I’m partial to Culver’s and Wendy’s. Portillo’s seems to be rising in popularity across the country these days, too.
this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2023
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I'm a +1 on Culvers. Seems to be the most popular with my crowd.
Portillos is good, but honestly it's always insanely busy which usually swings me towards an alternative.
Culver's is definitely my top contender.
Taco John's is a good one. I loved their chicken avacado bacon taco. $2 and half a dozen later never had a regret. Until it went away.
A&W is hit or miss as long as they still have their root beer tapped in store.
Kwik Trip is popular too because it's literally grab and go or call ahead and it's made for you. You can customize it without extra cost is a big win. Burgers. Pizza. Grab some donuts and breakfast sausage and the ultimate diabtus sandwhich is made for breakfast.
Potato Ole's are one of the best sides of any fast food!
I'm partial to Culver's but I've been branching out and trying some other places near me, Portillo's pretty good 👍
Culver's is Wisco's greatest export.
I love Culver's, I've also really grown to like Freddy's.
First time I've heard of them, looked it up and they seem great. I'll have to give them a try!
All these posts about Kwik Trip was making me question what I'm missing by not eating gas station food.
But to be fair, I do love a Casey's pizza. Best gas station pizza I've had.
A l posted a few years ago on /r/iowa:
I've had better pizza than Casey's, but it didn't come from the gas station down the street.
Best gas station pizza I've had.
I mean... I guess I can't disagree with you there.
In all seriousness it's probably at least on par with the big chain type pizzas like the Pizza Hut and Dominos.
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My husband’s favorite pizza. They recognize him now when he calls to order.
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I like Culver’s, Taco John’s, and Kwik Trip, all mentioned before here.
My addition will be B-Bops. Last I checked, they are only in the Des Moines metro. Also, Tasty Tacos, but they are more fast casual rather than fast food.
Pancheros Mexican Grill. It's like Chipotle but better. Moe's is close competition though.
Chain fast food: Portillos hands down. Non chain: your closest hot dog or beef joint
I moved away from the Midwest a few years ago and miss the food dearly
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Beef-A-Roo, best fast food burgers I've ever had, and I've lived all over the country.
Damn, I've never heard of Beef-A-Roo. Looks like a northern IL chain, which for whatever reason never like to venture too far south of I-80. Don't exactly get why--it took Portillo's until just a couple years ago to come to Springfield.
Wait... Like, Negaunee/Marquette, MI Beef-A-Roo? With the cheddar fries? Those are the only locations I ever knew of, were there more?
edit: additional q
I'm not 100% sure, It's mostly in the Northern Illinois area, but as I understand it, they are planning to expand with around 50 locations near 2030.
Wow, TIL, I just looked them up and they're completely different things lol. Our Beef-A-Roos died a few years ago and their burgers looked nothing like those.
Culver's is my personal pick
My vote is also for Culver’s.
Which I guess the upvote button covers so I probably didn’t need to make this comment. But I’m thrilled to be commenting somewhere that isn’t Reddit. 😅
Taco Johns
Culvers
Wendy’s chocolate frosty and fries 🤤
Toss in spicy nuggets and you’re made in the shade
Absolutely! Spicy nuggets are the best.
Freddy's is pretty great. I'm originally from California, so In-N-Out is my first love, but Freddy's is my home away from home. And In-N-Out doesn't have that great custard.
I stopped eating beef a few years ago, but Maid-Rite temps me.
Yes! I miss Maid-Rite
They're still around!! I think they've retreated mostly to Iowa, but you can still find them here and there!
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What?! Nobody’s mentioned Steak ‘n Shake? They were my favorite before Culvers migrated south.
steak n shake's gone downhill. they were my favorite like 10+ years back, but the last few times ive gone, even at different locations, it's been low quality meat even by fast food standards and nothing is assembled right. i swear even the fries are less salty. it's so bad there used to be one over by a nearby highschool that managed to go out of business somehow
Midwest here, had a number of Steak n Shakes go downhill then close around me. Turns out if you lower the quality of your overpriced extremely slow 'fast' food people stop coming. Weird.
I guess it doesn't matter anymore since nothing is open overnight these days, but back in the day I have been served some truly foul Steak 'n' Shake in the drive thru after midnight, bad enough to make you never wanna go back.
I think White Castle, the original slider, mighty whitey one bite, also deserves a shout out, even though they’re kind of awful IMO.
Chicken Ring sliders are the best. Also their breakfast is delicious.
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I guess Runza is too niche
Nobody knows what that is.
(I do, but I've been to Omaha)
I'm not sure it counts as "Fast Food" but I can't get enough of Penn Station.
I dont think its "from" the Midwest, but I've recently taken a liking to McAlister's Deli
There's a chain of Mexican restaurants in the western suburbs of Chicago called 'Taco Madre' that is quite good. There's even a copycat chain called 'Taco Maya'. Actually, I don't know who copied whom, but they're both worth it.
Not necessarily the best, but I have a special place in my heart for Rax Roast Beef:
Also, since Rax is based in Ironton, Ohio, one might argue it's Appalachian-based rather than Midwest-based 😆
My preference is usually Chicago style, but this Detroit stuff will do.
Del Taco
Is there a different Del Taco? The one I know is the huge chain in California?
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