# What's the best fast food place? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628 "2005-04-22T16:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/41 "2005-04-23T05:42:59Z")
McDonalds for breakfast, **In-and-Out** for everything else. I still remember when I was new to CA and somebody mentioned **In-and-Out** , and my husband was scandalized when I innocently asked, “What’s that?” I used to really like Wendy’s, but then I stopped eating it for about 8 months, and recently had another one, breaking the long hiatus. Holy hell, did _that_ suck. Never again. I also used to enjoy Dominos and Pizza Hut, but after eating pizza for three weeks in Italy, I pretty much have zero interest in anything offered here. As far as “Mexican” places go, **Del Taco** has some pretty decent food and really delicious shakes. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/42 "2005-04-23T14:29:19Z")
BK Whopper Rally’s Fries (Burger ain’t bad either) And Sonic’s or Dairy Queen because they actually have MALTS, not just Shakes. McD’s new Deli sandwiches are surprisingly good. I had my first Jack in the Box this week- Ultimate Cheeseburger- not bad at all. Has anyone tried their more upscale JBX restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/43 "2005-04-23T23:48:42Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > In-N-Out! OK. I can’t be the only one to notice that **Tracy Lord’s** favorite is the old "In-N-Out? Or am I the only one reading old enough and well enough versed in pornographic actresses to think of this? Of the listed choices - Wendy’s for most of the previously mentioned reasons, plus the new ability to get a side salad instead of fries for their combo. If we are going to include crazy regional chains no-one outside your corner of the country has ever heard of (Bojangle’s?) then I gotta go with Culver’s here in the Midwest. Mmmmm… Bacon and cheddar Butter Burger … droolll… ---
**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:** [April 24, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/44 "2005-04-24T00:45:57Z")
My favorites: **Red Barn** **Roy Rogers** **Zantigo’s** **Burger Chef** What? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/45 "2005-04-24T00:50:32Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Cici’s Pizza (Ok, not fast food, but you can’t beat the price) Cici’s certainly is fast food. You’re sitting down with your meal at least as quickly as at McDonald’s or Burger King. It’s also the first thing that came to my mind, as well. Can’t beat all the pizza you want for four-and-a-half bucks. ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/46 "2005-04-24T00:55:02Z")
I would say the following: \*\*In N Out \*\*: Awesome burgers, great fries, and happy employees. The only problem (some will say virtue) is the limited menu. \*\*Jack In The Box \*\*: Good food. I like the new Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich. \*\*Wendy’s \*\*: Chicken nuggets are great! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/47 "2005-04-24T00:57:06Z")
No mention of Sonic? Their onion rings are the best! ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/48 "2005-04-24T00:59:28Z")
In-N-Out, by far. I used to like other fast food joints until I started high school and discovered the In-N-Out three blocks from there. Every other fast food hamburger has now been relegated to the catagory of “only eat if the alternative is death”. Taco Bell is also fairly good. Not that I’d want to eat there every day, but they’re decent fare. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/49 "2005-04-24T02:18:50Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > **Burger Chef** My brother worked at a Burger Chef in about 1963. They had the only flame broiled burgers I can remember at that time, predating Burger King at least in our area. They were [acquired by Hardee’s in 1982](http://hometown.aol.com/jsf605213/index.html) and converted or sold off. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/50 "2005-04-24T02:27:01Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > I could be wrong, but didn’t [Fast Food Nation](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060938455/qid=1114222292/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-1425491-0304168?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) come to the conclusion that In n Out Burger was the best of the worst when it comes to ethical issues like safest food, best treatment of its workers, etc. (as for taste, I’m not big on fast food so you’ll have to be the judge). Maybe someone who has read the book more recently can come along and sort me out. Yup. Finished the book this afternoon, BTW. I don’t think all be eating a hamburger for quite some time to come. Although if I feel the need for fast food, I think I will go to In-N-Out. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/51 "2005-04-24T02:29:42Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Another **In-n-Out** disciple here, the Double-Double with grilled onions can’t be beat, the shakes are without peer, but the fries have to be consumed immediately while still hot or they tend to go a little limp. The chili dog at \*\*Tommy’s \*\* is outstanding. Have you tried the fries well done (off the secret menu)? They are crispy and not limp at all. **In N Out** , baby! Mmmmmmm… And as others have said, it’s not just the food. Their employees are treated and paid rather well for this line of work, they stick with a limited menu so things won’t get out of control, they won’t bombard everyone with advertising, and they don’t target or cater to kids. If anyone needs the secret menu, here 'tis: [http://www.tiburon-belvedere.com/cgi/home.cgi?c=In\_N\_Out](http://www.tiburon-belvedere.com/cgi/home.cgi?c=In_N_Out) The protein burger isn’t bad, if you can get used to holding onto lettuce instead of a bun! The Neopolitan shake is a delight. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/52 "2005-04-24T02:36:26Z")
Note: You can also request No Salt at **In N Out**. I often get no salt burgers and fries. It’s possible that other places will accommodate this request as well, but I wouldn’t know which ones. ---
**Author:** ![boofuu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@boofuu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofuu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/53 "2005-04-24T02:48:08Z")
I consider **Boston Market** a fast food restaurant. And that stuff is good. I would walk a mile for their stewed apples, macaroni and CORN. The sweetest, juciest corn I have ever tasted. > [@](#): > > … but I need to put in a good word for one of my favorite spots in Chapel Hill… MagicEyes-- I went to school in Chapel Hill. I personally happen to think everything tastes better there (but I have hazy rosy memories of my times there). Have you eaten from Time Out Chicken on Franklin? For everyone else, this place is ALWAYS open and they (used to?) sell, as their specialty) a bucket of chicken bones. Yum. Not. Homeless people, drunks and hungry college students at 5 A.M. love this place. Does anyone else know **Cosmic Cantina**? Proto-hippie Mexican mostly-fast food. Good for the Earth, good for the stomach. Plus they have a decent and cheap Margarita. It was about 2 blocks from my dorm. I ate (and drank) there a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/54 "2005-04-24T02:50:18Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Note: You can also request No Salt at **In N Out**. I often get no salt burgers and fries. > > It’s possible that other places will accommodate this request as well, but I wouldn’t know which ones. I know you can do this at both McDonalds and Burger King. Probably pretty much anywhere will do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/55 "2005-04-24T07:43:32Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > OK. I can’t be the only one to notice that **Tracy Lord’s** favorite is the old "In-N-Out? Or am I the only one reading old enough and well enough versed in pornographic actresses to think of this? Tracy Lord with a “y” and no “s”. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/56 "2005-04-24T15:49:07Z")
If relatives are visiting, I will take them to one of my town’s top tourist attractions, the [Oldest operational McDonald’s restaurant in the world](http://www.downeyca.org/visitor_mcdonalds.php). Otherwise, I tend to give Mickey D’s a wide berth. For a burger fix near home, it’s the **Jack-in-the-Box** right across the street from there. From the first time I gave myself carbonated post-nasal drip watching their hysterical commercials and the first bite of their excellent burgers, they have been my guilty pleasure of choice, mostly because they’re good and convenient (plus they have a wide and expanding variety of non-burger sandwiches, each better than the last). Years before I arrived in town, JIB went through an E.coli scare, but, unlike other chains in similar predicaments, got religion and, according to Fast Food Nation, are now mavericks in the industry for their “farm-to-fork” quality policies. My wife prefers **In-N-Out**. I acknowledge their quality, and there are times when nothing but a Double-Double “Animal Style” will do, but their fries, while made directly from the potato, are rather bland. **Burger King**? Took a sharp nose-dive in reliable quality a while back. **Wendy’s**? Meh. Not my place of choice, these days. I didn’t notice that it got mentioned, but the Wendy’s patron who reportedly consumed their Chili-con-Finger has been arrested, following the revelations that no one in the Wendy’s supply chain seems to be missing said digit (despite a six-figure reward offered by the company for info), and the fact that she seems to be simultaneously involved in another illegal money scheme. The Six-Dollar burger (which, once you add fries and a drink, does in fact cost six dollars here) at **Carl’s Jr.** (Hardee’s elsewhere in the nation) is as good as it claims to be, in my book. Haven’t ever tried **Rally’s** , so no opinion there. Going more upscale, **Fatburger** is a misnomer, as the meat is lean and very flavorful. _ **Wait a minute!** _ WHY am I even bothering with all these burger also-rans? My fellow SoCal Dopers, if you can bring yourself to drive a couple of extra miles and wait just a couple of extra minutes at the window for the promise of orgiastic-sex-on-a-bun, get thee hence to your local branch of a chain spreading out of the Inland Empire: [Farmer Boys](http://www.farmerboys.com/). Out of this world breakfast, as well. **Quizno’s** handily beats the other locally-available sandwich chains, **Subway** and **Togo’s**. But I miss Au Bon Pain in the Northeast. **Arby’s** , for the most part, sucks as much now as they did twenty years ago when I first tried them, but for awhile a couple of years back they offered high-quality deli sandwiches on real bread. Excellent! Delivery Pizza? **Pizza Hut** over **Domino’s**. Go out for pizza? **Red Brick** Chicken? Always **Boston Market** , unless the craving is for those specific 11 herbs and spices at **KFC**. Popeye’s tastes like KFC left out in an oily road puddle for a week, and the other chicken chains around here aren’t even on my radar. Drive-Thru Mexican? **Del Taco** over **Taco Bell** any day of the week. If I crave fast Italian other than pizza, that is the succulent slurp of watery spaghetti, I suppose there’s always Sbarro, but I miss Papa Gino’s in the greater Boston area. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/57 "2005-04-24T15:55:38Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Drive-Thru Mexican? **Del Taco** over **Taco Bell** any day of the week. :smack: Meant to add: Take out mexican? Baja Fresh or Rubio’s ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/58 "2005-04-24T16:44:21Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > _ **Wait a minute!** _ WHY am I even bothering with all these burger also-rans? My fellow SoCal Dopers, if you can bring yourself to drive a couple of extra miles and wait just a couple of extra minutes at the window for the promise of orgiastic-sex-on-a-bun, get thee hence to your local branch of a chain spreading out of the Inland Empire: [Farmer Boys](http://www.farmerboys.com/). Out of this world breakfast, as well. Well, if they are going to drive that far, they should just make a trip to Jay’s Jayburger in East LA. But of course it’s not a chain ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/59 "2005-04-24T18:00:24Z")
> [@archmichael](#): > > Well, if they are going to drive that far, they should just make a trip to Jay’s Jayburger in East LA. But of course it’s not a chain Actually, there’s a Farmer Boys [just east of downtown LA](http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=H_p6aOp_0TqCuax85plJTysQ2hQxahp1Pw--&csz=90021&country=us&cat=/#mapcontent), and many more to the east and southeast of that. They just haven’t hit the West Si-eeede yet. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628/60 "2005-04-24T18:41:33Z")
Definitely **In-N-Out**. Fries are great…unless they overcook them. Since when do they serve salads? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-fast-food-place/300628.md?page=4)