# Another stupid Internet list to get RO'd about: The Top 50 Fast Food Items of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198 "2017-03-02T13:57:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DMGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@DMGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/41 "2017-03-02T21:04:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I would drop the Arby’s roast beef sandwich and put the Jamocha shake in it’s place. > > Honorable mention to Horsey Sauce. This Arby’s roast beef is terrible. It was great until the mid-70s when they switched from real roast beef sliced in the store to some kind of pre-formed “roast beef bits mixed in with a bunch of other crap and put in a mold to make it look like a roast” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/42 "2017-03-02T21:40:05Z")
Chipotles is not fast food; it’s short-order. Fast food is, by definition, prepared before it’s ordered. Short-order food is prepared after it’s ordered, but is designed in such a way that it can be prepared very quickly, while the customer is still waiting at the counter. The single best fast-food item is the Romanburger, from Mr. Hero, though if the listwriters weren’t from northern Ohio, they can be forgiven for not knowing that. It’s a sort of cross between a hamburger and an Italian sub, with some special seasonings that I’m reasonably sure include cocaine and/or opiates. What the listwriters can’t be excused for excluding, though, is Rally’s/Checkers (same chain, different name in different places). They’ve got the best fries I’ve ever had, as well as fairly conventional but very good burgers, and due to low overhead (like no indoor seating), they’re usually the cheapest in any given market, too. Of course, there’s also an ambiguity in what the list means by “top”. Is it the best-tasting, or the most classic, or the most iconic? And how do you compare entrees with sides with desserts? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/43 "2017-03-02T21:42:55Z")
> [@DMGuy](#): > > It was great until the mid-70s… This phrase can be used for so many items on that list, and beyond. Like McD’s fries. Good now - transcendent when they were still fried in beef tallow. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/44 "2017-03-02T21:57:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Chipotles is not fast food; it’s short-order. Fast food is, by definition, prepared before it’s ordered. Short-order food is prepared after it’s ordered, but is designed in such a way that it can be prepared very quickly, while the customer is still waiting at the counter. > > The single best fast-food item is the Romanburger, from Mr. Hero, though if the listwriters weren’t from northern Ohio, they can be forgiven for not knowing that. It’s a sort of cross between a hamburger and an Italian sub, with some special seasonings that I’m reasonably sure include cocaine and/or opiates. > > What the listwriters can’t be excused for excluding, though, is Rally’s/Checkers (same chain, different name in different places). They’ve got the best fries I’ve ever had, as well as fairly conventional but very good burgers, and due to low overhead (like no indoor seating), they’re usually the cheapest in any given market, too. > > Of course, there’s also an ambiguity in what the list means by “top”. Is it the best-tasting, or the most classic, or the most iconic? And how do you compare entrees with sides with desserts? I’m not sure I agree with that distinction, but isn’t Chipotle’s food all already cooked? They just assemble it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/45 "2017-03-02T22:15:29Z")
It’s cooked, but it’s not prepared. If you walk into McDonald’s at lunchtime and order a Big Mac, they’ll just take one off of the Big Mac lane on the warming tray, stick it in a bag, and hand it to you. But you can’t just grab a Chipotle burrito off of a warming tray and stick it in a bag. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/46 "2017-03-02T22:27:30Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Though if Popeye’s ever makes a spicy chicken sandwich, all bets are off. Have you tried their Spicy Chicken PoBoy? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/47 "2017-03-02T22:28:14Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s cooked, but it’s not prepared. If you walk into McDonald’s at lunchtime and order a Big Mac, they’ll just take one off of the Big Mac lane on the warming tray, stick it in a bag, and hand it to you. But you can’t just grab a Chipotle burrito off of a warming tray and stick it in a bag. I suppose, but I find that a distinction without much of a practical difference. Most of the time, I could get food faster at a Chipotle than, say, a Wendy’s. I can’t remember the last time I went into a fast food establishment and had something right off the line. I typically wait about 5 minutes. And BK has been big about the “have it your way” thing for years, so they essentially assemble the burger for you, don’t they? Never heard anybody call them anything but fast food. Is Subway not considered fast food? Same deal. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/48 "2017-03-02T22:32:42Z")
Got to agree with **Chronos** on this one. You can’t just walk into a Chipotle and have them hand you a burrito. McD’s will shove a Big Mac at you in no time. Chipotle is all about customization. McD’s has a set of condiments that go on every Big Mac unless you special order (which makes it not-fast food). Chipotle is fast-casual. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/49 "2017-03-02T22:35:47Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If the production model supports a drive thru, then it can be classified as fast food, imho. Chipotle has no drive.thrus, ergo, not fast food. 😃 Starbucks is fast food??? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/50 "2017-03-02T22:37:09Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > WAG: Christian homeschoolers who will only take their kids to a place with similar values. Troy, MI, at a fairly high-end mall, so I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/51 "2017-03-02T22:37:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Got to agree with **Chronos** on this one. You can’t just walk into a Chipotle and have them hand you a burrito. McD’s will shove a Big Mac at you in no time. Chipotle is all about customization. McD’s has a set of condiments that go on every Big Mac unless you special order (which makes it not-fast food). Chipotle is fast-casual. But how is that different than Subway, which generally gets classified as “fast food,” so far as I know. Or even Burger King, where customization has been their thing for ages? Most of the stuff at so-called fast-food places I have to wait for because they’re making it in the back. There no reason I see that fast food can’t be short order. I mean, who doesn’t call In N Out fast food, and that’s always made to order, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/52 "2017-03-02T22:42:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s cooked, but it’s not prepared. If you walk into McDonald’s at lunchtime and order a Big Mac, they’ll just take one off of the Big Mac lane on the warming tray, stick it in a bag, and hand it to you. But you can’t just grab a Chipotle burrito off of a warming tray and stick it in a bag. This hasn’t been true of most McDonald’s in decades now. And it was never true of Wendy’s, or Carl’s Jr., and only partially true of Burger King (“Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way!”). At times, during rush traffic, some fast food restaurants still may pre-make certain high-volume items, but it’s not consistently true, and it’s hardly the determinor of being “fast food.” ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/53 "2017-03-02T22:46:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Got to agree with **Chronos** on this one. You can’t just walk into a Chipotle and have them hand you a burrito. McD’s will shove a Big Mac at you in no time. Chipotle is all about customization. McD’s has a set of condiments that go on every Big Mac unless you special order (which makes it not-fast food). Chipotle is fast-casual. The main difference (if one still exists) between “fast food” and “fast casual” is time of service. But frankly, the main reason “fast casual” exists as a category is because some restaurants didn’t WANT to be thought of as fast food, despite having all the indicia. I personally think of Panera when I think of “fast casual”. Chipotle is just slow fast food to me. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/54 "2017-03-02T22:55:38Z")
I mean, I’m not going to argue that Chipotle isn’t what they call “fast-casual” now. It’s a slightly higher price point, with slightly “better” food, using “fresher” ingredients or whatnot, but it’s somewhat a nebulous category for me. It’s just fast food with a marketing makeover to me. Like why is Five Guys generally considered “fast casual,” but In N Out is generally “fast food”? (Or [“quick service”](http://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/special-reports/top-500-chains) as apparently some segments of the restaurant industry call it.) ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/55 "2017-03-02T23:13:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s cooked, but it’s not prepared. If you walk into McDonald’s at lunchtime and order a Big Mac, they’ll just take one off of the Big Mac lane on the warming tray, stick it in a bag, and hand it to you. But you can’t just grab a Chipotle burrito off of a warming tray and stick it in a bag. This would disqualify Burger King from being ‘fast food’ then, as the “have it your way” thing means they wait until you order it before they prepare it. Btw, same thing with Taco Bell. I’ve never seen a Taco Bell warming tray. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/56 "2017-03-02T23:15:28Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > Have you tried their Spicy Chicken PoBoy? I will now… ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/57 "2017-03-03T00:26:48Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No Taco John 's Potato Oles??? Sacrilege! You, my friend, have excellent taste in potato-related fast-food sides. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198/58 "2017-03-03T00:30:14Z")
And I suppose I’m not even being consistent, because Mr. Hero, which I mentioned in my previous post, is also short-order. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-stupid-internet-list-to-get-rod-about-the-top-50-fast-food-items-of-all-time/781198.md?page=2)