Fast Food
fast, faster, fastest
Let's start with a few general remarks
One of the greatest things about our travels is exploring the culinary offerings at our vacation destination.
Wobei man bei Fast Food nicht wirklich von Kulinarik sprechen kann. Es geht mehr darum günstig und schnelles Essen zu bekommen. Meistens nicht unbedingt gesund aber manchmal eine gute uns zügige Möglichkeit seinen Hunger zu stillen. Wir sind nicht die aller aller größten Fast Food Fans, aber ein paar der zahlreichen Ketten mögen wir doch mal ganz gerne. Neben den Ketten wollen wir auf dieser Seite auch ein paar privat geführte Fast Food Restaurants und Foodtrucks vorstellen, die uns gut gefallen haben.
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.
Chipotle
Description: Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast food restaurant chain that sells Mexican food. The company is based in Denver, Colorado. The company was founded in 1993 by Steve Ells. Over the last few years, more restaurants have been opened across the USA. The food is freshly prepared in front of the customers. In 2013, the company had 1,595 locations.
Our rating: Chipotle is a very good fast food option in the USA if you're not in the mood for burgers and fried food. The food is fresh and you can decide spontaneously what you feel like eating. Nothing is pre-made. We really like this option.
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.
Big Boy
Description: Big Boy is an American casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. It feels like you can find one of the chain's outlets on every corner in Michigan. You can essentially get burgers and their companions in all possible variations.
Our rating: We liked Big Boy. Of course, with the exception that you can't eat it every day. In our opinion, Big Boy is in the top third of fast food providers in terms of taste, range and quality of food.
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.
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.
Mom´s Spaghetti
2131 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
HOMEPAGE
Description: Mom's Spaghetti is a restaurant in downtown Detroit. The name and concept of the restaurant are inspired by Eminem and a line from his song “Lose Yourself” from the soundtrack to the 2002 movie 8Mile, in which he says: “There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti”. Eminem opened the restaurant on September 29, 2021 and personally served the first ten customers at the opening. The restaurant also has a merchandise store on the second floor.
Our rating: Für Eminem Fans ist das kleine Selbstbedienungs-Restaurant sowieso ein Muss, aber im Grunde findet hier jeder der Spaghetti mit Tomatensauce und/oder Fleischklößchen mag was leckeres zu essen. Für uns war es ein idealer Mittagsstop bei unseren Erkundungen durch Downtown Detroit. Wir würden jederzeit wieder hier essen.
Clyde´s Drive-In
201 Chippewa Ave, Manistique, MI 49854
HOMEPAGE
Description: Clyde's is a small burger chain with three stores in the eastern UP. Drive into the parking lot where a store employee takes your order, delivers the burgers and collects the money. You remain seated in the car. You can take the food with you or eat it outside on picnic benches.
Our rating: After the almost euphoric reviews, we were expecting something totally extraordinary. However, our expectations were not quite met. The burgers were good, but we didn't find them exceptionally better or different from other burgers.
Wienerlicious
102 E Central Ave, Mackinaw City, Michigan 49701
HOMEPAGE
Description: The giant hot dog on the roof of the restaurant is considered the most photographed attraction in Mackinaw City. Is that really true? We don't know. On the inside, you can get hot dogs in all kinds of variations. The signature dog is “The Mackinaw”. Here the sausage is wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese sauce.
Our rating: We made a brief stop here on our way to Traverse City in October 2024. Like many other tourists, we just wanted to take a photo of the huge hot dog on the roof. As it was lunchtime, Gerd just had to try one of the hot dogs. He chose the signature dog, “The Mackinaw”. Gerd liked it so much that he went straight back for another one. For me, the rating is somewhat questionable, but Gerd gives the Wienerlicious hot dogs 5 stars.
Cozy Dog Drive in
2935 S 6th St, Springfield, IL 62703
HOMEPAGE
Description: Here at the Cozy Dog Diner, the original corn dog was invented. These are hot dogs deep fried with a coating of cornmeal batter. Even though the corn dog is the dish most tourists stop here for, there are all sorts of other treats you'd expect to find in a typical diner.
Our rating: We stopped here briefly in May 2017 on our way along Route 66. Of course, we also tried a corn dog. The hot dogs coated in corn batter aren't the tastiest thing we've ever eaten, but they were still quite delicious. A quick stop here at this traditional diner is worth it just for the beautiful presentation. For us, a visit here is a must when traveling along historic Route 66.
Capitol Burger
44 N 100 W St, Torrey, UT 84775
HOMEPAGE
Description: The Capitol Burger food truck in Torrey has been around since 2017. It can be found at various locations in Torrey. It is often parked in the large parking lot directly in front of the Chuckwagon Motel. The menu offers six different burgers, which can be ordered either on their own or as a meal deal with fries and a drink. The meat comes from local farmers and is processed into burger patties by the owner of the food truck himself.
Our rating: We really liked the burgers here. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The service was very friendly and the burgers were ready quickly, even when it was very busy. You can order the burgers to go or eat them right there on the picnic benches provided. We would eat here again anytime. For us, the burgers were better than in many restaurants.
UP-N-Smoke Southern BBQ
232 E Ayer St, Ironwood, Michigan 49938
HOMEPAGE
Description: UP-N-Smoke Southern BBQ is a food truck located in a large square on the edge of Old Town. Here you can basically get freshly made burgers and fries in different varieties.
Our rating: The food was ok and freshly prepared. There are benches in front of the food truck where you can eat. Unfortunately, the surrounding area is very poorly maintained, so it's not really a nice place to eat. But ok, this is not a restaurant and you can also take the food to go.
Moab Food Truck Park
39 W 100 N, Moab, UT 84532
HOMEPAGE
Description: As the name suggests, the Food Truck Park is a collection of food trucks that offer a wide range of food for both the smaller and larger appetite. During our visit in April 2022, you could get everything from burgers to coffee. The food trucks are arranged in a circle. In between there is a large, covered seating area.
Our rating: We really liked the food truck park. The offer is varied so that there should be something for every taste. Everything we tried tasted good. Especially if you don't have much time and just want to eat something quickly, this is a great option. We would recommend the food truck park.
