We all have different opinions and tastes, so the only lock is that my rankings are sure to trigger countless disagreements. But this is my Top 50 list, love it or hate it, and feel free to make your own. So let the debates begin.
1. Portillo’s
Last year’s rank: 2
Best Bet: Italian beef and sausage combo sandwich with hot giardiniera peppers, fries and/or onion rings, followed by the chocolate cake shake.
2. Culver’s
Last year’s rank: 1
Best Bet: ButterBurger, Wisconsin cheese curds, fries and/or onion rings and frozen custard, specifically the turtle sundae.
3. Shake Shack
Last year’s rank: 6
Best Bet: ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, Shack-made lemonade and chocolate shake.
4. Freddy’s Steakburgers
Last year’s rank: 4
Best Bet: Triple steakburger, onion rings and turtle sundae.
5. McDonald’s
Last year’s rank: 8
Best Bet: McRib, Quarter Pounder with cheese, fries (request well done) and chocolate chip cookies.
6. Chick-fil-A
Last year’s rank: 3
Best Bet: Spicy chicken sandwich, chicken biscuits with egg whites and American cheese.
7. Arby’s
Last year’s rank: 7
Best Bet: Roast beef and cheese sandwich, seasoned curly fries.
8. Dairy Queen
Last year’s rank: 9
Best Bet: Peanut Buster Parfait, Blizzards, classic hamburgers or chili dogs.
9. Wendy’s
Last year’s rank: 10
Best Bet: Breakfast Baconator, spicy chicken sandwich, potato wedges.
10. KFC
Last year’s rank: 16
Best Bet: Fried chicken (original or crispy), mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken nuggets.
11. Zippy’s
Last year’s rank: 12
Best Bet: Loco moco, chili, fried chicken, Portuguese sausage.
12. In-N-Out Burger
Last year’s rank: 5
Best Bet: Double-double or triple burger, request fries “light well” or well done.
13. Whataburger
Last year’s rank: 13
Best Bet: Green chile double burger, 24-hour service, fries.
14. Raising Cane’s
Last year’s rank: 11
Best Bet: Chicken fingers with Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, crinkle-cut fries.
15. Taco John’s
Last year’s rank: 18
Best Bet: Crispy beef tacos, potato oles.
16. Burger King
Last year’s rank: 15
Best Bet: Whopper, sausage biscuit, hash browns.
17. A&W
Last year’s rank: 22
Best Bet: Root beer float, burgers, coney dogs, onion rings.
18. Jersey Mike’s Subs
Last year’s rank: 21
Best Bet: Big Kahuna cheese steak with jalapenos, fresh sub rolls.
19. Qdoba
Last year’s rank: 24
Best Bet: Seasoned beef or steak tacos, variety of salsas.
20. Bojangles
Last year’s rank: 25
Best Bet: Fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits.
21. Smashburger
Last year’s rank: 23
Best Bet: Spicy jalapeno baja burger, Smashfries.
22. Huey Magoo’s
Last year’s rank: Unranked
Best Bet: Chicken fingers, Texas toast, Magoo’s sauce.
23. El Pollo Loco
Last year’s rank: 20
Best Bet: Grilled chicken, sides like Spanish rice and beans.
24. Firehouse Subs
Last year’s rank: 27
Best Bet: Hook & Ladder, meatball, steak & cheese subs.
25. Steak ‘n Shake
Last year’s rank: 14
Best Bet: Signature steakburgers, milkshakes.
26. Fatburger
Last year’s rank: 19
Best Bet: Classic hamburgers, shakes.
27. Cook Out
Last year’s rank: 40
Best Bet: Burgers, BBQ, shakes.
28. Nathan’s Famous
Last year’s rank: 26
Best Bet: Hot dogs, fries, varied menu.
29. Fuddruckers
Last year’s rank: 28
Best Bet: Build-your-own burgers, toppings bar.
30. Long John Silver’s
Last year’s rank: 30
Best Bet: Chicken planks, hush puppies, coleslaw.
31. Capriotti’s
Last year: Unranked
Best Bet: American Wagyu cheese steak, roast beef subs.
32. The Habit Burger
Last year’s rank: 17
Best Bet: Burgers, fries.
33. White Castle
Last year’s rank: 37
Best Bet: Sliders, chicken sandwiches.
34. Popeyes
Last year’s rank: 35
Best Bet: Spicy fried chicken, sides like red beans & rice.
35. Five Guys
Last year’s rank: 33
Best Bet: Burgers, hot dogs, fries.
36. Taco Bell
Last year’s rank: 38
Best Bet: Mexican pizza, variety of burritos.
37. Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s
Last year’s rank: 34
Best Bet: Thickburgers, Green Burrito menu.
38. Taco Cabana
Last year’s rank: 29
Best Bet: Tex-Mex burritos, fajitas, tacos.
39. Dunkin’ Donuts
Last year’s rank: 39
Best Bet: Bacon, egg & cheese sandwich, hash browns.
40. Tim Hortons
Last year’s rank: 31
Best Bet: Sandwiches, variety of baked goods.
41. Wienerschnitzel
Last year’s rank: 42
Best Bet: Chili dog, corn dog, Chicago dog.
42. Del Taco
Last year’s rank: 46
Best Bet: Crispy beef tacos, spicy chicken burrito.
43. Earl of Sandwich
Last year’s rank: 41
Best Bet: Hot sandwiches like the Montagu.
44. Panera Bread
Last year’s rank: 36
Best Bet: Toasted steak & white cheddar sandwich, soups.
45. Panda Express
Last year’s rank: 45
Best Bet: Orange chicken, grilled teriyaki chicken, Angus steak.
46. Jollibee
Last year: Unranked
Best Bet: Fried chicken, spaghetti.
47. Checkers/Rally’s
Last year’s rank: 47
Best Bet: Big Buford, burgers, fries.
48. Jack in the Box
Last year’s rank: 50
Best Bet: Burgers, spicy chicken strips.
49. Boston Market
Last year’s rank: 32
Best Bet: Rotisserie chicken, ribs, sides.
50. Sonic
Last year’s rank: 48
Best Bet: Burgers, chicken tenders, corn dogs.
Also receiving votes (the next five): Church’s Chicken, Zaxby’s, Subway, Chipotle, American Coney Island.
Chris Fallica Fast Food Top 10:
Portillo’s
Chick-fil-A
White Castle
Taco Bell
Jersey Mike’s
Five Guys
Qdoba
Arby’s
KFC
Wendy’s
Mitch Moss Fast Food Top 10:
Culver’s
Portillo’s
Shake Shack
Chick-fil-A
In-N-Out
Capriotti’s
Raising Cane’s
Smashburger
Taco John’s
McDonald’s
Paul Howard Fast Food Top 10:
Chick-fil-A
Culver’s
Raising Cane’s
Portillo’s
Taco John’s
Freddy’s
Wendy’s
Jersey Mike’s
Popeyes
Shake Shack