Around the Web: The Best Fast Food in America and Top French Chefs Now Serving Fast Food

• Esquire Magazine surveyed some of America's top chefs (including Thomas Keller and Alton Brown) to find out where they go when they feel the need for fast food.  The winner by far was unsurprisingly beloved California-based burger chain In-N-Out.
  
  Check out what other fast food joints made the cut as well as which restaurants they thought were the worst.
  
  Interestingly enough, Jack in the Box was picked as a favorite as well as a worst.
  
  
• I thought this was pretty interesting: even fancy French chefs are turning to fast food due to the weak economy.  Pricey Michelin-rated restaurants are turning to express meals and sandwiches at (relatively) low prices to drum up business in the economic downturn.
  
  Check out the UK Telegraph story here.

News: Free Coupon for Fresco Taco at Tacobell.com

In an effort to promote their somewhat dubiously-named "Drive-Thru Diet Menu," Taco Bell is offering a free coupon for a Fresco Taco at their website here.  The coupons are valid from 7 days from printing or until 1 million coupons are redeemed.

The coupons are limit one per customer and one print per customer at participating locations only.

The Fresco tacos available on the menu are: the Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco, the Fresco Crunchy Taco, the Fresco Soft Taco, and the Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco.

Each features shredded lettuce and Fiesta Salsa (i.e. pico de gallo) instead of the usual condiments (i.e. Cheddar cheese).

News: El Pollo Loco Adds Beef to Its Menu

That's right, the Crazy Chicken, home of flame-grilled Mexican chicken, has added flame-grilled beef to its menu.  It's a bit like KFC adding hamburgers to the menu, no?

In an effort to attract more visitors of the beef-eating variety, El Pollo Loco has added several sirloin-based dishes to their menu. The sirloin is prepared "carne asada" style meaning it is marinated in a citrus-based marinade and then grilled over their trademark open flame. Carne asada is usually served sliced thin.

Here are the new sirloin beef items:

• Steak Taco - served "street-style" with cilantro and onions.
• Grillmaster Steak Taco - with melted Cheddar and Jack cheese, pico de gallo (chunky salsa), and guacamole.
• Sirloin Steak Bowl - steak, cilantro, pico de gallo, and onions served atop Spanish rice and pinto beans.
• Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla - the three cheeses are: Cheddar, Jack, and Cotija.

Hopefully, the steak will be made to order and not stored in a heating tray like most fast food places. If so, it might be pretty good.

Review: Taco Bell - Beefy 5-Layer Burrito

The latest addition to Taco Bell's "Why Pay More" value menu, the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito features two flour tortillas with a layer of nacho cheese between them wrapping a filling of seasoned ground beef, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, and refried beans. Basically, it's a quesadilla burrito.

News: Wi-Fi Now Free at McDonald's

Since Friday, January 15, 2010, over 11,000 (out of roughly 14,000) McDonald's across the U.S. are offering free Wi-Fi to their customers via AT&T.

Seems like another straight shot across the bow at Starbucks, which currently offers 2 hours a day of free Wi-Fi to customers with a registered Starbucks Card (also from AT&T), but charges $3.99 per two hours otherwise.  Perhaps fancier McDonald's decor and a more lounge-like atmosphere are in the works?  Will more people hang out at McDonald's and imbibe their McCafe offerings or refillable sodas?

The Asia Trip: A Look at a McDonald's McCafe in Japan

I only saw one McCafe in Japan.  They are no where near as prevalent as Starbucks is over there.  But still the setup was pretty interesting in comparison to here in the U.S.

I had heard that the McCafes abroad were much nicer and sometimes standalone from McDonald's unlike here in the U.S. where our McCafes are just a Melitta super automatic espresso machine placed inside of your everyday McDonald's.

Review: McDonald's Mac Snack Wrap

McDonald's recently did a nationwide rollout of their Mac Snack Wrap.  The Mac Wrap is basically a quarter of a Big Mac wrapped in a flour tortilla.  It sells for $1.49.  As a disclaimer, I'm not a big fan of wraps.  Generally, the only things I want wrapped in a flour tortilla are burrito ingredients.

News: $1 Oatmeal Every Wednesday in January at Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice is running a New Year's promotion this January 2010.  Until Feb 3rd (I guess that makes it mostly January huh?), you can buy their steel-cut oatmeal with fruit on top for $1 on Wednesdays.  It seems they are targeting people with New Year resolutions to eat healthier with this one.  At participating locations only.

I'm more of a oatmeal-is-easy-to-make at home kind of person though.  I might try it if I coincidentally passed by a Jamba Juice on a Wednesday in January but otherwise it'd be a pass for me.  It does look pretty good in the promo picture though (then again it never looks like the promo picture).

The Asia Trip: Apple Croissant

I got this little baby at a bakery at Shin-Yokohama Station before we boarded the bullet train for Kyoto.  The caramelized sugar coating its crust especially caught my eye.

The Asia Trip: McDonald's Japan - Gateau Marron McFlurry

Along with the Shaka Shaka Chicken, I also tried a Gateau Marron McFlurry from the McDonald's in Kyoto.  My cousin and I also tried to buy a McChicken that was advertised in the window but being the idiots that we are, didn't look closely at the date of the promotion which had not yet begun.  In our defense, the date wasn't that prominent on the poster.  Add to the fact that the cashier didn't speak English and we didn't speak Japanese, and wild gesticulation occurred with little result.  Eventually, we realized there was a date on the poster and just pointed to pictures of what we wanted instead.

The Asia Trip: McDonald's Japan - Shaka Shaka Chicken

A while ago, I did a spotlight on McDonald's in Japan (not knowing that I'd be actually going there not too soon thereafter).  One of the items that caught my interest in that post was the Shaka Shaka Chicken which upon going to Japan, I had to try.

As you can see above, the Shaka Shaka Chicken is served in a folded-over paper pouch with easy-to-follow picture instructions.  There are even some English words thrown in in case you get confused!  The dotted line that runs through the middle of the pouch is where you tear the pouch open after shaking for easy access without making a mess.

The Asia Trip: Subway Japan

Subway in Japan!  Okay I didn't actually eat here but couldn't help snapping some shots as I got out of the subway station at Omoto-Sando in Tokyo. They also have Subway in Taiwan but the ones there were very much like we have here in the States. Japan however was a little bit different...

The Asia Trip: First Meal... Chicken Katsu!

My first meal in Japan was a takeout bento. I thought I'd start the new year with the long-awaited posts of my trip to Asia (AKA The Asia Trip).

Review: El Pollo Loco - Crunchy Chicken Taco

El Pollo Loco's Crunchy Chicken Taco provides a bit of a change from the typical fast food taco in that it has shredded flame-broiled chicken inside (I suppose it is makes sense, El Pollo Loco being a chicken joint and all).  It's good but it's also more expensive at around $1.50 while still being the same size.  Beyond that, it's the same standard cheese and shredded lettuce.  The shell is freshly fried in Carl's Jr./Green Burrito fashion.

For the price the price though, I think most times, I would just eat their 99 cent Taco Al Carbon which is a chicken taco of the street taco variety (in a corn torilla with onions and cilantro).

El Pollo Loco Store Locator

Review: Philly's Best - French Fries

Oh yeah... they had fries too.  They're okay.  Nothing memorable except that they weren't too salty which I like but otherwise just your standard french fries.  They don't taste any different for having the skin on.  But I don't go for the fries... I go for the cheese steak! (and sometimes the Italian hoagie!)

Review: Philly's Best - Philly Pepper Steak

Philly's Best offers a good rendition of a Philly Cheesesteak out here in the Southland.  Outside of local shops,  this is one of the best places to get a Philly Cheesesteak here in Los Angeles.  It's not as good as my favorite the Cheesesteak Shop up in the Bay area but it passed muster and it's where I go when I feel like some steak and cheese on an Amoroso roll.  They also make a mean Itailian hoagie with Boar Head's deli meats.

The Philly Pepper Steak features thinly-sliced steak, melted white American cheese, and sweet peppers.  You can also get it with Provolone or Cheese Whiz.  I've tried it with Cheese Whiz before and didn't care for it as much as I thought I would.  Sometimes, the bread doesn't taste as fresh as I would like but otherwise it's quite tasty and has locations throughout southern California.

Review: Taco Bell - Grilled Chicken Burrito

Taco Bell's Grilled Chicken Burrito features grilled chicken, seasoned rice, avocado ranch sauce, and grated Cheddar cheese wrapped up in a flour tortilla.  It was 89 cents, and is now 99 cents.

Review: Arby's - Classic Italian Toasted Sub

While Arby's Italian Toasted Sub is typically around 4 dollars, Arby's usually sends around a coupon for two toasted subs for $4 which is pretty much the only time I buy them.

Arby's Italian Toasted Sub features thinly sliced ham, salami, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese toasted on a ciabatta roll. Beyond meat and cheese, there's banana peppers, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and a red wine vinaigrette.
While it may look a bit sparse and lacking in the fillings department, it actually fit quite well together and tasted pretty good and well-balanced.  The veggies were relatively fresh, you could get a good taste for the meat, and the despite appearances, the ciabatta roll was crisp and did not overpower the rest of the ingredients.  I was mildly surprised at the taste after taking a peek inside the sandwich.
As you can see, the side view is especially lacking but the taste will surprise you.  I heartily recommend this sandwich when you feel like an Italian Sub.

Review: Jack in the Box - Bonus Jack

I got Jack In the Box's faux Big Mac, the Bonus Jack, because they were running a special: the $3.99 Bonus Jack Combo. Worse burger EVER.  This is probably the worst fast food item I have ever plopped into my mouth. I could not even stand to finish the thing.

So what was wrong with it.  The whole thing was kinda mushy. The secret sauce was a bright (almost neon) orange... I guess it's a thousand island but less creamy and more sweet. There was no distinct meat flavor or texture plus the smallish patties were completely overwhelmed by an abundance of squishy bun.  In short, the balance was all out of whack.

Do not eat the Bonus Jack if you love your tongue at all!  Dead last by a long shot in the Big Mac pantheon (go for the original or the Big Carl instead!).  This one's an emphatic "do not recommend!"

Holiday Gift Idea: Buy $20 Chick-fil-A Gift Card Get a Free Calendar with Coupons for Free Food

If you're like me and you love Chick-fil-A AND you actually live near one, you'll probably want to get yourself a Chick-fil-A Calendar.  Why?  Because each calendar contains a coupon for free food for each month! (Also, they have funny cow pictures!)  Coupons range from free drinks to free sandwiches.  You can buy a calendar for $6 at their website here or at your local Chick-fil-A.

Of course this being the holidays, if you know someone who frequents Chick-fil-A regularly, Chick-fil-A is running a promotion where you can get a free Calendar with the purchase of a $20 Chick-fil-A Gift Card.  You can't buy them online though, you have to go to your local Chick-fil-A.  You can check out the calendar, the promo, and the coupons here.