Hello again Hoot readers. I know some of you are just dying to hear what our editors recommend for you, and you would be totally lost without our recommendations to base your whole life around. But don’t worry, The Hoot is here once again. This time, we’ll be recommending our favorite fast food restaurants.
James: My favorite fast food restaurant is Taco Bell. It has tacos! Do I really need to say anything else? Yes. Yes I do. Taco Bell has things other than tacos too. They have Doritos Locos tacos. Nowhere else in the world can you get a taco made out of Doritos. They have birthday cake-flavored churros. Taco Bell makes things that most people would never even think about, and it usually ends up being great. Plus, they have Baja Blast year-round, which is the best soda ever created. Oh, and that thing about it making you poop is greatly exaggerated.
Jenna: There is no question that the best fast food place of all time, maybe ever conjured in the minds of the fast food industry is…Chipotle. It’s always fresh, they have a great reward system (I have a free entree for my next order) and they put something magical in the chip seasoning that I can’t put my finger on but is AMAZING (my best guess is the lime salt). If you have Chipotle at an event I will be there — thanks BETA for the panel this week…Final thoughts: I love chipotle.
Lucas: I am not a connoisseur of fast food, and perhaps not well placed to judge which restaurant is really the best. However, I do have many fond memories of Chipotle. Specifically, when I was a kid, my dad would often get me a quesadilla, rice with beans and a box of apple juice. And you know what? 10 years later, that apple juice still goes hard… although I haven’t actually had chipotle in quite some time. Regardless of its current quality, it will always have a place in my heart.
Michael: Sorry for being basic: it’s McDonalds. Yeah, I know, it’s just McDonalds. But I’ve been eating there since I was a literal infant and that bastard clown has permanently warped my brain with his thin, crispy fries and 10 piece Chicken Nugget meals. To this day McDonalds is comfort food. HOWEVER! There is one other place that I think is shockingly underrated and that is Shake Shack. Unlike literally any other place, Shake Shack food doesn’t make you feel horrifically bloated after you eat it.
Naomi: My white half really comes out with this answer, but it is Panera. Panera has objectively good food. And good smoothies. And fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Where else can you get soup in a bread bowl in a fast food setting?
Cooper: I am pure of heart and pure of mind. My body is a temple. That said, if you count Chipotle as fast food, I am one of the nation’s leading fast food consumers. I get the same thing every time: a bowl, with white rice, black beans, double chicken, sour cream, cheese and lettuce. It’s great, it’s easy and it’s close to my house off campus. I literally could not ask for more.
Rachel: I appreciate the concept of fast food. After all, fast and food are probably two of the greatest words in the English language, so combining the two should lead to success. However, to be honest, while I like getting my food quickly, I do not get fast food that often. I like getting food quickly, but I often find fast food to be unhealthy and uninteresting, leading me to prefer restaurants with waiters. That being said, I have found appreciation for some fast food restaurants. First of all, in terms of local restaurants, Anna’s Taqueria is a lovely fast food Mexican establishment in the Boston area. I have had carnitas quesadillas there, and they were the shape of a burrito instead of a circle. A revelation! All of the quesadilla goodness gets stuffed in a lovely handheld item. Who says burrito lovers get to have all of the fun? On top of that, the quesadilla itself was delicious, the right amount of cheesiness and meatiness to make for a delicious meal. Another fun fast food option is Which Wich, which, ironically enough, has no locations in the Boston area. Think Subway, but better (that shouldn’t be that hard). Instead of calling out what you want as the sandwich maker goes down a line, there is a selection of paper bags for you to choose from, categorized by the type of sandwich you want. The bags have all of the possible toppings organized, and you mark which one you want. Then you give your completed paper bag to the person at the cash register. Then the sandwich makers will put time and care into your meal, instead of rushing your poor sandwich down the line. That leads to a most delicious sub sandwich (one with yummy roast beef and provolone in my case) ordered and made in a fast food innovation. So, while you may want to go to the typical fast food restaurants, explore the hidden gems and chains, and you actually may get a meal made quickly that can be both delicious and satisfying.
Avery: I’m so glad no one has already taken objectively the best fast food location: Wendy’s! Delicious chicken sandwiches, yummy burgers, great nuggets and consistently crispy, salty fries all combine at this delicious drive thru. Also: pretzel buns!! Not only does Wendy’s have healthier options (chicken sandwiches slap, guys) but they also donate to local charities, with their main philanthropic activities surrounding foster and adoption. Good food you can feel good about!
Jason: I am so genuinely passionate about Chick-fil-a that it sometimes concerns me. I don’t think I have ever been to a fast food restaurant that manages to consistently push the same magnificent quality of homophobic chicken. Sometimes that shit is so good I consider going back to church myself. That’s what the true essence of American fast food should be; deep fried foods that make you question your morals. I feel like if you don’t become a little more conservative after you eat, then you’re doing it all wrong. Chick-fil-a’s drinks are also heavily underrated. There is truly nothing like a Chick-fil-a refresher on a hot summer day.
