Let’s think… You have just finished a long day of school or work in Plaistow, NH. You have only eaten an apple and a small protein bar all day. You are starving for a quick, easy and tasty meal, and a fast food chain is seemingly your best option for dinner tonight. There’s one question looming in your head though. “Where do I grab the best fast food in the area?” 

To start, let’s look at the options. If you’re in the mood for a sandwich buffet, there’s 2 great options. Subway and Jersey Mike’s provide you with countless options to create your own sandwiches.

 If you’re looking for some Mexican cuisine, Taco Bell and Chipotle are both extremely popular options.

Wendy’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s, and Five Guys all sell your classic fast food options such as burgers and fries. 

Finally, Panera will provide you with a cleaner take on fast food with an abundance of healthy options. 

When High Schoolers were asked which chain they prefer, Chipotle ran away with the majority of votes. Chipotle is a Mexican style fast food restaurant with a Buffet style of serving and preparing foods. When you enter, you can pick between a bowl or a burrito. From there, you can add rice, meat, beans, and many other vegetables and toppings. It provides customers with tasty, real food, and healthier options all at their convenience. 

Coming in with a close second place is Panera Bread. Panera provides customers with the promise of cleaner food that is sourced from real farms. Their menu has a wide variety of options from salads, sandwiches, and even bread and bakery options. Many students enjoy Panera as a healthier take on fast food. While the votes are close, Panera’s higher price point may be a factor in the students’ decisions to pick another fast food option. 

Finally, coming in third place is Five Guys. Their menu has limited options, but these options are extremely tasty. They just sell burgers, fries, and shakes, but they make all of these with higher quality ingredients, and they make them fresh and specially to order. Their price point is slightly higher than competitors such as Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Burger King, but you are definitely paying for a higher quality meal. 

Taking this survey showed that many students are more likely to spend the extra dollar for some healthy and real food. Places like McDonald’s were given extremely low numbers of votes, even though it is one of the most popular places to eat in the world. As a community, this can be seen as a positive that people are at least attempting to eat cleaner and eat real foods, even if it is worth the higher price tag.