What's your hierarchy of fast food?
Posted by InformationBig3065@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 49 comments
If you had to rank them, what's your hierarchy of fast food?
- Sincerely from an Australian who finds the range of fast food offerings in the US fascinating
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
S Tier: Often regional, great if you are in their area: Cook Out, Bojangles, Culver's, Chick-fil-a, In-N-Out
A Tier: Can be a good choice, usually pretty solid: Taco Bell, Zaxby's, Whataburger, Cane's, Popeye's
B Tier: On the decline or no longer worth the price: Wendy's, McDonalds, KFC, Subway
C Tier: Easy to forget they exist, were never all that great or now are nearly forgotten: KFC, Burger King, Hardee's/Carl Jr
benk4@reddit
In-N-Out has good burgers, but fries that are shockingly awful. My high school cafeteria French fries were a serious step up. I don't understand how they can't fix their French fry problem.
x_Caffeine_Kitten_x@reddit
Would definitely disagree with the C- tier. KFC is so good, I just can't justify the price anymore. Hardee's has very good fries.
The rest is pretty spot on, although I think Wendy's salads are worth it for someone who is on vacation and wants something somewhat healthy.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Most of the places around me where the KFC hasn't closed (many are gone) they are poor quality, or for a while they were combo KFC/Taco Bell. I can't think of anyone in my life who would want to go to KFC over Bojangles, Popeyes, or Zaxby's
BlakeMajik@reddit
Burger King is super hit-or-miss. Their Impossible Whopper, for example, is by far the best fast food vegan burger. But so many of their outlets are ... sketch at best that it's hard to know what you might get.
MyUsername2459@reddit
In my experience, Burger King food tends to be at least decent. . .but they usually have the worst service, by far, of any fast food place. With better service, they'd be a MUCH better place overall.
benk4@reddit
For burgers: Culver's Wendy's Whataburger Jack in the box McDonald's Burger King
For chicken: Raisin Canes Zaxby's KFC Popeye's Chick-fil-a
Taco Bell is in a league of it's own.
RightToTheThighs@reddit
When was the last time you had Wendy's? I haven't had a good Wendy's burger in like 10 years
VanillaPepper@reddit
Wendys has maybe the most location variance of anyone. There was one right near an apartment I lived at that was weirdly dependable. After moving it took me a year or two to realize most Wendys arent like that. I think they must have a pretty long leash for their franchisers.
DQ is also a candidate but it might be regional. The DQs I went to in NC had really bad burgers, they were just places to grab a blizzard. In the midwest now the burgers at the DQ near me are pretty good. I wouldnt go if it wasnt walking distance from my house but still.
benk4@reddit
BK has a lot of location variation too. I actually go to BK more than any on my list (despite it being lowest on my list) because there's one near me that's really good. True diamond in the rough.
benk4@reddit
I actually had Wendy's a few months ago for the first time in a long time and it was better than I remembered!
Superpriestess@reddit
The Cook Out is at the top, everything else is trash (with the one exception of Arby's curly fries.)
x_Caffeine_Kitten_x@reddit
Chick-fil-a, Panda Express, Culver's, Hardee's
Curmudgy@reddit
Fast food isn’t worth the time to think about a hierarchy.
SVAuspicious@reddit
Y'all know a disturbing amount about fast food options.
VanillaPepper@reddit
A lot of the best stuff is regional chains nowadays. Cook Out and Bojangles, for example, were always my favorites, but they are only available in the southeastern US. Now that I've moved to St Louis, my favorite is a roast beef place called Lion's Choice.
All of these spots are way better than the similarly priced chains that are nationwide. With that said, here is how I would sort it out, personally:
Favorites
-- Cook Out, Bojangles, Lion's Choice
Really good but costly for fast food
-- Shake Shack, Five Guys
Places I'll be happy to eat at if someone else wants to go
-- Steak N Shake, Raising Cane's, Arby's, Chik Fil A, Culvers, Taco Bell, Whataburger
Places that vary a ton by location (some locations are genuinely good, some horrible)
-- Wendy's, Popeyes, Burger King, Dairy Queen
Acceptable places if im traveling and desperate -- mcdonalds, subway
Places I dont want to go (either because the food is inedible or because its unbelievably overpriced for the quality)
-- Skyline Chili, Long John Silvers, Hardees, Jack in the Box, Chipotle
makerofpaper@reddit
S-Tier: Culver’s Chic fil a
A-Tier: In-N-Out Zaxbys 5-Guys
B-Tier: McDonald’s Wendy’s Arby’s Popeyes Raising Canes KFC Jimmy John’s Dunkin
C-Tier: Bojangles Subway Hardees Burger King White Castle DQ Taco Bell
Fuckin Nasty: Captain Ds Jack in the box
ascaffo@reddit
There are a lot of variables here. For example, regional favorites- east coast, west coast, mid west. Then there are types of fast food. Everyone has a favorite for chicken, or burgers, or tacos. I don't do a lot of fast food. If I do, it'd probably be Wendy's.
mcsmith610@reddit
For me, Popeyes, Panda Express, and Sonic. Not in any particular order, but these are my top 3.
sharkiio@reddit
I forgot about Sonic! They have Amazing tater tots. There isn’t one close to me anymore and I’m so sad about it :,)
mcsmith610@reddit
Yes! Sonic isn’t the best at any one thing imo, but a bacon cheeseburger, tater tots, and a cherry limeade at the drive thru just hits different.
Nellylocheadbean@reddit
My personal go tos are Dominos, Chic Fil A, 5 Guys and Shake Shack
gthomps83@reddit
For fried chicken, Church’s, with Popeye’s a close second.
People seem to consider Five Guys fast food, but to me, they’re in a fast-adjacent. But they make a solid burger and their fries are top notch.
For breakfast, nothing beats McDonalds.
cholointheskies@reddit
Taco Bell #1 by far
ghdana@reddit
The chicken nuggets they've been offering on and off over the last year are actually great, like basically as good as the boneless wings at Bdubs lmao. Pair them with some nacho fries, diet Baja Blast, and maybe gordita crunch and yeah that hits the spot.
sharkiio@reddit
Taco bell is objectively not great but when you’re fiending for a fast food taco nothing else really beats it
iowanaquarist@reddit
I consider it a #2. Not a solid #2, but a #2, none-the-less.
doctorwhoobgyn@reddit
It's a #2 whether you want it to be or not.
Doone7@reddit
McDee's if I am in the mood for a cheap burger and fries, Taco Bell for cheap but filling. Jimmy Johns if I want a sub. We honestly don't eat fast food as much anymore though honestly, as our fav local restraunts also have drive thru or at least drive thru pickup. So if we eat out we just get something from a small mom and pop place. Plus food trucks have started coming out to our area from the city once a week.
Crying_in_99Ranch@reddit
In-n-out is at the top for me due to quality, consistency, and customizability.
Chick-Fil-A, Raising Canes (location dependent), Culver's, and Chipotle are next
Everything else is below to varying degrees but I usually don't go to those anymore
ascaffo@reddit
There are a lot of variables here. For example, regional favorites- east coast, west coast, mid west. Then there are types of fast food. Everyone has a favorite for chicken, or burgers, or tacos. I'm east coast, but don't do a lot of fast food. If I do, it'd probably be Wendy's or Smash burger.
sharkiio@reddit
Idk if it counts because its more of a fast casual thing than traditional fast food but I love Qdoba! I can make it at home sure but if I’m already out I sometimes go. A bit pricey though so it’s more of a special treat than anything. Beyond that taco bell and wendy’s are probably my go-tos for a quick meal
sharkiio@reddit
I forgot about Culvers! Same thing as Qdoba where I’m not Totally sure it counts but they have excellent burgers and I love the season pumpkin ice cream they have
MyUsername2459@reddit
A List: Culvers, In-N-Out, Five Guys
B List: Wendy's, Starbucks, Burger King, Jersey Mike's
C List: Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Queen, Hardees, Jimmy John's
D List: McDonalds, Subway, KFC
Both_Painter_9186@reddit
ChicFilA number one. Hands down. There will be some reddit haters but if you’ve gotta do fast food, the quality is tight. Spicy chicken biscuits for breakfast. Spicy chicken deluxe with waffle fries for lunch or dinner.
ThePermMustWait@reddit
It’s the same everywhere. That’s what they do well. All of them are clean.
ghdana@reddit
In N Out is top due to price/quality/speed, I miss living down the street from one, I'm now a plane ride away. Like their cheeseburgers are very cheap compared to other fast food places despite being a higher quality. And I'm in the minority that likes their fries.
Raising Canes is my #2 due to taste. I will also choose Dave's Hot Chicken if it is available as they seem to be expanding a lot in the last decade.
Chickfila is up there due to quality and speed of drive thru at most newer locations.
I actually like the burgers at DQ quite a bit too. Culvers is also pretty high quality. Five Guys is also basically always good.
Carl's Jr/Hardees is basically never on my mind. Same with Arby's but they typically have a worse perception. And I never go to KFC/Popeyes.
Taco Bell I actually really like. Like they have chicken nugget things half the year that I really enjoy funny sounding as that is.
I would put McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's all on the same tier because they're all unpredictable, the McDonalds in my town is by far the worst, but I know other towns have the opposite opinions.
I won't get into fast casual because I think a lot of regional ones are the best(Cafe Rio is my favorite, its way better than Chipotle, but not all over the US).
Jub1982@reddit
My top is Culver’s and Chick-fil-a. Subway is a decent standby, but inconsistent
Freedum4Murika@reddit
Bojangles, top dog. Strong value per dollar. Cook Out is second but has a 10 beer minimum to really hit the sweet spot
V-Right_In_2-V@reddit
Popeyes. 5 guys. Wing stop
AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit
#1 - Jacks / Southeastern burger chain.
#2 - Chik-fil-A
After that? A mixed bag. Although I'll say that In-n-Out is wildly overrated. I was in LA on a biz trip and the guys I was working with raved about In-n-Out as if Jesus Himself was flipping the burgers in the back. And don't even get me started on Whataburger. The carton the burger comes in tastes better.
#473 - Taco Bell
#474 - Arby's.
GIANTballCOCK@reddit
TBell value menu, McD value menu, Arby's value menu.
sickest_000@reddit
mid_1990s_death_doom@reddit
Chick fil A is first, unfortunately. Their politics leaves much to be desired. Then Arby's, Jack in the box, and Wendy's.Then comes all others.
yert1099@reddit
Chick-fil-a - decent food and their Market Salad with grilled chicken is very tasty/mostly healthy.
bloontsmooker@reddit
All of it has a place, all of it is good in its own way
Samiam2197@reddit
Do you mean in terms of favorites or in terms of what’s perceived as classier?
Professional-Pungo@reddit
it really would depend what food you want?
chicken? I'd go with popeyes or jolibee
pizza? papa johns
fries? mcdonalds
mexican? taco bell (although I don't really know many other fast food mexican places)
burgers? eh for me honestly probably mcdonalds too
LABELyourPHOTOS@reddit
There's some decent places on the west coast but out here there's Five guys that's pretty good. Everything else I have when I am on the road and desperately hungry, I am reminded why I don't grab fast food often.