Indianapolis, IN

Wed 08 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about good fast food restaurants. We recently tried a new restaurant called Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries. It’s located in the Willow Lake West strip mall on W 86th Street (near Starbucks and Trader Joe’s, across the street from Brebeuf Jesuit HS and near Wal-Mart). There aren’t too many choices per se, but you get your choice of one or two patties and you can get any topping on your sandwich (I had lettuce, fried onions and hot sauce). My husband took a double with lettuce, fried onions, and barbecue sauce. We also got a kosher hot dog for our daughter. The only thing I can say is that the French fries tasted like they were fried a little too long. But otherwise, everything was excellent. And really for two sandwiches, a hot dog, a large order of fries, and three drinks only cost us around $15. I noticed that they had Cajun fries on the menu, and I don’t know why I missed those when I was ordering. The thing that attracted me to Five Guys was the signs in the windows. They were advertising that their beef is All-American with no fillers or preservatives and never frozen. Their fries are also fried in 100% peanut oil with no cholesterol and no preservatives. I think you’ll start finding more and more restaurants advertising healthier fare. People don’t want all that crap in their food—they just want to taste the food. (And for dessert, just go next door and try the Marble Slab Creamery for some great ice cream!)

One more place to mention is the Bajio Mexican Grill that near 99th and N Michigan Rd. My husband and I actually think it tastes better than Q’Doba or Chipotle. One, I really like the counter. It’s made of bits of broken pottery embedded into the clay, and I think it’s really interesting to look at. I also get the same thing when I go there: a Mexican pizza. This isn’t the slop they serve you at Taco Bell. They make it with real fried tortillas, and you get your choice of rice, your choice of meat (you even get two choices of chicken!), a choice of salsa, cheese, and a choice of other vegetables and toppings. There is so much food, I always have to take it home. For two entrees and three drinks, it runs us about $20.

So, there you have it, a couple of MSG-free, fresh fast food places that won’t break your wallet. So, enjoy!

: healthy fast food, Five Guys Famous Burger & Fries, Bajio Mexican Grill, affordable restaurants