The Fast Food Thread

disneysamuraidisneysamurai
in General

Here’s a thread to talk about fast food. Love it, hate it, can’t go a day without hitting the drive thru, think it’s disgusting and expensive, here’s the place to talk about it!

Five Guys and Chipotle are my favorite fast food joints but now I started going to Chick-Fil-A to get their spicy chicken sandwich. Love the service there - you don’t see that kind of service in most fast food restaurants these days.

McDonald’s, Burger King, and even Subway - used to be favorites of mine as a kid but they’re garbage now. McDonald’s used to be the gold standard but it’s now bottom of the barrel, at least in the US (I heard international locations are way better). Wendy’s is still pretty good but I don’t go out of my way to go to one.

Never liked Taco Bell, even during its prime.

Never grew up with White Castle, but they started building locations here in Central Florida in the last couple of years. The fried fish (or fried chicken) sliders were my favorite.

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Comments

  • JubalJubal

    I've hit a point in my life where I can only have fast food once in awhile - Braum's is my go-to when I do get to indulge.

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    I like Jersey Mike's now and then. My daughter has Chick-Fil-A at her mom's, but I've never had it (never was big on fast food chicken). Haven't had Burger King since a food poisoning incident 10 years back. There are a few really good pizza places in the area, but I have to stay away from pizza.

  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @WriterGF i got food poisoning at Burger King a while back as well. That’s why I stopped going as frequently on top of stores being really dirty and the service being awful. I don’t remember the last time I ate there, but I heard it hasn’t really improved although I do think it’s awesome they changed back to their old logo and did a new spin on the Have It Your Way song from the 70s.

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited September 2025

    I got all excited when I saw Taco Bell brought back their chili and cheese burrito because when I was a teenager that was one of my favorite things of theirs. When I tried it again I was pretty disappointed and left wondering how I ever loved them

  • BriGuy1701EBriGuy1701E

    Top Fast Food (or Fast Casual) Burgers

    • Smashburger
    • Five Guys
    • Steak and Shake

    Most Overrated Burgers

    • Shake Shack
    • Culvers
  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @BriGuy1701E I heard Steak N Shake has made a huge comeback after kind of falling apart in the 2010s. I’ll need to check them out again. And yes, 100% on Five Guys!

  • BearBear
    edited September 2025

    Right now, my favorite fast food go to is Wendy’s. They’re the only one that has actual slices of lettuce to replace bread. I’ve been eating more low-carb to watch my blood sugar and it’s helped me lose weight

    I used to like Taco Bell and I was especially disappointed when they stop making the taco pizza. Their stuff got expensive and I just don’t go as much.

    Five guys is one of the more expensive, but I love their juicy burger.

    White castle and Burger King and Wendy’s I go to for tea because larger size. I used to go to McDonald’s for the dollar soft drink value, but you have to have the app now. And like mentioned McDonald’s used to be good but not really anymore. In the West loop OF CHICAGO is the headquarters where they have international dishes from McDonald’s around the world and I still haven’t made it there to try it.

    One place I go to more often, which is not too big out of the Midwest is Portillos, which has a Italian beef sandwich, which was created in Chicago and is an iconic sandwich and food OF Chicago. They’ve gotten pricier since they sold and is not as tasty as it used to be.

    Most of the time I used to go through the drive-through every day after work out of stress or loneliness or boredom. Now I try to stay away or if I need to get something cause I have an urge I’ll usually get a soft drink. That helps with my multiple issues of what IMost of the time I used to go through the drive-through every day after work out of stress or loneliness or boredom. Now I try to stay away or if I need to get something cause I have a urge I’ll usually get a soft drink. That helps with my multiple issues of what I call shopping therapy as well as stress eating, lol.

    This is turning into a very long response. I guess this shows how much my day and thoughts revolved around food Now I just try to have something to make sure I don’t go hungry or something small so I don’t get hungry when I go to bed. Plus, I only bring home fresh fruit, and some vegetables and enough food for a few days. Help me stop the binging.

  • JackNJJackNJ
    edited September 2025

    When I was much younger, I ate fast food probably on a daily basis but today I may have it about once a month. That once a month is usually a few nuggets from Chick-fil-A. I don’t need a whole meal as I just wanna taste most of the time so I’ll order a 30 piece for my kids and I’ll take a few for me. I do enjoy that frosted coffee drink they have.

  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @Bear have you been to BurgerFi? They have the lettuce bun burger as well and their burgers are more like five guys burgers. My only gripe with them (other than the price) is that they only have sugary drinks and alcohol; no unsweetened tea. That’s also another gripe I have with fast food restaurants in general. I avoid drinking soda if I can help it or really anything with a ton of sugar in it but a lot of fast food chains to this day will either not serve unsweetened tea at all or they don’t bother to refill it. Like they’ll run out MIDDAY and I’ll ask if they could refill it and every time they say no because they’re clean out. Every time. I recall many instances where I would have to just order the food and then drive down to Starbucks down the road just to get something I could drink.

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    @disneysamurai I knew someone who worked at McDonald's who told me WAY too many stories about how things are done (and not done) there and that put me off that place for life.

    I did like the McDonald's I went to in Europe - stained glass windows, the whole deal.

  • TxTomTxTom

    In no particular order:

    Arby's
    - Corned Beef Reuben
    - Smokehouse Brisket

    Carl's Jr.
    - Double Famous Star

    Chick-fil-A
    - Deluxe Chicken, just for the sauce. But ever since the sauce can be purchased at the grocery store, I make my own chicken sandwich at home.

    Firehouse Subs
    - Hook & Ladder

    McDonalds
    (Rest in Peace Morgan Spurlock.)
    - Big Mac, just for the sauce.

    Subway
    - Meatball Marinara

    SONIC
    - Jalapeno Double Cheeseburger

    I used to go to Quizno's a lot until one day I walked in and the sandwich maker was two knuckles deep into his nostril.

  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @WriterGF - I worked at McDonalds as well back in high school - for two whole months before quitting. I hated it and ate at McDonald’s way less afterward.

    @TxTom Forgot about Sonics. I used to go there for the onion rings especially.

    Quiznos used to be amazing especially compared to subway, even though it was definitely on the higher price end. All of them in my area closed down though. I still need to try Firehouse. We have several where I live.

  • SpaceGoatSpaceGoat

    I LOVE fast food but severely limit since it’s so bad for you. So I only grab it maybe once every three months?

    The burger bowl at 5guys is amazing! Taco Bell is my guilty pleasure, in just glad my stomach can still tolerate it with all the gastrointestinal issues I hear it causes.

    Sonic, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Burger King are nostalgic for me. Sometimes I go for a kids meal 😂

    I REALLY miss Boston Market. Is that considered fast food?

  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @SpaceGoat i sadly never got to go to a Boston market although where I used to work we often got catering from them and I thought their food was good.

  • BearBear

    @disneysamurai not familiar with that chain at all.
    McDs does unsweetened. White Castle had the best. ConTea was the brand. Now it’s diet Fuze I believe
    Wendy’s does.
    Dunkin has crappy ice tea. Plus their food is frozen mini mart quality food.

    Thank you for the heads up.

  • BlueIrisBlueIris Mod

    My fast food days are pretty much over after having to switch to keto eating for health reasons. I love carbs too much, but they don't love me.

    My favorites were McDonald's (I had one last year, and it tasted the same as always.), Taco Bell, KFC and Domino's. Used to like Chick-Fil-A, but now where I live it's in a very inconvenient location, so I don't go there.

  • Matt2358Matt2358

    @pmvines Perhaps as a kid you may have had the "munchies" 🤣

  • wilderdudewilderdude

    @BlueIris double qpc no bun, no ketchup is a solid keto option.

    Places like Wendy's, in n out have great lettuce wraps. 4x2 protein style really hits the spot

  • _marC_marC

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/tueVNARgwi1R6wGu9?g_st=ac

  • ChiaraCuddlesChiaraCuddles

    A triple triple protein animal style with chopped chili and extra grilled onions and fries inside. Oh, and a strawberry shake.

  • alyhugsalyhugs
    edited September 2025

    My version of fast food is going to Wegmans at 11:59pm grabbing a hot Peruvian seasoned rotisserie chicken and eating it in my car like an animal.

    beyond that, Panera’s chicken noodle soup (sans noodles) is superior. Also Cavas falafel. When I’m traveling and need protein, Starbucks red pepper egg bites or their spinach feta wrap (sans wrap- just eat the egg whites + spinach feta) is yummy.

    I refuse to eat McDonald’s, chic fil a, etc. just doesn’t taste good and is not worth the calories imo.

  • [Deleted User]KleinK (deleted user)

    Five guys isn't fast food, really... it's gotta be In n' Out for me. But there are none around here!

  • SideonSideon

    No one has mentioned Weinerschnitzel? GREAT burgers.

    • @Bear Portillo's is amazing.
    • Five Guys is overrated and overpriced.
    • No, just no, to religion wrapped in chicken tenders and burgers - looking at you, Chik-Fil-A and In-And-Out Burgers
    • Fuddruckers or Nations for burgers, FTW. Red Robin for their Bleu Cheese Burgers.
    • Taco TIME was delicious. Apple empanadas.
    • Sconecutter sandwiches were fantastic. Great fries too.
    • A&W Drive In were the best. Bonus points for the bear straw.

    FF is a rarity now because I cook well and enjoy it.

  • disneysamuraidisneysamurai

    @alyhugs forgot to mention that I used to go to Panera a lot too, at one point daily. I feel like they’ve gone way downhill over the last few years though, probably due to their private equity buyout.

  • alyhugsalyhugs

    @disneysamurai yeah for sure. they’ve changed the recipes for some of the items on the menu. I used to love a few of their sandwiches but now I just stick with the chicken noodle soup.

    Some say it’s glorified hospital food 😝

  • SoosonSooson

    Five Guys is overrated and overpriced.

    Yes, but the fries are an exception.

  • SoosonSooson

    And drive thru employees need to stop wrapping the white change insidec the paper bills when they hand you money back.

  • BearBear

    @Sideon
    Portillos was great before it sold.
    They actually have a pretty good burger as well as the Chicago style hotdog.

    I’m glad you mentioned Chik-fila, I didn’t want to be accused of bringing religion into the convo. I’ll have to look up the In n Out connection. We don’t have them here, but always good to know.

    Five guys is overpriced, but it’s tasty. I just assumed it was normal overpriced Chicago food, lol.

    Fuddruckers was good but I haven’t had that since the 80s because most of them closed down around

    It’s a greasy guilty pleasure. I miss the deep fried tacos from Jack-in-the-Box because we used to have them when I was a kid. 2002 was the first time I went to Vegas and I drove straight to the drive-through after leaving the airport, lol.

    To me red Robin is overpriced. I was never one for that restaurant too much.

    Epic burger is really overpriced and not that great. Not even sure if they’re still around.

    Actually, what a tasty burger is, but it’s too small is the 1921 white Castle. We were one of the original states it came out in. Chicagoland only had four restaurants originally. It was a seasoned patty from the original recipe and that was pretty good. I don’t know anymore

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited September 2025

    Yoshinoya when I am in California. One of the quickest ways to eat healthy—Japanese fast food.

  • [Deleted User]seven77 (deleted user)

    Chipotle is so tasty... And Wendy's hamburgers....true . They might not be good for you.... But just as well die eating happy😅

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