I will never admit to loving Taco Bell. No way I’m copping to considering 6 regular tacos a nutritious meal. Especially what with what that stuff does to my insides. Run for the border, indeed.
My favorite burger restauratns are local very-small chains, Kirk’s Steakburgers and Juicy Burger. But those probably don’t count.
No one has yet mentioned Subway, Quizno’s or Togo’s, all of which server a consistent and fairly tasty sandwich at a reasonable price.
My favorite fast food chain is In ‘n’ Out (and, according to the book Fast Food Nation, it is actually the rare fast food chain that does NOT treat its employees like dirt). My other favorite fast food chain, the one that sadly there are none of here (yet), is Chick Fil’A.
As for the Chili’s/Applebees/TGIF type places, I don’t hate them… but I don’t enormously like them either.
Bolding mine.
I read that first as “vulva” and was entirely confused there for a minute.
On topic, I can’t believe only one other person said Cracker Barrel. Love, love, love it! And after I eat I indulge myself with their pecan divinity from the store. Not quite as good as my great-grandma’s homemade, but way better than my homemade.
I also love Waffle House. I grew up eating it though, maybe that has something to do with it. Anytime I’ve taken a friend there who’d never been, they’ve not been big fans. Although I don’t recommend the cheesesteak omlette after a night of heavy drinking, it seems to exacerbate the hangover.
For every trip, go on Mapquest and get directions, then when it asks you if you want it to highlight points of interests along the way, type “yes” and then “Taco Bell”. IDK if it’ll work, but I think you can do that, so that when you’re on your way to your destination you know where every Taco Bell would be.
My worst nightmare is that, I’ll go there and order the Crunchwrap Supreme, but in beef instead of the new chicken, and they’ll be like “Oh, we did away with the beef.”
I would undoubtedly look at the sky and shout “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” with an anguished expression.
I always read over my posts after I post them, and so did I. I was like “WHOA WTF? Did my brain go on Perverted Autopilot or something?” And then I realized it.
But seriously, once in a little while (like every 4 months) our teacher will go completely insane and stop us in the middle of a routine to yell at us about how lazy/bad/uncaring/fat we are. It’s pretty funny when you think about it, but at the time you’re totally freaked out, and you can feel your heartbeat in your head.
I don’t know why I get so nervous though. What can one 5’6", 64- year-old woman do to you? Kill me with her numchuks?
Culver’s has the best fast food fried chicken I’ve ever had
In’n’Out is pretty good
Chipotle is a weekly trip for me
Pei Wei is ok
Subway is fine when there’s no better option
Hey, if you can get your ballet teacher to brush your Volvo with a toothbrush, more power to ya.
Oh God, not a Volvo…My mom wants me to get one because they’re “safe”. They’re also ugly.
Let’s see…from the distant past…
There was a place called Rocky Rococo’s in and around Madison, WI.
Don’t know how big they got, or if they’ve survived…check that…just checked via google and they are still around, but no where near me. I’d give my left nut for a few pieces of that pizza.
When I lived on Cape Cod I single-handedly kept a D’Angelo’s Sandwich place in business. Incredible grilled beef sandwiches.
Portillo’s in Chicagoland has pretty solid Italian beef sandwiches.
I’m getting close to posting an enormous rant about Texas…but I have to admit that Texas Land and Cattle was a pretty consistently pleasurable eat.
The bread is excellent, I find the sandwiches only OK considering the price.
rhythmonly, I agree about Denny’s. I have had some tasty breakfasts there, which they serve all day. Oddly, I ordered their special burger twice recently- once it was great, the other time one of the worst I have ever tried to eat. As DSYoungEsq noted, these were two different Denny’s, however.
Yes, Kirks is wonderful, but there’s like 3 in the chain; only in Silicon Valley. Their Onion “rings” are to die for.
Of that trio: Subway, Quizno’s or Togo’s, I much prefer ToGos. Quiznos and Subway uses such a weird sweet “oil & vinegar/italian dressing”, it makes my mouth crawl.
However, the Soda choices at Quiznos are the best at any fast food eatery They have 3 diet choices (Pepsi, Mt Dew & Sobe) and the Sobe doesn’t have caffiene, important for late nite snacking.
I love Famous Dave’s, but I see all the food there for what it really is: A Devil’s Spit delivery system. 
My local Chili’s is good too. The service is always really good, the burgers are decent and moderately priced, and Sam Adams is on tap.
Subway. I live for those days when I can persuade my husband away from the greasy dreck he prefers and go there. There is one in particular on our commute home that is always excellent, and by happy coincidence also part of the gas station of our choice.
And of course In-n-Out.
And I have to give a shout out to **BJs **if only because it’s the closest thing I have to a brewpub here, and it’s within staggering distance to the movie theatre.
Au Bon Pain is one of the very, very, very, very few things I miss from Boston. Pizzaria Uno is one of the others.
I like Red Robin. Except the “Happy Birthday” song. And I love Taco Del Mar
I like Steak 'n Shake food (mmmm, milkshakes), but if you eat inside, the service is uniformly terrible. But I can almost put up with it for the fries and shakes.
We also like Bugaboo Creek (or, as we call it, “Bugaboogaloo”) Steakhouse. We just ignore the cutesy animated animals.
They’re not just in Boston anymore. In fact, it looks like they have as many locations in Thailand as in MA. Here’s a list of locations. None in WA, though.
I remember the manager of one being all excited because they were opening a fourth location. I’d say they’ve been successful.
Yeah. Boxy. 
Mentioned most of mine, and for the same reasons. Famous Dave’s Devil’s Spit suace is the best I’ve ever tasted. I’ll sub Fuddrucker’s for Subway, though. I know several of the brewers for the Brea BJ’s, so we always go there just so I can sneer at their beer. (Which is really pretty good.)
Good, I know my taste meter is calibrated.
The closest Fuddrucker’s to me is in Burbank, sadly. I might have to make a trip though based on what I have heard here at the Dope.
I agree, at least as far as table “service” is concerned. I’ve found if you eat at the counter, it’s a little more difficult for them to ignore you. Those shoestring fries are the best. You can feel the milkshakes adding an inch to your waistline as you sit there - but dayum! They’re good!
If you’re from Northern Illinois and currently displaced, as I am, you’re obligated at a time like this to point out the wonderfulness of Beef-A-Roo. Awesome burgers and beef sandwiches, cheese fries, and don’t forget to buy some Season Salt! And then have a big ol’ heart attack!