Fast food that's actually good

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Fast food that's actually good

Ideally also good for you, or at least that won't kill you faster than say chain-smoking).

I'll take your nominations; do you think we can actually fill all 10 (or 9 with Other) slots?

(I just tried the Arby's "turkey reuben" last night. While the turkey was very tasty, the combination of flavors was very strange and not in the good way. Actually, since it isn't grilled, their corned beef reuben ought to be in quotation marks, too, but it's very tasty 9 out of 10 times.)

Poll result (24 votes)
Arby's reuben	(3 votes, 13%)	Vote
Arby's turkey & swiss	(1 votes, 4%)	Vote
Chick-Fil-A	(5 votes, 21%)	Vote
McDonald's $1 double cheeseburger-- the delicious taste of cutting into their profit margins	(3 votes, 13%)	Vote
El Pollo Loco	(3 votes, 13%)	Vote
Taco Bell	(2 votes, 8%)	Vote
Some place locally owned (specify if you like)	(2 votes, 8%)	Vote
Other (kindly specify)	(5 votes, 21%)	Vote

[bluethruandthru]

1. It depends on the Arby's

I've had the turkey reuben at one Arby's and it was heavenly...then I went to a different Arby's and...not so good.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. It might be more of a quality control problem

because with the corned beef ones, sometimes they're very gristly. There are three Arby's about equally far from me, so I spread my business around between them, but I think the gristly ones are mainly at one restaurant--but the best sandwiches are from there, too.

[WCGreen]

32. Go to a freakin Deli and eat some real corned beef...

Not that overly processed shit...

[datasuspect]

2. the 64 ounce chicken fried steak

(a huge steak, breaded in thick batter and deep fried) at a restaurant in pasadena, texas.

if you can finish it in one hour, it's free.

[Bossy Monkey]

12. Not fast food, but I did put up a "locally-owned place" spot n/t

[bif]

4. Taco Bell

Isn't all that bad.About the only fast food I eat. I quit eating at McDonalds about three years ago.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. It's up

Somebody'll be around momentarily to tell you about how their tomatoes are harvested using slave labor. (I get the #8 crunchy; no tomatoes )

[Shakespeare]

5. El Pollo Loco!

It even gets a whole-hearted endorsement from the South Beach Diet doctor. Healthy marinated grilled chicken, and most of the sides are even healthy (rice, beans, salad, etc.).

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Not nationwide, but I'll put it on n/t

[driver8]

18. Most of my "fast food" meals are at El Pollo Loco.

Their food is so good, and my kids love it!

[bicentennial_baby]

6. As Bart Simpson would say...

"I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's"

[Bossy Monkey]

9. Arby's has improved markedly; I was surprised, too n/t

[JVS]

39. I think that those words were said by either Sharri or Terri

[Ohio Joe]

10. Chick-Fil-A

I just had it for lunch

[Bossy Monkey]

11. I've given them up finally, as a locally-owned place is now making

a knockoff that's better, and the local Chick-Fil-As are having significant quality control (or at least consistency) problems. Good thing too, as I was getting tired of having horrible Chick-Fil-A urges EVERY Sunday and no way to assuage them. (The locally-owned joint is open Sundays.)

[riderinthestorm]

21. This chain is owned by raging repukes. They only donate to red candidates

You may want to re-think your patronage of Chick-fil-A.

Just sayin....

[johnnie]

13. The Wendy's deli sandwiches aren't bad

I like the turkey and pesto sandwich.

[Bossy Monkey]

16. I definitely would have put it on had time not run out

but there is an Other slot.

[bigwillq]

14. Duchess

They have them in CT, not sure if they're anywhere else.

[Bossy Monkey]

15. Never heard of them. Anyway, let's argue about it furiously;

you're about to hit your 28,000th post.

[Nikia]

17. Arby's chicken salad sandwich

Unfortunately, I looked at the calories and it is a high calorie sandwich. On the otherhand, being on whole wheat bread and containing fruit and nuts does make it mutritious. It is tasty.

[mark414]

19. In'n'Out burger

i need to get back out to the west coast soon...

[sakabatou]

31. second

[Shine]

44. ditto!

except I live on the west coast.....

unfortunately, we don't have any joints in our town. Bummer.

[riderinthestorm]

20. Noodles and Company

Not sure how widespread they are as a chain, but they sure do taste the best (they even allow you to substitute tofu for meat in their dishes).

[Nikia]

24. I think they are pretty good too

Of course, I live a further distance away from one, but did stop in when we were in close to one while doing big city shopping. The first time we ate there, I thought that this was a great idea for fast food.

[ChoralScholar]

43. There's a noodles in Fayetteville...

I started to eat there this weekend.. is it good?

[mvd]

22. Other - Wendy's

I like getting their Frescatas and doubles with cheese every now and then.

[YankeyMCC]

23. Fresh City

Not sure if this qualifies as Fast Food but I don't see why not.

www.freshcity.com

[Nikia]

25. What about sub places?

Subway, of course, is most widespread. Quiznos, Erbert's & Gerbert's, and Jimmy John's are better though.

[barb162]

46. Subs don't bother me

Just keep the onions off and I am fine

[querelle]

26. A & W

Is A & W a fast food chain in America? Here in Canada they make the best burgers anywhere. Teen Burger with fries and their famous root beer. Is there anything better?

Q

[Nikia]

29. There are several A&Ws in Wisconsin

Probably other places too.

[mark414]

37. as a wisconsin resident i am lucky enough to have the a & w experience

but the only other place i've seen one was in eugene, OR

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. They have them in Michigan, and we used to eat there all the time

in Syracuse.

Michigan still keeps a few of the drive in kind as well.

[WCGreen]

33. Chilie Dogs and Root Beer with a side of Onion Rings...

[Redstone]

27. Harvey's. Only in Canada now, but I SURE wish they'd expand

to New England.

Redstone

[LynzM]

28. Our local food co-op

Since moving into a bigger facility, now has some pre-made stuff in a fridge case... veggie and feta wraps, sesame peanut noodles, all kinds of goodies!

[tanyev]

30. Charro Chicken.

Rotisserie chicken with a southwestern flair. Mmmm. I think it's a new (probably small) chain.

[Omphaloskepsis]

34. I like Taco Time..

The quality is a few notches above Taco Bell.

[rockymountaindem]

35. This thread cannot pass without mention of Chipotle

Yes yes, I know they're owned by McDonald's. But, but... I can't get over the fact that even in a fast food joint, there's some dude or gal right on the other side of the counter actually grilling up my lunch right there before my eyes. Not a fryer in sight, as many salsa combinations as your heart desires.... that place is like kryptonite to me.

[WildEyedLiberal]

36. We can't be friends anymore

I HATE Chipotle.

Just kidding, haha. I still like you even if you eat that nasty fake "Mexican" at Chipotle. Actually, I wouldn't hate Chipotle if they didn't pretend that they were Mexican. If they just advertised as a fresh grilled wrap place, I probably wouldn't have a problem with it at all. I think Taco Bell is more authentic Mexican than Chipotle.

[rockymountaindem]

38. Maybe where *you* are

But where I am, and don't think this is some kind of stupid "minuteman" rant, the people who work there are by and large Mexican. I think they know what they're doing. In my town, Taco Bell is just a sure-fire way to get... oh wait, no bodily function threads. Anyway, whatever the case may be in your town, let me assure you that Chipotle is tops in Colorado.

[WildEyedLiberal]

40. Ah, well if I'm ever out West I'll give Chipotle another try, then

Yeah, see, I hate it because here, Chipotle is the white suburban Chicago kid version of "Mexican" whereas I can go to a real locally-owned restaurant run and staffed entirely by Mexicans and get food that's 10000x as good for the same price. So it pisses me off when all these suburban whitebread kids get a "burrito" made by one of their classmates and think they're eating Mexican.

But if your Chipotle is staffed by Mexicans, it just might have good food. OK, you get a pass this time.

[rockymountaindem]

41. Thank you

I can also say with pride that I've eaten at the original Chipotle location on Evans street in Denver, next to the University of Denver. Again, pretty durn good considering it's the original location and all. They even sell t-shirts that say "yeah, I've been to Evans". I should buy one.

[Broken_Hero]

42. other

subway...turkey, or roast beef sub...lettuce, tomato, onion, bell peppers, a pinch of that sweet onion sauce...

[Floogeldy]

45. Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits

Green beans, red beans and rice, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, et cetera . . .

[pokerfan]

47. Your local Mongolian Barbeque

You get to choose your ingredients and can pass on the meat if you want. Most places will have takeout boxes. (I like lots of water chestnuts and mushrooms.)

[wickerwoman]

48. Jack in the Box

Their ultimate cheeseburger is the best thing going and they give you decently fresh salads and a choice of wraps and other healthier stuff.

Who the hell is voting for Chick Fil-A? Admittedly, I've only been to one, once but it was probably the worst meal I ever had in a restaurant. Limp grey chicken and watered down soft-drinks. Blech...

[Lilith Velkor]

49. Pho 95, Pho Thang Long

Either place you get your noodles in 5 minutes.

[seemunkee]

50. Popeye's Crawfish Etouffee

Or when that is not available the red beans and rice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Culvers!!!

A fast food place that serves Custard!!! My kids love Culvers... I, used to...but my tummy can't take the dairy anymore. But their root beer is the best on earth!

[Bossy Monkey]

53. On my Flat Earth Tour of the Midwest in '99, I was horrified by the signs

"Frozen Custard Butterburgers? Ewwwwwwwww!" And I wasn't even lactose-intolerant yet. Good to hear that they're actually good. (And that my eye was running together two separate signs.) back

[Beausoir]

55. Oh yes. Culvers is sooo good. I can't eat there anymore but I crave

their hot sourdough melt with extra pickles.

Their crinkle cut fries are perfect.

I would kill for Culvers right now.

[KurtNYC]

54. Baja Fresh

white meat chicken burrito, salsa, no lard, etc.


Their motto: No microwaves, no can openers, no lard.

Runner up: In and Out Burger - grind their own hamburger and cut fresh potatoes for their fries.