Best Fast Food Chains To Try In The US?

[Flash525]

The McDonalds I was told about was in Italy.

I think the southern Europeans ones are implied to be better than the western ones. I haven't been to them (because when holidaying, I prefer to try local street foods), but the Burger King's and McDonalds in Turkey (at least) are said to be quite nice (although they don't sell Bacon Cheeseburgers). I figure Italy is south enough of Europe to provide better quality meals too.

 

[Yowza]

Without a doubt, McDonalds. Easy to overlook some things that just get taken for granted.

That being said, it can be very hit or miss. I live near a McDonalds that shut down and re-opened with a brand new building and equipment not to mention staff. The drive through is always packed and it's been a year now. Never was like that right before the remodel. Better staff with tighter control over the production process equals processed inexpensive fast food as the company conceptualizes (too often go to a McDonalds in the wrong location and staff, equipment, and food just not done right nor facility adequately maintained; yes it's a franchise meant to keep things standardized to the utmost but still one can notice...).

McDonalds comes on strong when breaking into new territory. Check out the 900 seat venue introduced in Russia in 1990:

The First McDonald’s In Moscow Opened In 1990, And These 27 Pics Show How Insane It All Was
The First McDonald’s In Moscow Opened In 1990, And These 27 Pics Show How Insane It All Was

Under the right circumstances, even the simplest things can become symbolic. An opening of a McDonald’s restaurant, for example, sounds kind of mundane, I mean there’s already a gazillion of them around the world. But the first Soviet McDonald’s in Moscow? That’s something else.

The Moscow McDonald’s initiative was a joint venture between McDonald’s of Canada and Moscow city council. A plan first envisioned when George Cohon, founder and CEO of McDonald’s Canada, met Soviet officials at the ’76 Summer Olympics in Montreal. And almost a quarter of a century later, on January 31st, 1990 it became a reality.

At the time of its construction, it was the largest McDonald’s in the world. A venue with 900 seats with a staff of about 600 workers that were carefully selected from 35,000 applicants.

Reportedly, the restaurant expected to serve around 1,000 during its first day. And in the country where the average salary was about 150 rubles per month, a Big “Mak” was selling for 3.75 rubles. That, however, didn’t stop the people from getting their first taste of it. A crowd of more than 5,000 Soviet citizens lined up in Pushkinskaya Square before it even opened and about 30,000 customers passed through the door throughout the whole day.

The summer came but the lines just kept growing. People from other cities were flocking the restaurant just for a single hamburger. “We stood under the melting sun for around eight hours,” photographer Mitya Kushelevich recalled. “That wasn’t so much of a problem as we were used to standing in lines for days just to get our monthly ration of sugar and tea.”

“Once inside we were blown away by the number of young cashiers behind the huge counter, smiling, moving like bees, serving one meal after another. Nothing like our fat old ladies in white gowns sitting in front of empty shelves, pyramids of dusty canned food as window dressing”

“I still remember how insanely huge the milkshake looked and I didn’t know how to hold a Big Mac with my tiny hands.”

“Everything tasted more intense than anything I’d ever tried before. I ate and drank and chewed like it was my last meal on earth. Around ten minutes and 5,000 calories later, my body alerted me to the fact that it wasn’t quite able to digest all the fatty deliciousness and that it was probably a good time to check out how an American toilet looked like from the inside. I wasn’t alone: the queues to the toilets, especially the women’s, was almost as long as the queues outside.”

Link above contains all the pictures but here are a few:
People at the time were supposedly used to standing in line for days to get monthly ration of sugar and tea. 150 rubles per month was common with Big Mac selling for 3.75 rubles. This line wasn't that big of a deal supposedly:

Over 30,000 people passed through that day. Now that is an epic accomplishment. The people that worked there were essentially cream of the crop employment wise. Pretty crazy to look back in history sometimes.

 

[LinDuh]

Culver's
5 Guys Burgers and Fries
Fuddruckers

 

[Steyin]

The McDonalds I was told about was in Italy.

The McD's in Rome across from the Pantheon is the best I've ever been to.

 

[Manasrepublic]

KFC original recipe hands down

 

[jolldan]

I have just came across a place in NYC that sell HALF POUND cookies! Just looking at these giant red velvet cookies is making me hungry.


Expect this is how everyone will be greeting me when I get back

 

[Calvin]

Not sure if these are in the northeast much, but Waffle House is definitely a must-do if you can, especially the hash browns.

 

[jolldan]

Hey didn't really know where else to put this but I found a company here in the UK that delivers lot of US food. Would any of you recommend Hostess products as I keep seeing a lot of their stuff some of it looks pretty tasty?

 

[THORin]

Oh yeah, Hostess snacks are delicious - I'm fond of their coffee cakes, but I love coffee cake in general, so maybe I'm a little biased. And those Crunch Donettes, I liked those. I was never a fan of Sno-Balls or Ding Dongs, though.

 

[Erzengel]

I mean, I grew up on Hostess but I'm sure any decent bakery can make a good cupcake or other treat.

 

[Thorne316]

Tell ya what, some of the best food you're gonna have ain't from a chain, go find one a them small time Mom&Pop greasy spoon cafes, won't be the healthiest stuff in the world but by golly it'll fix what's ailin' ya.

 

[ComicChick]

I haven’t had Taco Bell in 3.5 years, McDonald’s in 2.5 and Burger King 1.5. I do kinda miss those 5 layer burritos and avocado ranch sauce from Taco Bell though.

If I eat fast food, it’s Cookout :Hrt: does QDoba/chipotle count as fast food? We recently got a Shake Shack here and I tried it a few weeks ago. I was surprised at how good the burger as, but the price is a bit high imo

 

[chamber-music]

Chick Fil A will be closing it's first outlet in the UK after only eight days due to protests and pressure from local LGBTQ UK Pride group.

Chick-Fil-A closing first UK restaurant after protests

I don't think most people were even aware they were expanding in the UK which probably says a lot about the amount of interest there is for Chick Fil A in the UK.

Hey didn't really know where else to put this but I found a company here in the UK that delivers lot of US food. Would any of you recommend Hostess products as I keep seeing a lot of their stuff some of it looks pretty tasty?

Every supermarket near me in London sells twinkies. I've never eaten them.

 

[Erzengel]

Do they not know that the sandwich is delicious?

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Popeye's is better. Does the UK have it? I know Canada does.

 

[jolldan]

I was gutted when I seen that lol, Chick-Fil-A is king, honestly reckon if they opened one here it would put KFC out of business

 

[Enriquespy]

Waffle house is great house.

5 Guys, try the fries.

Get a good classical Auntie Anne's huge and soft salty pretzel.

 

[Yowza]

The McDonald's where I live that is right across from a Burger King. The McDonald's closed down and a new building was built up with all brand new equipment. The McDonald's place has been constantly busy since while Burger King across the street only seems to get customers during the day and is kind of worn down with the food usually semi-warm and mushy at times. First year or two after this McDonald's location re-openned with a new building things were optimal staffing wise and food wise but dipped a bit since but not too much.

One would think fast food is all the same and it is as far as prep instructions and sourcing goes for the most part. That being said, somehow the quality dips with older equipment or food being stored in a hot box that may not even be functioning optimally or being in there longer times than others and of course staffing can vary location to location too. I don't know what it is but all the other McDonald's in town are for the most part not busy at all. Just weird things concerning fast food.

 

[NHawk19]

Has anyone put DiBella's on the list yet?

 

[ComicChick]

^i've never heard of that one.

While working in Georgia the past two weeks, I stopped by a Wayback Burger on the way back from work one day. That was a pretty good burger.

 

[jolldan]

McDonald's Japan Launches Adult Cream Pies... No, Not Those Ones

If you've ever tried to translate a word or phrase from one language back into English, you will be well aware that sometimes things can become a little lost.
A perfect example is McDonald's new range of tasty treats that are set to launch in Japan this week.
Available for a limited time only, the 'Adult Cream Pies' have certainly caused more than a few red faces since their imminent arrival was announced earlier this month.

No seriously im not making this up

 

[BrollySupersj]

Whataburger ain't so bad. Culver's either, one just opened up where I live in Texas, mushroom swiss burger is quite delicious.

 

[chamber-music]

Wendys is coming back to the UK after their last attempt to crack the UK market 20 years ago.
Wendy's: Burger giant plans return to the UK after 20 years

 

[InCali]

In the US? It's no contest. In-N-Out Burger. Animal style with raw instead of cooked onions. While I don't know how many of them there are, they are mainly in California and the southwest US. McDonald's is so far behind them when it comes to burgers, you need a telescope to find them.

FatBurger is good too.

 

[InCali]

I didn't cover sandwiches, but again if you're in NY or NJ, just go to any deli or especially a jewish deli if you want a good pastrami sandwich.

I came to a realization years ago, why go to subway where (at least the one I went to), cut open a half a sub roll, then lay on top of it, three half slices and fold over and then two triangle half slices of cheese.

My sister lives in Florida, and she can't find a good place for a breakfast sandwich like we have up here.

It's fast, but it ain't cheap. LANGER'S in LA....one of the places I grew up in was the MacArthur Park area. Langer's is on the corner of 7th and Alvarado. Not a great area of town, but you learn how to fight off the drunks if you're a kid. The #19 (Pastrami, Russian dressing, and coleslaw) will Fyou up for life. If you need to travel for a bit and not just eat in house or at the "park" (LOL), get the #10 with coleslaw on the side (it's the same sandwich). You don't want to make the bread get soggy and it is some bad ass bread.

Seriously, if you are ever downtown LA and have about $20 for a sandwich you can split, go to Langer's. The pickle you get with it is awesome too.