I feel that passionate about Taco Bell being the goat, I put all my M on it.

As a fellow Gengar enthusiast and a fast food connoisseur, What is your opinion on the Mountain Dew Baja Midnight at Taco Bell?

@JustCallMeKeith it’s good

In Taco Bell we trust

Consolidated review of recent visits:
In-n-out: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#2a9a6wu23tl
Panda express: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#8eskct0xfka
KFC and Taco Bell: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#9m8i59sxqht
Chipotle and Chick-fil-A: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#g3kp2wtrij5
Burger King: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#trg2ca0fzin
Costco food court and papa johns: https://manifold.markets/Mochi/what-is-the-top-fast-food-chain#4okw1jpo53y

@traders I will make my decision on 10 chains to keep for final scoring at eow. I may keep some chains even though I have not visited them yet, I will pick 10 chains that I think have highest chance of winning and I will eventually visit.

Got costco food and papa john's, here is my review
Costco:
Taste

The food here is reliable, though perhaps not fascinating. The hot dog delivers that very standard hot dog flavor, and the chicken bake is solidly good as well.

Price

$1.50 for hotdog combo. Costco unquestionably takes the #1 spot for best value across all fast-food chains.

Convenience

While the ordering itself is usually straightforward, the macro-logistics hold it back. The lower number of Costco locations compared to traditional fast-food chains means it's usually more out of the way. Plus, the requirement to have a membership card adds an extra layer of friction.

Papa johns
Taste

The Meat Lover's pizza was a hit. The flavor profile is great, and the crust really stands out to me.

Price

A medium pie came out to $20. Comfortably serves 2-3 people.

Convenience

As is standard with made-to-order pizza, the wait time was quite long since it takes time to bake. Combined with the lack of dine-in space—which essentially forced you to take it to-go—the experience wasn't the quickest or most accommodating.

[edit] pic

@Mochi A membership is not required to get the take-away food at Costco

@ChurlishGambit I tried to search online and every source I find says it strictly enforces a policy requiring a valid membership card to make food court purchases.

@Mochi That's a new policy that's still not fully rolled-out, it's only at some locations. You also don't need a membership to enter the store, necessarily; if there's a pharmacy or optometrist inside, anyone can use those services, membership or not...& then you can skate over to the food court, if it's inside.

@Mochi Are you intending to do papa John’s?

@Dylcono I ll do it this weekend

@Mochi Are you gonna try Little Caesars too?

@SaiVazquez no promises, what’s the advantage of little Caesar’s over papa John’s ? I personally find them to be very similar in most regards

@Mochi are you planning on visiting Culver’s?

@StanDolafel unlikely since no Culver’s anywhere near me

@Mochi 😢

Tried burger king today
Taste

The Classic Whopper delivered exactly what you wanted, tasted great and hit the spot for a flame-grilled burger.

Price

9.89 for whopper with cheese. The price was shocking to me for a single item.

Convenience

This was a major fail. The location was extremely understaffed, leading to very bad and impatient service. With no ordering kiosk to help speed things up and basic necessities like napkins missing from the dining area, it was a hassle from start to finish.

[edit] add photo

@Mochi Got Sonic in your area? I'd give that a try if so

@SaiVazquez I used to love them back in the days! unfortunately there’s only one in my location and it’s still kinda far so probably won’t revisit it.

Had Chipotle and chick-fil-A today.

Chipotle

Taste

In terms of taste, gold standard for fast-casual experiences imo. The grilled chicken was great, and the salsa fillings were amazing and perfectly balanced. To me, this is as close to a "real meal" as you can get from fast food.

Price

$11.20 for the burrito

Convenience

While not as flexible as a drive-thru or kiosk, the app ordering and pickup system provided a highly efficient and seamless experience.

Chick-fil-A

Taste

The sandwich was spicy and flavorful, delivering exactly what a chicken sandwich should be. Paired with their amazing waffle fries, it completely washes away the memory of that dry KFC meal.

Price

The sandwich alone came to $7.09, it feels a bit steeper compared to what I remember paying not too long ago.

Convenience

No self-order kiosks, but Chick-fil-A makes up for it the old-fashioned way with excellent customer service, and the drive-thru is highly efficient which keeps the line moving smoothly.

For Costco: do the $1.50 hot dog + soda as the price anchor, and also a slice of pizza or chicken bake for a more ‘meal-like’ test. Membership hurts convenience, but the line moves fast and the food is instantly ready.

I love McD's but don't go because McD’s has gotten expensive unless you use app deals. So for ‘minimum decent meal price’ please evaluate without app/coupons, just walk-in menu pricing. Also note service time: a lot of locations are no longer truly fast.

@BrunoClawfeld my plan is to evaluate price based on walk in prices, no app deals or reward credits but I will count their general value deals

@Mochi Sounds like a great plan. Thanks for creating this market, it's a fun one.

@Mochi I believe...