What is the best chain fast food restaurant?

[Dannyalcatraz]

It's real, and it's .... not bad.

Look, always get the real thing, preferably from a hole-in-the-wall near the shore. But it's shockingly decent, all things considered.

I actually had one once, and I agree. Hell- it was better than the McFish. Not even close, IMHO.

 

[Greg K]

Is Shakey's the one that had the curly straws, a window you could watch them make it through, and maybe even a player piano?

I don't remember Shakey's having curly fries. I do know they have mojo potatoes which was the best thing when I was last there prior to Covid.

 

[Cadence]

I don't remember Shakey's having curly fries. I do know they have mojo potatoes which was the best thing when I was last there prior to Covid.

Not fries, plastic straws that looped around and stuff. I do not remember potatoes... but it's been over 35 years for me.

 

[Greg K]

Not fries, plastic straws that looped around and stuff. I do not remember potatoes... but it's been over 35 years for me.

They did not have those straws on my last visit. Also don't recall them back in my childhood from when my parents CB group would meet every Friday night at Shakey's.

 

[Stalker0]

jesus this thread blew up fast.

One of the tricks is the price point. For example: I personally think Chik-Fil-A is the top fast food restaurant in general (I also give a nod to in and out burger). There is nowhere else I go that is so consistently fast, friendly, and high quality. I almost never have a bad experience at a chik-fil-a, and if their line is around the bend I don't care, because they will still get to me quicker than some fast food places with 2 cars in their drive through.

That said...you are paying a premium, its certainly a higher price point than say a taco bell.

 

[Stalker0]

'Does five guys normally have a drive through? most of the ones I've been at I don't think had one.

Also I do have to agree with some comments before, that Wendy's has "weirdly good" chili.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Taco Bell is our go to on road trips. I like that they have some hearty vegetarian options. And they are also the most consistent on taste. Also I love burritos and tacos.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

Shout out for Jollibee's - their peach mango pie is super tasty.

 

[Cadence]

RE: Shakey's - at least some must have had player pianos, so I'm not totally losing it anyway.
@Dannyalcatraz @billd91

And I found someone on Reddit who brought up crazy straws in a post about three years ago. I'm not sure having the only other person who supposedly remembers something I do being a lonely pizza place memory on reddit is a sign for my not having lost it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Shakey's, decades ago, definitely had the Olde Timey Pizza Parlor thing happening, with silent movies projected in one dining room, player pianos, etc.

Nowadays, it's mostly a pizza buffet with those kid-addicting arcades that spit out tickets for them to trade in for overpriced garbage toys.