I get a quarter pounder with cheese, fries and a drink. It costs almost $15. I can go to a cafe where I’m waited on and served decent food for $20.
Most cafes aren’t open at 3am when I get off a dreadful shift and just want to wolf something down before collapsing into bed for 10 hours.
Wow, that’s a crazy schedule
It’s in the name. It’s fast. You order at a drive-thru and you’re on your way in a couple of minutes. I agree though that prices are insane now and doesn’t justify the quality. I’d rather go to an asian restaurant for their lunch specials and get more for my buck.
In a lot of cases it’s not actually fast (not just waiting in line at the drive thru, but also the time driving to and from the place), but people would apparently rather sit in traffic than cook, for some reason.
Cooking takes time, ingredients, and if you want it palatable, ability. Fast food takes driving up to a location and saying “give me something easy”.
It’s not as fast as it used to be, but it’s still relatively quick, especially if it’s on your way home from wherever you are. Any extra time is just spent doomscrolling on your phone or listening to your preferred media pundit.
See, I don’t get the fast drive through thing. I pull up to the drive through. They have two lanes. Both are full and there are 10 cars ahead of me. I have to wait 10 minutes or more just to place an order and 10 minutes to get to the window to pay. It’s generally not fast at all.
Another thing I haven’t seen mentioned is its one of the last places open late anymore. I live close to a city, but if I need to grab something late (9:30+) fast food is about the only place open.
Do they have options?
I gave up Taco Bell after college as “not actual food”, and for decades only went to McDonald’s in a road trip or Wendy’s for a frosty. There was a cheap local-ish burger joint that sometimes took their place but it was a bit out of the way …… then we got Chipotle and Panera!!! Fast food that’s actual food and not quite as bad for you. And now it’s the same price or cheaper.
My burrito cost less than your Big Mac meal while being more filling. It has less sodium, less saturated fat, actual fiber and vegetables, and tastes so much better.
We do have at least one authentic burrito place that’s even better and cheaper but you can’t order online. Chipotle group orders are the god of food apps
Do they have options?
Returned to Atlanta after a vacation out west in a small town where there were tons of small biz cafes and restaurants… My entire street is lined with nothing but fast food bullshit. In a quarter mile radius we have McDonald’s, Arby’s, Freddy’s, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, Zaxby’s, Domino’s, Buffalo wild wings. Fast food has basically conquered medium to large size towns and forced out any sort of small business that’s healthy or has real food. You won’t find them anywhere, so you get exhausted and tired of driving and what is left for you? Fast food. No one wants to drive 25 minutes every time they need to get something to eat
Well, that’s sad. Corporations have taken over our lives.
We have Burrito Bandito. Really good and a good price.
We finally have a Penaro that I haven’t checked out yet.
Where are you going to a cafe or restaurant that didn’t also double their prices? Fast food is still eaten cause the restaurants also jacked up the prices. I’m Canadian and I took my wife and two little kids for breakfast. Our bill came out to over $100. For two full breakfasts and a couple of orders of pancakes You’re also assuming everyone lives where you do and cafes and local eateries are abundant. Most places don’t have anything but fast food and pizza available.
Just asking a question for the fun of it. I don’t get a lot of social conversation.
It’s called Vitles. Family owned and popular coffee shop. I live in a small town so that might be why it’s cheaper.
Yeah coffee shops even are crazy where I live. $8 for a latte the other day
Wow, that’s crazy
Until recently fast food was faster and cheaper than sit down joints and it’s easier to eat while you drive. Since it’s only been recent that is gotten slower and more expensive people still reach for it when they want quick calories. Unless fast food becomes faster and cheaper again it will probably decline from gas station food which is faster and getting better in most parts of the US and ordering ahead from local joints.
It’s addictive, it’s marketed well, people are uninformed about how awful it is for them, and think prepping healthy meals is a lot harder than it is.
I think you answered your own question. It’s still “cheaper” than your second option.
Because it’s fast and good enough. Not looking for a restaurant experience. I just want to eat and I forgot to defrost my chicken.
I mean, McDonald’s is an insane ripoff. At Taco Bell I can get veggie cravings box for $5.99 - that’s a Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme, Bean and Cheese Burrito, Fiesta Potatoes, and a drink. It’s like 1500 calories for $6 and takes 5 minutes to get. We get it every couple of weeks when we’re just feeling super lazy and don’t feel like cooking, and we can make two meals out of it.
Because when its good, and I mean everything is correct… its fucking amazing.
Last time I got Kentucky it was all perfect. The bun was fresh, the lettuce was fresh, just the right amount of mayo, the chicken was hot and crunchy. The chips were hot, fresh and had just too much enough salt and the pepsi was just a shade away from being frozen. It was the best chicken burger I’ve had in recent memory.
Now, this was an isolated incident. Normally I wind up slightly disappointed in something. But when its right…
Chick-fil-A spicy chicken sandwich (pretty much always perfect, too). Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. biscuits (made fresh every morning). My top two probably.
Usually a craving (This is the only reason I go to McDonald’s once a year or so) or it’s something I want to try that I don’t have at home (like Jollibee or Shackshack).
I like to splurge on a Shackshackshack from time to time.
Habits, familiarity, convenience, complacency
Most of this thread is overlooking familiarity, consistency. Aside from regional/international differences, the mcdouble you order at home is gonna be exactly as the same as the mcdouble ordered 400 miles away. Your usual will be there. Many people aren’t gonna take a chance on Jeff’s Cafe on the road. Jeff’s Cafe doesn’t spend a billion dollars on ads to tell you they still have the same thing you ate a decade ago. People don’t want to spend as much time and effort as it takes to read Jeff’s menu, decide what sounds good, and then see if it matches their expectation.
The four horsemen of obesity!
Me 2001: Mcdonalds is running an anniversary special. Cheeseburgers are $0.10. Fuck yeah! I’mma order 20 them sumbitches!!!
Me today at age 41: I haven’t had Mcdonalds since before the pandemic.
“Hi, I’ll get a double quarter pounder with cheese meal, large, and I’ll wait for new fries.”
“That’ll be $26.69”
“HAHAHAHA, right??? Could you imagine??? what’s you’re name? James? Could you imagine that James? Charging that much for some Mcdonalds? HAHAHAHAHA!!! Ok James. That’s a good one. Now what’s the actual price?”
“$26.69”
“HAAAAAAAA, ok, ok, funs fun, but c’mon. I gotta pay for my food. What is it really?”
“$26.69”
“Wha—are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
“ARE YOU HIGH???”
“Yes.”
“Well…uhhhhh…”
checks the board and does the math
“WHAT THE FUCK??? IS RAY CROC HIGH???”
“He’s dead.”
“WELL I DON’T THINK YOU CAN BE HIGH WHEN YOU’RE DEAD JAMES!!!”
“I know. That’s why we gotta spend the time that we’ve got on this planet doing what we love, with the people that we love. We don’t have a lot of time on this planet, and someday, maybe someday soon, something could happen. Then your best friend is just taken from you. With no warning. Maybe a lightning strike. Maybe hit by a drunk driver. You never know. So you gotta live your life doing what you can while you can to make sure that you have no regrets. Last thing you want is for someone to die before you can tell them you love them.”
“Wow. That was beautiful. I’m sorry about your friend.”
“Oh no. All my friends are still living. I tell them I love them all the time. And they love me too. Not in a romantkc way, but in a pure of heart real human connection kind of way. We love each other like brothers.”
“That is a surprising level of introspection from someone of your age. You have a real sense of emotional maturity.”
“Hey, thanks! That’ll be $26.69”
“FUUUUUUUUUUU-----”
ROFL thanks for this; gave me a good laugh 😀😃😄😃😁🤪
pfft. sometimes its worth the 5$ to not have to slow down to cafe speed. and i like fast food, its designed to be overtly tasty
I know it’s poison but it’s the only option that opens after 10pm
