There was a thing Youtubers were doing for a bit a few weeks ago and that was making tier lists for fast food restaurants. Thought it could be interesting to do here. I love fast food and eat way too much of it, but here we go. Basically rank whatever's in your area on a scale of S to F. Make comments and justify if you want, or just make a list that nobody is gonna read. I'm just gonna stick with ones I've had enough experience with. If I've only had them once or twice I can't really rank them properly. And obviously it'll be region specific.

S

Whataburger: One thing I miss the most about Florida was this place. Though I think it's based out of Texas. One of the few places IMO that the fries and burgers and both equally as good.

Taco Bell: For the price-point and the amount you can get, nothing tops them in my opinion. Each month there's a new LTO and sure it's just revamped stuff that's on the menu or bringing back something discontinued, but it works. It's basically the only place with a true dollar menu going today. Like if I had to choose a place to only go for the rest of my life... it's a contender. Just wish the one near me was easier to access. It's kind of a bitch exiting the place. Plus the $5 box!

A

Culver's: This one has become a recent favorite of mine. Awesome butter burgers and shakes. Hear great things about their cheese curds, but I'm in love with their regular crinkle cut fries. Seriously I've wanted to do a fry countdown since my breakfast cereal one ended, but I doubt there's much of an interest in it. This one is tricky as it almost feels borderline fast casual, which I guess is just a gimmicky name to make places feel "above" fast food.

Chick Fil-A: Most of the videos I saw put them @ S and I won't fault anyone who does. Love it, but there's a few reasons I can't give it the perfect ranking. Closed on Sundays. I swear the chicken biscuit is getting smaller. Also really dislike how they try and control the fountain drinks. Plus they do the Big Boy bullshit with ice. The food itself is amazing, although the breakfast portion has always puzzled me. They serve a sausage biscuit/burrito/bacon egg and cheese... why? I get those are staples of breakfast, but they don't offer non-chicken items for lunch.

Popeyes: I grew up in the Air Force and the food court always had a Popeyes. That stuck with me forever. The biscuits are iconic, the chicken is great and the I love them cajun fries. A little on the expensive side and I've certainly been known to light a candle at the table when I've taken a date there. Wish they would bring back the bonafide big box. They have decent deals WITHOUT DRINKS which means they're not deals. Oh well. The only reason I don't put it @ S is I don't find the spicy to really be spicy. Maybe it's "general public" spicy...

Braum's: Only available in Oklahoma and when my Dad was stationed there... I think I lived there. Burgers are awesome and they got ice cream. It's like DQ if the actual food wasn't shit.

B

Smashburger: Dunno if this is a national chain or not, but it's in my area, so. Another borderline QSR place. Don't care too much for their fries, but I love the burgers. I guess I also liked them because it reminded me of Super Smash Bros. I dunno.

Five Guys: This one isn't really fast food in any way (expensive as fuck, no drive-thru and it's not ready seconds after my order) but all the videos included it so I might as well too. Similar to Smash in that I adore the burgers themselves but don't care for the fries. I enjoy the cajuns moreso than the regular fries, but honestly I could go without them. The gimmick of dumping extra in the bag is cute and all, but kind of annoying when I want the burger. The use of foil also puts them above fast food. Since everything is custom I usually have to mentally prepare myself before I get to the front of the line. Most places have standard ingredients and if I am not ready I start having a panic attack when they ask me what I want on it. Fun times.

C

Steak 'n Shake: This one is weird. They have a drive-thru, but inside is this weird place with waiters and such. The fries are shit. But those steakburgers, man. Guess that's why they don't mention the fries in the title. Hear it's going downhill business wise though.

McDonalds: Think this is a good spot for them. Innovator of the kiosk. Don't like the recent stuff with trying to push "gourmet" sandwiches on us. You're McDonalds, not Red Robin. Stop it. Also eliminating the dollar menu in favor of worthless deals pushed it down. $1 drinks was an interesting move as it kinda makes getting a combo dumb now. Breakfast is still amazing, but I'll be honest... never utilized all-day breakfast since it started.

Little Caesars: When the stuff hasn't been sitting under the heat lamp for hours it really hits the spot. Lunch combo is a great deal as I can't justify buying the deep dish on my own. Think it gets a bad rap sometimes, but it gets the job done. Plus the crazy bread.

KFC: For whatever reason I'm not a big fan of the regular chicken when it's "fresh", but microwaving them the next day is really good. I like the Nashville Hot sauce. Biscuits can be hit or miss. Middle-tier seems ideal for them.

Dominos: Of the national pizza places they may be my favorite, even if the price tips Little C's more often than not. Nothing to add other than that.

Burger King: Everyone hates their fries and while not the best, I like em. I also dig the burgers, but I'm not the biggest fan of the new stuff they push out. Plus how can you not love the door handles being spatulas?

Arby's: We've all had that mind blown moment when you discover RB = Roast Beef. Their logo is also a cowboy hat! No idea why Jon Stewart crapped on them. Course I only go for the roast beef. The curly fries are some of the best in the business.

D

White Castle: I'll never understand the appeal of the burgers. Their fries are decent, so I can't give them an F. But I just don't get it otherwise.

Sonic: Similar to WC, their tots are amazing. Drinks and slushies are also good (so maybe it deserves a C?) but their food is hot garbage. How can Oklahoma produce Braum's, but this is the one that goes nationwide?

Checkers/Rally's: The fries are S tier IMO. I love them. The rest of the menu is pretty trash and sadly at least in my area they are only located in bad neighborhoods so it's hard to justify putting my life on the line for the fries. And last time I did some girl hit my back bumper, so I'm kinda afraid to go back.

Wendy's: I really want to like them. But nothing I ever get is worth the effort. I suppose the fries are decent, but a lot of times they just taste like grease. Twitter feed is good for a laugh though.

Subway: Grew up on the meatball, but other than that I don't bother. Without the $5 footlong what's the point?

Church's Chicken: I really dig their honey biscuits, well when they're not hard like they were last time I went. Chicken itself is bland. Just like Rally's the biscuits aren't worth the trouble.

Carl's Jr./Hardees: Fun fact my first job was working at a Hardees. That sold fried chicken... for some reason? I go every few months and never enjoy the food. And yet keep making that mistake like going to the fridge knowing nothing new is there, but I keep hoping.

F

Pizza Hut: The only thing I've liked of them in the past 10 or so years is the pretzel crust because unlike Little C's version you could get it on a real pizza and not the weird cheese sauce. But man, do they skimp on the regular sauce. My last few times going it was basically just cheese bread. How can you call it pizza without sauce? You can't. That's why it's an F.

Papa John's: I like their cheese sticks, but the pizza itself is the worst of all the national chains.

Long John Silvers: The worst fries in the business? Perhaps. Of all the YUM Brands they may be the bottom of the barrel, which is saying something considering one of them is Pizza Hut. Guess they put all their effort into Taco Bell and KFC.

So yeah I put way too much effort into this. I can't sleep. Participate if you like. Enjoyed this thread? This is the type of nonsense you can expect in my fan fic draft show coming soon.

What the fuck is an “S to F” grading scale

A-F with S above everything else. Although it looks like they included E, so I fucked that up. Oh well.

tiermaker.com/create/fast-food-restaurant-tier-list

Could always use this if anyone wanted to try since you can just drag and drop.

May 27, 2019 3:51:12 GMT KJ said:

What the fuck is an “S to F” grading scale

That's what we called the "Yakuza Scale."

May 27, 2019 3:51:12 GMT KJ said:

What the fuck is an “S to F” grading scale

I don’t get it either but it’s a thing the kids these days are doing. From what I gather it’s equivalent of “god tier” or whatever. I don’t know why you wouldn’t just make that A tier but fuck it. Kids.

S-F tier list is from fighting games.

S tier also called “God tier” or characters that are considered the absolute best in the game, with some in consideration to get banned for being too overpowered etc. that’s why it’s higher than A. Like an 11/10. Also get S rank as the highest rank in a lot of mission in games.

I’ll do a comprehensive list of the fast food places we have down here, not that there is that many in my area.

@ness,seriously you have Taco Bell as an S and Five Guys as a B? This is a miscarriage of justice.

I really thought s was satisfactory. Taco Bell as a business model has been well above average in innovation over other fast food chains. Their sales over last year for the last 5 years have consistently improved. Taco Bell with limited time offer products and partnerships with Doritos and mountain dew have put them above the rest of fast food.

Damn Ness, you must eat a lot of fast food to write your longest ever post on the subtleties and differences between every fast food joint in existence.

What's my ranking? Well, McDonald's would be at the top I suppose, just because the McChicken Sandwich is the nicest fast food product I've had, and I go there from time to time just to have one of 'em. Fries are above average too. Everything else on the menu sucks though. Dominoes is also at the top. Their pizzas are super expensive but delicious.

Pizza Hut is a tier below. Then there's everything else. Burger King, KFC etc. England has started adopting the US chains, most notably Five Guys, but I've never been to them.

Oh yeah, way more than I should. When I moved out of my parent's house I made concrete plans to start and learn to cook. I bought cookbooks and was planning on going down the crockpot/slow cooker model. Yet here we are...

Despite eating at a lot of places, I find myself to be very much a creature of habit. I tend to stick to my usuals and when I veer from that path it leads to disappointment and I wish I had just got my normal stuff. And then I'll stick with them for a few visits until I get curious again.

iNCY I think Five Guys may have my favorite burger of all the chains. But I'm not in love with the fries like a lot of people seem to be. That said it may be wrong to rank them low as they are based on price because to be honest with the exception of Taco Bell most of the places are pretty close in price. I don't really look at fast food as a cheap option these days. Is it cheaper than a sitdown place? Sure, but not by much. In fact that's my next thread. Casual dining tiers!

I don’t consider Five Guys fast food. If it’s on the list, Chipotle, Qdoba and Moe’s should be too.

I want to put some thought behind this. I’ll share my ranking later.

I did see Chipotle on a lot of the videos this is based on, but since I've only been there once in my life I don't feel I could really rank it fairly. The list in my post was just taken from scrolling through wiki. I have a ton of local fast food pizza places in my area too, but I don't think they're available outside my state so I didn't bother with them. Not that it stopped me from listing Braun's and Whataburger heh. Would be interesting to see anyone's list though, so don't feel like you gotta use the same ones I have in my post.

I don't know if places like Burger Urge or Grill'd count, but i enjoy both of those. More so the former.

A

McDonalds:

Self-Serve, have an app and open 24/7 and the indoor section is open fairly late which works well for me.
Most variety in menu and drive-thru [SIC] is quick, unless you go late at night and you have a
50/50 chance of needing to wait in the bay because they don't have fresh fries.
Have stepped their game up with the Ice Cream Machine, seems the memes served its purpose.


Hungry Jacks: (AUS Burger King)

Not a fan of the new thicc fries they replaced the old ones with and i'm pretty sure you can't order food with the app
so trying to order inside the store when is a nightmare especially as the line goes out the door with a few people due to poor design choice.
The Large Ultimate Double Whopper meal was my go to after wrestling shows.

Burgers are definitely better but fries kills it for me.



C

Subway:

I hate ordering at Subway but it still works out quicker ordering than at KFC and is pretty cheap
as in the words of Tourette's Guy, I don't load it up with a bunch of bullshit!

I'd rank it higher if you could order like numbered stuff so i don't have to play 21 questions
every time i go there.



KFC:

I live across the street from KFC, which is also in front of my workplace,
so i eat way more of it than i should.I'd say the staff at my work probably contribute to
10% of their overall sales :lol:

I just use the online app to order on my work breaks
so i don't have to line up, as i always get stuck behind a woman with a screaming child ordering $76 worth of stuff
and people that don't know how queues work.

They have two huge signs hanging from the ceiling, one says
"ORDER" and the other says "PICK UP"

forever people standing in the pick up trying to order or standing over there and getting annoyed
that people "cut in front" of them. Stand in the line then!


The staff are super frustrating, there's always like 5-6 staff that just seem to be walking in circles
at all times while there's one person at the counter and a huge line up. I keep telling my co-workers
to use the app if they're going to KFC on their break but they never learn, they always come back annoyed that
they waited 25 mins for their meal on a 30 min break.

So many times my meal has been ready, the circle staff will do their rounds til i have to wait for
the designated bag person to hand me my stuff. I order online and normally they give you your drink
instantly if you order in person so i have to politely remind them every single time i go in i need my drink,
and they seem annoyed about it.

D

Oporto:

Too dear nowadays for what you get. Better off just paying a bit extra and going out to places like Burger Urge/Grill'd
and can get a decent lunch at a restaurant for the same price as they charge.

Service inside is good and they bring it out to you but this means that the Drive-Thru is super slow.

Had a new girl there serve sandylea and I, and she was the rudest employee i've ever had to deal with.
We weren't rude and just ordering basic stuff with no customisation nor were they shutting soon.

Against our better judgement we went back a few weeks later hoping she wasn't there, she was just as rude again
and started moping directly underneath our table...at 2 in the afternoon when they close at 10pm.


----
Also bonus shout out to Addil if it counts.

Kebab/Indian place near my work also.

Aside from one dude there with a black beard with orange tips who's like the Indian Soup Nazi there
(I asked for a bag for my snack pack once, i feel like he stared into my soul)

The staff are really nice despite their limited English and normally remember my order, and never seen more than 2 people in front of me in the line.
Gradually the staff from my work have started going there instead because of the constant headaches at KFC :lol:

Before I dump any thought or emotional investment into this, I need a consensus on qualifying criteria for what makes fast food...

Just must have a drive-thru?

May 27, 2019 16:15:04 GMT 🤯 said:

Before I dump any thought or emotional investment into this, I need a consensus on qualifying criteria for what makes fast food...

Just must have a drive-thru?

Just places you wouldn’t take someone on a date IMO
😒

May 27, 2019 16:27:28 GMT System said:

May 27, 2019 16:15:04 GMT 🤯 said:

Before I dump any thought or emotional investment into this, I need a consensus on qualifying criteria for what makes fast food...

Just must have a drive-thru?

Just places you wouldn’t take someone on a date IMO
😒

Ask Wife, I have very low standards.

Wait, so what are the other criteria then?

Certain price points and wait times?

A lot of places straddle the line between fast food and just whatever comes next, and I've discovered some great ones over the past few years.

May 27, 2019 16:35:30 GMT 🤯 said:

Wait, so what are the other criteria then?

Certain price points and wait times?

A lot of places straddle the line between fast food and just whatever comes next, and I've discovered some great ones over the past few years.

I say if tipping is part of the practice it probably doesn't count.

May 27, 2019 16:42:12 GMT @ness said:

May 27, 2019 16:35:30 GMT 🤯 said:

Wait, so what are the other criteria then?

Certain price points and wait times?

A lot of places straddle the line between fast food and just whatever comes next, and I've discovered some great ones over the past few years.

I say if tipping is part of the practice it probably doesn't count.

Ugh, this gets my goat though...

So many places either set those tip jars out now or have a spot on the receipt or screen for giving a tip. It's like WTF!?

May 27, 2019 16:44:22 GMT 🤯 said:

May 27, 2019 16:42:12 GMT @ness said:

I say if tipping is part of the practice it probably doesn't count.

Ugh, this gets my goat though...

So many places either set those tip jars out now or have a spot on the receipt or screen for giving a tip. It's like WTF!?

Oh yeah, I stopped using a credit card to buy pizza at one of my places because it has the tip thing. Yet if I paid cash, that's the end of it.

So I say don't include places like Waffle House or whatever since they have actual servers and a tip. I suppose tip jars are fine since Five Guys does them. Like it isn't expensive enough!

May 27, 2019 16:46:54 GMT @ness said:

May 27, 2019 16:44:22 GMT 🤯 said:

Ugh, this gets my goat though...

So many places either set those tip jars out now or have a spot on the receipt or screen for giving a tip. It's like WTF!?

Oh yeah, I stopped using a credit card to buy pizza at one of my places because it has the tip thing. Yet if I paid cash, that's the end of it.

So I say don't include places like Waffle House or whatever since they have actual servers and a tip. I suppose tip jars are fine since Five Guys does them. Like it isn't expensive enough!

I think I'll make the line of demarcation as simple as this: do I have to place my order through a waiter and then sit helplessly at a fixed location until my food is brought to me? If no, it's generally fast food enough for me. I've got no moral qualms calling Panera, Chipotle, Five Guys, etc. fast food.

One more question though... how national/global does the chain have to be? I've got some regional/local fast food that blows the national/global stuff outta the water.

May 27, 2019 16:51:26 GMT 🤯 said:

May 27, 2019 16:46:54 GMT @ness said:

Oh yeah, I stopped using a credit card to buy pizza at one of my places because it has the tip thing. Yet if I paid cash, that's the end of it.

So I say don't include places like Waffle House or whatever since they have actual servers and a tip. I suppose tip jars are fine since Five Guys does them. Like it isn't expensive enough!

I think I'll make the line of demarcation as simple as this: do I have to place my order through a waiter and then sit helplessly at a fixed location until my food is brought to me? If no, it's generally fast food enough for me. I've got no moral qualms calling Panera, Chipotle, Five Guys, etc. fast food.

One more question though... how national/global does the chain have to be? I've got some regional/local fast food that blows the national/global stuff outta the water.

I say just go for it and talk about whatever. We don't need 10 posts of everyone saying Subway sucks.

S:
Oasis, it’s a special place drunks love to hang out. Open until 5am so this is why it gets such a high score. Cleanliness is left to be desired. But choices from Kebabs, hot dogs, Mexican, pizza, pide, and noodles can appeal to almost anyone.

Dave’s - local family owned pizza place. That isn’t actually the name of it. But that’s the owners name so it’s just what we call it. Amazing pizzas, with so much toppings. Very large and great for the price.

A:
Henny Penny: Delicious chicken pieces and BBQ chicken. Great value for money and range of combos available. Not the quickest in the world but my meal is always correct.

Red Rooster: I just really love chicken, ok? Fantastic for its BBQ chicken and pineapple fritter’s. Good value. I lived on their chicken after I got my tonsils out.

B:
Eight Bulls: Incredible burgers, but they are massive and impossible to eat without it falling apart. They do cheap Tuesday’s so you can get a massive burger for only $10 and it’s amazing value. The chilli fries are amazing. The only downfall in one location there is no where to sit and eat, and the package for the burgers can’t close so it’s hard to transport them. Manager is also a super ass on Facebook.

Hungry Jacks: I love their new thick chips despite System hating them. The chips put them above McDonalds. Enjoy the burgers and dessert options. I appreciate they have caramel milkshakes.

C:
McDonalds is my go to for breakfast. I love the hotcakes and while I enjoy Big Macs. It’s never my go to for a burger. It’s higher on the list just because of the self serve so I don’t have to deal with people, and usually they are quick. The one closest to my house always seems to have a working ice cream machine no matter the time, and I appreciate that.

Pizza Hut - Decent Pizza’s, reasonably priced. It’s good for when System and I are SUPER lazy and get them to deliver haha. I miss the all you can eat pizza huts though.

D:
KFC - I love KFC - it’s always delicious. But I hate the people working there, they are always slow af and have no idea what’s going on. Also KFC, gives me Ebola every time I eat it. So unfortunately I now have to avoid it

Oporto - I love the grilled chicken tenders and the Otropo burger but the bbq chicken is pretty shit there just because of how small it is. Also ridiculously overpriced considering it’s fast food and I can go to a better burger place or a better chicken place for a better price. I still enjoyed going there with System until recently, as their new employee is super rude.

E:
mustafa kebab - Best kebabs. Usually the same guy working there and he likes to be funny and joke around. A bit expensive and the drinks aren’t always cold.

Addil - Delicious kebab snack packs, but I don’t like getting actual kebabs there as they are super oily. They also have Indian but it looks like it’s been sitting way too long and is very unappetising. Customer service isn’t the best, but it’s easy and quick.

F:
Subway - I used to really love subway but they got rid of 90% of the ingredients I like, and considering how much they charge I’d rather just make my own sandwich/sub for a quarter of the price. I also don’t have to deal with a million questions as well.

Dominos - Another pizza place. Decent enough, but more expensive than Pizza Hut and not as nice. Usually mess up the order.

Carl’s Jr - Recently came to Australia, not sure how many locations we actually have. There is one about 20 minutes from me, I’ve only been there twice. Meals tasted decent enough, but considering it’s probably the same quality as Maccas, it’s way too expensive. The only thing they have above them, is free refills. Also they have ginger beer on tap which was pretty new/exciting. I haven’t had any dessert items from there, I’d like to go again as I haven’t been there since NYE (5 months ago) just to see if anything has changed. But overall, I think we already have way too many burger joints around.

S-tier

-Cookout-  This is a short order chain only available in the Southeastern US (mainly North and South Carolina)     It's every bit as good as Five Guys but about a 3rd of the price.  Plus their milkshakes are absolutely unequaled anywhere.   Even if you're not into burgers they still offer pulled pork, hotdogs, and chicken tenders, all top notch.  

-Bojangles-  Another primarily Southeastern chain.    I've never had Popeye's so I can't rank them, but Bojangles serves a very similar type of food and it's the absolute bomb.    Their chicken has just the right amount of kick to it, and their Cajun fries are absolutely to die for.    Their breakfast biscuits really hit the spot as well.  Did I mention their dirty rice?   The undisputed best rice in the business. 

Chick-Fil-A   I don't care that they're closed on Sundays.  The food and service are absolutely first rate.   By far the best chicken sandwiches in the fast food market, and their waffle fries really hit the spot.

-Firehouse Subs- This place takes a giant steaming shit on Subway.  




A-tier

-Five Guys-  Only thing that keeps then from being S-tier is the massive overpricing.    LOVE the portions of fries they give you though.   Usually enough for two people.   The burgers are really good, but not quite good enough to justify the price, as I said before, Cookout does the same thing for a 3rd the price.   Also no-drive through.

-Arby's-  Originally a B-tier, I bumped them up to A status when they started making traditional Greek gyros (with mutton), which is probably my favorite type of sandwich ever.    Their Smokehouse Brisket sandwich is also really good. 

-Hardee's   LOVE their Thickburgers (especially the sourdough ones)  and their fries are pretty good as well.   Their value menu also has pretty good stuff on it, a favorite of my wife's as they make their cheeseburgers without mayo.  

-Taco Bell.   I don't QUITE love them as much as Ness does, but it's pretty damn close.   The value is pretty hard to beat.

-Quiznos-  Just slightly below Firehouse Subs.   


B-tier-

Jack in the Box-   Not a huge fan of their burgers, but their breakfast crescents were HITTIN.   I would rank them higher if they weren't strictly a West Coast chain.

Wendy's-  The key to Wendy's is it HAS to be freshly made.   Once they sit for a while the quality goes way down.  But when you get a fresh order of Wendy's burgers or fries....Yum.  

KFC- Not as good as Bojangles, but still quality, and has more universal appeal to it as well.   Original recipe only though, their crispy chicken is crap.  


C-tier-

McDonald's   Definitely a good spot for them, even though I agree need to stick to the classics.   For breakfast I would bump them up to a B tier, and anytime they bring back the McRib.

Burger King's   Basically same deal as McDonald's, though with better burgers but a worse breakfast.   And worse chicken nuggets and fries as well.

Little Caesar's  I just had some Little Caesar's right now.   The price is great, the cheesy bread is awesome, and the pizza is solid...as long as you order extra cheese with it. 

Subway-  Their game has fell off, to me, used to be a solid B-tier and sometimes even approaching an A.   But other sub chains have been outdoing them as of late.


D-tier


White Castle  The single most overrated place I've ever been

Papa John's  LOVED them while I was in college, but I've lost the taste for it since.   Slightly overpriced as well,

Long John Silver's   Their food is just too soggy overall.   

Pizza Hut-   Another chain that's taken a massive dip in quality.   The problem  with the weak of amount of sauce especially seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon.   I don't remember them being so stingy with it as a kid. 


F-Tier


Freddy's Steakburgers.    Pure hot garbage.   Their burgers were WAY too salty, it was easily the most disappointing eating experience of my life.    

Char-grill-  Another huge disappointment, especially because the onein Greenville was the bomb.  I've heard good things about the ones in Raleigh as well.  But the one they opened in Fayetteville was pure shit.    They took the name  "Char-grill" literally because their burgers were about 50% char.  Never ate there again

Sonic-   Indigestion City.    

Chipotle-  Sorry, I'm not into salmonella, trichinosis, or e-coli, all of which have wonderfully been featured at this chain the past decade or so.


-

S
Shake Shack: Burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes
Uncle Sam's: Subs with emphasis on cheesesteaks
Tennessee's (local/regional?): BBQ
Penn Station East Coast: Subs
Loafer's (local/regional?): Sandwiches

A
Quizno's: Subs
Potbelly: Sandwiches
Au Bon Pain: Sandwiches
Cold Stone: Ice cream
Carl's Steak Subs (local only?): Subs with emphasis on cheesesteaks
Dunkin' Donuts (pre-rebranding to just Dunkin'): Donuts and best fast food coffee IMO
Sheetz: Best made-to-order gas station food... ever?

B
Five Guy's: Burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes
In-N-Out Burger: Burgers... but those fucking drive-thru wait times, fuck that!
Jersey Mike's: Subs
Pita Pit: Pita wraps
Boston Market: Fanciest take-home fast food dinners I've ever seen

C
Sonic: Favorite "cheap" fast food burger, and also love their ice and styrofoam cups.
Papa John's: that garlic dipping sauce is shit... regardless of how you feel about the NFL
Panera: Better before they changed up some of their recipes... I miss the old Italian.
Arby's: Roast beef and curly fries!!!
Chik-fil-A: Best chicken sammich joint
Qdoba: Better flavors and more variety than Chipotle
Steak 'n Shake: fuck yeah, KJ!
Auntie Anne's: Those cinnamon pretzel bites and a lemonade are the only reason to ever go to a shopping mall
Cinnabon: my inner Jim Gaffigan hates myself everytime I cave and indulge at the airport

D
Wendy's: Those square patties make for my favorite burgers of The Big Three
Subway: Surprisingly GREAT cookies
Krispy Kreme: donuts are arguably better than Dunkin' but less variety and I can also just go get them myself at the grocery store
Burger King: Look up news story about the fake Burger King operating in Southside of Pittsburgh... funny stuff
Chipotle: Need to take out a bank loan if you want guac
Starbucks: you'd think for being a coffee place first and foremost that their coffee would be a LOT better, but at least some of their snacks are decent
Pizza Hut: Caveat - Pizza Hut Expresses combined with Taco Bells elevate both chains to a solid C+; also, this was a childhood favorite
Sbarro: Best food court pizza ever, but also... only food court pizza ever?

E
Taco Bell: Ranked so low because of what it does to my adult intestinal tract, but... back in high school would've rated as an S+)
Tim Hortons: something just slightly off about these Canadian donuts... no wonder they're struggling to establish a USA foothold
Domino's: Good cardboard pizza; love their self-depricating ad campaigns
Jimmy John's: Subs with emphasis on being utterly bland... Brock Lesnar's ring shorts are the best thing about JJ's.
Popeyes: Would be better with spinach
KFC: Interchangeable with Popeyes to me
Dairy Queen: Like a lesser version of Sonic. Also seems to be where cops get shot in Western PA.
Braum's: ice cream
Johnny Rockets: burgers and milkshakes

F
McDonald's: minus their breakfast, which alone would rank as an A or B
Baskin-Robbins: worked there one summer... learned too much
Little Caesars: GOAT TV ads, but WOAT cardboard pizza

I haven't sampled the majority of the American fast food gamut so I can't really do a ranking, but I do remember fondly the fried chicken and bacon burger I had from the Wendy's near Honolulu airport. Root beer too, no idea why that hasn't become a thing here.

This thread partially inspired me to go to Maccas for lunch today, but mainly because there were free quarter pounders for International Burger Day. They've been advertising a new cooking method lately with hotter and juicy patties and it did seem a fair bit better than what I've got in the past.

Just because I have a friend who is a very successful area manager of Noodles and Company I will note that Noodles considers themselves "quick serve" and not fast food.

May 28, 2019 13:13:06 GMT theend said:

Just because I have a friend who is a very successful area manager of Noodles and Company I will note that Noodles considers themselves "quick serve" and not fast food.

Sports Entertainment? 🤔

System, I just think every major genre has subcategories to make themselves winners in the category. Like car companies- most interior cargo space in an affordable, four-door, subcompact car. I kid. But with so many different restaurants out there, there has to be some way to breakdown to make it against your own competition.

S
Shake Shack: Great milkshakes, and they have cherry peppers as a burger topping.
In-and-Out: Best fast-food burgers ever.
Dunkin' Donuts (pre-rebranding to just Dunkin'): Best drive-thru coffee. Fight me.
Moe’s: If I want a newborn-sized burrito, I’m going to Moe’s every time.

A
Chik-fil-A: Hate their politics; love their food. Often craved on Sunday.
Potbelly: The only worthwhile sandwich joint
Jet’s Pizza: The best. Delivery. Pizza. Period. Mmm.
Popeyes: A definite vice. Even on Keto, their blackened tenders are amazing
Panda Express: Greasy as shit, but the best mall-food ever.

B
Qdoba and Chipotle: Interchangeable to me, but both solid if there is no Moe’s. Salads are even good.
KFC: Love those secret herbs and spices.
Wendy's: It actually does taste fresh, and the spicy nuggets are a blessing
McDonalds: Yeah, it’s not “good food,” but nuggets and a McDouble when drunk is bliss.
Taco Bell: Is it Mexican food? No. Is it … good? No. Do I somehow order $15 anytime I go? Hell yes.
Whattaburger: Good surrogate for Shake Shack or In-and-Out when needed.
Jack in the Box: Dem tacos, boys. Dem tacos.

C
Arby's: Five for $5.55.
Five Guy's: Good but overrated
Steak 'n Shake: Worked here for five years while in school. Great shakes, good burgers, and I probably stole ~1,000 chicken fingers a year during my shifts.
Quiznos: Hard to find one, but toastie subs are goo.
Boston Market: Large turkey plate with Mac-and-cheese and mashed potatoes. Gravy on the side.
Papa John's: There cheesesticks give them a notch above
Pizza Hut: Wingstreet has solid enough wings
White Castle: Arguably the greatest drunk food ever.
Hardees: Decent food; little pricey.

D
Subway: Low-quality cheap.
Starbucks: Decent coffee; terrible food.

E
Domino's: Meh
Jimmy John's: Meh
Dairy Queen: Peanut Buster Parfait for the win
Panera: Only held off on giving it an “F” because the coffee is good

F
Little Caesars: Terrible.
Au Bon Pain: Garbage
Sonic: Everything is bad.
Burger King: “Flame-Broiled” apparently means burnt.
Sbarro: Worst pizza ever.