Fast food has been around since the early 1900s. In 1921, the first-ever White Castle opened in Wichita, Kansas, which is widely considered to be the first fast-food establishment. There remains a bit of debate as to whether an early A&W root beer stand (started in 1919) technically qualifies, but that’s a matter of personal opinion.
Today, fast food is more popular than ever. There are around 200,000 fast-food restaurants in America alone! Considering the affordability, convenience, and great taste, it’s no wonder why most of us love fast food so much.
Contents
How can I find fast-food restaurants open near me?
By using the map at the top of this page, you can see all the fast-food restaurants near you. Once you select a location, click “view larger map” (in the top left corner of the screen) to see directions, exact opening hours, and contact details for that particular restaurant.
What are the best fast-food restaurants near me?
The best fast food restaurant for you depends on the type of food you’re in the mood for! To help make the decision easier, here are some of the most popular fast-food chains arranged by category. We also have sections that showcase which restaurants are open 24 hours a day, accept EBT, and are potentially hiring.
Which fast-food restaurants serve burgers near me?
A&W has over 1000 restaurants nationwide. They serve classic fast-food like burgers, hot dogs, and fries while claiming to be the oldest fast-food chain in the world. The company started in 1919 as a root beer stand!
Burger King has over 7000 restaurants covering all 50 states. Burger King flame grills their burgers, giving them a distinctive smoky flavor.
Carl Jr’s is the west coast’s answer to Hardee’s and is owned by the same company. Hardee’s has around 1400 restaurants that serve burgers, biscuits, and burritos. They also have a salad bar if you’re looking for a healthier option.
Five Guys has over 1300 restaurants nationwide. They serve up burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches alongside freshly made fries. Their potatoes are peeled and cut in-store, so you know they are always 100% fresh. They also have free unlimited peanuts, which is one of the weirdest (but coolest) unlimited offers around.
Hardee’s has around 2400 restaurants across 37 states. They cover most of the south, east coast, and mid-west!
Jack in the Box has over 2200 restaurants covering 21 states (mostly on the west coast). They have been around since 1953 and helped the drive-through experience become what it is today. Their menu includes burgers, chicken, salads, and a range of tacos and sides.
McDonald’s is the most popular fast-food chain in the world as it has almost 14000 restaurants across the US. This burger giant also serves chicken, fries, sides, desserts, and shakes.
Sonic Drive-In differs from other fast-food chains because it is a drive-in (no surprises there). They have 3500 locations across 46 states and offer a range of burgers, hotdogs, chicken, and sides. Just roll-up in your car, order through the intercom, and your food is brought out to you.
Wendy’s pride themselves on the freshness of their burgers. The familiar square Wendy’s burger was actually invented to put the freshness front and center (as it sticks out of the edges of the bun). There are almost 6000 Wendy’s locations across all 50 states.
White Castle likely owns the title of being the first company to open a fast-food restaurant. Today they have just under 400 restaurants in 13 states, mainly concentrated around the mid-west.
Which fast-food restaurants serve pizza near me?
Domino’s is the most popular pizza chain in America. It has over 6000 restaurants and can be found in every state. Aside from pizza, Domino’s also offers a range of pasta, sandwiches, and chicken.
Hunt Brother’s Pizza has over 7800 restaurants across 30 states (mainly covering the south-east and mid-west). They are gradually working their way out west. At Hunt Brother’s it is all about the pizza, though they do sell chicken wings too if you want something extra.
Little Caesars has over 4000 restaurants across all 50 states. Aside from pizza, Little Caesars is well known for its stuffed crazy bread. There is also an excellent selection of wings and dips to choose from.
Papa John’s is a nationwide pizzeria with around 3000 restaurants. There is a large selection of pizzas to choose from, as well as many sides and desserts. The sides include entries like chicken wings, chicken poppers, breadsticks, and pepperoni rolls.
Pizza Hut has almost 7000 restaurants across all 50 states. Aside from pizza, Pizza Hut also offers a variety of pasta, wings, sides, and desserts.
Are there any chicken fast food restaurants near me?
Chick-fil-A is the most popular chicken joint in the United States and has around 2600 restaurants in almost every state (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and Vermont). They offer a variety of chicken, sandwiches, salads, and sides.
Church’s Chicken has over 900 restaurants across 29 states, spanning most of the southern United States. They offer a selection of chicken, including their ‘Campfire Smokehouse’, which has a delicious smoky flavor. They also have several sides and sweets to complete your meal.
KFC has been going strong since 1930 and is the world’s first fast-food chicken chain. Today there are just over 4000 KFC restaurants in the United States, and they are available nationwide. KFC serves a variety of chicken and sandwiches, as well as sides and desserts.
Popeyes has almost 2500 restaurants and is available in nearly every state. In addition to chicken, Popeye’s sells seafood. They also have some sides and desserts available.
Are there any Chinese fast food restaurants near me?
Panda Express has over 2000 restaurants in the United States and is available in most states (except a few in the northwest). They serve a wide selection of classic American-Chinese dishes, including appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
PF Chang’s is a smaller chain (comparatively), with only 215 restaurants spread across 40 states. Their menu offers both Chinese and other Asian dishes.
Which fast food restaurant serves sandwiches near me?
Arby’s has over 3300 restaurants and is available in almost every state (except Vermont and Rhode Island). They offer a range of sandwiches, wraps, sliders, and salads. There are also several sides and desserts available.
Jimmy John’s has around 2800 restaurants across 43 states. They have a solid range of sandwiches and sides available and also offer something they call an ‘unwich’; which is a sandwich without the bread! Instead, your sandwich is wrapped in lettuce, which is a much healthier option.
Subway has the largest number of sandwich locations in the world, with over 24000 in America alone. Their sandwiches are all made fresh, and Subway also offers an excellent range of sides and sweets.
Are there any Mexican fast-food restaurants near me?
Chili’s has over 1600 restaurants and can be found in almost every state. Their menu offers Tex-Mex inspired American food, including steak, fajitas, tacos, burgers, ribs, and quesadillas.
Chipotle Mexican Grill has over 2600 restaurants nationwide. They serve burritos, burrito bowls, and tacos, as well as a number of sides.
Taco Bell has around 7100 restaurants and can be found in every state. They offer a wide range of American-Mexican inspired dishes, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos.
Which fast-food restaurants near me are open 24 hours?
Many Denny’s, McDonald’s, and Jack in the Box fast-food restaurants are open 24 Hours. That said, not all locations will share these operating hours, so be sure to check the exact opening/closing times before heading over.
Are there any fast-food restaurants that accept EBT near me?
Below is a list of some popular fast-food chains that typically accept EBT. We cannot guarantee EBT will be accepted at every location, however, so please check beforehand if that’s a potential dealbreaker.
Are any fast-food restaurants hiring near me?
Many fast-food chains have dedicated career sites (where you can browse and apply for a job). Here’s a list of some of these below.