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.

  • The summer blues...@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    They think it’s more expensive.

    Y’all, Olive Garden and Friday’s are as expensive as Chipotle and Popeyes. Stop exclusively celebrating birthdays there and just order takeout whenever.

  • AA5B@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    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

    • Buttflapper@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      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

    • Kintarian@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 days ago

      We have Burrito Bandito. Really good and a good price.

      We finally have a Penaro that I haven’t checked out yet.

  • DrownedRats@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    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.

  • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    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.

  • tiny@midwest.social
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    5 days ago

    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.

  • Femcowboy@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    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.

  • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
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    7 days ago

    Same as they always have. It’s fast. You can grab taco bell in a flash compared to even the best run diner or cafe. And you don’t have to sit around with a bunch of strangers that are essentially walking disease vectors to do it, unless you want to.

    The draw of fast food joints has never been primarily about the food quality, or service. Yeah, you’ll likely pick the place that has what you consider better food, and avoid shit service, but that’s a different thing.

    Even joints that pretend to not be fast food (like chikfila) only pull a small portion of their consumers on the food primarily. They might draw some customers away from other fast food places, but not from sit-down places like you’re talking about

  • AgentGrimstone@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    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.

  • Surp@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I think you answered your own question. It’s still “cheaper” than your second option.

  • nimble@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    7 days ago

    It’s not about the quality, it’s about the speed.

    That said, i generally plan ahead and rarely eat fast food. And rarely eat out in general. That shit is expensive

  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Me 2001: Mcdonalds is running an anniversary special. Cheeseburgers are $0.10. Fuck yeah! I’mma order 20 them sumremovedes!!!

    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-----”

  • Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    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.

  • Delphia@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    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…

    • ivanafterall ☑️@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      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.

  • ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee
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    7 days ago

    I like fast food. A steakhouse hamburger from Burger King is just as good, if not better than most hamburgers I’ve gotten from restaurants. On top of this I don’t need to wait 30 minutes to get it, I don’t need to deal with waiters and I can just leave when I’m done rather than wait for someone to bring a a check.

  • forgotaboutlaye@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    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).