Most Common Fast Foods in Massachusetts

Are you a visitor to Massachusetts this will show you the Common Fast Foods in Massachusetts. Fast food chains are part of the routine of most people living in the United States. This type of “fast food” restaurant is present in the four corners of the country and currently, there are options for all tastes. In general, in addition to price, speed and practicality are factors that made Fast Foods fall once and for all in the taste of Americans.

Also, some franchises end up being more popular or only existing in certain states. Thus, the numerous options may vary according to the location. Several common Fast Food in Massachusetts chains are famous throughout the United States and in several countries around the world.

Most Common Fast Foods in Massachusetts

Some only exist in the state and are very successful with their residents and visitors. See the most common Fast Foods in Massachusetts:

1. Chipotle Mexican Grill

The famous Mexican food chain was founded on July 13, 1993, in Denver, Colorado. The goal behind the creation of Chipotle was to show that Fast Food didn’t have to serve unhealthy food and rushed service. Therefore, the idea was to combine the characteristics of traditional gastronomy with the reality of fast services, above all with high quality.

The place serves traditional burritos, tacos, salads, and several options of varied meats, rice, and beans. In addition, it also has delicious side dishes such as guacamole, and fresh tomato salsa (a kind of slightly spicy vinaigrette, among others).

Chipotle has 62 locations in Massachusetts, including the cities of Boston, Burlington, and Framingham, for example. It’s a great alternative for those who want to enjoy fast food restaurants with fair prices and a healthier and more differentiated meal that goes beyond the classic hamburgers and fries.

2. Shake Shack

This Fast Food came from a hot dog stand in Madison Square Park in Manhattan, New York City. The cart was very successful for three years in a row until in 2004 it became a permanent kiosk in the park. So, over the years, Shake Shack expanded and spread across several American states.

In Massachusetts, the network has units in cities like Boston, Cambridge, and Dedham, for example. The modern diner offers delicious hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries, as well as shakes, ice creams, wine, beers, iced teas, lemonade, and much more.

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3. Taco Bell

Taco Bell is a fast food chain inspired by Mexican cuisine. It was founded by Glen Bell in 1946 initially as a hot dog stand in the city of San Bernardino, California. The stall was called Bell’s Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. Inspired by a neighboring Mexican restaurant, the creator decided to open a new stall, Taco-Tia, where he started selling tacos.

Soon after opening several restaurants in California in the following years, Glen opened the first Taco Bell, in Downey, also in California, in 1962. The success was immediate and five years after opening, the company had already become an American giant in the Fast Food branch.

It is currently the largest taco and burrito chain in the world, with more than six thousand units operating in more than 20 countries, including Brazil. In the United States, the franchise concentrates more than 5,400 units. In Massachusetts, this Fast Food is present in more than 30 cities.

The restaurant’s main product is the Mexican taco, however, the menu also includes other delicacies from Mexico, such as Nachos, Guacamole, Chili, and Burritos. In addition to various side dishes, desserts, drinks, and shakes.

4. QDOBA Mexican Eats

One of the most famous Mexican fast food chains in the country. QDOBA was founded in 1995 on the corner of 6th Avenue and Grant Street in the city of Denver, the capital of Colorado. In Massachusetts, the network is present in 17 cities, including Boston, Medford, and Marlborough, for example.

At this Mexican-style Fast Food, you can find tacos, quesadillas, chile com queso, and Mexican gumbo. In addition, the restaurant still serves burritos made in the San Francisco style burrito, famous for its large size and for including extra rice, among other ingredients.

One of the differentials of QDOBA is that breakfast is also served and some units are open 24 hours a day on weekends.

5. KFC

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is an American fast food chain founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1939 in Corbin, Kentucky. The restaurant explores the old Kentucky fried chicken recipe created by the Colonel. The chain is famous for its buckets of fried chicken and the famous logo with its founder.

It is considered the largest fried chicken chain in the world, with more than 20 thousand units spread across the United States and in several countries. There are 46 KFC locations in the state of Massachusetts, including cities such as Springfield, Worcester, Everett, and New Bedford.

The company started to adopt the abbreviated form of the name in 1991 for the following reasons: to remove the focus from the chicken, as it had the intention of using other types of foods. To avoid unhealthy connotations related to the word “fried” and to understand that a shorter name could attract more young audiences.

Many KFC locations serve salads, potatoes, cakes, and corn dishes as side dishes. In addition, at Fast Food, there are also some delicacies such as chicken with popcorn, chicken strips, hamburgers, pies, spicy chicken wings, sandwiches, and various desserts. However, not all dishes are present in all units.

6. Burger King

Burger King is considered the largest fast food hamburger chain in the world, second only to McDonald’s. The company was founded by James McLamore and David Edgerton, who opened the first unit in Miami, Florida. The company started in 1953 with the name Insta Burger King, a chain of restaurants that was based in Jacksonville.

After the chain ran into financial difficulties the following year, the two Miami franchisees bought the company and renamed it, Burger King. Currently, Burger King receives more than 11 million customers every day in several countries around the world. Massachusetts has more than 30 locations across the state, including cities like Lynn, Malden, Boston, and Framingham.

The Fast Food company offers hamburgers, fries, soft drinks, and ice cream, in addition to other regionally inspired creations in some units.

7. McDonald’s

McDonald’s is simply the largest chain of fast food hamburger restaurants in the world. The brand is present in 119 countries through more than 37 thousand units. In 1954, Ray Kroc discovered a restaurant in San Bernardino, California. The restaurant was small but successful, run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald.

The brothers ran the services as a kind of production and offered a limited menu with a few items such as hamburgers, fries, and drinks. They were looking for a new franchisee and it was then that Kroc saw the big opportunity.

In 1961, six years after starting the business in partnership, Ray Kroc bought from the brothers the exclusive rights to the name and operating system of McDonald’s. From there he expanded the Fast Food chain to the entire world. McDonald’s is currently recognized as the most profitable restaurant chain in history.

McDonald’s is present in several cities in Massachusetts, including Norwood, Lexington, Hudson, Springfield, and Boston. Fast Food mainly sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, soft drinks, coffee, milkshakes, and desserts. In addition, in recent years the company has expanded its menu to include salads, fish, wraps, smoothies, and fruit.

8. Metro

Subway is considered the fastest-growing franchise chain in the world, with more than 44,000 restaurants spread across 98 countries. It was founded in 1965 by Fred de Luca and Peter Buck and is a Fast Food specializing in sandwiches and salads.

The flagship among the chain’s products are submarine sandwiches, however, the company also offers wraps, salads, and products such as donuts and cookies. Some menu items vary by country, while others are part of Subway’s menus internationally.

In Massachusetts, you can find over 40 Subway units, including in the cities of Salem, Westfield, Boston, New Bedford, and Springfield.

9. Wendy’s

Fast Food with the famous logo of a girl with her red braids was founded on November 15, 1969, by Dave Thomas, who opened the first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. It is considered the third largest hamburger chain in the world, behind McDonald’s and Burger King.

The network introduced the world to the first modern drive, called by the founder the “pick-up window”. The creation was so revolutionary at the time that customers needed instructions on how to use the loudspeaker to place orders. In 1975, the franchise opened its first restaurant outside the United States, in Ontario, Canada.

Wendy’s menu features hamburgers, fries, sodas, chicken nuggets, fresh salads, coffee, cold drinks, and desserts. In Massachusetts, the Fast Food chain has numerous locations, including in the cities of Worcester, Auburn, Webster, Milford, and Natick.

10. Five Guys

Fast Food restaurant chain Five Guys is based in Lorton, Virginia. The first Five Guys unit opened in 1986 in Arlington County, also in Virginia. In 2001 the network expanded to five locations in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In 2013 Five Guys started the franchise, having a rapid expansion, reaching more than 300 franchised locations in just a year and a half.

The chain offers hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, vegetarian sandwiches, and side dishes such as salads and hot sauces, for example. Plus drinks and milkshakes. Five Guys is present in several cities in Massachusetts, being one of the most frequented Fast Food in the state.