You'll find fast food in most corners of the globe but perhaps nowhere does it better than the United States. The birthplace of the fast food restaurant – and of the world's biggest fast food chains – is also home to everything from beloved burger joints and old-school hot dog stands to hole-in-the-wall gems and drive-thrus galore. We’ve hunted down the greatest fast food spots in every state, counting down to the best-rated of them all.
Click or scroll through our gallery as we reveal the best fast food restaurant in every US state, counting down to the best in all of America.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards, accolades, and the first-hand experience of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Although Idaho is the traditional home of ‘finger steaks’ – an irresistible delicacy which sees juicy strips of steak battered and deep fried – they're also a New Mexico obsession, where they’re known as deep-fried steak fingers. To taste the best in the state, head to Mac's Steak In the Rough, an old-school drive-thru that was founded in 1949 and used to have locations all over New Mexico. Only the Albuquerque outpost remains, and it's still a must-visit destination for steak fingers served with peppery white gravy, French fries, a Hawaiian bun, coleslaw and a single spring onion.
Both the hoagie and the Philly cheesesteak were invented in this state, so it's fair to say Pennsylvanians know their sandwiches. Loved local landmark Steve & Irene's Hoagies has been running for more than 40 years and has won countless awards in that time. As well as serving classic cheesesteaks, it offers a huge range of creative versions, from The Krakow – topped with pierogies, cheese whiz and gravy –, to the massive Quad Bypass, a heady mix of capicola, bacon, Texas sauce, fries and ketchup.
Don’t let the humble appearance of this no-fuss drive-thru spot deceive you; Chicken King consistently gets great reviews. Customers praise the quality of the food, especially the perfectly cooked, Southern-style fried chicken, spicy wings with loads of flavour options and homestyle sides such as corn bread, potato salad and fried okra. A hearty three-piece chicken dinner with two sides costs around $10 (around £8), so it’s great value, too.
Arizona is said to be the birthplace of the chimichanga, so for this state our pick had to be Carolina's Mexican Food, a no-frills eatery that's been serving up exceptional quality fast food since 1968. The menu is short and sweet: the shredded chicken tacos and beef tamales are top notch, but it's the chimichangas that people really talk about. The deep-fried tortilla is perfectly crisp without being greasy, and the fillings (shredded machaca beef or chicken) are packed with flavour.
If you want to get your hands on the finest deep-dish, any Chicagoan worth their salt will send you straight to Pequod's – a local institution that was named best pizza place in all of America on Yelp’s 2024 100 Best Pizza Spots list. This joint has been crafting sensational pies since 1970, and is famous for its fluffy, airy, pan-style pizzas with a caramelised cheese crust (achieved by coating the edge of the pan with mozzarella before cooking). Topping options are kept simple, and Pequod's recommends diners add no more than five for the best results.
This quirky horror movie–themed restaurant claims to make food ‘so good it’s scary’ and Wyoming locals certainly agree, travelling from all over the state to taste its delicious creations. The Parmesan cheese and garlic–soaked Munster Fries and The Sticky Icky hamburger, topped with chunky peanut butter, peach jelly and Cheddar cheese are particularly popular. Reviewers also love the gothic decor (Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven is written on the bathroom wall), friendly service and affordable prices.
Head to Flying Fish to feast on some of the best fried seafood around. Arkansas staples like fried catfish, BBQ shrimp, deep-fried oysters and hush puppies are all popular here, as well as house specialties such as Hula Poppers – jalapeño peppers stuffed with cheese and shrimp and wrapped in bacon. You can eat in the cafeteria-style restaurant or take out. The eatery also has several branches across Texas.
Thinner than Texas-style and flavoured with ingredients like chocolate and cinnamon, Cincinnati’s famous chilli is one of those love-or-hate dishes. If you’re a devotee, head down to Pleasant Ridge Chili Restaurant where fans say you’ll taste the city’s finest. This old-timey diner has been run by the Sideris family since 1964, and the signature Cincinnati-style chilli is served the classic way: on top of spaghetti, fries or hot dogs, with a mound of grated cheese.
Since debuting in Minneapolis in 2004 this family-run joint has become a real favourite, loved for its speedily served, customisable burgers of all descriptions, from classic beef to veggie, fish and turkey. The winning formula here is to let diners create their own perfect burger (as well as all the usual toppings, you can opt to add a fried egg, Cajun spices or teriyaki sauce). The fries and shakes are also worth the hype, and people love the kitschy decor in all branches.
California is home to some utterly iconic burger joints, from Fatburger to In-N-Out, but those in search of something a little spicier should head to Original Tommy’s, a small Southern Californian chain that’s been slinging delightfully messy fast food since 1946. Made fresh every day, the restaurant’s signature chilli is a thing of beauty: rich, savoury, and just the right texture for smothering on the incredible burgers, hot dogs, fries and tamales. Original Tommy’s has multiple California locations, as well as three spots in Nevada.
Founded in Idaho Springs in 1973, Beau Jo's pioneered what's today known as Colorado-style ‘mountain pizza’, a type of pizza pie with a distinctively thick, honey-sweetened crust that creates a barrier to hold in the mountain of toppings. These huge pizzas are sold by the pound, and one could easily feed a family. Piled high with homemade pizza sauce, salami, meatballs, bacon, Italian sausage and mozzarella, The Motherlode is one of the most popular choices. There are seven Beau Jo's branches around Colorado.
Operating two taco trucks around Rapid City, family-run Eddie’s Tacos has a dedicated regional following, attracting lines of hungry customers wherever it goes. Fans rave about the generous portions, reasonable prices and delicious homemade hot sauces. Order the all-meat combo burrito filled with beef, chicken and pork and finished with salsa, cheese, cabbage and onion.
It’s always a sign that spring has arrived when this food truck opens up for the season in Vermont's Battery Park. Beansie's Bus first launched in 1944 in a retrofitted school bus, and still serves fast food classics from April to September every year. On the menu you’ll find Michigan-style hot dogs, simple but perfectly executed cheeseburgers and double-cooked fries that diners rave about. For a real taste of summer, try a vanilla creemee (Vermont-style soft serve ice cream) to finish things off.
A truly rustic South Carolinian barbecue joint located in an old farmhouse in rural Orangeburg County, Sweatman's BBQ uses oak, hickory and pecan to smoke its whole hogs for 12-14 hours, continuously basting the meat with a secret mustard-based sauce for maximum deliciousness. Locals travel from miles around to feast on the likes of chopped pork ribs, pulled pork and barbecue pork sandwiches. Don’t leave without grabbing a bag of crispy pork skins to take home.
A fast food lover’s paradise, New York City has countless iconic fast food spots, but for us it just had to be Joe’s Pizza. Big, foldable and oozing with cheese, this is the classic pizza people dream of when they think of a New York slice. Established in 1975 by Naples native Joe Pozzuoli, the joint is just as popular with New Yorkers as it is with visitors. As well as the original location in Greenwich Village, Joe's Pizza has several branches across the city.
This small, Tijuana-style taco chain has four outposts in Las Vegas and is a go-to spot for food lovers in need of a late-night spice fix. Diners love the Tacos de Adobada – spicy pork shaved to order from a revolving column of juicy, marinated meat. Handmade corn tortillas and guacamole and salsas prepared from scratch daily make Tacos El Gordo a cut above, and adventurous diners can even fill their tacos with beef tongue and brain.
No trip to the Hawkeye State would be complete without a visit to the first ever Maid-Rite, to try one of the Midwestern chain’s iconic loose meat sandwiches. The Original Maid-Rite was invented at this joint in Muscatine in 1926 and was an instant hit. You only need to taste the sandwich, with its mounds of perfectly seasoned ground beef topped with onions and pickles, to see why.
When it comes to burgers, Effies Tavern in Lewiston doesn't mess around. At this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, you'll find some of the biggest burgers you've ever seen, including a gargantuan 20cm (eight-inch) patty that even those with the biggest appetites will struggle to finish. If that sounds like too much, the wickedly tasty burgers are also available in more manageable half portions. Be sure to order a portion of crispy finger steaks on the side.
Make sure you're feeling very hungry before visiting this rustic, hole-in-the-wall hot dog spot – the portions are epic! Opened in 1969, the historic eatery’s famed Italian dogs consist of a hot dog, grilled peppers, onions and a dizzying amount of deep-fried, crunchy potatoes, all packed into a huge wedge of soft pizza bread. Fans say you’ll be hooked after one bite. The potatoes are so good, they’re also sold by the cup.
Portland is awash with high-end Korean food options, but if you want something quick and tasty, head to this trendy food cart, where the authentic street food more than lives up to the internet hype. Ko Sisters Seoul Food is part of Cartside Food Carts, a pod of seven food trucks in Portland, and has a following for its gochujang-glazed rice cakes, spicy fried chicken and Korean-style corn dogs that are half sausage, half mozzarella on a stick, drizzled with ketchup and mustard.
Founded in Tampa in 2011, PDQ (that stands for People Dedicated to Quality) quickly took the fried chicken world by storm, gaining a fanbase for its hand-breaded tenders and nuggets, loaded sandwiches and milkshakes. Must-order dishes include the Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich and crispy waffle fries, while signature sauces in flavours like creamy garlic and sweet sriracha are irresistible. These days the regional chain has more than 60 locations in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey and New York.
When visiting Ocean City’s Boardwalk, tucking into a tub of Thrasher's perfectly crisp and golden French fries doused with apple cider vinegar is basically mandatory. This acclaimed spot was opened by J.T. Thrasher in 1929 with a single ambition: to produce the perfect French fry. Fans would say he succeeded, and the original recipe has been used for around a century. There are three locations in Ocean City, but the original (near the pier) continues to be the most popular, so expect lines throughout the day.
If you’re in need of comfort food fast, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen serves country-style fried chicken biscuits and delicious Southern breakfasts from a drive-thru window. The famed biscuits are the kind you need both hands to eat, and customers say they’re perfectly buttery and flaky, with generous fillings of fried chicken, egg, bacon, sausage and cheese. If you’re seriously hungry, order a hash brown on the side and slip it inside your biscuit for even more indulgence.
If you’re going to mess with a fast food classic, there had better be a pretty good reason for it. Katsu Burger, with three restaurants in Seattle and several others in the surrounding areas, has found one: a marriage of the classic American burger with katsu, the Japanese technique involving coating food in panko breadcrumbs and frying. The burgers come with a range of fusion toppings, and customers say they’re delicious, perfectly cooked and huge.
New York state certainly isn’t lacking in amazing hot dog joints, but this Buffalo legend is a real destination spot. Ted’s was founded in 1927, when Greek immigrant Theodore Spiro Liaros started selling hot dogs from a horse-drawn cart near the city’s Peace Bridge. These days there might be nine locations across Western New York (plus one in Arizona), but the sensational char-broiled dogs have barely changed. Available regular-sized or foot-long, they’re traditionally garnished ‘all the way’ with ketchup, mustard, sweet pickle relish, Ted’s hot sauce, chopped onions and a dill pickle spear.
Choosing the finest fast food spot in a state as diverse as California is a tall order. So, considering Los Angeles is famous for both tacos and Korean food, our pick is a mix of the two. Kogi Korean BBQ, co-founded by chef Roy Choi, has a fleet of four wildly popular food trucks that stop at various locations depending on the day. Fans give glowing reviews of the kimchi quesadillas, Kogi hot dogs and the signature tacos, which come filled with tender gochujang-infused pork belly, butt and shoulder.
Customers flock to this homely restaurant for its perfectly cooked ‘broasted’ chicken, which offers the ideal combination of crispy batter and tender, juicy meat. On the side you can order mouth-watering homemade coleslaw and mac 'n' cheese by the pint. Lettie’s Kitchen was opened by mother-and-son team Susan and Tom Alexander in 2011, and just three years later they received the 'Best Fried Chicken' accolade in the Best of Delaware awards.
Few items are more celebrated in Louisiana food culture than the po’ boy, and this straightforward neighbourhood deli serves up some of the best you’ll ever taste. It's hard to go wrong with any of the sandwiches on offer at Radosta's; the roast beef and fried shrimp po’ boys are both exceptional, while the customer favourite is the Wayne’s Special – hot veal Parmesan topped with red gravy and oozy provolone.
If you’re looking for a taste of Rhode Island’s famous hot wieners, this historic spot is the place to pick up the finest. After all, the Stavrianakos family have been running the restaurant in the same location since 1946. So, what makes them so special? The sausages are a unique blend of beef, pork, veal and spices, which makes them snappy, tangy and very meaty. When you order, ask for your wiener all the way – that means served in a steamed bun with mustard, meat sauce, celery salt and onions.
As is the case with all the best hole-in-the-wall spots, this sandwich shop looks unassuming, but the food is something to really shout about. Bedford House of Roast Beef has been run by the Barounis family since 1985 and is loved for its classic New England–style roast beef sandwiches, which are served groaning with juicy, thinly sliced roast meat, mayo, cheese and barbecue sauce. Customers praise the fast service, affordable prices and generous portions, as well as the seafood rolls and enormous onion rings.
Chef Viet Pham (a previous Iron Chef America winner) brings a taste of Nashville-style hot fried chicken to Salt Lake City with Pretty Bird, a buzzy spot with four locations in the city. The small menu features its celebrated fried chicken sandwiches made with crisp thigh or white meat tenders, plus crinkle cut fries and Mexican street corn. The spice level of the chicken ranges from mild to ‘hot behind', so proceed with caution – some customers say even the mild version has a real kick.
Diners say this small Hawaiian chain, with three branches across Honolulu, makes the greatest poke they’ve ever tasted. Fresh Catch is rated for its fresh fish and homemade sauces, as well as its colourful decor and casual atmosphere. The friendly staff will happily let you try lots of different samples, so that you can build your perfect poke bowl. Our advice? Don’t miss the salmon shoyu poke or the deep-fried ahi belly covered with creamy garlic butter.
This award-winning restaurant is renowned for its buzzing atmosphere and epic menu, with around 50 different burgers on offer, plus crispy fried mac ‘n’ cheese wedges and chicken wings with more than 20 sauces to choose from. The Glazed Doughnut Burger gets lots of attention, but it's the simply served Kobe beef burgers that the connoisseurs come back for. Sickies has a few locations in North Dakota and several outside the state.
Blakely Chicken might look modest, but it serves some of the best chicken around – in a state that’s certainly not lacking in fantastic options, that’s saying something. This Southwest Georgia drive-thru was founded in 1976 by two best friends and offers up expertly executed Southern-style chicken breasts, drumsticks, thighs and strips that can be served fried or baked. Customers also rate the corn nuggets, cheese grits and peach cobbler.
This relaxed fast food joint has been around since 1980. While famous for offering some of the best burgers and hot sandwiches in the area, it’s the dangerously addictive green pork chilli that locals keep coming back for. For the best of both worlds, order the Italian Burger (seasoned beef topped with mozzarella and Parmesan) or signature Omaha Ruben, with a bowl of green pork chilli on the side.
Garnett's Cafe, a picture-perfect sandwich shop on an idyllic corner in the heart of Richmond's Fan neighbourhood, offers classic salads, daily soups and tempting slices of cake and pie. Despite the quaint look of this café, the hefty sandwiches are a serious affair with a huge number of hot and cold options available, ranging from the loaded California club to an indulgent croque monsieur filled with Black Forest ham and Gruyère, then smothered with a gooey cheese sauce.
Any conversation about fast food in Oklahoma simply has to mention the state’s iconic onion burger, which was invented in the Depression era when small-town diners and restaurants would add cheaper ingredients to their meat patties to bulk them out. Tucker's Onion Burgers is a relatively new chain, with five branches across the region, but fans rave about the perfectly charred onion and jalapeño–packed burgers, served simply with your choice of salad and condiments. The hand-cut fries are also sensational.
Detroit-style pizza occupies the perfect middle ground between a crispy, New York–style slice and a gooey, Chicago-style deep dish, and Buddy's Pizza has been perfecting its recipe since 1946. This award-winning chain has more than 20 branches across Michigan and is known for crafting rectangular pizzas with crunchy, cheesy corner slices. What really makes them stand out is the unique layering process: pepperino goes on first, followed by Wisconsin brick cheese and finally a thick tomato sauce.
This no-frills burger joint is a cult favourite in San Antonio, with seven branches across the city and more in the works. There’s nothing particularly innovative going on here – just thick and juicy burgers cooked to perfection, with classic garnishes and sauces – and that’s exactly why local enthusiasts love it so much. The concise menu also features grilled cheese, corn dogs and fantastic chicken sandwiches, while the old-school shakes shouldn’t be missed either.
Hickory smoked, all-beef hot dogs are the major draw at this relaxed counter-serve eatery, where every sausage is grilled to perfection and finished with regionally sourced toppings. It all began in 2011, when musician Steve Ewing opened his first cart to satisfy concertgoers' late-night cravings. Nowadays, Steve’s Hot Dogs is famed for its limited-run collaborations with local restaurants, and for its signature St Louis Dog, resplendent with grilled onions, peppers, bacon, provolone and smoked mustard.
Giant hot dogs come with a variety of toppings at this rustic roadside stand, which has become a global destination. Owners Sonny and Knight even opened a wedding chapel a few years ago! The rough and ready vibe is a draw, but for fast food pilgrims the main attraction is the food itself, particularly dishes like the Ala Cheesy Beefy Weenie, a deep-fried sausage with nacho cheese, bacon, a mac wedge and chilli sauce. Finish the gargantuan 31cm (15-inch) Homewrecker in under 12 minutes and you’ll win a T-shirt.
If you’re in the mood to feast, Taqueria El Paisa has you covered with its hearty quesadillas, loaded burritos and flavour-filled tacos. This rustic, cash-only restaurant is usually packed, but the queue moves quickly and service is swift. You can order to-go from the walk-up window out front or eat your meal on the covered patio. It’s a particularly popular stop for lunch (be sure to try the juicy pork and potato gorditas), and the horchata and aguas frescas drinks are sensational, too.
Specialising in Cajun-influenced burgers, po' boys and Philly cheesesteaks, this lively diner has won plenty of awards and recently opened a second spot in south Anchorage. The original Spenard location is tiny and totally charming; there’s usually a line out the door, but it's there for a reason. The burger menu is massive; keep it simple with the Burger Stop Cheeseburger (a juicy patty seasoned with Cajun spices that fans say is the best they’ve ever had) or go for one of the weekly specials like the Sicilian Mobster, which comes loaded with mozzarella, balsamic onions and homemade bacon jam.
Oklahoma City is a hub for global cuisines but when you need comfort food in a hurry, your got-to order should be a hefty burger from Nic's Grill. This homey diner featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and customers praise the warm atmosphere, speedy service and fantastic quality of the beef used in owner Nic's prized patties. Toppings are kept to a minimum to really let that flavour shine; opt for The Classic, simply served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, French mustard and sharp Cheddar.
If you’re in Miami and in need of a quick food fix, a Cubano is the way to go. Sanguich de Miami is the only joint on our list that has a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award, but there’s nothing overly fancy or pretentious about this sandwich shop in Little Havana. There's usually a line of diners at the walk-up window and almost everyone is after the same thing: a hearty Cuban sandwich filled with pork butt that's been marinated for a week in garlic and spices. That said, the chicharrónes and plantain fries are also incredible.
Both branches of this popular Nashville pizza joint are regularly packed with locals and tourists alike, all intent on getting their hands on the restaurant’s exceptional New York–style pizza. The simple cheese slices are pretty unbeatable, and the ever-changing daily specials (there’s always a veggie and meat option available) are always worth a look, too. Few can resist ordering a side of cheesy garlic knots, served with a pot of marinara sauce for dipping.
Devoted fans of Taco the Town say it gives LA’s best taco trucks a run for their money. Founder Tai takes inspiration from family recipes and the Mexican food of his childhood in Northern California to create tacos and burritos that always impress. Come early for the breakfast tortas (fried egg, cheese and chorizo inside a fresh bolillo roll) or stop for lunch and feast on Al Pastor tacos filled with tender pineapple-marinated pork. There are also four types of homemade salsa to choose from.
Dogtown is loved by Milford locals thanks to the speedy service, quality ingredients and wide range of dogs and toppings available. Diners can either get a ‘freestyle’ hot dog and customise it with their choice of extras or leave it to the pros and grab a ‘tricked out’ dog from the specialty menu, which features hearty options such as the chilli, bacon and coleslaw–topped Mongo. On the side, go for crispy tater tots loaded with blue cheese, buffalo sauce and spring onions.
The food at Meat Boss, a word-of-mouth gem loved by locals in coastal Mobile, is prepared slowly and served fast. This family-owned smoke pit is known for its simple low and slow meats presented in grab-and-go brown paper bags. It started out in 2012, as a tiny hole-in-the-wall takeout and has grown to be a packed favourite. Diners rave about the tender pulled beef brisket, loaded sammies and decadent breakfasts, including the famous Hog in a Blanket – a huge fluffy pancake stuffed with meat and drenched in syrup.
Customers flock to this pizza haunt in the Rocky Mountains intent on sampling the signature thin and crispy pizzas. Made using a traditional Italian technique called biga, which involves the dough being fermented slowly for a richer, deeper flavour, the results speak for themselves, with diners saying it’s the best pizza they’ve ever tasted. Stuck for what to order? The calzone is large enough to feed three, and gourmet toppings such as house-made fennel marmalade set it firmly apart.
With its significant Vietnamese population, it's no surprise Houston has some of the country’s best banh mi spots. Roostar Vietnamese Grill is the brainchild of Linda Nguyen, who used recipes adapted from her grandmother’s sandwich shop in Vietnam to launch a legacy of her own; she now has four, award-winning branches across the city. Soft baguettes are piled with an array of delicious fillings, from chopped rib-eye to sous vide pork belly, all garnished with pickles and sauces made fresh in-house.
Born out of a gas station in Kansas City, this relaxed barbecue pit stop is world-famous for its extra smoky ribs and burnt ends, winning numerous awards since opening in 1996. The joint's Z-Man Sandwich is also legendary, consisting of slow-smoked beef brisket, smoked provolone cheese and two crispy onion rings, all inside a toasted Kaiser roll. There are four branches of Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que in the state.
Mom-and-pop restaurants don’t get much more welcoming than Bettina's Soulfood Kitchen, with countless reviews praising the warm and efficient service from owner Bettina and her family. The menu is packed with home-style classics: think buttery biscuits and crackling cornbread baked fresh each morning, fried catfish and chicken every way, plus a mac 'n' cheese dish that’s said to be beyond compare.
Recently named one of Yelp’s top 50 pizza places in the US and Canada, this Neapolitan spot is the place for light, puffy-crust pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven. The menu has plenty of classic options, or you can build your own. A favourite is the Italian beef giardiniera, which comes topped with thinly sliced Italian roast beef, hot or mild giardiniera sauce and mozzarella. Customers adore the perfectly chewy, charred crusts and the fresh tasting toppings.
Serving up a menu of hearty gyros, salads and loaded rice bowls, The Gyro Spot has been bringing a slice of Greek sunshine to the streets of Manchester since opening in 2012. There are now two outposts in Massachusetts, and reviewers praise the speedy service, creative menu and consistently fresh food. The chicken gyro – a grilled pita crammed with juicy rotisserie chicken, tangy homemade tzatziki and hand-cut fries – is described as perfection, while the loaded feta fries are also great.
Fast food doesn’t get much better than the sensational hot dogs served up at this much-loved cart in Indianapolis, proving that the best food often comes from the simplest spots. These one-of-a-kind wieners are steamed to perfection and served Chicago-style with all the classic fixings: yellow mustard, sweet relish, freshly chopped onions, sliced tomatoes and pickles. Fans also love the Garcia Ruben Dog, which comes topped with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing. A full meal with crisps and a drink typically costs under $10 (around £8), too.
And finally, our number one fast food spot. This no-frills mom-and-pop store in Kaneohe is one of the best rated in all of America, loved for its exceptional fried chicken, which fans say is some of the most delicious you’ll ever taste. The historic general store, which is one of the oldest in the area, also sells unique sushi rolls made with everything from Spam to Portuguese sausage, plus local sweets, drinks and a variety of interesting convenience store items. Reviewers praise the warm and friendly service, the generous portions and the consistent quality of all the food.