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Best Fast Casual Restaurant (2022)

USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Best Fast Casual Restaurant? Readers select QDOBA Mexican Eats.

These 10 restaurants are quick and delicious

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Fast-casual restaurants are more popular than ever in the U.S. Diners love that they offer easy access to quick food without sacrificing quality. 

  • QDOBA Mexican Eats

    QDOBA Mexican Eats

    Just about everything on the menu at QDOBA, from the guacamole to the flame-grilled vegetables, is made fresh each day. Diners build their own Mexican masterpieces in the form of tacos, burritos, grilled quesadillas or burrito bowls.
    Photo courtesy of QDOBA Mexican Eats

  • BurgerFi

    BurgerFi

    BurgerFi makes their burgers with natural American Angus beef, premium Wagyu beef, cage-free chicken, Beyond Meat or the quinoa-based VegeFi patty. Burgers are served alongside made-to-order sides, like fries, double beer-battered onion rings and frozen custard desserts.
    Photo courtesy of BurgerFi

  • Jason's Deli

    Jason's Deli

    Jason’s Deli has been an independent, family owned business for more than four decades, known for their extensive salad bar and even bigger menu of sandwiches, salads, soups and stuffed potatoes. Nothing on the menu contains high-fructose corn syrup, dyes, MSG or artificial colors or flavors.
    Photo courtesy of Jason's Deli

  • The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys began as a New York City food stand in 1990 by three Egyptian immigrants who moved to the U.S. in hopes of a better life. You no longer have to travel to the Big Apple to enjoy these American Halal favorites, like chicken, gyros and fresh falafel. The Halal Guys now ranks among the fastest-growing chains in the country.
    Photo courtesy of The Halal Guys

  • Torchy's Tacos

    Torchy's Tacos

    Torchy's Tacos is spreading the love of Austin tacos across the Southwest. The tacos at Torchy's have always been experimental, with options like cornmeal-crusted catfish, fried avocado, grilled jalapeño sausage and Jamaican jerk chicken folded inside. The green chile queso is some of the best in the nation.
    Photo courtesy of Brad Hill

  • Shake Shack

    Shake Shack

    Shake Shack began in 2004 and has since won over the country with its “roadside” burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard and milkshakes. Beef is always vegetarian-fed, humanely raised all-natural Angus.
    Photo courtesy of Christine Han

  • Greek Xpress

    Greek Xpress

    10Best Contributor Dynie Sanderson tells us, “Greek Xpress was founded in 2014 by a group of Greek-American friends for one simple reason: they missed the food they ate in Greece.” Now with seven locations in the New York area, Greek Xpress relies on recipes handed down from generation to generation, made from scratch using fresh ingredients. From gyros and pitas to baklava and souvlaki, their menus are indeed a taste of the Old Country.
    Photo courtesy of Greek Xpress

  • Panera Bread

    Panera Bread

    Panera Bread began in 1980 as a cookie store in Boston. Today, some 2,300 bakery cafes across the continent serve up food free of sweeteners, artificial flavors and preservatives. The menu ranges from breads and baked goods, to soups, salads and sandwiches.
    Photo courtesy of Panera Bread

  • Jersey Mike's Subs

    Jersey Mike's Subs

    Jersey Mike’s calls their product “a sub above.” These sub sandwiches come topped with The Juice, a red wine vinegar and olive oil blend that gives each sandwich its signature zing. Cheeses and meats, including roast beef that’s cooked in-store, are sliced to order, and bread is baked in-house each day.
    Photo courtesy of iStock / Juanmonino

  • Au Bon Pain

    Au Bon Pain

    Au Bon Pain translates to “from good bread,” and bread is the cornerstone at this bakery and deli. Breads and pastries are made from scratch, and the menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads and sweet treats.
    Photo courtesy of Au Bon Pain

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The top 10 winners in the category Best Fast Casual Restaurants category are as follows:

  1. QDOBA Mexican Eats
  2. BurgerFi
  3. Jason's Deli
  4. The Halal Guys
  5. Torchy's Tacos
  6. Shake Shack
  7. Greek Xpress
  8. Panera Bread
  9. Jersey Mike’s Subs
  10. Au Bon Pain
 A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Congratulations to all these winning restaurants!

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AlertAbout 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.

AlertThe Experts

Dynie Sanderson

Dynie Sanderson

Dynie Sanderson

Dynie Sanderson

Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis

Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family – pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook. 

Kyle McCarthy

Kyle McCarthy

Kyle McCarthy

Kyle McCarthy

Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.

Marla Cimini

Marla Cimini

Marla Cimini

Marla Cimini

Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and professional storyteller, she has covered topics that include wild Tahitian getaways; Sicilian wine trails, delectable Hawaiian food trends and luxury beachfront resorts. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com 

Robert Niles

Robert Niles

Robert Niles

Robert Niles

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.

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