You’ll flip for these burgers — and more.
A trusted travel guide brand has named the most effective fast food restaurants in America — and the list incorporates some delicious surprises.
Fodor’s author Geena Truman compiled the list, reportedly based on a 12 months of intensive travel.
“Visions of golden-fried cheese curds, succulent smash burgers, and cheese-topped fries distracted me from the rolling scenery of America’s backroads,” confessed Truman, an unabashed fast food lover.
And while lots of us might just pull into the closest familiar-looking chain, the intrepid eater said she sought out regional and fewer obvious options, from Latest England to the Pacific Northwest.
Listed here are her picks — do you agree?
1. Culver’s
Calling the Wisconsin-based butter burger and frozen custard chain “essentially the most delicious fast food pit stop in America,” the creator couldn’t speak highly enough of the homespun Midwest favorite that’s now situated in 26 states (and hopefully more to return). Truman gives a nod to the restaurant’s famed side of fried cheese curds, noting that Culver’s “gives the outer appearance of fast-food but outperforms all others in taste.”
2. Shake Shack
Admitting that perhaps she’s a bit biased towards frozen custard purveyors — truthfully, can we blame her — Truman talks up Danny Meyer’s still growing burger and sweet treat chain, which, incidentally, was modeled after the Midwestern stands of Meyer’s St. Louis childhood.
A whopping 25 states now have their very own Shack, with more to return.
“The right meal? A coffee custard shake, an easy all-American Angus Beef hot dog with cheese dipping sauce, and a smash burger,” Truman writes, giving her appreciation to the “real food with real ingredients” that’s definitely worth the more money you pay.
3. In-N-Out
“Should you need a *low cost* fast-food burger with fresh toppings, a classic Americana malted milkshake, and cheesy fries with just a touch of salt, that is the place for you,” Truman said.
She notes that the food feels more energizing than at other fast food chains, saying that she “can eat a Double-Double Burger animal-style with a heaping pile of fresh onions, cheese fries, and a chocolate malt shake” and still walk out feeling good. Hundreds of thousands of West Coasters would agree.
The Southern California institution has been expanding in recent times, to Oregon, Colorado, Texas and shortly, Tennessee and maybe elsewhere within the Southeast.
4. Whataburger
What In-N-Out is to Calfifornia, the house of one in all fast food’s biggest burgers (no less than measured across) is to Texas. Truman calls out the chain’s “spicy ketchup, taquitos, honey-butter chicken biscuit, well-battered onion rings, Green Chile Burger, and oozing patty melt.”
Nonetheless, she says that eating here is more concerning the size of the food than the standard, saying that it’s “not a mind-blowing eating event.”
The chain has expanded to states like Arizona and now, Nevada, where a sparkling, giant-sized branch that may make Texans jealous recently opened on the foot of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. (Speak about an interesting pairing.)
5. Raising Cane’s
Georgia has Chick-Fil-A. Louisiana has Raising Cane’s. Truman appears to prefer the latter, rating them ahead of the Polynesian Sauce purveyor.
Here, nonetheless, the menu is even simpler — chicken fingers from fresh-never-frozen birds, served with crinkle-cut fries, creamy coleslaw, thick, buttery Texas Toast and sides of remoulade-style Cane’s sauce. “Raising Cane’s perfected the recipe,” Truman says of the chicken fingers.
The chain has spread across the country, even making inroads right at the center of NYC, with locations in Times Square, Harlem and the East Village.
6. Five Guys
“While the burgers are tasty and completely customizable…it’s really the fries that shine,” Truman opines of the favored and pricey chain that’s situated all around the country and increasingly, the world. (Five Guys Barcelona, anyone?)
“Hefty bags of Idaho potatoes are actually stacked for all to see within the hallways of their restaurants. Freshly cut every day into “boardwalk-style” slivers and fried up in peanut oil (nut-allergists beware) Five Guys also offers them “Cajun-style” for travelers who want a bit spice of their life,” Truman says.
7. Chick-Fil-A
Appreciating their “juicy deluxe chicken sandwich and attractive breaded nuggets,” Truman has less to say concerning the wildly-popular (and fast-growing) chain, referencing the “hype” and the long lines at newly-opened franchises.
8. Dave’s Hot Chicken
This celeb-backed chain — he fastest-growing fast food concept in America, the creator writes — takes an idea that’s still typically found at trendy one-off spots and markets it to the masses, quite successfully.
So possibly it’s not Nashville-level great, but Truman calls a Dave’s meal the “perfect road trip snack.”
Pick from the “chicken tender slider (topped with smoky cheese and really California kale slaw) or a few the additional large-sized chicken tenders,” Truman suggests — urging diners to pair whatever they order with the restaurant’s creamy mac and cheese.
9. Kelly’s Roast Beef
Noting that this Boston-area institution inspired Arby’s, Truman raves concerning the “their “25-day aged beef knuckle roast, cooked in-house to the right medium rare, sliced to order, and placed delicately on a bun with a wealthy BBQ sauce and melty white cheese.”
The pride of Revere Beach is harder to search out than many of the brands on this list, but it surely’s growing — and it could definitely beat Arby’s if it grew enough.
10. White Castle
Reminding readers that the spiritual home of the slider predates McDonald’s — true fact — Truman says that she didn’t tap the classic chain due to Nineteen Twenties nostalgia or the restaurant’s place within the American pantheon.
“It’s the sliders,” she says, noting that there are actually 12 differnet kindsto pick from, including fish, chicken and waffles and plant-based meats.
11. Dick’s
Dick’s is definitely the In-N-Out of the Puget Sound, and though we’d have chosen the quirky and delicious Taco Time NW to represent that region, a visit to this basic and delicious burger drive-in is something akin to a cultural experience, essential to any road trip that features the Seattle area.
Touting their “delicious beef burgers, salty fries, and thick old-school shakes served from walk-up windows,” Truman also gives them cred for treating their employees well and their community spirit, too.
The Seattle native also shouts out one other regional chain, Zips, for his or her “huge tubs of crinkle-cut fries, behemoth burgers with three sizzling meat patties and sliced ham, country-style chicken strips, and freshly fried and battered fish filets pad the monster-sized menu.”
12. Jollibee
The highest fast food chain in The Philippines — with a cheerful bee as its mascot — is increasingly showing up throughout America, and Truman is unquestionably into the thought, saying there’s “no other fast food chain quite prefer it in America.”
Go for “crispy fried chicken, beef patty steaks with gravy, spicy tuna pies, and their trademark sweet-sauce-topped spaghetti meals,” she says, calling the chicken — when executed accurately — “higher than KFC.”
You’ll flip for these burgers — and more.
A trusted travel guide brand has named the most effective fast food restaurants in America — and the list incorporates some delicious surprises.
Fodor’s author Geena Truman compiled the list, reportedly based on a 12 months of intensive travel.
“Visions of golden-fried cheese curds, succulent smash burgers, and cheese-topped fries distracted me from the rolling scenery of America’s backroads,” confessed Truman, an unabashed fast food lover.
And while lots of us might just pull into the closest familiar-looking chain, the intrepid eater said she sought out regional and fewer obvious options, from Latest England to the Pacific Northwest.
Listed here are her picks — do you agree?
1. Culver’s
Calling the Wisconsin-based butter burger and frozen custard chain “essentially the most delicious fast food pit stop in America,” the creator couldn’t speak highly enough of the homespun Midwest favorite that’s now situated in 26 states (and hopefully more to return). Truman gives a nod to the restaurant’s famed side of fried cheese curds, noting that Culver’s “gives the outer appearance of fast-food but outperforms all others in taste.”
2. Shake Shack
Admitting that perhaps she’s a bit biased towards frozen custard purveyors — truthfully, can we blame her — Truman talks up Danny Meyer’s still growing burger and sweet treat chain, which, incidentally, was modeled after the Midwestern stands of Meyer’s St. Louis childhood.
A whopping 25 states now have their very own Shack, with more to return.
“The right meal? A coffee custard shake, an easy all-American Angus Beef hot dog with cheese dipping sauce, and a smash burger,” Truman writes, giving her appreciation to the “real food with real ingredients” that’s definitely worth the more money you pay.
3. In-N-Out
“Should you need a *low cost* fast-food burger with fresh toppings, a classic Americana malted milkshake, and cheesy fries with just a touch of salt, that is the place for you,” Truman said.
She notes that the food feels more energizing than at other fast food chains, saying that she “can eat a Double-Double Burger animal-style with a heaping pile of fresh onions, cheese fries, and a chocolate malt shake” and still walk out feeling good. Hundreds of thousands of West Coasters would agree.
The Southern California institution has been expanding in recent times, to Oregon, Colorado, Texas and shortly, Tennessee and maybe elsewhere within the Southeast.
4. Whataburger
What In-N-Out is to Calfifornia, the house of one in all fast food’s biggest burgers (no less than measured across) is to Texas. Truman calls out the chain’s “spicy ketchup, taquitos, honey-butter chicken biscuit, well-battered onion rings, Green Chile Burger, and oozing patty melt.”
Nonetheless, she says that eating here is more concerning the size of the food than the standard, saying that it’s “not a mind-blowing eating event.”
The chain has expanded to states like Arizona and now, Nevada, where a sparkling, giant-sized branch that may make Texans jealous recently opened on the foot of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. (Speak about an interesting pairing.)
5. Raising Cane’s
Georgia has Chick-Fil-A. Louisiana has Raising Cane’s. Truman appears to prefer the latter, rating them ahead of the Polynesian Sauce purveyor.
Here, nonetheless, the menu is even simpler — chicken fingers from fresh-never-frozen birds, served with crinkle-cut fries, creamy coleslaw, thick, buttery Texas Toast and sides of remoulade-style Cane’s sauce. “Raising Cane’s perfected the recipe,” Truman says of the chicken fingers.
The chain has spread across the country, even making inroads right at the center of NYC, with locations in Times Square, Harlem and the East Village.
6. Five Guys
“While the burgers are tasty and completely customizable…it’s really the fries that shine,” Truman opines of the favored and pricey chain that’s situated all around the country and increasingly, the world. (Five Guys Barcelona, anyone?)
“Hefty bags of Idaho potatoes are actually stacked for all to see within the hallways of their restaurants. Freshly cut every day into “boardwalk-style” slivers and fried up in peanut oil (nut-allergists beware) Five Guys also offers them “Cajun-style” for travelers who want a bit spice of their life,” Truman says.
7. Chick-Fil-A
Appreciating their “juicy deluxe chicken sandwich and attractive breaded nuggets,” Truman has less to say concerning the wildly-popular (and fast-growing) chain, referencing the “hype” and the long lines at newly-opened franchises.
8. Dave’s Hot Chicken
This celeb-backed chain — he fastest-growing fast food concept in America, the creator writes — takes an idea that’s still typically found at trendy one-off spots and markets it to the masses, quite successfully.
So possibly it’s not Nashville-level great, but Truman calls a Dave’s meal the “perfect road trip snack.”
Pick from the “chicken tender slider (topped with smoky cheese and really California kale slaw) or a few the additional large-sized chicken tenders,” Truman suggests — urging diners to pair whatever they order with the restaurant’s creamy mac and cheese.
9. Kelly’s Roast Beef
Noting that this Boston-area institution inspired Arby’s, Truman raves concerning the “their “25-day aged beef knuckle roast, cooked in-house to the right medium rare, sliced to order, and placed delicately on a bun with a wealthy BBQ sauce and melty white cheese.”
The pride of Revere Beach is harder to search out than many of the brands on this list, but it surely’s growing — and it could definitely beat Arby’s if it grew enough.
10. White Castle
Reminding readers that the spiritual home of the slider predates McDonald’s — true fact — Truman says that she didn’t tap the classic chain due to Nineteen Twenties nostalgia or the restaurant’s place within the American pantheon.
“It’s the sliders,” she says, noting that there are actually 12 differnet kindsto pick from, including fish, chicken and waffles and plant-based meats.
11. Dick’s
Dick’s is definitely the In-N-Out of the Puget Sound, and though we’d have chosen the quirky and delicious Taco Time NW to represent that region, a visit to this basic and delicious burger drive-in is something akin to a cultural experience, essential to any road trip that features the Seattle area.
Touting their “delicious beef burgers, salty fries, and thick old-school shakes served from walk-up windows,” Truman also gives them cred for treating their employees well and their community spirit, too.
The Seattle native also shouts out one other regional chain, Zips, for his or her “huge tubs of crinkle-cut fries, behemoth burgers with three sizzling meat patties and sliced ham, country-style chicken strips, and freshly fried and battered fish filets pad the monster-sized menu.”
12. Jollibee
The highest fast food chain in The Philippines — with a cheerful bee as its mascot — is increasingly showing up throughout America, and Truman is unquestionably into the thought, saying there’s “no other fast food chain quite prefer it in America.”
Go for “crispy fried chicken, beef patty steaks with gravy, spicy tuna pies, and their trademark sweet-sauce-topped spaghetti meals,” she says, calling the chicken — when executed accurately — “higher than KFC.”
