Anthony Coyne
Fort Lauderdale, USA @mr_coyne
While there was no 4,000 mile round-trip this month, I did drive to Whole Foods a few times, and visited drive-thru fast food places more than a few times. Many thousands of miles driving has made me a connoisseur of eating on the road, and I can attest to the 997 being a good place to munch inside.
Porsche probably didn’t have this in mind when building the car, but it did include a couple of pop-out cup holders. And the dash is gently sloped with a decent lip to allow food to sit without sliding off. Come to think of it, if you park up somewhere with a view then with the right takeaway it could rival an experience at a top restaurant. I proposed to my now-wife eating from the seat of a 992 with some fish and chips overlooking the ocean in Newquay, south-west England.
So, I feel I’m qualified to make a definitive ranking on US drive-thru food. Forget your Michelin Guides – these are the places to eat Stateside in 2022.
1. Chick-fil-a
Just outstanding in every way. The food is delicious, every single one of the locations is spotless, the staff smart and polite. No matter where in the US I sample its tasty, wholesome delights, it always lives up to expectation. The menu offers a few surprises like the chicken tortilla soup, and a kale crunch salad for true foodies.
2. Shake Shack
Much debate went into second place, with a strong argument for In-n-out Burger from Renée. The latter has no shops on the East coast so the Shack wins for me. I also like the shakes more, so much more I struggle to order one elsewhere having sampled the ones from here. And somehow the container is measured to ‘just’ fit the cup holder in the 997. The trick ordering here is to go with the signature dish: a Shack Burger with fries. The rest of the menu can feel like it’s trying too hard.
3. Taco Bell
Every time I go here I’m amazed just how well it does Mexican food. The menu has so much more to offer than the obvious soft- or hard-shell tacos, and can be a delight to delve into once you become confident ordering your meal.
4. A&W
You may need to pick these carefully – I can’t believe they’re all as old school as the one I go to. Pull up to a covered parking space, read the illuminated menu and push a button to talk into a speaker and order. A waitress then appears with your food like something from the 1950s. But it isn’t just the Back to the
Future appeal that lands it a slot on this coveted ranking; it’s down to pure culinary excellence. Little delights like corn dogs tease your attention, while the burgers pair beautifully with traditional shakes.
5. Mcdonalds
I was hoping to give the final position to a more left-field eatery like Panda Express. Yet there’s good reason why the Golden Arches not only revolutionised our eating habits, but won over our hearts and minds. It ranks so highly here because of consistency. Be it a breakfast (before 10:30am) or a late-night feed on a dark Interstate road, Mcd’s always delivers.