Sure, fast food is available just about everywhere, whether you’re in a big city or a small town. But the options at hand may be better than usual based on your location. If you love Big Macs, Crunchwrap Supremes and fried chicken, here’s where to go!
(Bonus: Here’s the best state for people who love fast food.)
How Was the Ranking Determined?
This list, published by ApartmentGuide, ranked locations based on the number of the most popular chain restaurants compared to the population. In other words, where can the smallest number of people share the greatest number of restaurants?
The fast food chains in the running are:
- Burger King
- Chick-Fil-A
- Hardee’s
- In-N-Out (But you won’t be eating Animal Style fries on the East Coast anytime soon.)
- KFC
- McDonald’s
- Pizza Hut
- Subway
- Taco Bell (It’s officially the most healthy fast food—here’s why.)
- Wendy’s
Do you know what chain restaurant is the most popular? Find out here.
Here’s a Look at the Top 10
It’s a blend of mid-sized cities (that’s you, Cincinnati!) and tourist towns with a blue-collar working population, says ApartmentGuide.
This is where to go for a McDouble on the double:
- Orlando, Florida (1 restaurant per 1,058 people)
- Miami, Florida (1 per 1,457)
- Cincinnati, Ohio (1 per 1,522)
- St. Louis, Missouri (1 per 1,794)
- Las Vegas, Nevada (1,813)
- Cleveland, Ohio (1 per 1,899)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1 per 1,926)
- Tampa, Florida (1 per 1,927)
- Atlanta, Georgia (1 per 2,096)
- Fort Wayne, Indiana (1 per 2,417)
Take a closer look at the list. You won’t find many major metropolitan cities. Because this list ranks per capita, instead of just how many fast food restaurants there are, major cities with denser populations have a hard time creeping up the list. New York City, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago didn’t even crack the Top 50.
Whether or not your city made the list, you’ll still want to stop in at the most popular regional fast food chains, found right in your own backyard.
Or You Could Skip the Drive-Thru With These Copycat Recipes
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Burger Joint Onion Rings
These onion rings cook to a crisp, golden brown. This is one of those foods you never tire of and a great side dish to so many meals. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Crispy Fried Chicken
If you've wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana
Burger Americana
Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high. Peanut butter and bacon make them Southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a Northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
Thin Mint Milk Shake
Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Seasoned Fries
These fries are always popular with my meat-and-potatoes bunch. The cheesy seasoning can easily double as a flavorful baked potato topper, too.—Maribeth Edwards, Follansbee, West Virginia
Zesty Chicken Soft Tacos
We’ve made these tacos with corn and flour tortillas, but naan flatbread is our favorite. Set out toppings and let people make their own. —Jessie Grearson-Sapat, Falmouth, Maine
Slow-Cooker Barbacoa
My husband adores this beef roast simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it one a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver, Colorado
Wonton Mozzarella Sticks
You won't believe something this easy could taste so fantastic! Crunchy outside, gooey cheese inside, these mozzarella sticks are a treat all ages will love. Kids could help wrap them, too. —Shirley Warren, Thiensville, Wisconsin
English Muffin Egg Sandwiches
You can't beat the delicious combination of mushrooms, onions, peppers and cream cheese! Leave out the red pepper flakes for a less spicy taste.—Amy Lloyd, Madison, Wisconsin.
Cara's Crunchy Chicken Strips
Crushed croutons—buy ’em or make ’em—are the crunchy secret to these easy-bake nuggets of chicken. —Cara Winterhoff, Tempe, Arizona
Simply Delicious Roast Beef Sandwiches
Mushrooms add a different touch to these comforting roast beef sandwiches. I like to pile the shredded beef high on Kaiser rolls.—Scott Powell, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Loaded Waffle Fries
Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
Loaded Grilled Chicken Sandwich
I threw these ingredients together on a whim and the sandwich turned out so well, I surprised myself! If you're in a rush, microwave the bacon. Just cover it with paper towel to keep it from splattering too much. —Dana York, Kennewick, Washington
BBQ Bacon Burger
Every family has a burger of choice, and this is ours. It's stacked tall with bacon and crunchy onion rings. —Paula Homer, Nampa, Idaho
Herbed Cheese Sticks
We love the breadsticks at our local pizza joint. Now I can get that same gooey-from-the-oven treat, but I never have to leave the house. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Five-Spice Chicken Wings
Bird is the word when it comes to these wings. They’re baked to a perfect golden brown and hum with mild, delicious Asian spices. Thanks to an overnight marinade, the chicken inside stays tender while the skin maintains that signature crunch. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Tasty Tacos
A taco seasoning made from scratch with pantry staples deliciously jazzes up ground beef, turning Tuesday night into an all-out fiesta. Add your favorite toppings, and dinner is served! —Rebecca Levesque, St. George, New Brunswick
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
My buffalo chicken quesadillas are filling enough to serve as a meal and versatile enough to win big points as a snack while the big game is on. Feel free to sub in your favorite flavored tortillas. Or kick up the spice factor with pepper jack cheese instead of the Mexican blend. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Hearty Breaded Fish Sandwiches
Fishing for a burger alternative? Consider it caught. A hint of cayenne is cooled by a creamy yogurt and mayo sauce in this fish sandwich that will put your local drive-thru to shame. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Three-Cheese Nachos
I received the recipe for these tasty nachos from a co-worker a few years back. They're fun to serve as party appetizers or as the main course at a casual dinner with family. —Cari Hinz, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Cappuccino Cinnamon Rolls
Distinctive coffee flavor accents the filling of these ooey, gooey rolls. The glaze goes on while they are still warm—they won’t last long!. —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
Cheesy Ham & Egg Sandwiches
I turned classic breakfast sandwiches into something heartier you could have for dinner, too. We pile toppings like salsa, avocado—even mayo and ketchup—onto my homemade biscuits. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Fish and Fries
For an awesome crunch and golden color without deep frying, we coat fish with cornflake crumbs and bake it. Try it with homemade french fries for a fun spin on fish and chips. —Janice Mitchell, Aurora, Colorado
Quick & Easy Deep Dish Pizza
I was trying to impress my boyfriend with my cooking, so I made this meaty pizza. I think it worked. Here we are 17 years later, and I still make it for our family at least once a month, if not more! —Stacey White, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Crispy Sage Chicken Tenders
One of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan
Cheese Fries
I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Strawberry-Peach Milk Shakes
You'll need thick drinking straws to enjoy this refreshing shake, which combines two favorite fruits for a healthy, thirst-quenching treat.—Karen Edwards, Sanford, Maine
Glazed Doughnuts
The light coffee flavor in these tasty sugar-glazed doughnuts makes them a perfect start to the morning...on Christmas Day or any day. You'll find that the recipe is a delectable way to use up leftover potatoes. —Pat Siebenaler, Random Lake, Wisconsin
Cheese Beef Burritos
After a busy day, this is a dish that I can get on the table fast. The recipe came about totally by accident: I started throwing things together and soon I had a winner! Everyone who has tried these burritos goes home with the recipe. —Amanda Alford, Hopedale, Illinois
Oven Fries
I jazz up my fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a heck of a punch. Everyone loves them—we even enjoy the leftovers cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Easy Chow Mein
Our daughter welcomed me home from a hospital stay some years ago with this Asian dish and a copy of the recipe. Now, I freeze leftovers for fast future meals. —Kay Bade, Mitchell, South Dakota
Baja Chicken & Slaw Sliders
Between the flavorful sauce and colorful, crunchy slaw, these hand-held sandwiches demand attention from party-goers. —Janet Hynes, Racine, Wisconsin
Brunch Burritos
I like to use a second slow cooker to keep the tortillas warm and pliable when I serve these hearty burritos. Just place a clean wet cloth in the bottom, then cover it with foil and add your tortillas.—Beth Osburn, Levelland, Texas
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Jacqueline Weiss