Photo by me - McDonald's in Macau
I am a fast food junkie, and am a regular at all of the fast food chains. I watched Super Size Me, and my appetite for the stuff only increased. The food is horrible for me and they are not in general a great deal, but they are convenient and can be cheap.
Recently I went on a mission to see how much I could fill my tummy for under $3.00 including tax. All of these places took my credit card even for the small amounts without blinking.
Taco Bell - I ordered a Tostada ($0.89), a Crunchy Taco ($0.92) and Nachos ($0.79), and had a fine little meal for $2.81 including tax. Be sure to get some hot sauce and put it on the tostada and taco.
Wendy's - For $2.25 including tax, I purchased a Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($0.99) and a Small Chili ($1.09). This is a really good meal for very cheap. The "Small" Chili is 8 oz. and comes with crackers on the side. Most of the fast food restaurants have budget chicken sandwiches, none of which interestingly come with tomatoes (only lettuce & mayo).
Burger King - The Whopper Jr. is my favorite budget fast food sandwich, and they are a buck a piece (although you can splurge and put cheese on for extra). Two of them, with tax, cost $2.17, and it's quite a filling meal, although doesn't seem quite complete. Eat with a side of homemade potato salad.
McDonald's - A classic American combination - you can get the Double Cheeseburger ($1.00) and Large French Fries ($1.69), for a total of $2.91 with tax. The Double Cheeseburger is fantastic and I prefer it to the bigger sandwiches at McDonald's.
Jack in the Box - You can get 2 Tacos ($0.99) and Medium Fries ($1.49) for a total of $2.68. However, this isn't particularly filling.
Other Ideas ...
Here in Central Texas there are all sorts of taco carts which open up at night and sell real Mexican tacos (steamed corn tortilla filled with meat) for $1 apiece (no tax). But cash only!
There are also various independently owned local hamburger stands where you can get burger & fries for cheap.
The Ultimate Fast Food Splurge ...
When I want more than just a quick bite to eat and is willing to pay for it, I go to Jack in the Box for the ultimate fast food splurge - a Sirloin Cheese Burger, Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges, and a 24 oz. Oreo Cookie Shake. This monstrosity costs $10.24 including tax, and contains 3083.5 calories, and 185.5 grams of fat. I highly advise against indulging in this more than about once a year.
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2 comments:
Love your list! Are you aware of the secret menu at in-out burger?
When I go on conferences, I usually order 4 double cheeseburgers (I mentally keep track of the nearest McD as I make my way to the hotel) and pick up a 1.5 bottle of soda at a gas station or a drugstore (supermarkets are generally too far away from the hotels they book me into). That's around 2000kcal total and generally last a day along with a banana and some coffee from the morning sessions. Surprisingly, the 4 double cheese doesn't taste as good as the first 3, but hey, breakfast of champions.
I generally pick fast food joints because there is no way I can replicate the feel-good plasticity of pseudo-food, whereas I can make something that tastes the same way as a $15 dollar restaurant meal at home. But why pay $15, when you can do it yourself for $3-4? -- it is this value disparity that keeps me out of restaurants.
Dude, I thought I was an unhealthy eater but I think you have me beat. Do you happen to take a multivitamin?
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