I had a Potbelly sandwich last week at a work function. While generous (so big! I could barely eat half!) in size and ingredients (I had a chicken club) it just lacked flavor to me. I guess I needed more condiments with flavor! Or maybe that’s why I’m not a big sandwich fan!
We tried BK’s new breaded chicken sandwich this past week. Ho hum - it was a big piece of chicken, but totally lacked anything resembling flavor. Popeye’s and Chick Fil A should have no worries about it at least as far as our $ are concerned.
My husband said the exact same thing!
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5 Guys has competition now. A new-to-us chain opened nearby recently called Culver’s. They feature shakes and “Butterburgers.” I haven’t tried the shakes or fries but the onion rings are pretty good, and the cheese curds and pretzel bites are addictive. The burgers rival 5 Guys, and may be better when you consider the options of a pretzel bun or sourdough bread. H has stopped to pick up lunch twice on his way home. We skipped dinner both days.
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I will never go to five guys again. I’ve been three times to a new one near us. Each time, I didn’t get what I ordered. One time the fries were so salty I threw them away. And it’s very very overpriced.
We have a ton of burger places around here with much better and varied burgers which are better priced. This is one time that the fast food joints just don’t work for me.
I do like Chipotle…I know…they have had issues, but for a quick burrito bowl, I really like them…and the prices are good.
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At Five Guys I get the junior burger - pricing much better and by the time I add all my toppings/condiments (SO many) it’s a plenty big burger. I think you have to enjoy lots of toppings to really appreciate the benefit of those “free” toppings. Grilled mushroom, grilled onions, jalapenos and more all for the asking!
We recently got Culver’s. Haven’t had it yet. Does it have a drive through? Or do you have to go in to do a carry out situation?
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Our Culvers has a drive through
I’ll have to look for a Culver’s sometime. Otherwise, I’m not a fan of 5 Guys. Their fries are not my flavor. I like the burgers better when I found out you could get them without a bun. I get the mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc, and burger in a “bowl” and cut the burger up to mix it all together. Then it’s tasty if they didn’t overcook it drying it out as some places do.
My favorite fries are Chick Fil A’s waffle fries. 5 Guys are always limp and oil soaked when I’ve had them.
Have eaten a lot of fast food burgers in my travels. Curious how many prefer the “thin” burgers like Five Guys or the thicker burgers? Had Shake Shack the first time in New Haven a couple of months ago and thought it the best of the “better burger” places that I have tried. For fries, McD’s is hard to beat. Maybe a developed taste from childhood. Not a big fan of the “fresh” fries, even at In N Out.
I love reading about all these different places that I have never been to. We only have Chipotle, Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Subway in a reasonable driving distance. The only one we do regularly is Chipotle. On rare occasions we hit Wendy’s or Subway. I can’t remember the last time I was in McDonalds. I have been to Chik-fil-A while traveling and really like that. I wish we had one closer to us.
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I hate McD’s for a variety of reasons. The rare occasion I have their fries though, they are hit or miss. Either too soggy, the oil has not been changed in forever so they have a gross taste, but on a rare occasion, they are fresh out of the fryer and perfect amount of salt. But for sure not my favorite fry.
I agree with you on In and Out fries though. I don’t really understand the love for that place. Burgers are fine I guess, but their fries are terrible. I like fries that have some potato taste and theirs just taste like dry, hollowed out nothingness.
I haven‘t eaten fast food in a long while since I’m not that big of a fan so I can’t remember which fry I would say I like best. I tend to remember the ones I don’t like. I do recall Wendy’s having a decent french fry, but they never seemed to have salt on them and I’d forget to ask for any when going thru the drive thru. It’s been years since I’ve been to one though. I do love Gordon Biersch garlic fries but not fast food!
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For fries, Bojangles tops all others. They put some kinda magic dust on them. So good. I’m not that much of a fan of their other food but will make the occasional road trip stop just for their fries.
If you’re ever in Boone, NC or Charleston SC try the Come Back Shack for burgers. https://comebackshack.com/
Culver’s is very good. It has fish fry, and during covid this year the Knights of Columbus used it as the fundraiser for our church because the KofC couldn’t run it at the church. You just went to the drive through, said you were with KofC, and I think the group got 10%. People forget how much money those charitable groups lost when their big fundraisers were cancelled.
On March 13, 2020, I drove over the church to get take out fish fry and that was the first place we tried to go to that was closed for covid. The next day the ski resorts were closed by the governor, and it was downhill from there.
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I don’t do fast food, but will go to franchise coffee places. I live in MA, which is the headquarters of the Dunkin Donuts franchise and there is one on every corner. I would go to DD over Starbucks, but in a pinch Starbucks will do. There’s a new place (for me) that I also liked Caffe Nero. I do have a local, independent coffee shop that’s my favorite and it is my “go-to” when I am home.
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Jersey Mike’s – #13, Mike’s Way, with mayo. I also like their various cheese steaks and chicken steaks, especially the chipotle versions.
Pancheros – burritos. similar to Chipotle, except they mix up the ingredients before folding the burrito.
For deals, I use the BK or McD’s apps.
Hardee’s is pretty good but a bit pricier than McD or BK.
Taco Bell occasionally, though I feel like I have to drink a gallon of water to disperse all that sodium. You can get the $1 beef burrito, add a few things to make it better, and pay $2-$3 for it.
I want to like Wendy’s, but I don’t like the way they (don’t) season their burgers. That asiago-parm chicken sandwich is pretty good.
In terms of standard chicken sandwiches, I think Chick-Fil-A and Popeye’s are the best of the fast food offerings.
A Five Guys recently opened, and my first order was off their secret menu – a patty melt – and they had no clue. I explained it to them (grilled cheese with a burger and toppings in it…), and they were happy to oblige. It was phenomenal.
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Is there a spot to see “secret menus”???
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I just google them. “__________ secret menu”
We were anticipating the Five Guys opening for months, so i had plenty of time to research. Even though the line was out the door, i was only getting one thing: the patty melt. They charged me for a little cheeseburger.
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When I am in the midwest, I used to like Steak and Shake. I loved the burgers and the chili mac. But lately my experience in their stores has been bad. They are dirty. The floors weren’t clean. So this last trip I skipped them.
I still won’t go to Jack in the Box. I have no idea if their food is any good, but I was horrified by the e coli poisonings of children just for eating a burger. I know it was over 30 years ago now but the idea of eating there turns my stomach.
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Not fast food per se, but i am considering ordering either Zuppardi’s Apizza or Di Fara pizza, shipped.
Has anyone in CCland tried both Di Fara and Zuppardi’s?
Help!
hehe