If you’re looking for a quick meal on your next road trip, then here are the best fast food chains. Like millions who love a good burger, a great burger is something worth pulling over the car and enjoying. From coast to coast, find the best fast food in the US, including burgers, chicken places, ice cream and more. Here is the best fast food in the US.
13 Best Fast Food in the US
- Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store
- Culver’s
- Shake Shack
- In-N-Out
- Blake’s Lotaburger
- P Terry’s Burger Stand
- Bojangles
- El Pollo Loco
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Finger
- Zaxby’s
- Panera Bread
- Salad 2 Go
Burgers + Ice Cream
Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store
Now, with over 300 stores, the first Braum’s opened in 1968 in Oklahoma City. It serves seasonal burgers, like its Aloha Burger. In addition to burgers, they serve salad and chicken sandwiches. The ice cream desserts are all top-notch notch, from a single scoop to banana splits.
Culver’s
This Midwest original is a must. Found in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, the butter burgers are excellent with lettuce, tomato and onions on a brioche bun. The frozen custard is creamy and available in several flavors. I get the kid’s meal with a complimentary cup.
Top Things to Do in Wisconsin
Burger Stands
Shake Shack
From a cart in NYC’s Madison Park in 2001, Shake Shack is the brainchild of chef Danny Meyer. It uses 100% Angus, never frozen beef. Its burgers are consistently fresh, and even in NYC, there is a line night and day.
Find exotic burgers on the menu, like the seasonal Black Truffle Burger. My go-to is the Shack Burger with a side of fries, crinkle cut and fried to perfection.
Top 50 Places to Eat on the CHEAP in NYC
In N Out
It’s a contemporary of McDonald’s but a heck of a lot better (except for the McD’s Fries…). Its fries are cut in-house. Its chocolate shake will make you see stars. There’s a not-so-secret menu, and its Double Double makes dudes sweat.
Blake’s Lotaburger
Based in the Southwest, this burger chain boasts green chili burgers. Founded in 1952 in Albuquerque, it has over 75 locations to date. The green chili burgers are a road trip tradition; however, it also serves chili, chicken sandwiches and more. For breakfast, it makes breakfast burritos.
P Terry’s Burger Stand
This Texas burger stand stands out with its mid-century architectural design and turquoise and red color scheme. Founded in 2005 in Austin, it draws on the heritage of burger stands from the 1950s and 1960s.
It’s a great burger in a bag with fresh Black Angus beef patties. The shoestring fries come from Idaho and still sport their skins. I have been know to order just the fries as a comfort food after a hard day. Its Oatmeal Chocolate cookies are a serious value at a buck and as large as a kid’s face.
Top Things to Do in Austin
Chicken Places
Bojangles
True to its Southern roots, Bojangles bakes biscuits. Founded in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina, its go-to items are the chicken sandwich and fresh-brewed iced tea.
It also fries up chicken strips, called Chicken Supremes. Bojangles also serves breakfast sandwiches.
El Pollo Loco
Mexican-style grilled chicken is both flavorful and a better-for-you option than its fried cousin. Spicy, the chicken is seasoned with peppers, onions, and garlic and then fire-grilled. It is served family style; you can get borracho beans, grilled onions, Mexican rice and tortillas.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Its classic chicken sandwich has a cult following. Popeyes also serves traditional fried chicken and nuggets. Diners will find sides like red beans and rice, Mac n Cheese and Cajun Rice (Louisana classics). The seasonal Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich will give you the Chicken Sweats.
Top Places to Eat in New Orleans
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
My kids are obsessed with its Cane’s sauce. Founded in Baton Rouge in 1996 and named after one of the founder’s dogs. Its chicken tenderloin is seasoned well and fried to perfection. It is served with crinkle-cut fries, zesty Cole Slaw and a piece of Texas toast. There is a sandwich on the menu too.
Zaxby’s
Founded in 1990 in Georgia, Zaxby’s chicken fingers are excellent, seasoned and fried to perfection. Zaxby’s offers an expanded menu, including seasonal items like fried shrimp and salads (which I appreciate). Find a kids meal as well.
Better for You Options
If you’re on a road trip and looking for a better-for-you option, there are a few out there. To be honest, I’d like to find more options for those who don’t (or can’t) eat a burger in a bag.
Panera Bread
Some Panera Bread locations offer a drive-through, and its app-based ordering makes this bakery cafe an option for fast food. Founded in St. Louis in 1987,
From its bakery section for breakfast, diners will find bagels, pastries, muffins and scones. It also serves barista-made coffee drinks.
For lunch and dinner, sandwiches, salads and soups are the go-to. Pick Two allows for mix-and-match options. There’s also Mac n cheese.
