PrintWho partakes in a little fast food action?
It's surely a given that all of us on this site are pretty serious foodies who love to eat, love to cook and are proud to be adventurous when it comes to food. Given the fact that people are now busier than they've ever been, it seems humanly impossible to be able to avoid fast food at all times. So, what are your fast food preferences? Where do you eat? What do you order? Do you favor hole-in-the-wall joints or big chains that spit out burgers faster than people can eat them? I'll go first. For some god awful reason, I like Carl's Jr. It must be the BBQ and the onion ring on the burger, but if I have to eat fast food on the go, I'm going with Carl's Jr.
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54 Comments:
I love the spicy crispy chicken sandwich from Jack In The Box with some curly fries and a Dr. Pepper.Yes. It's the worst thing you can eat but it's soooo good.
evilchefmom at 10:04PM on 02/26/08
just this evening i succumbed to the siren song of new york burger company. a cheeseburger, fries, and a big root beer. smothered in ketchup!
cybercita at 10:23PM on 02/26/08
You seem to be asking two things. Do you do fast food places or what do you do if you want something quick? You can have a completely healthy meals from all fast food places. If pressed for time I just hit a sub shop or grab a Cliff Bar (I have boxes of the things.)
For fast food places I hit the chains - I'll grab a Chicken McNuggets and Fries from McDonalds once every two weeks. My boyfriend and I will grab a bucket of extra crispy chicken from KFC about once a month. This is just for the want of comfort food not to save time.
bravian at 10:45PM on 02/26/08
In and Out Burgers and fries - if I can't make burgers at home those are the best. If pressed I will eat nuggets from Chick-fil-a... hey, I have a nine year old. Yep... that is my excuse and I'm sticking with it. Who me? Crave greasy nuggets with honey mustard?
sbelle at 11:13PM on 02/26/08
In n Out
alyssazor at 11:43PM on 02/26/08
Every now and then I crave some fast food. Oddly enough, when I don't feel well I want a BK Whopper with cheese and a vanilla shake. Haven't had one of those in years, though.
I'll also occasionally succomb to a Twinkie. Well, I guess it would be a pair of Twinkies, actually.
If there was a really good place around here for things like Italian Beef and Gyros, those would be my fast foods of choice. Sadly, those things don't exist here in the wild, so if I want them, I make them myself. Fast food, ha!. It takes me 3 days to go from lamb meat to finished gyros sandwiches. It's even hard to find a good hot dog and fries around here.
dbcurrie at 12:37AM on 02/27/08
Currie, I'm with you on the Italian beef. You can't get decent Italian beef where I live, so I have to wait until I visit family back in Chicago to hit Al's or Portillo's.
For fast food where I live, it's mostly common chain stuff. Every once in awhile (ahem, and my fellow women will know when I'm talking about) I have to have the greasy goodness of a McDonald's cheeseburger. If I'm blowing off work and hitting a movie in the middle of the afternoon, I will sometimes sneak a chicken burrito in my bag.
maered at 1:15AM on 02/27/08
I used to love a BK whopper with cheese and heavy pickles; now, it makes me feel *belch* kinda gross afterwards.
I have enjoyed Chic-Fil-A all my life as well as KFC.
Of course, after a shopping spree at Costco, an occasional (about two or three times a year) Hebrew National Frank hits the spot.
Having recently moved to Indianapolis, I have had Steak&Shake (more prolific than Starbucks),the 96th St. Burger and the Tie-Dye Grill burger.
I ate fast food and in restaurants while my belongings were in transit and while we worked on the house...it will be a looooong time before I hit the fast food places again... Next year we begin renovating the kitchen....
wookie at 1:26AM on 02/27/08
Ah, Portillos!
You know they ship, right? You can get combo boxes of things like pizza, beefs, other stuff.
Over the summer, I found a guy at a hot dog cart who was selling real Vienna hot dogs, and I talked him into selling me a case. He thought I was a little nuts, but he sold me the case of dogs, a box of poppy seed buns, and he threw in something else -- maybe celery salt.
I can't believe I can't even buy poppy seed buns at the grocery store. Junk food used to be easy. Now I even have to bake my own hot dog buns if I want poppy seeds. It just ain't fair!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!
dbcurrie at 1:30AM on 02/27/08
I can't remember the last time I ate a burger from a national chain. It's been about a year ago that I visited a local teen favorite in Seattle. Natives will smile when I identify Dick's; the rest of you will just have a confused look on your face. Deluxe, fries, and a vanilla shake...
The only "fast food" I eat is KFC; spicy and crispy. I drop in about three times per year otherwise, all burgers and chicken get cooked at home.
When I'm on the road at meal time, I always seek out the Mom and Pop-type local diner.
czken at 5:05AM on 02/27/08
Hand to God...I rarely partake of fast food BUT if I'm going to sin, for me it's Checkers. Only french fries on the planet I can eat without ketchup.
chiff0nade at 5:17AM on 02/27/08
@dbcurrie - When I'm sick, all I want is a Big Mac and Fries.
So, my fast food faves (only very rarely eaten) are the Big Mac, Double Whopper w/Cheese and Popeye's extra spicy chicken. Because I eat fast food so rarely, when I do I always get a little sick. Especially with Popeye's. So I have to think about it first. Is it worth it? Sometimes it totally is.
chisai at 7:20AM on 02/27/08
Oh that's funny about craving certain fast food when ill. For me, it's Chicken McNuggets with honey mustard sauce - I've been known to down a 20 piece order in a single sitting when totally stuffed up and miserable. My husband just shakes his head.
For burgers tho, I gotta say Harvey's - about twice a year I indulge in their bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. I would also say this can be hormonally related.... (grin).....
Maureen at 7:56AM on 02/27/08
I had a craving for a mikey D's cheeseburger about a month ago, it had been 2 yrs since I had any fast food, only managed 1 bite before I got violently sick, I guess that killed the cravings for good cause now just the thought of fast food of any kind makes me nauseaus.
huney_bumper at 8:04AM on 02/27/08
In January, my sister picked me up at West Palm to drive down to the Keys for the weekend. She talked me into stopping at KFC about 1/2 way there. By the time I finished peeling off the fried skin,,,,,my hands were greasy and I was completely grossed out!! I ate the green beans. Hey I tried.
crazyspice at 9:05AM on 02/27/08
On occasion, when I haven't had the time or inclination to make breakfast, I will get an Egg McMuffin from McD's. I haven't had a fast food burger in ages, but I do like the ones from Backyard Burgers. If we're on a road trip, we're most likely to stop at a Subway for lunch.
Library Lady at 9:13AM on 02/27/08
A real weakness for Popeye's from back in the day when it was a New Orleans-only spot. And the next time I'm in California, I want to try In and Out. (What should I order?) Steak 'n' Shake, which we've had in St. Louis since the '60's is not what I consider a fast-food spot. They cook to order, which means the drive-through, a relatively late addition to their restaurants, is verrrry slow.
lemons at 9:57AM on 02/27/08
Give me Subway any day! But for true fast food, I tend to avoid it all, except for the occasional trip to Arby's. Some of their sandwiches are decent, and I especially like their melted ham and swiss sandwiches. I won't order my own order of curly fries, but I also mooch a few of someone else. They are the best curly fries anywhere :)
luswim06 at 9:57AM on 02/27/08
Every once in a while i'll pick up a plain burger at McD's with a side salad tossed with the balsamic vinagrette, and i'll put the salad ON the burger- I guess it makes me feel less guilty? But my one true guilty pleasure is a Costco hot dog!
aungeinphx at 10:34AM on 02/27/08
I don't love fast food, but I do love me an In-n-Out burger and strawberry shake. Can't remember the last time I had it!
For all you Chick-Fil-A fans, I had never had that before (we don't have it here in NYC, where I grew up), but my husband, a super-healthy eater, made me chase all over the Phoenix airport during a layover trying to find it so he could have a fried chicken sandwich. I was so shocked! You think you know someone! But we had a ball, running from terminal to terminal, giggling all the way -- and when we finally found it, he was so happy. We both had a fried chicken sandwich, and they were goooood :)
CookiePie at 10:40AM on 02/27/08
I am ashamed to admit that I love MickeyD's Fish Sandwich. I'm pretty sure they put crack on the tartar sauce.
lorelei76 at 10:42AM on 02/27/08
I love how this has turned into a confessional. Every GREAT once in a while, I'm talking like, twice a year, I will grab a Wendy's five-piece chicken nuggets with some honey to dip them in. Mmmm. I think the last time I had them I was serving jury duty in downtown Brooklyn, and anonymously slipped away at lunch time for a little indugence.
savecara at 11:45AM on 02/27/08
I get a craving for a Double Whopper with Cheese or Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese maybe once a year or so. However, as some others have posted, since I don't really tend to eat fast food anymore I may end up not feeling well in some way by the end of it. Certainly I can expect that it will take several hours before the burger actually is able to digest. So I try to take this into account before I partake.
Amandarama at 11:51AM on 02/27/08
Lemons, well since they only have burgers, fries and shakes... :) You can build your burger as high as you want though (can you say 10x10?). And don't forget to order your burger and/or fries "animal style" (they add pickle, extra spread and grilled onions + cheese on the fries). Mmm.
alyssazor at 11:53AM on 02/27/08
I only eat fast food when I'm traveling on the road - and then it's usually Wendy's chicken nuggets with ketchup. And occasionally a Frosty.
But Chik-Fil-A - used to love their chicken sandwiches when I was younger. Haven't been there in sooo long!
woodenspoon at 11:53AM on 02/27/08
I will admit it - I have a thing for Taco Bell. Luckily there are none anywhere near me so I only eat it like once every three to four months. But oh man are those chalupas and mexican pizzas good.
raspberry eggplant
charm city cupcake at 12:26PM on 02/27/08
Chipotle is always a great option, and Subway's what I'll do in a pinch on road trips, but I've gotta say ... I looooooooves me some White Castle! Other than some local places that sell fresh Mexican, it's pretty much the only fast food that I'll go out of my way for. However, I have a strict once-a-month rule with it. Monthly White Castlings have now become an established ritual for my boyfriend and I - he gets upset if I mention getting my monthly White Castle with someone else :-).
tacroy80 at 1:24PM on 02/27/08
I strongly dislike fast food. It's not a judgmental thing. Just don't like the way stuff tastes, and hate the way I feel for the next 12 hours.
However, I do go to In-n-Out, about once a month, usually following a 10-hour weekend-warrior yardwork marathon. A couple or three times a year, I'll eat Del Taco, where the beans are made from scratch (not powder, like at TB), the produce and meat are prepared on-site (not bagged), and the cheese is real. We pop into Sonic about every third trip to TN, but I their commercials are much better than their food.
Those are the only ones I'll willingly eat. (I do eat Wahoo's but that's more of a counter-service place, not true fast food.)
If forced to eat at one of the other national chains, especially of the burger variety, which I'm almost never hungry enough to do (I'm really good at going without eating), I'll usually just opt for an order of fries to hold me over. If truly famished, and fast food burger joints are the only available option (e.g., road trip, etc.), it's a fish sandwich for me. But even then, if there's a gas station mini-mart around, I'll just grab a bottle of juice and a bag of nuts, or maybe some jerky or crackers, and call it a meal.
LoCo at 1:27PM on 02/27/08
Every time we're in a town with a Sonic, we hit it. We were happy to drive 9 hours to the closest one (TN), back when my husband first moved here. Fortunately, we only have to drive 2-1/2 hours to the closest one now. Their deep fried dill pickles were great, but we can't find 'em anymore. Sonic's burgers, chili cheese tots/coneys, and drinks (cherry limeade!) are the best as far as fast-food goes. The best part for me is that I can eat it early in the morning, since I hate standard breakfast foods, e.g., eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, etc.
My favorite "fast" food is pho.
The fast-food restaurant we go to the most would be Burger King or Taco Hell since the husband craves it on occasion, every 1-2 months.
I liked Popeyes a lot as a child - hot and spicy! Their sides are great too. They were located in really safe parts of town in Hawaii except for 1. In the city where we are currently, their restaurants are in really nasty neighborhoods so I don't even bother anymore. I hate being harrassed for money on the way in and out.
Cassaendra at 1:52PM on 02/27/08
Living in the middle of Sonic central (I can think of at least seven on this side of town) I find their food utterly and wholly disgusting. It's never warm, it's never fresh - completely awful.
I have a sad fondness for some chicken tenders from Cain's now and again though...what is it about toasted buttered bread with "secret" sauce that is so delicious. :(
feriorrenna at 2:59PM on 02/27/08
Chick-fil-a! So delicioussss! Also - Wendy's. There is nothing better than french fries dipped in a chocolate frosty.
krispychikin at 3:31PM on 02/27/08
In n Out with fries and a neopolitan shake: soo many calories, but oh so good.
chlamers at 3:50PM on 02/27/08
Yeah Currie, and then there's the whole hot dog thing too. I completely understand the Vienna hot dog and poppy seed bun issue. You can't get good junk food in No Cal. I just found out there's a Portillo's in Orange County, which makes me think I need to get in the car and drive seven hours for a beef sandwich while my kids are on spring break.
maered at 3:50PM on 02/27/08
what??! nobody's mentioned el pollo loco - the dashing, unloved brother of KFC?
el pollo loco's $.99 piece chicken thigh/wing/drumstricks (grilled with lime and all sorts of tasty spices) with complimentary tortillas and suspiciously surgeon uniform colored guacamole, finish off with $.99 churros is the cure to all ailments. There is absolutely nothing better than el pollo loco reheated at 3 am. Or for amazing finals week soup, college style, chicken soup - toss into some boiling water with tomatoes, lots of chilies and a few sprigs of fresh mint or lemongrass and cook for 20 minutes. So so so good.
dead_brontes at 3:53PM on 02/27/08
All of you are making me feel so guilty! Many of you preface your confessions by saying, "Once in a great while ..." or, "I haven't eaten fast food for years, but ...." I thought people ate fast food more regularly than that. I eat it about once a month. I guess I did this post because last night I grabbed a burger and fries from a local hole-in-the-wall up the street from my house. I loved reading these, it's like being a priest and getting to hear people's sins!
PumpkinBear at 4:32PM on 02/27/08
I haven't had fast food since I was a kid ... but now that I read all these, I'm suddenly craving some Popeye's fried chicken, which I had at least once a month when I was growing up!
mrsbao at 5:17PM on 02/27/08
I'm jealous of all those who live near In-n-Out!
Fast food choices:
1. Once every 2-3 months, Chick-Fil-A's chicken biscuit.
2. If completely crunched for time and totally sapped of all will to microwave (once every six months), then Taco Bueno's potato burrito, which is a chicken burrito with a big hashbrown in the middle. Taco Bueno has a "salsa bar," so I hold the sour cream and cheese and load up on hot sauce.
3. More often than I want to admit, on nights when it's dinner alone, I end up sneaking through Chipotle for a burrito bol: rice, black beans, tomato and corn salsa, guacamole and lettuce. All the salt in the ingredients makes me crave it. I know that must be really bad!
pookywookyster at 6:01PM on 02/27/08
I love Chipolte (I get the salad), I don't really consider it fast food..i guess it is though :(
alyssazor at 6:26PM on 02/27/08
Every month or two when the grandkids are over, amd we're short on time, we'll order KFC chicken with all the sides, spread it out on the table, and make a greasy mess eating it.
Otherwise, I never eat fast food. I really have no moral objection to the fare, I just don't like the fast food style of service or the physical establishments.
(does delivery pizza count?)
srhcb at 7:19PM on 02/27/08
I definitely do fast food on occasion and my list of things I like encompasses many things already mentioned in this thread:
In N Out
Chick Fil A
Dick's in Seattle...man, I miss that place.
McDonald's breakfast, especially the Sausage McMuffin with Egg
Qdoba or Chipotle (or, when in San Francisco, pick a place)
KFC about once a year
Taco Bell also about once a year....can't explain the specific craving on that one
Wayside take out fried chicken in Charlottesville, VA....that happens about every other day when I'm in town there.
ccbweb at 7:54PM on 02/27/08
Mmmm... Dick's. I also enjoy Ezell's spicy chicken...
Diz at 7:57PM on 02/27/08
Duchess Chicken Parm has been a favorite since I was little. My family used to order a bucket of KFC and we would eat it with rice and sriracha mixed with ketchup.
FoodieCutie at 8:30PM on 02/27/08
Wendy's: Mandarin Chicken Salad
Chipotle: Carnitas burrito bol
Popeye's: Spicy Chicken with "cajun" rice or red beans and rice
McD's: I avoid and call it "clown food" but if it is the only thing around I will go with a salad or grilled chicken sandwich
Burger King: Used to like, not any more, tend to avoid. Again will do a salad or the occasional burger
Chik fil a: Chicken Sandwich and Waffle fries (Yum!)
SayWhat at 8:46PM on 02/27/08
Two words:
Five Guys!
OMGGGGGGGGGG....they just opened one in walking distance of my house. I need restraints to keep hubby away.
jcrisco at 4:59PM on 02/28/08
Except for a couple of national chains, I've never heard of many of your choices. There is nothing available near where I live, but if I travel about half an hour I can't resist Specht's Broasted Chicken.
I've had Wendy's chili and their southwest salad w/chili and both are ok. That's one of the few salads I can eat - most have preservatives that I'm allergic to. I do like McDonald's fries if they're fresh out of the oil and not too salty. That is a real treat.
PerkyMac at 5:15PM on 02/28/08
What a fun "confessional!" Well, I used to be partial to Taco Bell, too, and would eagerly await the exit on the highway when I could pull over and get a seven-layer burrito or some other monstrosity with tons of Fire sauce. But somewhere along the way, it lost it's appeal. A couple of years back, my best friend and fellow waitress and I used to subsist on large iced coffees and sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits from Dunkin' Donuts! The thought makes me rather ill now.
I've never tried Chick Fil A, but after hearing so many good things, I might have to track one down!
jbeach at 3:03PM on 02/29/08
I eat fast food only a few days per year and it's when I go to dallas for the holidays to see my mom and hubby's family. because lord help me there is NOTHING like whataburger. noooothing. their burgers are amazing, but even better are their onion rings. never soggy, and the onion doesn't pull all the way out on the first bite. awesome.
the other places we go in dallas are braum's and dairy queen, full service. braum's also has incredible burgers and yummy cherry limeade and DQ makes chicken strip/texas toast with white gravy baskets that positively *define* "comfort food."
aloshaskitchen.blogspot.com
alosha7777 at 1:44AM on 03/02/08
About once a year I get a craving for Onion Rings and Chocolate Shake from Burger King.... it's sooooo fattening, but soooooooo good. With lots of ketcup packets.
MadelynRodriguez at 4:42PM on 03/03/08
I do not eat fast food all the time but I never say no when asked to!!!!
rabbitriddle at 5:22PM on 03/03/08
Maybe it's the change in oils used for french fries, but McD's fries just don't taste as good as they used to (or I remember). Same thing for Dunkin Donuts and the lack of trans fats.
I happen to think Chipolte burrito bowls are straight up delicious.
Popeye's biscuits might even be better than their chicken.
5 Guys might be regional to the DC area, but their burgers and fries are very good.
I find most fast food revolting. And while this is more junk food than fast food - I have a quasi-addiction to Cheez-Its.
Minister of Pork at 5:28PM on 03/03/08
Does anyone do breakfast? Every once in a while, purely for nostalgia's sake (yeah, right), I crave an Egg McMuffin or one of those bacon, egg and cheese biscuits. Because they're only served in the morning, my rationale is that I have the rest of the day to undo the guilt.
hatlady at 5:41PM on 03/03/08
I crave a Mickey D's fix every couple of weeks, usually a double cheeseburger & fries....I'll order a Mighty Kid's meal so I don't get carried away.
I wish we had a Chik Fil A up here....I've tried it on trips, and love their sandwiches!
mepolo at 11:51AM on 03/08/08
I happened to be in a town with Chik Fil A, so I picked up some nuggets and was so anxious to try them. They were awful and I threw them out. Dry as a bone and the coating tasted like it might have a bunch of old bay seasoning? What a disappointment! Are the sandwiches made differently? Is there a particular one that you'd all recommend?
PerkyMac at 11:56AM on 03/08/08
steak & shake all the way, baby.
nothing beats a frisco melt, small fries and kid's strawberry milkshake when drunk a 3am.
I'm obviously a midwestern girl ;)
rllevy at 1:58PM on 03/15/08