Fast Food
schnell, schneller, am schnellsten
One of the greatest things about our travels is exploring the culinary offerings at our vacation destination.
Whereas you can't really talk about culinary with fast food. It's more about getting cheap and quick food. Mostly not necessarily healthy but sometimes a good and easy way to satisfy your hunger. We are not the biggest fast food fans, but nevertheless we like a few of the numerous chains.
Warning:!!! Pictures of food cause hunger even if this food is not necessarily healthy for the human body.
Panda Express
Description: Panda Express was founded in 1973 by Robert, Andrew and Peggy Chem in Pasadena, California. In the meantime, there are more than 1500 restaurants spread all over the USA. More or less, Panda Express serves American-Chinese food. The most popular dish is probably Orange Chicken.
Our rating: I could eat Orange Chicken 3 times a day. In the morning, at noon, in the evening and maybe also at night. So whenever there's a Panda Express nearby, I force Gerd to eat there too. We've tried some of the other dishes, but nothing even comes close to Orange Chicken. Well, at least if it's up to me.
Costa Vida
Description: The fast food chain with a Mexican Grill concept was founded in 2003 by JD and Sarah Gardner in Layton, Utah. All dishes are made fresh in the restaurants. You can even watch the making of the tortillas.
Our rating: Costa Vida was definitely our discovery in June 2023. The food was fresh and very tasty. It was also a great alternative to all the burgers and fried food in American cuisine. Costa Vida gets our unconditional recommendation.
In-N-Out Burger
Description: The chain was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California. Today, there are nearly 400 restaurants, most of which are in California and the neighboring states. The restaurants use fresh produce in virtually all of their products. There are no frozen products. The menu is quite simple, however, there is a Secret Menu from which the experts can additionally choose. You can find things like Protein Style Burger and Animal Fries.
Our rating: In-n-out is totally hyped. For this reason, we also expected something totally out of the ordinary. Possibly not frozen food is healthier and tastier, certainly they are visually a bit more appealing. In terms of taste, they are not very different from other fast food burgers.
Taco Bell
Description: In 1962, Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, California. The chain now has more than 6,000 outlets worldwide. At Taco Bell, you can find American-Mexican food, especially tacos and burritos in all possible variations.
Our rating: Even though this doesn't really have much to do with authentic Mexican food, we like Taco Bell a lot, especially when we're looking for something for the little hunger and don't have the desire for steak and burgers anymore.
Five Guys
Description: The chain was founded by Janie and Jerry Murrell in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia. Today, there are more than 1500 branches worldwide. To distinguish itself from other burger chains, Five Guys relies on freshly prepared burgers on site, just like In-n-out. The fries are also freshly prepared in the respective restaurant.
Our rating: Many had recommended Five Guys to us. We liked the burgers, but just like In-n-out, we didn't find anything super special about them. For fast food quite ok.
Dominos Pizza
Description: Domino`s Pizza was founded in 196ß by Tom Monaghan in Ypsilanti, Michigan. According to the company, there are now over 14,000 stores of the chain in 80 countries. In addition to pizzas in all variations, there are also a few pasta dishes to choose from.
Our rating: You can always have pizza, and Domino's is no exception. There are many variations and the pizzas have always tasted good. Sometimes on our menu, when we have no desire for burgers and fries.
Smash Burger
Description: The chain was founded in Denver, Colorado. You can find over 200 locations in over 30 U.S. states. The burgers here are smashed on the grill to give them a crispy crust. This keeps the meat inside particularly juicy.
Our rating: We liked the burgers here very much. Unfortunately, there are not very often branches of the chain on our travel routes, otherwise we would certainly get a Smashburger more often.
Mc Donalds
Description: The first restaurant was opened in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. It is now the world's top-selling fast food company. There is hardly anyone who does not know McDonalds.
Our rating: If you don't find a McDonald's in a town, you know you're really in the middle of nowhere. In the U.S., you can really find the restaurants just about everywhere. That's why for us it's a place to go when there's nothing else. Since it tastes the same everywhere, you always know what you're getting.
Dairy Queen
Description: DQ was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. The chain now has almost 6,000 stores in over 22 countries. In addition to the usual fast food such as burgers and fries, the main product here is the Blizzard. Ice cream in delicious flavors such as Tripple Truffle, Oreo hot Cocoa or Verry Cherry Chip.
Our rating: If DQ, then only because of the ice. However, the trip is definitely worth it. Yummy.
Dirty Soda
Description: It is a mixture of a soda e.g. Coke, Dr.Pepper, Mountain Dew, cream or flavored coffee creamer, sometimes fruit puree and flavored syrup such as vanilla or cranberry. The drink is said to have originated when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adhered to Church teachings that required them to abstain from hot beverages such as coffee and tea. In 2012, however, the Church clarified that this practice did not refer to the use of caffeine in general.
There are several dirty soda chains. Swig and Sodalicious are probably the best known and most widespread.
Always in search of things that are not available here in Germany, we came across Dirty Soda while planning our 2023 road trip. Of course we had to try the drink.
Our rating: As a Dr.Pepper fan, we tried two variations of it at two different stores. Unfortunately, it wasn't really our taste. Coffee creamer in Dr. Pepper is probably not our cup of tea. The addition of syrup makes the already sweet Dr. Pepper even sweeter which we additionally did not like. But since there are several chains that sell almost exclusively Dirty Soda, maybe there is a secret behind it that we have not yet discovered. Therefore, just try it yourself.
