Random Observations about Fast Food Places
It’s not just about taste and nutrition.
While many reviews of fast food places focus on stuff like nutritional value, I consider other factors when making my fast food selections. Stuff like, how easy is this food to eat while driving? Will the grease content make me sick? If so, does the taste make it worth it? And yes, over the years, cost has been a factor. So, with these elements in mind, here are some thoughts on various fast food places.
McDonald’s: Over the years, McDonald’s has probably gotten more of my fast food dollars than any other establishment. It has done it, in large part, because they have a restaurant almost everywhere you look. (I may be using the term restaurant loosely.) In addition, many of their food items can be eaten while driving without a lot of difficulty. Their little hamburgers fit into your hand nicely and there is little danger of vegetables falling into your lap. There is, however, a danger of ketchup dribbling on to your shirt, depending on how conscientious your burger creator was in slopping your lunch together. McNuggets can also be eating rather easily while in transit, though dipping them while in motion can be a dangerous proposition. McDonald’s ice cream is also an excellent treat if you can catch them on that rare day when their ice cream machine is working. Of course, McDonald’s is noted for their fries, though I’m starting to think quality control is an issue here. Sometimes they are over-salted, and sometimes they are just old. I think some of the fries I have gotten have been waiting for me at the french fry retirement home. Also, McDonald’s Value Menu does help. Many times my financial status has made McDonald’s my lunch stop, not necessarily of choice, but of necessity.
Burger King: First of all, I like Burger King's hamburgers better than McDonald’s. However, eating a Whopper while driving is a daunting task. BK’s cost isn’t bad, especially considering their specials but to me, they are pretty much a one-trick pony. (Maybe I shouldn’t use a horse reference when talking about fast food places.) I almost always order the Whopper when there. At some point, I may try a chicken sandwich, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Burger King’s fries have sometimes been maligned, but I find them to be barely adequate. High praise indeed! Their fountain drinks, however really need some work.
Wendy’s: Wendy’s gets some of our family business because of the diversity of their menu. My wife can’t have gluten, so Wendy’s baked potato and chili sometimes finds it’s way into our house. Their burgers also aren’t bad. A Double Stack can also generally be eaten while driving, though the degree of difficulty is higher than with most McDonald’s food. Wendy’s Frosties are also a nice dessert option.
KFC: KFC food is really hard to eat while driving. In addition, their fountain drinks are even worse than Burger King's. Also, their ad campaigns are almost a criminal assault on the image of Colonel Sanders. How many people have portrayed the Colonel in ads? As an operation, KFC is adrift in a sea of advertising incompetence. Their chicken is still decent, however, and their coleslaw is pretty good.
Taco Bell: My wife can eat a taco while we’re traveling. I can’t. Like many other fast food places, their fountain drinks need attention. I’m not wild about Taco Bell food, but my wife can eat there and I’m okay with their food, so they occasionally get a few of our fast food dollars.
Chic-fil-A: As a fast food place, Chic-fil-A scores pretty well across the board. Their food is good, can be eaten while you’re driving, plus their service is generally speaking above average. In addition to their chicken, their waffle fries are a tasty option. One downside, however, is they’ve stopped offering coleslaw. Bummer!
There are a few of my random thoughts about fast food places. How about some of your observations?