# Fast Food Cravings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168 "2019-03-15T04:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/81 "2019-03-18T23:05:24Z")
Deviating a little from the fast food theme of the OP, but more in spirit than exactly following the wording: this is food, it’s fast, and it’s terrible ersatz nonsense upon which I could easily improve…when I want a Pot Noodle, I want a Pot Noodle. I don’t want decent quality ramen, I don’t want chow mein, I don’t even want more more interestingly flavoured instant packet noodles from an oriental shop. I love all those things, but when I want a Pot Noodle, that’s \*all \*I want. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/82 "2019-03-18T23:12:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > :eek: > > Mental Floss [says it’s true](http://mentalfloss.com/article/72886/9-swashbuckling-facts-about-long-john-silvers). (See #8). > > And I had no idea “crunchies” was a common term, either. That’s all I could think of in my previous post to describe them. “Fried batter flakes” does sound a bit more menu-worthy, though. OH MY GOD! Those are _scraps_! In an English chippy - specifically in the north - those can be requested along with your fish & chips (and are great mixed in with the mushy peas), but they’re like rocking-horse shit to find anywhere else! When I lived in Wales, I couldn’t get scraps. When I request them in Scottish chippies (despite Scotland’s famed enthusiasm for the consumption of deep-fried battered anything at all), I generally need to explain myself before being eyed derisively and informed that they just get thrown away. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/83 "2019-03-19T15:46:54Z")
Other than Five Guys, I haven’t been to a fast food place in probably 20 years. Can’t crave something I don’t remember the taste of. Once in a while, when I’m near the 5G place, I think I might want one, but there are better options around, as they are just not the same great place they were back when there were only two of them in existence. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/84 "2019-03-19T18:07:51Z")
Taco John’s taco burger. It’s the only burger I know of with a steamed bun. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/85 "2019-03-19T18:34:35Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > OH MY GOD! Those are _scraps_! In an English chippy - specifically in the north - those can be requested along with your fish & chips (and are great mixed in with the mushy peas), but they’re like rocking-horse shit to find anywhere else! Closely related, I imagine, to Terry Pratchett’s beloved “burnt crunchy bits.” 😃 > [@Terry Pratchett](#): > > Sham Harga had run a successful eatery for many years by always smiling, never extending credit, and realizing that most of his customers wanted meals properly balanced between the four food groups: sugar, starch, grease, and burnt crunchy bits. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/86 "2019-03-19T18:42:35Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Since you’re also in Kansas, I can tell you that you don’t have to go to St. Louis. There’s a White Castle in Columbia, MO, (at I-70, exit 128A). > > Road trip? I’ve got family in St Louis, so I often try to hit White Castle when I’m in town visiting. There used to be one in the Kansas City area, off I-70 around Blue Springs, but I think that one is long gone. But I have seen them in the freezer section at the grocery store, I just figured they would not be as good as hot off the grill. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/87 "2019-03-19T19:05:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yes it does. It helps to mentally call it “Greek meat sauce” rather than “chili.” At least for me. Prevents my taste buds from getting mixed up. I have [a book about chili](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/246915/the-chili-cookbook-by-robb-walsh/9781607747956/) and the author actually goes into Cincinnati chili in some detail- apparently it derives from some kind of Greek meat stew (kima-something), and as part of its adaptation in the US, got a dose of chili powder. So it’s sort of a convergent evolution type product- like “real” chili, but derived from an entirely different culinary tradition. As for me, the only real fast food craving I get is that once or twice a year, McDonald’s cheeseburgers just sound like an awesome thing, and I go get two or three, and I’m good for another six months to a year. ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/88 "2019-03-19T22:20:53Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > But I have seen them in the freezer section at the grocery store, I just figured they would not be as good as hot off the grill. I’ve never been to a White Castle, but I have had the frozen supermarket version. They’re surprisingly good (and you only have to nuke them for a minute or less). Also, I didn’t think White Castle burgers (the ones at the actual fast food place) were grilled. Aren’t they steamed or something? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/89 "2019-03-19T22:31:42Z")
> [@Rough\_Draft](#): > > Also, I didn’t think White Castle burgers (the ones at the actual fast food place) were grilled. Aren’t they steamed or something? They’re cooked on a flat-top griddle, on top of a bed of onions, which does apparently impart some steaming to the cooking process, but it’s probably not accurate to say that they are simply steamed. A video showing the cooking process: [https://youtu.be/xSYlFMylrWI?t=66](https://youtu.be/xSYlFMylrWI?t=66) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/90 "2019-03-19T22:45:24Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Can I contribute a junk food, rather than fast food, craving? At the end of the day, it’s all about the salt/grease/carbs/convenience, right? So my craving is: Fritos corn chips. > > I generally like the food I make myself best, and so don’t feel any interest in most of the fast food offerings listed in this thread. But then there are Fritos. Sometimes in the grocery store, they softly yet urgently call my name. Who am I to resist? Yah, but my choice is Fritos dipped in blueberry yogurt. Surprisingly good. ---
**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 19, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/91 "2019-03-19T23:36:57Z")
> [@Rough\_Draft](#): > > I’ve never been to a White Castle, but I have had the frozen supermarket version. They’re surprisingly good (and you only have to nuke them for a minute or less). The frozen version is actually a reasonable approximation of the real stuff due to how the restaurant White Castles are steam griddled. So nuking something like that does work out reasonably okay, as compared with microwaving pretty much any other type of hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/92 "2019-03-20T02:03:53Z")
I’ve always loved how the White Castle buns soak up the hot grease from the grill. :o ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/93 "2019-03-20T03:42:44Z")
I still remember my first taco from Taco Bell in the 70’s. I thought it was the most perfect junk food ever invented. I still like them. The problem is that they go soggy WAY too quickly. If you live 10 minutes away it’s too late. You have to eat them as you get them from the drive through window. Pay in exact change so no time is wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/94 "2019-03-23T18:08:01Z")
Well I gave into a craving today. My wife is fighting the flu so I was on my own so I ran to White Castles. I got 5 cheese burger sliders and fries. Four sliders for me and one to share between the dogs. I will probably really regret this tomorrow but right now the dogs and I are very happy. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/95 "2019-03-23T18:56:02Z")
LJS fried shrimp with tons of scraps–I hardly ever eat the fries because they suck but man, those shrimp are gooooood. Carl’s Jr Western Bacon Cheeseburger–hold the sauce (it’s so full of sugar it makes my teeth hurt so I bring it home and put some Trader Joe’s ketchup on instead) and add raw onions to the onion rings. I don’t know what it is about these things but it kicks off a craving every once in a while that I can’t shake. A&W has a similar burger but they put those fried onion bits on top like you get on a green bean casserole and oh man, so good. Those goddamned Gag in the Bag “tacos.” They’re awful and yet…sometimes they’re the only thing that’ll do. Gotta have the shitty taco sauce from there too, nothing else will taste right. Taco Hell Cheesy Gordita Crunch and an empanada. It’s a carb nightmare but such awesome hangover food. Carl’s Jr used to have a cheapo dollar menu chicken sammich with cheese and a big slab of pickled chili on it and some kind of spicy orange sauce and man, I loved those so much. Haven’t seen them for years though. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/96 "2019-03-23T19:42:00Z")
I crave food that’s no longer available, like Roy Rogers roast beef, or even better, Arby’s roast beef the way they made it back in the late 1960’s. Or Zantigo’s enchiladas. Or Bill Knapp’s au gratin potatoes ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/97 "2019-03-24T08:07:02Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > And onion. Unless you order them without. But I love the onions. > > My other favorite crave is the McChicken sandwich. The cheapo chicken sandwich made with the preformed “chicken” and black peppery batter. And lettuce and a big dollop of mayo. > > I also like their sausage biscuits, and they are extraordinarily cheap if you get them without the egg and cheese. And I like the plain version much better. They were .99 for forever but I think they recently went up to $1.50. But cheap, especially since the same sandwich with egg and cheese is $4 or so. For the longest time you could get a sausage biscuit and/or egg and cheese biscuit for $1 each. So for $2 I would get a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit with an extra biscuit. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168/98 "2019-03-24T08:18:47Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Years ago either McDonalds or Burger King had the most wonderful little snacks, forgot what they were called, a soft flour tortilla with a bit of cheese, strands of marinated chicken, lettuce and tomato. Two were too much to eat, but one wasn’t enough. OH, they were so simple, tasty, craveable! Long gone ☹ …Then Dunkin Donuts started selling chicken salad on a toasted croissant, and THAT became my dream fast food. Also long gone :(… The only fast food I still crave, and always have, is the Whopper Jr. Now it’s $3! Still my favorite. McDonalds Snack Wrap [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-cravings/831168.md?page=4)