The definitive ranking of America’s best fast food restaurants

There’s nothing clandestine about the 'secret' menu at In-N-Out—it even has a page on the Cali chain’s website. But the not-so-covert items still garner a cult-like following by those who make the pilgrimage out west for smashed burgers and animal-style fries. Besides, who can argue with the tastes of The Dude from The Big Lebowski?

Must-order: Double Double, animal style

Shake Shack is both a fast-food spot and a destination restaurant, depending on where you live. Make the queue at its original location in Madison Square Park for a leisurely (read: the lines are long) meal amid one of NYC's most beautiful green spaces. One thing is true of all Shake Shack locations (of which there are about 300 in the U.S.): the burgers are excellent and made from 100-percent, all-natural Angus beef. And so are the all-beef hot dogs, crispy crinkle-cut fries and the milkshakes. If we’re being honest, we love it all.

Must-order: Shack Stack

It’s all about the spice, people. Popeyes’ hush-hush blend imbues Cajun flavor into many of its beloved dishes, from the signature fried chicken and creamy mashed potatoes to those generously-seasoned fries. It’s no wonder the New Orleans-born restaurant has amassed an uber-passionate following. 

Must-order: Spicy chicken

True to its Wisconsin roots, the secret to Culver’s exceptional burger is butter. The patties come sandwiched between buns that get a swipe of dairy before hitting the grill, resulting in a delicious package that’s best paired with another Midwest specialty: frozen custard. 

Must-try: ButterBurger

Down south, Whataburger’s orange and white stripes are almost as iconic as McDonald’s golden arches, signaling meaty goodness in the form of wide, thin patties on a toasted five-inch bun. They’re not just skilled with beef, however—as much as its namesake hits the spot, Whataburger devotees will tell you that there’s no better hangover cure than the honey butter chicken biscuit.

Must-order: Patty melt

Carl’s Jr. is the kind of place you stop on a high desert road trip, discovering that the Western Bacon Cheeseburger is one of the best in the fast-food business. The charbroiled patty is smoky, the bacon crispy, the onion rings add a nice crunch, and the sweet BBQ sauce brings a whole lot of decadence. Yes, Hardee’s is Carl's Midwest/East Coast cousin—but bro, they don’t do onion rings.

Must-order: Western Bacon Cheeseburger

Out of all the types of fast-food chains, those focused on chicken dishes are in the most demand lately. And none are expanding as quickly as Raising Cane's, which got its start in Baton Rouge, Louisana in the 1990s. The restaurant has found success by never straying from its original fan favorites: crispy chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and buttery Texas toast. 

Must-order: Chicken fingers

Here’s the thing about Wingstop: they concentrated on one thing in a quest to do it pretty well. Whether you’re a purist or someone who likes your wings so spicy they make you sweat, they’ve got it. The lemon pepper is bright and has a bit of a kick, the garlic parmesan is rich and flavorful, and the mango habanero is sweet, with just a little heat at the end. Bonus points for wings that stay crispy despite being drenched in sauce—a small miracle in fast-food engineering.

Must-order: All-In Bundle (because, hey, you’re here)

Zaxby’s is one of the rulers of the fried chicken roost—at least in the South. Dreamed up by two childhood pals on a Statesboro, Georgia basketball court, the comfort-food spot slings out crispy bird in a number of forms (tenders, wings, etc.), plus a house-made, addictive Zax sauce.

Must-order: Chicken finger plate

Taco Bell shows no sign of slowing down, debuting a new item seemingly every week. As of this writing, it was the Steak Cheesy Dipping Burritos, essentially tortilla submarines wading into chipotle sauce. But despite all the additions and newfangled spins on its Mexican fast food, one thing remains constant: a stoner-friendly, late-night-worthy and budget-conscious menu that hits all the right notes—as long as you’re stoned, out super late or broke.

Must-order: Chalupa

Two words: flame broiled. Miami-born Burger King has made its mark with this signature cooking style since it opened in 1954. It's one of the few burger chains to use fresh toppings, was among the first to feature plant-based options and is known for its innovation. Anyone remember the black Whopper? And who could resist the rodeo burger? Surely, not us.

Must-order: Whopper

As its name suggests, Biscuitville, a family-owned chain in North Carolina and Virginia, is obsessed with biscuits. According to the company, the made-from-scratch pucks only call for three ingredients (flour, buttermilk and shortening) and get turned out every 15 minutes, guaranteeing warm, fluffy biscuits at all hours.

Must-order: Ultimate country ham biscuit 

Fun fact for young folks: Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas starred in more than 800 commercials for the brand, hawking its burgers in a soft-spoken, grandfatherly demeanor. He passed away in 2002, but his signature never-frozen beef patties and iconic Frosty desserts live on. 

Must-order: Chocolate Frosty

If you haven't spent much time in the Midwest, you may have never heard of Maid-Rite. Let us introduce you. This chain started in Iowa in the 1920s and is famous for its "loose meat" sandwiches. While that may not sound particularly enticing, trust us—a bite of the seasoned ground beef served on a warm bun will change your mind. The restaurant is still mainly in Iowa but has 11 locations outside the state, including Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio. 

Must-order: Maid-Rite sandwich

For many Americans, the belief that Taco John's is far superior to Taco Bell is a hill they will die on. What started as a taco stand in Cheyenne, Wyoming back in 1969 is now a major fast-food chain with more than 400 restaurants across 23 states. The company has won hearts and stomachs with its crispy tacos and famous potato olés (round bites of crunchy potato, sprinkled with spices). Taco John's claims to have started the term when its owner marketed the phrase “Taco Twosday” for its 99 cents-for-two tacos deal. The company then actually trademarked "Taco Tuesday" for more than 40 years but recently gave it up after a legal dispute with Taco Bell. 

Must-order: Potato olés

Say what you will about McD’s, but the home of Grimace and Co. helped define fast food. The Big Mac is iconic for a reason—two patties, special sauce and a heavy portion of nostalgia. For a whole lot of us, this was our first fast food, the thing that defined it for a childhood. The fries are salty, the McFlurry is as sweet as an Easter basket and the burgers are not great—but hey, they’re just like you remember. It’s McDonald’s, and wherever you are in the world, there’s probably one nearby.

Must-order: Big Mac

While the fast-food powerhouse's slogan may be “we have the meats,” no meal at Arby's is complete without a side of tough-to-quit curly fries. And 59 years into its run, Arby's still serves up those classic Roast Beef and Beef 'n Cheddars. 

Must-order: Smokehouse brisket sandwich

There are few things as nostalgic—or satisfying—as watching a Dairy Queen clerk do the obligatory Blizzard flip. The hard part is, of course, deciding which add-in best complements DQ’s lusciously thick vanilla soft serve—the straightforward classics (Oreos, M&Ms) or the over-the-top combos (Turtle Pecan Cluster, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough)? Psst: The burgers ain't too shabby here either. 

Must-order: Oreo Blizzard 

Subway is the old reliable of fast food, the place you stop on a road trip for something healthy and then turn a footlong essentially into a mayo canoe. If you haven’t been catching up, the tuna is officially “100% real” (um, aren’t all things real?). But I’m sticking to the Italian B.M.T., which has been holding it down as long as Run DMC, thanks to that salty trio of Italian-ish meats. The bread might be more like bread-adjacent, but you can at least watch some kid in plastic gloves build the thing right in front of you. No olives, please. I said no oliv—OK, well, we’re going with olives.

Must order: Ham and cheese sub