Matt Youmans names a new No. 1 in his seventh and “final” annual list
On the Arizona side of the Colorado River sits fast-food paradise. It was a 98-mile drive from Las Vegas to Bullhead City, where the temperature was 110 just after noon on the first Saturday of August. The restaurant was filled, the service was efficient, and there was not one frowning face in the crowd because this was Culver’s and ButterBurgers were the day’s best bet.
America has some problems, but that’s all forgotten inside Culver’s, which is close to perfection.
When I moved from Chicago to Las Vegas in August 2000, Culver’s faded from my life as fast as the girlfriends left behind. Occasionally, a positive memory would resurface, but that was about it. Eventually, she came back—she being Culver’s—and life is better.
During the pandemic spring and summer of 2020, the sports bettors’ Christmas (also known as the NCAA Tournament) was canceled and the world came to a stunning stop, except for the NFL Draft, golf and UFC. We were desperate for entertaining content on VSiN, and I was doing “Follow The Money” shows with hosts Paul Howard and Mitch Moss when we decided to try a different type of topic. That’s when my “Fast Food Top 50 Power Rankings” were launched and instantly became a surprisingly big hit, triggering hot debates on social media.
No one loves the annual fast food show more than Howard, who has a girlfriend, but she never cooks for him. Moss’ wife is a sensational chef, and she cooks for him, but he still loves fast food.
The last team I covered in Chicago as a newspaper beat writer and columnist was the Bulls, who completed the NBA championship three-peat in 1998 before Michael Jordan retired. The next season was shortened by a lockout, the Bulls had replaced coach Phil Jackson with Tim Floyd and the team was terrible. It was depressing and pathetic. I packed up and moved to Vegas for a new job.
The “Last Dance” documentary on ESPN in 2020 brought that Bulls team back to life, but it was also a reminder that staying too long can be a mistake. Jordan eventually came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards. He should have gone out on top with that winning jumper in Game 6 in June 1998.
Every great thing comes to an end and everything runs its course, so today’s fast food show on FTM will be the finale, despite Howard’s protests. Moss understands. It’s time to retire the rankings, so this will be the “Last Dance at the Drive Thru.”
Culver’s is going out on top by earning my No. 1 spot for 2025. The first Culver’s Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers franchise opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in July 1984. There are now more than 1,000 restaurants in about 25 states. Nevada is not one of those states, which is why Moss, who grew up in Wisconsin, refuses to rank Culver’s first and instead puts Shake Shack atop his rankings.
“Culver’s would be No. 1 on my list, but not having a location in Las Vegas dings it for me,” Moss said. “You won’t find a deeper menu anywhere in the fast food business. The burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches are all extremely tasty.”
Moss and Circa Sports oddsmaker Jeff Davis recently struck up a conversation about fast food. Davis can be a cantankerous critic at times, so keep that in mind.
“Jeff recently told me he made his first-ever trip to eat at Culver’s,” Moss said. “He said, ‘I understand why you guys love it! The place is a home run.’ Jeff ordered the pork loin sandwich, something I’ve never had there. That speaks to the depth of the place.”
There is some good news coming for Davis, Moss and other Culver’s fans. During the recent trip to Arizona, I talked with Lori Deschene, the owner of the Bullhead City franchise.
“You are going to start seeing Culver’s in Nevada,” Deschene said. “Probably in about two years.”
Portillo’s, my No. 1-ranked franchise last year, has dropped one spot after I made several trips there in the past year to reevaluate everything. The depth of the Culver’s menu and its frozen custard options are enough to overtake Portillo’s by a slim margin in the ratings.
For those unfamiliar with this exercise, the rankings I produce are based on decades of daily experiences and research, supported by a subjective mathematical formula. There is a method to this madness as I develop power ratings for fast-food franchises using a similar formula that generates my numbers on college football and basketball teams.
There are five categories, each worth a maximum of 10 points. Restaurants are judged on food quality, menu variety, drive-thru service plus general service efficiency, nationwide availability, and intangibles (for example, any stinky green vegetables offered on the menu are a negative, while staying open 24 hours earns bonus points).
The power rating for Culver’s is 45.5, with Portillo’s at 44. Culver’s took a deduction of two points in the intangibles category for having steamed broccoli on the menu. I realize that is similar to criticizing a supermodel for having a mole on her shoulder, but the fact remains that broccoli comes with a nasty smell that can ruin the dining experience for everyone in the restaurant. Howard and I, along with legendary sportscaster Al Michaels, share a hate for vegetables.
In July 2022, I joined Howard, Moss and VSiN host Dustin Swedelson on a flight to Southern California to meet gambling veteran Patrick McLaughlin for a visit to Portillo’s. McLaughlin set an unofficial record by eating at Portillo’s for 42 consecutive days in 2005. Howard and Moss had never experienced the famous Chicago street-food franchise, and it turned into a life-changing trip for both. Howard still ranks Portillo’s as his top dog.
“It’s not a deep menu like Culver’s or others, but the Italian beef with sausage is my go-to,” Howard said. “The hot dogs are top notch with the best fries, and I loved the chicken sandwich, which I had last week. Do not miss out on the chocolate cake shake. We need one in Las Vegas tomorrow.”
Portillo’s has announced plans to open a Las Vegas location, but it’s not here yet.
Chicago radio personality Mike North is a savant when it comes to food in his hometown. North owned a hot dog stand before embarking on a career of 30-plus years in sports radio. Long before he was on the air, he was a young employee barking into a drive-thru speaker at a Jack in the Box franchise in 1969.
North is friends with Dick Portillo, who opened his first hot dog stand in the Chicago area in 1963 and eventually made millions by selling Portillo’s to Berkshire Partners in 2014. Portillo’s exploded in popularity and expanded across the country. North said the franchise is “corporate now” and “not the same” while arguing Chicago has several similar joints that are superior to Portillo’s — and he’s right because I’ve been to many of them.
But the mission is to rank fast-food franchises that are national or at least available in more than one state, so that guideline is important to remember. While the definition of fast food is tricky, and a drive-thru window should be a near-necessity, there are exceptions to every rule in life and gray areas do exist, so some franchises listed might offer drive-thru service at only a small percentage of locations.
Fox Sports analyst Chris “The Bear” Fallica, a fast food aficionado, put it this way: “The age-old debate—is Five Guys really a fast food restaurant? Many are steadfast in the belief a fast food place must have a drive-thru. I don’t go that far, but I respect those who believe it. If I can get in and out of a place quickly after ordering, it’s fast food. And now app ordering has made almost anything fast food.”
I’m a big fan of Denny’s and Waffle House, but those diners are excluded from my list. Also, pizza is a separate category—and I’m supported in this opinion by Chef Barry Dakake, an owner of Barry’s Downtown Prime at Circa—so please leave your favorite pizza places out of this debate.
Football season has finally arrived, and some will wonder why this topic is relevant now. It’s important information because a majority of sports bettors—especially those of us who are single—trend as failures in the kitchen and need fast food to survive. We make pit stops for food while moving from one sportsbook to another. It’s impossible to successfully bet and handicap football games on an empty stomach.
What qualifies me as an expert? It’s a fair question and there’s a convincing answer, which I repeat each year for the newcomers to this: With about 50 years of experience in the fast-food arena, starting as a toddler, I have earned unrivaled credibility by living this subject. Fast food is a lifestyle, not a hobby meant for amusement purposes. I stop for fast food three to five times per day, own no silverware and have a tall stack of paper plates in a kitchen cabinet next to a drawer stuffed with countless plastic forks, knives and spoons. I have the basic skills to grill hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and steaks, but rarely do. I’m a stranger to grocery stores and never wash dishes.
Some might call me the Shohei Ohtani of fast food, but even Ohtani has critics. This is when random clowns mock me for being a fat slob who needs to grow up. I get that, but the insults don’t hurt. It comes with the territory. To the amazement of my family physician, I’m still in good health. I work out several times a week and don’t resemble a pig who feasts on circus peanuts, cotton candy, ice cream and jelly beans. Don’t give me speeches about eating vegetables and staying out of the sun.
The amateur doctors out there will call this a sad, unhealthy existence, yet the truth is I have been employed full-time for almost 30 years and have never used a sick day, so digest that fact and realize it is possible to live well on fast food. And I do occasionally eat at great spots such as Barry’s and Benihana, so it’s not fast food all the time.
It’s a dirty secret that even world-class chefs go for fast food, something Dakake enthusiastically admitted two years ago. Dakake listed Freddy’s Steakburgers, In-N-Out Burger and White Castle as his three favorites.
Here are the Top 10 lists from fast food enthusiasts Howard, Moss, Fallica, North and Texas handicapper Paul Stone:
Paul Howard Top 10:
1. Portillo’s
2. Shake Shack
3. Culver’s
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Raising Cane’s
6. Huey Magoo’s
7. A&W
8. McDonald’s
9. Popeyes
10. In-N-Out
Mitch Moss Top 10:
1. Shake Shack
2. Culver’s
3. Capriotti’s
4. Portillo’s
5. In-N-Out
6. Chick-fil-A
7. Jersey Mike’s
8. Taco Bell
9. McDonald’s
10. Huey Magoo’s
Chris Fallica Top 10:
1. Portillo’s
2. Chick-fil-A
3. White Castle
4. Taco Bell
5. Jersey Mike’s
6. Five Guys
7. Qdoba
8. Arby’s
9. KFC
10. Wendy’s
Mike North Top 10:
1. Chick-fil-A
2. Portillo’s
3. Culver’s
4. Jersey Mike’s
5. Taco Bell
6. Any independent hot dog stand in Chicago
7. Burger King
8. KFC
9. Raising Cane’s
10. Wendy’s
Paul Stone Top 10:
1. Raising Cane’s
2. Whataburger
3. Rudy’s Bar-B-Q
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Jersey Mike’s
6. Freddy’s Steakburgers
7. Wendy’s
8. McDonald’s
9. Dairy Queen
10. Sonic
We all have different opinions and unique tastes, of course, so the only lock is that these rankings are sure to trigger disagreements. But this is my Top 50 list, love it or hate it, and ride along for the “Last Dance at the Drive Thru.”
1. Culver’s
Las Vegas is a much better place due to the NHL and NFL making a home here and the Circa Resort & Casino and Sphere opening in recent years. The next big thing could be Culver’s, which is expected to arrive in about two years. The menu is the deepest in the business, highlighted by the ButterBurgers and followed by the spicy crispy chicken, fish, beef pot roast, pork loin and Reuben sandwiches. The closest locations to Las Vegas are in Bullhead City, Ariz., and St. George, Utah, and it’s worth the drive whether going north or south.
Best Bet: ButterBurger, Wisconsin cheese curds with marinara sauce, fries and/or onion rings and frozen custard, specifically the turtle sundae.
2. Portillo’s
In last year’s rankings, this Chicago street-food franchise was the top dog. Unlike the Bears, Portillo’s never disappoints. This was a frequent stop for me while living in Chicago in the late 1990s, but the closest locations now are in the Los Angeles and Phoenix areas. In a loaded lineup, the Chicago dog bats leadoff, followed by the Maxwell Street Polish and cheeseburger.
Fallica: “I almost feel bad calling this fast food, but it’s the undisputed champ.”
Best Bet: The cleanup hitter is the Italian beef and sausage combo sandwich with hot giardiniera peppers, along with fantastic fries and/or onion rings.
3. Shake Shack
During a trip to Brooklyn to cover the NBA Draft in 2013, I walked into this place for the first time and was blown away by the burger and fries, which are as strong as Aaron Judge in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup. The Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York City in 2001 and has expanded across the country to Las Vegas. It’s not No. 1 because I don’t love anything on the menu aside from the burgers.
Moss: “Best burger in the game. I crave this place more than most other spots because it’s simply delicious every single time I eat there.”
Best Bet: ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries and chocolate shake.
4. Chick-fil-A
The spicy chicken sandwich is still the one, and the customer service is incredible. I’ve often said it’s unfortunate the U.S. government doesn’t operate with the same efficiency as the Chick-fil-A drive-thru. This Georgia-based franchise’s executives considered Las Vegas taboo for too many years, but they finally came around and cashed in here. The breakfast options have improved in recent years.
Fallica: “Many have tried to take the champ down, but this is still the best spot for chicken. I’ve actually found myself going there for breakfast more than lunch.”
Moss: “Terrific breakfast burrito, and the best chicken sandwiches you will find, plus a great drive-thru.”
Best Bet: Spicy chicken sandwich, waffle fries with Chick-fil-A sauce and a chocolate shake.
5. McDonald’s
The haters are many, but so are the customers, and this spot is popular around the world for a reason. Almost every drive-thru lane has a traffic jam. Menu affordability is important as prices soar out of control at many restaurants, so McDonald’s wisely promotes a $5 meal deal that includes a McDouble burger or spicy McChicken with four-piece chicken nuggets (get the hot mustard sauce), fries and a drink. However, if the franchise’s threats to discontinue the McRib—arguably the greatest fast-food sandwich of all time—become reality, a rankings fall would follow.
Moss: “I do know the Mickey D’s fries are completely unmatched. Also, try ordering something like the Quarter Pounder with a tomato because they have to make it fresh and it comes out piping hot.”
Best Bet: McRib, but if that’s unavailable, go with the Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with fries (request well done) and chocolate chip cookies.
6. Arby’s
Arby’s was founded in Ohio in 1964, a year after the Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose overcame an 0-for-11 start to his career to win National League Rookie of the Year. The roast beef sandwiches and seasoned curly fries offer a tantalizing alternative to burgers and chicken, although Arby’s does offer burgers, chicken, gyros and ham on a diverse menu. In the early 2000s, this franchise briefly experimented with a pot roast sandwich that captured my imagination and I still miss it.
Best Bet: Double roast beef sandwich, curly fries dipped in a mixture of Arby’s and Horsey sauces, and a chocolate shake.
7. Zippy’s
Finally, this classic Hawaiian barbecue spot with an amazing menu has spread its Aloha to Las Vegas, where multiple restaurants are opening. If you don’t know what loco moco is, try it and you’ll like it. The fried chicken is as good as it gets, but experiment with everything, especially the chili, fish, Portuguese sausage, spaghetti and teriyaki beef. My favorite spot is near the Maui airport and there are more than 20 locations on the Hawaiian islands. Zip in to the takeout counter, which features faster service than many drive-thru windows.
Best Bet: Fried chicken, Portuguese sausage and teriyaki beef.
8. KFC
Colonel Harland Sanders was born in Indiana, just like VSiN’s Wes Reynolds, and lived to the age of 90 before dying in Louisville, Kentucky in 1980, the year Louisville defeated UCLA to win the NCAA basketball championship in Indianapolis. It’s a strange-but-true fact that Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952. The sides are as fantastic as the fried chicken.
Fallica: “If it’s good enough for the Colonel, it’s good enough for me. While the fried chicken is the headliner, the show stealer are the mashed potatoes and gravy.”
My dad, Al, a former football coach and high school principal: “KFC has the best coleslaw in the country.”
Best Bet: A fried chicken meal—or nuggets with KFC and hot sauce—with a biscuit, coleslaw and mashed potatoes and gravy, of course.
9. Wendy’s
Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in Columbus, Ohio in 1969. Basketball legend John Havlicek, who starred for the Boston Celtics and Ohio State Buckeyes, was an early investor. The burgers are some of the best in the business, but early risers need to check out the Breakfast Baconator with potato wedges.
Best Bet: The spicy chicken sandwich is almost as good as Chick-fil-A’s version.
10. Dairy Queen
I grew up with a DQ close to home, so I’m biased, but this high ranking is deserved. It’s a family-friendly franchise which keeps it real with the $7 meal deal — hamburger (or sub a chili dog or three chicken fingers, which I don’t recommend), fries, drink and a sundae. The burgers and dogs are just good enough. What boosts this ranking are the Blizzards and ice cream options.
Best Bet: Hamburger, fries and an old classic, the Peanut Buster Parfait.
11. Huey Magoo’s
Up 11 spots from last year, Huey is a rising star. This franchise can be hard to find, located mostly in Ohio and the Southeast, but there is one inside the Fremont Hotel & Casino food court in downtown Las Vegas. According to a description written by AI, “many find Huey Magoo’s to be superior” to rival Raising Cane’s, and I’m now one of those people. While the sauce and Texas toast are similar to what’s served at Cane’s, the chicken fingers and fries are superior. Huey touts itself for using the “best 3% of the chicken” and claims to be “The Filet Mignon of Chicken.” And the chocolate chip cookies are a sleeper pick worth a shot.
Moss: “New entry into my top 10 this year. I haven’t had a bad thing over my several visits in recent months.”
12. Freddy’s Steakburgers
Down from No. 4 last year, Freddy’s probably deserves better, but the competition in the top 15 is fierce. It might come as a shocker that this franchise from Wichita, Kansas, has fallen after ranking in my top 10 six years in a row. The steakburgers, dogs and frozen custard, including the turtle sundae, are outstanding, yet the chicken sandwiches and fries are below average and require an upgrade.
13. Raising Cane’s
Todd Graves is a crazy success story. He co-founded Cane’s a “Pistol” Pete Maravich jump shot away from the LSU campus in 1996 and he’s now worth an estimated $17 billion. The sauce is the boss, as they say, and the Texas toast sizzles, but the chicken fingers are only slightly above average. Still, this chicken stop remains crazy popular.
Stone: “The box combo at Cane’s is my go-to fast food meal. There are a lot of places with quality chicken fingers, but the sauce puts Cane’s in a class of their own. The drive-thru experience is usually quite efficient.”
14. In-N-Out Burger
No franchise is more polarizing than this one, which is either loved or hated. Competitive eating GOAT Joey Chestnut was a guest on a VSiN show a few years ago and confessed his love for In-N-Out. I go for the double-double and ask for the fries to be “light well” or “well done.”
Moss is a big fan: “Quality, quality, quality. Never had a bad experience. The drive-thru is almost an A+. Get the cheese fries with peppers if you like to add a little spice.”
Fallica is not a fan: “In-N-Out? I’m out. I can’t stand the sauce and the fries are garbage—thin, cold and soggy, which is also no way to go through life.”
15. A&W
Rooty the Bear is the franchise’s mascot, but Paul Howard could be the hype man. Howard loves the root beer in a frosty mug. A&W is the definition of old school. The Papa Burger and coney dogs highlight the “All American Food” lineup at the oldest restaurant chain in America, founded in 1923 by Roy Allen and Frank Wright. It’s worth the 30-minute drive from Vegas to Boulder City — and drive another 10 minutes across Hoover Dam to place bets on Arizona sportsbook apps.
16. Taco John’s
I discovered Taco John’s nearly 20 years ago in Laramie, Wyoming, and it changed my life. OK, that’s too dramatic, but I never looked at Taco Bell the same way again. TJ’s crispy beef tacos, potato oles and most other menu items blow away the Bell. Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota, the home of gambling legend Randy McKay, are some hot spots for this franchise. McKay ranks his top three spots in fast food: Culver’s, Taco John’s and Arby’s.
17. Jersey Mike’s Subs
The Big Kahuna cheese steak with jalapenos is my favorite. The commercials with diminutive pitchman Danny DeVito are a little lame, yet there’s no doubt this deserves to be the top sub shop on the list. If sub shops were NFL teams, Jersey Mike’s is the Eagles and Subway is the Browns.
Moss: “Jersey Mike’s hits different than other sub shops, in a good way.”
18. Whataburger
Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning will probably end up as a pitchman either for McDonald’s or Whataburger, which is big in Texas and now open on the Las Vegas Strip. The green chile double is the best burger option. Don’t mess with the fries. I’ll let another football handicapper break it down.
Stone: “For me, Whataburger is a regular choice for both breakfast and lunch. I typically opt for the potato taquito with cheese at breakfast and the standard Whataburger with all the vegetables and mustard at lunch. It’s a fast food burger with a made-fresh taste. The downers are the typically undercooked, below-average fries and coffee, which tastes like some I’ve had at truck stops on remote stretches of an interstate highway.”
19. Burger King
The star attraction is obviously the Whopper, a first-ballot Fast Food Hall of Fame sandwich. BK runs hot and cold with me, but what boosts its rating is an above-average breakfast menu highlighted by the sausage biscuit and hash browns. (Note: there is no official Fast Food Hall of Fame, but maybe I’ll open one someday.)
20. Steak ‘n Shake
For a long time, this franchise ranked as my No. 1, but times change. The Dallas Cowboys were great a long time ago, too. The burgers and shakes are still solid. South Point owner Michael Gaughan gets credit for making his casino a launching pad for VSiN 8 1/2 years ago, and he also was wise to put a Steak ‘n Shake a football throw away. When living in the Chicago area, this was my go-to spot, and I once hit the 24-hour drive-thru 38 days (or late nights) in a row. The streak only ended because I had to leave town for a business trip.
21. Firehouse Subs
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Firehouse is a much bigger winner than Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars. The top subs are the Hook & Ladder, meatball and steak & cheese. I warmed up to this franchise in recent years. It’s turning up the heat on Jersey Mike’s and blows away Subway.
22. Long John Silver’s
Don’t be stunned by this high ranking. The chicken is incredible. About once a week, I stop for the “L2” meal—chicken planks and hush puppies, both smothered in tartar sauce and with coleslaw. The fish is fine, but chicken planks are the star of the show. In the old days, Long John’s had a classic structural setting that resembled a fish house, but the last one I know of in this area recently closed in Barstow, California. Now, many LJS locations are combined with KFC. In the classic 1980s movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Brad Hamilton (Judge Reinhold) was fired from his job at All-American Burger and was forced to wear a corny pirate uniform as an employee at Captain Hook Fish & Chips, which mimicked LJS.
23. El Pollo Loco
Mexican-style grilled chicken is a good alternative to fried chicken, and I’m a big fan of both. The side options are excellent. This is what I consider a healthy meal. For those who didn’t study Español, El Pollo Loco is Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken.”
24. The Habit Burger
It has been a rollercoaster ride for this franchise, which ranked 17th in 2023 and 32nd last year. The truth is somewhere in the middle. The Habit had a tenderloin steak sandwich, which was by far the best item on the menu, but it was unfortunately discontinued last year in a dumb move. The burgers and fries are good enough to merit occasional visits. The Habit was founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California, which is also home to college basketball’s Gauchos and “The Thunderdome.”
25. Five Guys
Similar to In-N-Out, this is another polarizing burger joint. While many fans rave about Five Guys, I’m not one of those guys. The hamburgers are really good, and the hot dogs and fries are pretty good, but it all falls short of the greatness some claim. To illustrate the inflated costs in fast food, my recent Five Guys order of a burger, fries and drink cost $19.70, which is ridiculous.
26. Fatburger
How difficult is it to rank these franchises and get a majority of people to agree? Here’s an example: I know a football handicapper who swears by Fatburger and ranks it No. 1. And that is absolutely insane. “The Last Great Hamburger Stand” out of Beverly Hills presents a quality product. It’s not always fast food because most times it is delivered very slowly. If you’re not in a hurry, bettors need to know there are locations in the food courts by the Red Rock and Sunset Station sportsbooks.
27. Bojangles
Don’t believe the hype. “Bo” recently expanded from SEC football country and opened a new location in Las Vegas. Those who anticipated greatness got mediocrity instead. VSiN’s Stormy Buonantony is a big-time booster for Bojangles, loved mostly for fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. Don’t get me wrong, the “Bo” sauce that comes with the fingers is worth a shot and the sides are solid. It’s not worth a Top 25 ranking.
28. White Castle
I would say the Castle is as polarizing as burger competitors In-N-Out and Five Guys, but it’s not because more people hate it. I do like it and go for the sliders and chicken-with-cheese sandwiches. It has been borderline shocking to me to hear “The Bear” wax poetic about the Castle as if it’s an elite steakhouse. Fallica loves the mini-cheeseburgers and fish sandwiches.
Fallica: “I know some don’t like White Castle, but it’s a delicacy for this native Long Islander. The way the onions and cheese melt into bun is culinary art. If you’ve ever made the drive from Vegas to the Arizona border to park on the side of the road at the Kingman Access Road exit to fire in bets at DraftKings or FanDuel, you have to load up for the trip. Four bacon double cheese, two filet of fish, an onion ring and mozzarella stick with a sweet tea usually does the trick to get you through the 40-minute drive and give you the energy you need to fire in your bets.”
29. Qdoba
The seasoned beef and steak tacos crush higher-profile rivals. In a perfect world, there would be far more Qdoba locations and far fewer Taco Bells. Based in the fine city of San Diego, the Q easily beats its main rival, Chipotle, which landed just outside of the Top 50.
Fallica: “Qdoba blows away Chipotle. I refuse to go to Chipotle because people act like it’s a Michelin-starred restaurant. Spoiler alert — it’s not.”
30. Jollibee
Up from No. 46 a year ago, the Jollibee spicy fried chicken has got me hooked like Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino fast-food chain is one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurants—with about 1,700 spots in 17 countries—and I can see why.
31. Fuddruckers
I covered several UNLV-New Mexico games at The Pit, which ranks as my No. 1 arena in college basketball. The Pit is where Jim Valvano ran around looking for someone to hug when North Carolina State upset Houston to win the 1983 NCAA title. When landing in Albuquerque, I always went straight to Fuddruckers. Only one location remains in Las Vegas, but it’s open 24 hours inside the Orleans Casino. A build-your-own-toppings bar complements the big, beautiful burgers.
32. Taco Bell
The public seems to love the Bell, but as sharp bettors know, it’s usually smart to fade the public. I’m old enough to remember when this place was good and cheap in the 1980s and 90s. Now it’s in decline and expensive. The return of my best bet, the Mexican pizza, helps the power rating. I also respect the opinions of Moss and Circa owner Derek Stevens, who both ring the Bell with surprising enthusiasm.
Moss: “I have done a 180 on Taco Bell, which sucked me back in with the grilled chicken cheesy burrito.”
33. Smashburger
You can bet the Broncos are on the rise in the AFC, but this Denver-based franchise is down 12 spots from last year. I just don’t go much anymore, although the burgers are a smashing success, with my favorite being the spicy jalapeno baja burger.
34. Capriotti’s
With headquarters in Las Vegas and locations in 33 states, Capriotti’s has its fans, including Moss and longtime Vegas oddsmaker Nick Bogdanovich. I’ll go occasionally for the American Wagyu cheese steak, but this shop is my No. 3 sub stop.
Moss: “A sandwich place I have frequented in the past year and it delivers with every stop. One reason why I like it so much—it takes me five minutes to decide what I want when I’m looking over the menu. Tough choices result in a constant payoff.”
35. Del Taco
VSiN’s Jonathan Von Tobel loves to tout Del Taco, the Los Angeles Clippers and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, among other things. Night owls like me sometimes need The Del, which does get credit for staying open 24 hours. The California-based franchise is far from my favorite, yet there are times when the chicken soft tacos and spicy chicken burrito make a decent backup plan, and the Colts will likely need a backup plan this season.
36. Cook Out
It’s rare when VSiN star “Super” Dave Ross posts anything on X, also known as Twitter, but he recently posted about his visit to Cook Out in Nashville. The new Tennessee resident is positive about most things, especially the Dallas Cowboys and New York Mets, but he was only lukewarm about his Cook Out experience, calling it “good, but not a healthy option.” It’s as popular as NASCAR in the South and the attraction is evident due to the burgers, BBQ, hot dogs and shakes.
37. Nathan’s Famous
Nathan’s is most famous for the July 4 contest on Coney Island in New York. Little known fact: In the early years of VSiN, after Greg “Hoops” Peterson choked and needed the Heimlich maneuver during a hot-dog eating contest we staged in the South Point studio, on-air competitive eating events were banned by network chief Bill Adee. I hit the location in the Las Vegas airport for the chili dog and fries, a winning parlay, and the solid menu offers more than hot dogs.
38. Wienerschnitzel
This word should be featured in spelling bees. The franchise slogan — the “World’s Most Wanted Weiner” — is funny but false. There is a good location in Oceanside, California, around the corner from the Goat Hill Park Golf Club. I highly recommend the under-the-radar golf course and hesitantly tout the chili dog, corn dog and Chicago dog.
39. Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s
In an RPO offense, most people would either run away or pass on this option. But it’s got some positive aspects. The burgers are solid, the chocolate ice cream shake is great, and Carl also offers the Green Burrito menu at many locations, with the hard ground beef tacos being this handicapper’s pick. The Carl’s Jr. star can be seen all over Southern California. The Carl’s and Hardee’s franchises have operated as one brand for a long time yet have separate identities in different parts of the country.
40. Panda Express
I have never considered cooking in a wok, obviously, but Panda prepares its American Chinese food that way and it works. This franchise has about 2,500 locations, so it’s widely popular, but I’m not crazy about it. When you have had too many burgers, this is a change-of-pace option. My best bet is the Orange chicken topped with chili sauce.
41. Earl of Sandwich
Most of the hot sandwiches are worth a sales pitch, and I prefer the Montagu with roast beef, turkey and Swiss. According to Wikipedia, the first Earl of Sandwich franchise opened in Sugar Land, Texas, and was owned by an investment group that included MLB pitching greats Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Earl’s is not easy to find, but there’s a location about 60 feet, 6 inches from the Palms sportsbook.
42. Popeyes
While Chick-fil-A and Culver’s set the standard for efficient service, Popeyes is the opposite. The drive-thru lane is typically agonizingly slow and might as well be lined with cones while the road construction workers are nowhere to be found. If you want to burn some valuable time sitting in the car, go here. I will say Popeyes is worth praising for the spicy fried chicken, Cajun fish and mashed potatoes. Remember when the new chicken sandwich once created amusement park-like lines? It was a mystery to me, I still don’t get it, and, by the way, that sandwich is no longer such a hot commodity.
43. Panera Bread
Panera is essentially the opposite of White Castle. It’s a healthier option and offers quality sandwiches and soups. The toasted steak & white cheddar sandwich and tuna sandwich are good enough to get me there once a month.
44. Dunkin’ Donuts
On the East Coast, Dunkin’ is as hot as UConn basketball. Swing by the drive-thru for breakfast or lunch for the bacon, egg & cheese sandwich and hash browns. This is worth repeating: Always order the hash browns. Dunkin’ is known for coffee and doughnuts, but I never drink coffee and, believe it or not, rarely eat doughnuts.
45. Zaxby’s
The recent arrival of Zaxby’s in Las Vegas has gone mostly unnoticed for a reason. It’s not great and it’s not bad. You don’t brag to friends about it. Famous for its Chicken Fingerz, Zaxby’s does offer a Zax Sauce that is a good bet. Like the Raiders in the AFC West, it sits at the bottom of a chicken fingers division led by Huey Magoo’s, Raising Cane’s and Bojangles.
46. Checkers/Rally’s
I make a pit stop here maybe twice a year, but this franchise has earned a little respect due to the Big Buford leading a solid burger lineup, to go with chicken sandwiches, chili dogs and shakes. About 25 years ago, Checkers and Rally’s merged — which would be like the Western Athletic Conference merging with the Ohio Valley Conference — and the Checkers name is primarily used in the Southeast and Northeast, while Rally’s is more common in the Midwest and on the West Coast, which includes multiple Vegas locations.
47. Sonic
Surging up from No. 50 last year, Sonic has headquarters in Oklahoma City, which means more now with the Thunder winning the NBA championship. Many years ago, this was a hot spot, but these days it’s not exactly booming. The Sonic Drive-In features decent burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs that can be delivered via a roller-skating waiter/waitress to your car.
48. Taco Cabana
I discovered the Cabana in 2002 on a trip to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, where I watched the great Joe Tiller coach Purdue to a 34-24 victory over Washington. It’s a regional Tex-Mex franchise popular in Texas and New Mexico. Some locations are open 24 hours and feature burritos, fajitas, quesadillas and terrific tacos. Pro tip from experience: If you ever visit El Paso, it’s not the best idea to cross the border into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
49. Jack in the Box
Jack is a clever marketer and his restaurant is a late-night desperation option that many youngsters who might be high on life tend to crave. With more than 2,200 joints located primarily on the West Coast, the California-based franchise has a good game plan and is widely available. The breakfast options, burgers and spicy chicken strips are respectable.
50. Subway
With more than 37,000 locations in at least 100 countries, Subway is one of the world’s most popular franchises and I have no idea why. In NFL terms, it is the Tennessee Titans, a franchise that has enjoyed only a few really good years. It’s easy to find and it’s fast, so sometimes I stop there out of necessity, but the sandwiches are as mediocre as an 8-8 football team.
