Best fast food restaurants in the country? Vote now
Grabbing a quick and affordable bite to eat certainly has its appeal, especially when you’re traveling. And given that fast-food restaurants are usually easy to find, convenient to access, and offer a variety of options for different tastes and dietary preferences, they’re a natural fit for groups on the go. Not to mention, some fast-food chains offer regional specialties, allowing you to try new dishes and cuisines.
USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of fast-food aficionados made their top picks for fast-food and quick-service restaurants across 10 categories. Now, it’s up to you to vote for your favorites and decide the winners. Voting ends on Monday, July 8 at noon ET, and you can vote once per day, per category.
Click on each category below to vote:
Best Fast Casual Restaurant
Which fast casual restaurant do you frequent? — Photo courtesy of filadendron / E+
Fast casual restaurants have become more popular than ever in the United States, thanks to their convenience and affordability. Diners love that these eateries offer easy and quick access to delicious food without sacrificing quality.
An expert panel has selected 20 exemplary nominees, and now it’s up to you to decide the winner. Which fast casual restaurant is your favorite?
Vote: Best Fast Casual Restaurant »
Best Fast Food Breakfast
Which chain has the best breakfast menu? — Photo courtesy of LauriPatterson / E+
How do you turn a good morning into a better morning? A delicious breakfast, served up lovingly and quickly, is one of our favorite answers.
USA TODAY 10Best’s seasoned travel editors have teamed up with a panel of experts to compile a list of their top choices for a fast, satisfying morning treat. Now, it’s your turn to determine who swiftly serves up the best breakfast.
Vote: Best Fast Food Breakfast »
Best Fast Food Burger
Which fast food burger do you love the most? — Photo courtesy of zoranm / E+
We try not to think about those dark days when the burger menu at a restaurant was limited to just “hamburger” and “cheeseburger.” Today’s menus are packed with creative combinations of flavors and offer diners a wealth of options for a truly custom-tailored burger.
With so much to choose from, it isn’t enough to know which quick-service restaurant chain delivers the best burger overall. USA TODAY 10Best’s editors and a panel of burger buffs set out to crown the absolute best choices on these menus. We’ve compiled a short list of our top 20 burgers, and now it’s your turn to crown the best of the best.
Best Fast Food Fried Chicken
Who is serving up the best fried chicken in the biz? — Photo courtesy of Ant DM / iStock via Getty Images Plus
We live in a golden era — no pun intended — of fried chicken. Whether your craving is for bone-in fried chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, or the mighty chicken sandwich, it’s a safe bet that there are dozens of drive-thrus in your neck of the woods ready to take your order.
But which fast-food chain serves up the most outstanding fried chicken? USA TODAY 10Best’s editors and a panel of quick-service dining experts compiled a list of their top 20 picks, and we need your help to determine whose fried chicken is tops.
Vote: Best Fast Food Fried Chicken »
Best Fast Food Fries
Which chain has your favorite fries? — Photo courtesy of Alst / iStock via Getty Images Plus
In the immortal words of “Weird Al” Yankovic, you “might as well face it, you’re addicted to spuds.” The math checks out too, as National Geographic estimated that the average American devours nearly 30 pounds of french fries a year. But whose fries are the best?
USA TODAY 10Best’s editors and a panel of french fry fanatics have nominated their top picks for restaurants that serve up fries in a flash, and now it’s your turn to choose the winners.
Best Fast Food Restaurant
Which fast-food restaurant is the best overall? — Photo courtesy of happy_lark / iStock via Getty Images Plus
On any given day, tens of millions of Americans are treated to irresistibly delicious food that’s in their hands just a few minutes (or less!) after ordering. It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and preparation to deliver that sort of speed, quality, and scale.
The 21 restaurant chains nominated by USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of fast-food fanatics have mastered this art. We need your help to determine which of these restaurants is the most outstanding.
Vote: Best Fast Food Restaurant »
Best Fast Food Sides
Which fast food side gets your vote? — Photo courtesy of AbbieImages / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Sure, french fries are great, but why stop there? The inventive minds behind fast-food restaurants are constantly dreaming up new side dishes. Whether it’s perfected comfort food, a clever twist on a longtime favorite, or a combination you never could’ve seen coming, these sides are often the main reason we pull into the drive-thru.
USA TODAY 10Best’s editors and a panel of fast-food experts have compiled a short list of their 20 top sides — beyond fries, of course — and now it’s your turn to choose the best of the best.
Best Regional Fast Food
Which regional fast-food chain is tops? — Photo courtesy of Ziga Plahutar / iStock via Getty Images Plus
One of our favorite parts of traveling is discovering local fast-food spots — restaurants that can only be found in a particular state or region. Whether it’s a longtime local favorite or a must-visit to dine at whenever we’re in town, USA TODAY 10Best’s travel editors and a panel of fast-food enthusiasts have nominated 20 of the top regional fast-food chains across the country.
Which regional fast-food restaurant is your favorite stop?
Vote: Best Regional Fast Food »
Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food
Where do you go for a quick and healthy bite? — Photo courtesy of Space_Cat / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Healthful eating doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Plenty of restaurant chains cater to health-conscious diners, serving delectable yet sensible meals in a matter of minutes. Whether that represents a portion of the menu or is a restaurant’s raison d’être, USA TODAY 10Best’s travel editors and a panel of quick-service dining experts have nominated their preferred places for sensible, swiftly served food.
We want to know what your favorite restaurant is for a quick, healthy meal. Vote now for your top pick.
Vote: Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food »
Best Sandwich or Sub Shop
Which sub shop is superior? — Photo courtesy of LauriPatterson / E+
On any given day, around half of Americans eat a sandwich — sometimes more than one! It’s little wonder too, given how endlessly versatile sandwiches are. PB&J, chicken salad, roast beef and Swiss, turkey and avocado, grilled cheese, BLTs, French dips, Reubens: if you can stick it between two slices of bread, chances are that millions of people are taking a bite today.
USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of sandwich experts have nominated 20 of the top sandwich shops, sub shops, and delis across the country. But which of these reigns supreme? That’s where you come in. Cast your vote once per day for your favorite sandwich or sub shop.
Vote: Best Sandwich or Sub Shop »
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on Wednesday, July 17.
