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I'm talking take-out, like from KFC or Popeyes. There's literally no difference between chicken fried there, or fried at home. So just wondering how it would be classified.

I mean, I guess what's the diff between a Whopper and a burg you make at home on your grill?

Is the defining characteristic of "fast food" just that someone else does it in bulk and has a way faster way of preparing it? Does that make take-out Chinese "fast food?" There's no difference in chinese whether your getting it to go, or they are putting it on the table and giving you a fork.

Yes.

Fast Food = pre-prepared food, or mostly pre-prepared. KFC, Popeyes, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc.

Fast casual = made-to-order, slightly better than Fast Food. I would put Chinese food here, generally.

Though, to be fair, you often order a bucket of chicken, and despite it being a FUCKING FRIED CHICKEN RESTAURANT, they are out of chicken at the moment, so you wait 20 minutes anyway.

Thanks, Bojangles.

TheCatt wrote: Though, to be fair, you often order a bucket of chicken, and despite it being a FUCKING FRIED CHICKEN RESTAURANT, they are out of chicken at the moment, so you wait 20 minutes anyway.

Thanks, Bojangles.

That's the situation I was thinking about. At Popeye's, they say "8 minutes to make more spicy, unless you want a couple pieces of mild in there." It isn't exactly fast, compared to McD's 30 second drivethru goal.

So you say if it shows up off the truck already frozen and breaded, then it is fast food... but if they throw it in breading at the store, then it's a restaurant?

And by that argument, I would say Wendy's isn't fast food. Their meat isn't frozen, and the only pre-preparation is that it's already in patty form.

Both are fast food, because, in theory, you can go in, grab what you want, and leave, without them making the whole order fresh, or nearly fresh. Typically, at the fried chicken places, what I want is just there and off I go.

Wendy's is all made to order.

GORDON wrote: Wendy's is all made to order.

Like that big basket of fries just sitting there? Or the big pile of pre-cooked hamburger + chicken? Or the pre-sliced tomatoes + cheese?

Fast food.

Ummm...... well most of that statement is wrong. So.

GORDON wrote: Ummm...... well most of that statement is wrong. So.

I need proof.

I only have it from a person who worked there. Objection your honor, hearsay.

GORDON wrote: I only have it from a person who worked there. Objection your honor, hearsay.

Objection sustained.

I can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in about 2 minutes. Is that fast food?

There's a great food truck around here that does ribs. The cook time is hours upon hours, yet when you walk up to get some, you can leave within a minute or two. Is that fast food?

Watch Hell's Kitchen sometime. When the orders come in, Ramsey wants the food out ASAP and that's all made to order gourmet food. Ticket times could be 8 minutes. Is that fast food? I've waited 8 minutes for fries or a filet o'fish...

I think the definition of "fast food" has to involve the type of food, nutritional value of the food, the cost, the quality, how it is made, and the restaurant's goal for how quickly you receive it.

So...
1. Italian food, BBQ, and other foods that take a long time to cook typically wouldn't work in a "fast food" environment. However, as I point out, it's possible to sell such items in a "fast food" way.
2. Fast food should be handheld ideally. For people on the go.
3. It should be cheap. That means that costs need to be as low as possible through the creation process. Cheap ingredients, cheap workers, efficiency is king, etc. This also means nutrition and quality will suffer.

I think this is one of those areas that's hard to define, but "you know".

Leisher wrote: I think this is one of those areas that's hard to define, but "you know".

Well, I do, but Gordon doesn't.

Funny, I have the opposite perception. It seems like you have a very narrow definition, and you shot down every argument I made that was "yeah but."

GORDON wrote: Funny, I have the opposite perception. It seems like you have a very narrow definition, and you shot down every argument I made that was "yeah but."

I was saying, "I know, but Gordon doesn't know"

You're dumb and you don't know about food.

GORDON wrote: You're dumb and you don't know about food.

Whatever, I've known food since you were still sucking titties.

I think maybe the existence of a drive-through window may be the best indicator.

But then some great BBQ places in Memphis have windows. So no.