Who has the best fast food?

[Joe Iliff]

Zagat released the results of a survey on fast food restaurants.
They found that Wendy's had the best burger, McDonalds the best fries, Chik-fil-A the best chicken, and Dairy Queen the best shakes.
In summary, their findings are (higher score is better):

Mega-Chains (Chains with 5,000+ restaurants)
Top Food
20 Wendy's
18 Subway
17 Pizza Hut
17 Dairy Queen
16 KFC

Top Facilities
15 Wendy's
14 McDonald's
14 Subway
13 Pizza Hut
12 Dairy Queen

Top Service
16 Subway
15 Wendy's
14 Domino's Pizza
14 Pizza Hut
14 Dairy Queen

Top Overall
17 Wendy's
16 Subway
15 Pizza Hut
14 Dairy Queen
14 McDonald's

All Chains (Large and small chains)
Top Food
24 Panera Bread Co.
23 Chick-fil-A
23 Chipotle
20 Quizno's Sub
20 Wendy's

Top Facilities
23 Panera Bread Co.
20 Chipotle
20 Chick-fil-A
17 Sonic Drive-In
16 Quizno's Sub

Top Service
20 Chick-fil-A
19 Panera Bread Co.
19 Chipotle
19 Sonic Drive-In
16 Quizno's Sub

Top Overall
22 Panera Bread Co.
21 Chick-fil-A
21 Chipotle
18 Sonic Drive-In
18 Quizno's Sub

Some smaller chains, like Whataburger and Taco Bueno here in Texas, were not included.

Wendy's, Subway, Panera, Chipotle, and Chick-fil-A seemed to score well across the board.

They also found an average person having 12 fast food meals per month.

Comments?

[Flying Monkeys]

Chick-fill-A, the best fast food ever....however, not open on Sundays.

Some of those on the list are not really fast food....Panera Bread Co. is fast food? I never get served in under 20 to 30 min. And Pizza Hut?

[kjel]

Chick-fil-A gets my vote too....I miss living in the South where I don't have to go to a mall to get their food. The chicken biscuit and chicken burrito are my favorite breakfast food and the chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato added is my lunch/dinner fave...the downfall is that they are closed on Sunday.

[Mud Princess]

I agree, Panera Bread is a casual restaurant, not fast food.

I tend to avoid fast food unless 1) I am traveling on an interstate highway, and have no choice, or 2) I am having lunch with someone who will only eat fast food. In that case, Subway would probably be my preference... or Burger King because they are one of the few fast-food places that has veggie burgers on the menu!

[TOFB]

Jimmy John's, "sandwiches so fast you'll freak". The founder is a jerk but I have never waited more than 1 minute for one of his fresh, delicious sandwiches.

What say you, savematton?

I avoid all other fast food places with a passion, although I admit the Mickey D's breakfast burritos are pretty good.

[JNA]

Chick-fil-A gets my vote too.......the downfall is that they are closed on Sunday.

What she said. My favorite is the grilled sandwich w/ side of cole slaw.

Answer to why they are are closed on sunday: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/faq.asp
click on Corporate Information, 4th Q down.

[Jeff]

Arbys or Moes

[Maister]

Oh, probably Arby's for their roast beef sandwiches. McD's does have the best fries IMO. Wendy's chili is pretty good (considering it's fast food).

[Plan-it]

Chick-fill-A, the best fast food ever....however, not open on Sundays.

Some of those on the list are not really fast food....Panera Bread Co. is fast food? I never get served in under 20 to 30 min. And Pizza Hut?

I do not eat at Chick-filla. They support too many conservative christian activist groups. I do not like my money going to support causes that I object to socially.

[otterpop]

During my gad school days I worked in Wendy's and the half price food for employees was a big plus. I ate a lot of baked potatoes and Jr. Bacons.

Every Wednesday my family eats at Wendy's before my wife takes her class at the library.

I like Wendy's best. Burger King has a good burger too.

[michiganplanner]

I couldn't imagine eating 12 fast food meals per month - even with their "expanded" definition of fast food.

[Richmond Jake]

In California it's In-N-Out Burger.
Since moving to Florida almost three years ago, I don't recall eating at a fast food restaurant.

[jmello]

I am not big on fast food, but Chick-fil-a is awesome. I don't know how I ever lived without it up north! Their chicken is excellent.

[Brocktoon]

5 Guys has the fast food best burgers and fries. It is similar to In-N-Out in that they only sell burgers and fries.

Chipotle and its non union Mexican food equivalents are another favorite. You can't go wrong with a 20 oz burrito.

[michaelskis]

Mine would be:

Moe’s South West Grill
Wendy’s
Quizno’s

[Budgie]

I don't know and frankly don't care... but I sure could go for a sausage, egg and cheese McMuffin right now.

[kjel]

I don't know and frankly don't care... but I sure could go for a sausage, egg and cheese McMuffin right now.

lol...i ate one for breakfast

[Salmissra]

If given a choice, I eat at Wendy's. Second choice is Subway.

Can't stand McD's. When travelling, I'll stop there to use the facilities, and maybe buy a drink, but I don't eat there.

When pressed, I'll eat a BK. At least there I know that I can get "no pickle, no onion" without the entire staff stapping to figure out how to do a special order.

[the north omaha star]

In California it's In-N-Out Burger.
Since moving to Florida almost three years ago, I don't recall eating at a fast food restaurant.

An ex- coworker swears by In-N-Out Burger. Sometimes, I think he wants to pack up and move to San Diego and open his own franchise.

[cch]

Jimmy John's, "sandwiches so fast you'll freak". The founder is a jerk but I have never waited more than 1 minute for one of his fresh, delicious sandwiches.

Sometimes they hand my sandwich to me, as they are handing me my change. And Zagat's must not have rated JimmyJohns, cause if they had they'd realize Subway is crap .

I also like me a beef 'n cheddar and apple turnover from Arby's about once a week.

[The One]

Good Times Burgers (Zman should know what I'm talking about here) are my favorite burgers and custard....but not fries......they use Coleman Natural Beef (best beef in the WORLD!!!) A Colorado favorite of mine.....

Sonic is a close second......they have REALLY cleaned up their act as far as appearances go and their food quality seems even better now. They get my vote for best onion rings....

Wendy's burgers are very good. Fries are good. salads are good.....they are good overall......

Subway is good

Quizno's is expensive and ok

In-N-Out Burger is good and eco-friendly similar to Good Times, but not as good burgers....very bland stuff......FRIES are GREAT though!!! They cut the potatoes fresh for your order!

Arby's new market sandwich's are fantastic!!

Pizza Hut has fallen off my approved list......grease, grease, grease.....

I only get drinks at McDonald's......gag!

Burger King SUCKS eggs.....on all levels

KFC is hit and miss.....my local store has cockroaches as "greaters".....only time I visited....had to compete with bugs to use the soda machine.....

Taco Smell.......Taco Hell......sums this up.......

Panda Express is my favorite Chinese fast food.......thank gawd there isn't one near me now......couldn't keep my dainty figure for very long

Jack in the Box......some of the most disgusting grease filled burgers ever......slathered in butter and covered with mayo......

WhataBurger breakfast sandwiches that are being advertised right now make me throw up a little in my mouth everytime I see the add!! and their burgers really suck! Nasty....

Blimpie's has theee WORST sub sandwiches in the world....bar none......I'd rather eat a supermarket sandwich made by someone riddled with Hep A, B and C with a bad cold and open sores on their hands.....(this description was for Natski's imagination next time she visits a supermarket )

Chick-Fil-A has a good menu all around and best chicken sandwiches out there.....haven't eaten there in years.....

[Tide]

Now that I'm in the south I finally get to experience many different chains than what I had in NJ.

What I was used to:
McD
Burger King
Wendy's
Taco Bell
Pizza Hut
Boston Market
KFC
Panera
Chipotle
Quiznos/Subway/Blimpe

What I get now!
Zaxby's
Fizzolies
Chic-Fil-a
Hardees
Sonic!

I enjoy each of those things listed for the South, I prefer the newer not quite fast food movement like Fizzolies and Zaxby's which takes a little longer but the food is individually prepared rather than made in mass quantity.

[gicarto]

Wendy's gets my top vote
Culvers is number two

[zman]

Good Times Burgers (Zman should know what I'm talking about here) are my favorite burgers and custard....but not fries......they use Coleman Natural Beef (best beef in the WORLD!!!) A Colorado favorite of mine.....

Don't like fast food -or- chain restaurants but if I do partake in one, it'll be a great Colorado company like Good Times.

[Trail Nazi]

It seems that where I am in PA now has very few choices for fast food. There is a Wendy's, McD's, BK, Quizno's and Subway fairly close, but all of the other chains are no where around me (Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Arby's, Hardee's). We do have a 5 Guys Burgers not too far away, but it is still a haul. I miss Sonic, Baja Fresh, Chipotle, and a few others. I do like the guilty food, but I always feel gross after I eat certain foods - like burgers and french fries.

One of the great finds here in PA is Rita's water ice. That is good fast dessert food.