Reprise: Fast Food Chains you could eat at.

[Shaji M]

Locally: El Pollo Loco, Port of Subs, In n out. When we go across the hill to Sacramento and beyond, Chipotle becomes an option. While traveling we often stop at Ikeda's (not IKEA, although I like several items on their menu as well)..but I am digressing from the fast food chain theme..oh well!

[Jeff B]

McDonalds for me. LOVE the fries and always have (I hope my arteries forgive me). And sometimes a Big Mac is the only thing that will hit the spot. And the coffee is also quite good. Usually.

I've also been known to devour several hard tacos from Taco Bell. They must have the crunch. Soft tacos just aren't the same...

Jeff

You must be among the great underprivileged of the world and have never eaten a decent taco. Taco Bell is a tenant on a piece of property I own but I can't force myself to eat their food. Not on a bet. They do pay their rent on time and are fine tenants.

I probably haven't had a decent taco, but knowing my tastes, I'd probably end up going back to Taco Bell...

I must admit I was indeed raised to appreciate "American Tacos". That is, when we made them at home, we would use the simple hard corn tortilla shells and simply drop spoonfuls of seasoned beef into them. With some shredded cheese and a few dollops of sour cream, we were crunching away. Thus, my love for "tacos" that crunch.

Jeff

[Karen/NoCA]

It is rare that we go to a fast food chain, but we do frequent Papa Murphy's. I love the Gourmet Vegetarian with the thin crust. For $9.00 I get a family size pizza to feed our (currently) family of three, and still have several slices for lunch the next day. A fast food place I visit here in Redding is Fast Weenies, locally owned and housed in a kiosk in the parking lot of a strip mall. I go there for the spicy Polish Kraut Dogs with spicy brown mustard. Very yummy! The ladies there make sun tea everyday during our summer months, and always a have a huge smile for us. They also give our sweet Havanese dog a treat.

[Hoke]

Well, as long as we're confessing....

I will admit, back in my route sales days, to frequenting the Costco locations scattered through my territory.

Best $1.50 I ever spent to get a Polish and a Coke, especially when I could heap that dog up with yellow mustard and chopped onions from the dispenser.

[Mike Filigenzi]

Well, as long as we're confessing....

I will admit, back in my route sales days, to frequenting the Costco locations scattered through my territory.

Best $1.50 I ever spent to get a Polish and a Coke, especially when I could heap that dog up with yellow mustard and chopped onions from the dispenser.

And don't forget the appetizers and desserts offered by the "free sample" folks!

[Hoke]

Well, as long as we're confessing....

I will admit, back in my route sales days, to frequenting the Costco locations scattered through my territory.

Best $1.50 I ever spent to get a Polish and a Coke, especially when I could heap that dog up with yellow mustard and chopped onions from the dispenser.

And don't forget the appetizers and desserts offered by the "free sample" folks!

And did you notice that most of the people crowded around those free samples are people that look like they don't need any more samples of anything?

I have been known to purchase one of those dipped ice cream bars after my hot dog on a nice sunny day.

[Bill Spohn]

Thought about this and there really aren't any I'd go to voluntarily, although we have gone to Denny's on occasion when on the road, as the lesser of many other evils. Fast food in general is objectionable to me - a sea of insipid empty calories in the form of bottled cheese sauces and bland carbs. I'd rather chaw down on a head of lettuce, and I am a famous meat eater, than embark on one of those 1000 calorie offences to good taste offered by all of the chains!

[Carl Eppig]

Thought about this and there really aren't any I'd go to voluntarily, although we have gone to Denny's on occasion when on the road,

Wouldn't call Denny's fast food. It is a dinner house chain like Shoney's or Bob Evans.

[Mark Willstatter]

Interesting to hear the talk about Subway improving in recent years.

I guess I would give them another chance based on what I've seen in this thread except it sounds like the bread is still bad. For me a good sandwich can't start with terrible bread.

Edited to correct basic typos.

[Rahsaan]

Wouldn't call Denny's fast food.

Maybe not. But it falls into that category of 'Eat Only When There Are No Other Options' and in my most recent experience three years ago the quality was atrocious. Much worse than the more reputable non-chain 'fast food' outlets.

[Hoke]

Wouldn't call Denny's fast food.

Maybe not. But it falls into that category of 'Eat Only When There Are No Other Options' and in my most recent experience three years ago the quality was atrocious. Much worse than the more reputable non-chain 'fast food' outlets.

I'd agree with all of that.

[Frank Deis]

The few times I ate at Denny's, I really resented the long long wait for the very ordinary food.

I think my term for it would be a "=slow= food joint."

I've never eaten there but my son and some of our friends are fond of a non-chain fast food place in my town called the White Rose System. They pride themselves in getting your burger to you, with all of your quirky additions and subtractions, in the blink of an eye. And I have heard that once you've been there often enough to be considered a "regular" -- they will notice your car as you drive up, and put your "usual" on the counter as you walk in the door. They also over-air-condition, which many people think is a way to increase customer turn-over. They want you to eat and run...

[Carl Eppig]

Wouldn't call Denny's fast food.

Maybe not. But it falls into that category of 'Eat Only When There Are No Other Options' and in my most recent experience three years ago the quality was atrocious. Much worse than the more reputable non-chain 'fast food' outlets.

I'd agree with all of that.

Never said it was any good, just said it wasn't fast food!

[Robin Garr]

Maybe not. But it falls into that category of 'Eat Only When There Are No Other Options' ...

+1, assuming that "Other Options" includes "gnawing off my own foot."

[Jenise]

The few times I ate at Denny's, I really resented the long long wait for the very ordinary food.

I think my term for it would be a "=slow= food joint."

I've never eaten there but my son and some of our friends are fond of a non-chain fast food place in my town called the White Rose System. They pride themselves in getting your burger to you, with all of your quirky additions and subtractions, in the blink of an eye. And I have heard that once you've been there often enough to be considered a "regular" -- they will notice your car as you drive up, and put your "usual" on the counter as you walk in the door. They also over-air-condition, which many people think is a way to increase customer turn-over. They want you to eat and run...

Recently passed the Dennys in Bellingham which had a sign out for Happy Hour. Which means they serve alcohol. Big change from the days when I would occasionally go to Denny's for lunch when one was near my work. It was hardly great dining but I loved the grilled roast beef, tomato and cheese sandwich!

[Bill Spohn]

Only thing we eat at Dennys is the Grand Slam breakfast - we each order one, and SWMBO gets the pancakes and I get all the protein.

The patty melts used to be habit forming but I've sworn off!

[Alan Wolfe]

Hardy's for burgers
Arby's Angus three cheese w/bacon
McDonald's Steak, egg and cheese bagel (rarely)
Subway when I want a sub
I have yet to find a decent Mexican or Tex/Mex place in WV
I'm so far out in the country that there are no decent pizza places. I have to make it myself.

No one mentioned Chinese or Indian take out. Do they count?

I estimate that I have fast food once a month.

[Tom Troiano]

No one mentioned Chinese or Indian take out. Do they count?

Most Chinese and Indian are NOT chains, right?

[Alan Wolfe]

No, they're not, but if one must judge from what is available in WV, they might as well be. Same menu, same food, same service, same decor.

[David M. Bueker]

No, they're not, but if one must judge from what is available in WV, they might as well be. Same menu, same food, same service, same decor.

Must be run by liberals.

[CMMiller]

Subway is edible if you load the sandwich right.

Chipotle is better than edible; not as good as our better local taquerias to be sure, but a welcom sight when stuck in culinary wastelands.

Roti is a nice vaguely Middle Eastern formula - pick your grilled meet or falafel, ask for it on rice, on salad or in a pita, plus a variety of veggies or toppings. Fast, clever, decent.

Pasta Pomodoro is solid cheap Italian that goes beyond red sauce, quite decent farro for example. Not really fast food though.

For a while, certain Popeyes had decent collard greens and beans and rice. Don't know if that's still true.

[alex metags]

If Asian noodle chains count, then one that I go to once in a while is TK Noodle, which as far as I can tell is a Bay Area chain. I've seen it referred to as the "McD's of the noodle world." And unless unusually crowded, it is quick. I usually tell the waitstaff my order (by number) as I get seated, and 3-5 minutes later have a steaming hot bowl of noodles. 15 slurping minutes later, trot up front to pay the cashier by table number. Cash only. Not that exciting, but fast and consistent.

[Lou Kessler]

If Asian noodle chains count, then one that I go to once in a while is TK Noodle, which as far as I can tell is a Bay Area chain. I've seen it referred to as the "McD's of the noodle world." And unless unusually crowded, it is quick. I usually tell the waitstaff my order (by number) as I get seated, and 3-5 minutes later have a steaming hot bowl of noodles. 15 slurping minutes later, trot up front to pay the cashier by table number. Cash only. Not that exciting, but fast and consistent.

We live in Napa and there is nothing like your noodle restaurant in this valley. Wish there was.

[Hoke]

If Asian noodle chains count, then one that I go to once in a while is TK Noodle, which as far as I can tell is a Bay Area chain. I've seen it referred to as the "McD's of the noodle world." And unless unusually crowded, it is quick. I usually tell the waitstaff my order (by number) as I get seated, and 3-5 minutes later have a steaming hot bowl of noodles. 15 slurping minutes later, trot up front to pay the cashier by table number. Cash only. Not that exciting, but fast and consistent.

We had one much like that here in Portland (where there are plenty of non-chain noodle and pho restaurants galore). One side of a fron-and-back Mexican place. Forget the name. It's gone. Now a barbecue joint.

Shame, because we ate there fairly frequently. Great place. Quick, upscale cafeteria style, woks going all the time. Well developed pan-asian noodle and rice dishes. Got large helpings, pretty decent spicing, and most of the faves were available---pad thai, drunken noodles, etc.

They seemed to be doing fairly decent business when we went in---mostly lunch hour though. Guess not enough business overall. Again, shame. A thousand percent better---grading on a curve---than most fast-food places.