!

-- Mal

[Beringia]

53. Big Mac, I can't find anything better

Last edited Tue Sep 24, 2024, 08:21 PM - Edit history (1)

I like how it is always the same. Whoppers are too messy. There aren't any fast food taco places where I live other than Taco Bell which I don't like very much

I wanted to add that Big Macs aren't as good as they used to be because they use too small buns now, and they seem waxy or something

[SleeplessinSoCal]

62. I love a Big Mac. However...

I was put on a detox diet by a doctor to help relieve back pain. After three months of no sugar, bread, caffeine, dairy and alcohol, I ordered a Big Mac and it tasted like cardboard. But my back pain was gone!!

Lesson: don't detox if you want to enjoy junk/fast food.

[Beringia]

63. Haah, I usually get McDonalds burgers because my own food tastes like cardboard every once in a while

[roscoeroscoe]

54. Y'all c'mon, Habit is Best!

Forget In-n-Out, head to The Habit (Goleta) for a lettuce wrap teri char with grilled pineapple & onions!

[keithbvadu2]

55. Road runner

[Aussie105]

57. Any Thai or Chinese takeaway.

As long as it is satay or black bean, light on the noodles and heavy on the meat.

A delight when done right, but most local places have lost the plot - watery satay/black bean, too many noodles and light on the meat.
Cost cutting at its worst.

Still looking for the best place.

[Dear_Prudence]

59. Can't choose one

But Jersey Mike's Original Italien, White Castle sliders, and Arby's French Dip.

[Scrivener7]

61. McD's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit.

I can't explain it. I love them.

[Groundhawg]

64. chick-filet

[ForgedCrank]

65. There can only be one.

In-N-Out

[catbyte]

66. Popeye's Spicy Chicken Sandwich

It never disappoints, even at Detroit Metro Airport. It was great, lol.