Fast food has always been the go-to when we need a quick meal after a late night of drinking or working. The popularity of fast food has skyrocketed because it has become the standard by which all other inexpensive, excellent, and time-saving meals are measured. Fast food restaurants’ services are another reason why they’re so popular. What really gets people excited, though, is the presence of the quickest home delivery as well as sizzling specials and discounts. It’s undeniable that there’s a global shift toward health awareness and a more moderate diet. Despite this, it’s likely that fast food’s popularity will continue to grow. Meanwhile, this article would focus on the best fast food places anyone can eat or work at in the us.
Best Fast Food Places
Finding the best fast food in the United States is like trying to find the best pizza in Italy; there are countless options to choose from. The fast food, drive-thru, and affordable restaurants that dot the American landscape today are the backbone of our modern culinary landscape. While the majority of fast food is still created with unhealthy, low-quality ingredients, more and more restaurants are including healthier options.
Fast food that is actually good for you is offered exclusively by few major chains. These are great when you’re too busy to prepare a balanced dinner from scratch.
We will list out the best fast food places you should eat or work at in America that actually serve healthy food.
Best Fast Food Places in US
#1. Whataburger
The main office is in San Antonio, Texas with US sales of $2 billion and a rating of 33 in terms of customer happiness. Harmon Dobson, who started Whataburger, wanted to make a burger so big that people would need both hands to hold it. It would taste so good that they would say, “What a burger!” after the first bite. So, in 1950, Whataburger came into being.
Whataburger is only in 10 states, but its fans love it very much. When a man got a tattoo of the Whataburger brand on his arm, the company gave him free food for ten years.
#2. Zaxby’s
The main office is in Athens, Georgia with US sales of $1.48 billion and a rating of 21 in terms of customer happiness. Zaxby’s is known for its delicious wing sauce and crinkle-cut fries. It was started by two childhood friends in Georgia who didn’t have many good places to eat wings. People also like the “better chicken” restaurant’s signature salads, which are something that not many fast food places have been able to make famous.
The chain, which makes $1.5 billion in sales, has grown quickly in the past year. Sales are up 18% and the company has opened nearly 90 new locations, taking the total to 748.
#3. Jason’s Deli
The headquarter is in Beaumont, Texas with US sales of $654 million and a rating of 12 in terms of customer happiness. Jason’s Deli cares a lot about nutrition. Over the past 10 years, it has taken out all fake trans fat, most artificial MSG, and all artificial colors, dyes, and flavors from its food. The chain also serves fresh fruit, which is brought to its locations six days a week, and more than a dozen organic ingredients that are certified by the USDA.
In its 40 years of business, the family-owned group has opened stores in 30 states in the South and Midwest.
#4. Culver’s
The headquarter is in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin with US sales of $1.2 billion and a rating of 26 in terms of customer happiness. Technomic says that the average order at Culver’s costs almost $9.50, which is a little more than what people would spend at a regular burger place. But the frozen dessert and ButterBurgers, the chain’s signature burger whose name comes from the butter glaze that covers the bun, might make it worth it.
Even though there are more than 500 places, it may be hard to find a Culver’s because most of them are in the Midwest. That doesn’t mean, though, that the chain is having a hard time making money. In 2015, Culver’s sales went up 15.5%, and only Whataburger did better financially.
#5. The Habit Burger Grill
The headquarter is in Irvine, California with US sales of $251 million and a rating of 20 in terms of customer happiness. Last year, sales at the West Coast chain Habit Burger Grill went up by 43%, which shows how famous it got. Consumer Reports did a survey and found that the small regional company had the best-tasting burger in America. It beat out competitors like Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Five Guys. Habit Burger is going to keep going. The company wants to keep growing outside of the West Coast. They want to open 2,000 restaurants, which is a big jump from their current 142.
#6. Krispy Kreme
The headquarter is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with US sales of $708 million and a rating of 7 out of 10 in terms of customer happiness.
In 1937, Vernon Rudolph, who started Krispy Kreme, used a recipe from a New Orleans chef to make doughnuts to sell to local grocery shops. As the smell of freshly baked donuts spread through the streets, people started asking if they could buy the treats directly, so Rudolph cut a hole in the wall to open his first store. Krispy Kreme is known for its original glazed doughnut, but in May 2016, the company said it would start selling “edible coffee treats,” which are bars that taste just like the coffee and doughnut flavors at the chain. You can probably count them as one of the best fast food places to eat at.
Best Fast Food Places to Work
So why do people want to get out of the fast food business? Well, there are quite a few of them. There’s also the fact that teens, who used to work for fast food joints, are leaving these places for different jobs. But there’s another reason, which may be the main reason no one wants to work in fast food places: workers don’t think they’ll be treated well.
People usually think of fast food as a job with low pay, few perks, and not much appreciation from bosses or customers. But, is this really the case? Yes, well… and no. Some fast food companies really do have bad names for how badly they treat their employees. Others, on the other hand, have had much happier employees, and some are even known as great places to work, not just in the hospitality business but in general. But what’s what? Here are the best fast food places to work for.
#1. Five Guys
With a starting wage of almost $9 an hour in 2017, Five Guys don’t exactly blow the competition out of the water when it comes to pay. Still, it’s a lot better than some chains, and the hourly wage could be higher. PayScale says the company pays its workers an average of $11.41 per hour. But the Virginia-based hamburger company does have a few other things going for it when it comes to how it treats its workers. The benefits are good. For example, Five Guys has a tuition aid program that lets eligible workers sign up for high school and college classes. Workers can choose between a partially funded degree or a fully funded degree
On top of that, Five Guys has regular inspections of its stores done by people who are not part of the company. These inspections are based on the level of service, safety, and cleanliness. 1.5 percent of the gross income of all Five Guys franchises in the country goes into a pot. Each week, workers who did well on the audit get their money back. When an audit is done correctly, each crew gets a total of $1,000.
Just be aware that not everything is great at Five Guys. Even though they have good benefits and pay, the company has been sued for labor law violations from time to time. Still, you can probably count them (almost) as one of the best big fast food places to work for.
#2. Chipotle
In 2015, Chipotle made the news when it greatly increased the perks it gave to its employees. Starting July 1 of that year, the company paid for all of its workers’ tuition, sick days, and vacations. Before, these perks were only available to salaried workers, but now they are also available to hourly workers in an effort to cut down on turnover.
So, it’s not surprising that Chipotle was named one of Kununu’s best-reviewed employees a year later. This website said that the company was one of the top five best-reviewed businesses in their whole database, with an average score of 4.41 out of 5. One reason the chain is so popular with workers is that it added more benefits than the year before. It also got good marks for its “Office/Work Environment” and “Company Image.”
Kununu also referred to a popular post on Quora in which users said Chipotle was “a wonderful place to work” and “pretty great, if only for the free Chipotle,” but also “demanding and difficult.” One user said, “As far as benefits go, Chipotle is really solid. They offer health, dental, and vision through the Blue Care network, discounted degree programs through Guild education, college credit for your training, and $5,000 dollars of college tuition reimbursement per year if you
#3. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A gives its workers some pretty good benefits and perks. For one, a 2019 study by Money (via Yahoo! News) found that the company’s 401(k) plan “ranks first among companies in the accommodations and food services industry.” It also found that the average Chick-fil-A employee’s 401(k) balance was $158,188, which was more than three times the average for the industry. Also, all full-time workers can sign up for the plan, and the company will match up to 5% of the money they put in.
In 2018, it was said that the chicken chain had greatly increased its education benefits, such as giving workers across the country $14.5 million in scholarships. The “Remarkable Futures” program gives workers scholarships worth $2,500 or $25,000. There are no requirements for the number of hours worked or length of service to apply.
And what about pay? Well, most Chick-fil-As will pay you a good wage, but it’s nothing special. If you live in California, though, you might be in luck. In 2018, the owner of a chain in Sacramento said that he would pay his workers what he called a “living wage” of at least $17 an hour. Eric Mason told a local news station, “As the owner, I’m thinking about the big picture and the long term.” “That gives the business consistency and someone who knows our guests. It will also help build a culture that will last for a long time.”
Best Fast Food Places to Eat
Even though most fast food is made with cheap, unhealthy ingredients, a lot of places now have healthier choices that you should choose whenever you want to eat out. Some big chains even only serve fast food that is good for you. When you don’t have the time or energy to cook a healthy meal, these can be a lifesaver.
Here are 10 fast food places where you can get some healthy foods to eat.
#1. Chipotle
A group of restaurants called Chipotle Mexican Grill serves foods like tacos and burritos.
The company tries to only use organic, local products and meat from animals that were raised in their natural environments.
Burritos, tacos, and salads with different kinds of meats, vegetables, rice, beans, and guacamole are healthy choices.
Locations: all over the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food place that is best known for its chicken sandwiches.
They were the first fast food place in the U.S. to have a menu with no trans fat at all.
They have done a lot to make their food healthier. On their kids’ menu, they have things like fruit cups and milk to drink.
Healthy options: grilled chicken bites, chicken salads, grilled market salad, and multi-grain breakfast oatmeal. They have their restaurant in Places all over the United States
#3. Wendy’s
Wendy’s is the world’s third-largest fast-food hamburger business, after McDonald’s and Burger King.
Even though hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and French fries make up most of their menu, they also have a few healthy options.
Chicken soups and chicken wraps are healthy ways to eat chicken.
Locations: 30 countries around the world, mostly in North and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
#4. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the largest fast-food chain in the world.
It is well-known for its special burgers, like the Big Mac.
Most of McDonald’s food is heavily processed and bad for you. People have said that the company is to blame for the worldwide rise in fat and type 2 diabetes.
But, in part because of these complaints, McDonald’s has added a number of healthier options to its menu. There are a number of healthy salads to choose from, most of which are made with chicken, veggies, and fruit.
Locations: all over the world, in 119 different countries
#5. Ruby Tuesday
There are a lot of Ruby Tuesday places all over the world.
They have a big menu with things like steak, fish, pasta, and salad.
On their menu, the dishes that are better for you are labeled “Fit & Trim.” Each serving of these recipes has less than 700 calories. Ruby Tuesday has choices for people with different dietary needs, like those who can’t eat gluten. There is a range of meat, fish, and salads, as well as baked potatoes and fresh vegetables as side dishes. Their fast food is located all around North America and Europe.
What Is the Richest Fast Food Chain in the World?
McDonald’s
It has 40,100 locations globally. McDonald’s, with over 40,000 outlets and 2020 revenues of over 21.07 billion, is the world’s most popular chain in 2021.
Who Usually Eat Fast Food?
Quick Fast Food Industry Statistics: 83% of American families eat fast food weekly. Fast food consumes 10% of the average American household’s income. Higher-income people eat more fast food.
Which Fast Food Owner Makes the Most Money?
On average, a Chick-fil-A restaurant makes over $4.517 million a year. There are 2500 franchised Chick-fil-A locations, and they opened 130 new shops last year. An investment in Chick-fil-A costs only $10,000.
What Are 2 Reasons People Eat at Fast Food Places?
People like to eat fast food places because the food is cheap, easy to get, and the service feels good.
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