That baffles me. Unless I’m stranded on a desert island, I would never routinely eat food that I “really despise.” Life is just too short.
Erm, how is Steak and Shake fast food? Ok, I will admit that it really skirts the border because they offer carry-out and drive-through service in some locations. However, given that their main business model is the traditional sit-down, pay-after-eating, food served on china not trays, waitered service like most restaurants, I find it hard to categorize it as fast food. I remember seeing advertising for Applebee’s take-out, but you’re not going to consider the entire operation a fast food joint because of that, are you?
A&W’s mediocre burger is made up for by their awesome root beer float, which is the reason we go.
There is eating for enjoyment and there is eating for fuel. My life is busy enough that sometimes I have to settle for quick, cheap, fuel. I think this is fairly common in the US, and nearly universal among single parents.
Domino’s makes good cheap pizza here, too, don’t ask. You just have to understand that there is a certain amount of trendiness involved in bashing them.
:rolleyes:
Come on. I’m defending freaking McDonald’s–the place everyone loves to hate–in this thread. Is it that hard to understand that some, perhaps a lot, of people really think Domino’s is crap? Even in my college days when I would eat almost anything, I could not stand Domino’s or Taco Bell.
A hospital cafeteria? The only place I can think of that specializes in blandness. 
Gotta toughen those young’uns up, TruCelt! 
Well, they do win the restaurant wars. So, Taco Bell has that to look forward to. 
Sonic has been my favorite since childhood. No matter where you go they always are pretty good.
Especially in small towns Sonic often has the best burgers, hot dogs etc.
If you haven’t had it in 15 years, you haven’t had it since they admitted it sucked and changed their recipe. Still, it didn’t score very high in the best pizza chain poll a few months ago.
I have heard that they changed their crust recipe a couple years ago. I’ve been tempted to give them another shot, but I’ve never seen any reason to, as I can’t remember the last time I had chain pizza. I’m really not trying to be a snob about it–and there are many local joints worse than chains, of course–it’s just there are so many other options I have where I live that it’s never come down to ordering from them.
I picked Del Taco only because What-A-Burger wasnt listed,didnt think to pick other.
Subway in third?! TACO BELL IN SECOND?!?!
You disappoint me SDMB. I can only trust In n Out’s limited penetration is the only reason it’s not winning this by a land slide.
Well, I found the root beer float severely disappointing the last time around, too, made as it was with corn-syrup-and-vanillin soft-serve.
Maybe they’re better in other places, but the contrast between that experience and what I recalled from the first go round, for every item ordered, can only be described as shocking.
You ain’t old enough. Totally different before your time.
Vegetarian checking in. I voted Taco Bell, Subway, and Steak ‘n’ Shake.
Taco Bell is my absolute favorite: I can get bean burritos, 7-layer burritos, cheesy bean and rice burritos, cheese roll-ups, and variants; most places will also happily replace the meat with beans/rice/whatever if you ask, so I can get veggie enchiritos, pizzas, etc. Add/subtract red sauce, fiesta sauce, nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, sour cream, and any of the hot sauces for more variety. One nearby location fucked up my 7-layer order, rang it up as a “7-layer crunch wrap,” and I got a delicious new item from the kitchen.
Subway. Never understood the complaints of blandness here; I can choose from 5+ different breads, have a crapload of vegetables to add or subtract, tons of toppings and sauces. If your sandwich is bland, it’s because you created a bland sandwich. I usually get veggie patty with cheese, spinach, tomato, onion, green pepper, banana pepper, black olive, jalapeno, deli/spicy mustard. Bread varies based on whims.
Steak ‘n’ Shake. Perhaps odd for a vegetarian. Disregarding the breakfast menu (where I would eat the pancakes, eggs, whatever), I typically will get grilled cheese with added vegetables, sides of cottage cheese, fries, or onion rings, chili minus meat (cheese + onions + chili sauce over spaghetti). It helps that they’re a 24-hour restaurant, and I work 3rd shift; my lunch restaurant options are limited to S’n’S, Denny’s, Waffle House (would be in the list if they were fast food), White Castle, McDonald’s, IHOP (would be in the list, yadda yadda). The real reason to go, though, is for shakes or freezes. Red Bull shake, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, etc.
Honorable mentions: La Bamba’s (local “burritos as big as your head” type place; made-to-order, not quite fast food), IHOP and Waffle House (carb shacks that make being 3rd shift not so bad).
Remind me to roll the windows down if I ride home with you afterwards. :eek:
Popeyes chicken is fuckin’ awesome.
Burger from A&W, fried from 5 guys,shake from Steak & Shake = perfect meal.
Your body can acclimate to beans, with the result that they’re not nearly as flautogenic for most vegetarians as they are for omnivores who only eat beans occasionally.
Rally’s is the pinnacle of fast food perfection.
Unfortunately, I haven’t lived in a town that had one in over a decade.