What defines a 'fast food' restaurant?

[dahliaclone]

The burger thread got me wondering what people consider to be 'fast food' or 'fast casual'. I typically think any place that has a drive through and no waiter/waitress to fall under fast food. And more of a limited menu as well. Which is why a place like Culver's, for example, is to me kind of both fast food AND fast casual.

What do you consider 'fast food' restaurants? 'Fast casual'? And what makes you define it that way?

Fast casual to me:

• Culver's
• Noodles and Co
• Chipotle
• Shake Shack
• Five Guys
• Portillo's
• Panera
• Qdoba

 

[CYdTracked]

The traditional "fast" food restaurants mostly are not fast anymore unless a certain location is actually ran well. I can name you locations of McDonalds, Taco Bell, and other ones you consider traditional fast food that I've waited on much longer than some of those places you named like Culver's that brings your food out to you. Culver's at least makes your order fresh while McDonald's just has to assemble what has been prepared who knows how long in advance and I can usually get my order quicker at Culvers than McDonalds.

I tried the Ames Taco Bell on Duff a couple years ago and holy crap was that a bad choice. Maybe 5 orders in front of me and had to cancel the order about 20+ mins of waiting so I could make the BB game and that took them nearly 10 minutes how to figure out how to do that too! Started reading Google reviews on that location and maybe should have checked that before I stopped in as sounds like that location had/has some bad service. Dunno if that has changed since then but shouldn't take long to whip up some pre-made stuff that you will likely regret eating later in the day when it hits you.

 

[Beerbrat]

The burger thread got me wondering what people consider to be 'fast food' or 'fast casual'. I typically think any place that has a drive through and no waiter/waitress to fall under fast food. And more of a limited menu as well. Which is why a place like Culver's, for example, is to me kind of both fast food AND fast casual.

What do you consider 'fast food' restaurants? 'Fast casual'? And what makes you define it that way?

Fast casual to me:

• Culver's
• Noodles and Co
• Chipotle
• Shake Shack
• Five Guys
• Portillo's
• Panera
• Qdoba

Your list of fast casual is interesting as it really seems to be "I think this is a nicer/more upscale fast food" than it fitting your criteria.


Chipotle has a limited overall menu and a lot of locations have drive thrus. Shake Shack has a very limited menu and most locations I believe have drive thrus. Portillos generally have drive thrus outside of downtown locations. I guess I can't see how you could consider Culver's and Shake Shack fast casual but something like McDonalds, BK, Wendys, Hardees, Whataburger to be fast food unless you take the subjective quality of the food/experience into it. Similar to a Target vs Walmart argument for some of these.

 

[cyfanatic13]

Actually got into a debate about this last week at work. We just settled on drive thru= fast food

 

[SCNCY]

I think the biggest difference between fast food and fast casual is if they are making it fresh. Chipotle, McDonalds, Taco Bell etc. I would say are fast food, as they are just assembling it. Fast causal to me is where you order at the counter and then wait for your food to be made (Culvers, Portillo's, Five Guys, etc.) before they call your name or they deliver it to you.

 

[Koala]

Drive thru is definitely a sign, but not a must. I'd say national or at least multi-state regional chain that probably advertises on TV and doesn't serve alcohol. I don't find the distinction between fast food and fast casual to be worth debating.

 

[Cig 'em]

Walk in to said restaurant, nothing but fatties in line, welcome to fast food.

 

[CloniesForLife]

I would say drive thru + whether the food is fresh or frozen. So Culver's is kind of a hybrid.