Are there any places in America where the bulk of those places are within driving distance?
Cuz, if so…I want to go to there 
As soon as I saw the list, I was shocked to see that Five Guys was missing. I go to the one in East Greenbush and it’s the one place my mom insists we go to when she visits.
I’ve been to Chick-fil-a when I lived in North Carolina and I hated it. It’s the goddamned pickles that made it taste so horrible.
I’ve recently become addicted to Panera.
Excessively long lines and mediocre food. Overrated by a long shot. There’s simply nothing special about the taste of their food.
You know you CAN ask em to not put the pickles on it
Which reminds me, I have NEVER EVER run across any burger joint where the pickle slices they used on the hamburger werent absolute crap. And I am a guy who likes pickles so much I drink the juice as well.
It’s what I would call the quintessential American pan-griddled fast-food burger. It depends on what you’re looking for in a burger, but if you like those 30s/40s/50s-style fast-food hamburgers (thin patty, simple toppings, as opposed to pub or gourmet burgers), it’s, IMO, the best example of the bunch. Five Guys does a good job, too, but I give In-N-Out the edge. It’s about as good as a fast food chain gets, in terms of food and service. Very clean, fresh flavors that showcase the quality of their ingredients.
Interesting how people’s tastes differ. I’m rarely in a part of the country that has Chick-fil-A, but when I am, I try to go. I think it’s the pickles that make their sandwiches so good!
Well, Penn Station, Five Guys, 96th Street Steakburgers (a midwest clone of In and Out) and Ted’s Montana Grill (not really fast food) would be just a few I can name that use the same potato press for their fries.
I also like supporting them for their good business practices.
Just get the number one with no pickle…thats what i do… Panera’s is okay… Giordano’s is solid… Prefer Eduardo’s in Chicago… but if i’m in orlando Giordano’s will do… Allergic to peanuts so i can comment on five guys… but in and out is solid and i support how they do busiiness… same with Chik fila…
They’re so unobtrusive that I never would have noticed them had not someone else alerted me to their presence. I haven’t looked at one in a while, but unless they’ve changed recently they aren’t actual quotes, just citations. Here’s an example.
Yeah that’s what I thought when I saw that list. Not a place to go to when you’re starving. Smelling other people’s pizzas for a good part of an hour while waiting for your own would drive anyone insane.
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In-N-Out - Wha?
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Capriotti’s - Who?
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Chick-fil-A - #3 …really? Not that impressed - They’re OK, but really they are nothing special taste-wise.
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Raising Cane’s - Huh?
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Panera Bread - Fast Food? What are they smoking. Very good and consistent quality. Bread is top notch. I love Panera.
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Giordano’s Pizza - Where?
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Cafe Rio - Ummm?
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Idaho Pizza Company - Pizza in Idaho?
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Penn Station - I’ve never…
How is Panera not fast food? If I’m remembering the right Panera, it’s a quick counter service sandwich shop/cafe. Now, Giordano’s is not fast food by any stretch of the imagination, but Panera is. Business Week calls it fast food, although it seems to prefer the term “quick-serve.” Whatever. Same thing.
Panera is not a “quick counter service” anything (other than the coffee drinks). You get your order taken at the counter, but then you go sit down and wait for the pager to bring you back to get your order, and it’s only quick in the most gross sense of that word. 
OK, then I’m misremembering Panera.
Of the 10 places listed, Panera is the only one that exists anywhere near where I live (although we used to have a Chik-fil-a a long time ago), and except for In-n-Out, I’ve never frickin’ heard of any of the others. So I guess that agrees with my theory, that when it comes to fast food, quality is inversely proportional to ubiquity.
I think of Panera as more of a competitor to bakeries and coffee shops (like Starbucks) that also serve food, than to fast food places like McDonald’s or Subway.
They’ve increased their focus on meals over the past few years, moving them beyond a coffee shop / bakery (which is what they were originally focused on). The Panera near my house is packed at lunchtime.
That made me grin. I used to go to Bakersfield every other week for work, about 2003, and depsite the concert arena, Arena Football team, minor league baseball and minor league hockey, that was one (upwardly aspirational in many parts) hick town.
I have one word for those acquainted: Oildale.
I like Baja Fresh.
Not part of Bakersfield, technically speaking. Lord knows none of us claim that hell hole either.