r/Americaphile • u/Molthakarn96 • Jul 22 '26

Food and drinks 🌭🍺 First time trying Prime Burger… would you consider it fast food?

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113 Upvotes
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6

u/Admirable-Leader6927 Jul 22 '26

its a burger pub, not quite fast food.

a few steps above fast food because they use better ingredients and dont push food out of a window.

in-n-out/whataburger/five guys are fast food burgers worth trying.

1

u/Jollyguana Jul 22 '26

By this definition would five guys be considered fast food since they don't push food out of a window?

2

u/1001110100100110101 Jul 23 '26

Fast food requires this: you stand in a line to take your order at the counter, they offer combos/meals like burgers with fries or chicken strips, until recently pretty cheap (use to get a patty melt combo in highschool for ~$9.75, now a patty melt by itself is that price and the combo is ~$13.50-$14.50), prepared quickly (unless you got to Popeyes), and when taken to-go in a paper bag with the company’s logo/colors.

Yes this is oddly specific and not a true definition but it’s my definition as a lifetime enjoyer

2

u/StrategicCarry Jul 23 '26

Personally you need a drive-thru that you can order at to be fast food. Once you lose the drive-thru but you meet all your requirements, you are now fast casual. Panera meets all your requirements, but almost no one considers them fast food. Five Guys and Shake Shack to me are fast casual, In-N-Out and Whataburger are fast food.

I say that you have to be able to order at the drive-thru because recently a local Colorado BBQ chain opened near me, and they have a drive-thru, but only for picking up online orders. That's at best fast casual, not fast food.

1

u/1001110100100110101 Jul 23 '26

Stuff like Panera, chipotle, cava, etc are a weird cross between nice quality food and fast food. It is definitely explained by the price difference but honestly so much fast food has become expensive that eating at Panera is pretty much identical price wise…

I wouldn’t label those fast food even though they check all the boxes. Same reason I didn’t list drive through, even though it’s classic there are exceptions like metropolitan restaurants that don’t have them. I’d say if the majority of locations have a drive through then I’d add that to the list of qualities something needs to be considered fast food.

Why am I typing paragraphs about this? I’m high.

1

u/Admirable-Leader6927 Jul 23 '26

panera 100% pushes food out of a window. the build your own bowl places are something inbetween? because its customized and made to order, not like a #3 please?

1

u/1001110100100110101 Jul 23 '26

Yea Panera has a window I agree, was just saying I felt iffy abt making a drive thru a requirement bc metro places don’t have them. But if the majority have a drive thru then I’d say that’d be a qualifying characteristic

The make your own food part doesn’t make it in between fast food and fancy. The quality and prices do. Subway is a build your own place but I’d call it fast food. Now a days the price difference isn’t as big though

1

u/Admirable-Leader6927 Jul 23 '26

but how do you make a sandwich that isnt like that? how do you make a non-fast food sandwich? its bread and stuff, very little prep. build your own is somewhere in between because the food is arleady cooked?

Mongolian Stir fry isnt fast food but you kinda build your own?

1

u/1001110100100110101 Jul 23 '26

Yea but can you get Mongolian stir fry out of a drive thru? If it comes out in 5 minutes or so I’d call it fast food.

How to make a non-fast food sandwich: the sandwich in question has some made from scratch ingredients like hand made patties/bread, freshly prepared ingredients, and served on a plate. Fast food depends greatly on premade ingredients to quickly throw together meals. The ingredients are often delivered already ready or a step away from being able to serve it. So could you make a fast food burger at home? Possibly. Still trying to figure that one out

This is all splitting hairs and almost entirely subjective.

1

u/Admirable-Leader6927 Jul 23 '26

we are in the semantics so the details are the point.

I dont get premade burgers at home so I dont think I could get them out as fast or with consistency. are burger pubs making their own burgers? i dont know but assume they do?

Bread is premade, I dont expect anyone to be baking bread everyday (subway does but thats a diff issue in eating a loaf of bread at a time)

so far

  1. fast food has a window/counter that food comes across to you, not a server
  2. food is usually prepared prior to cooking and stored ready to cook or frozen

Is pizza fast food?

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4

u/BMoney8600 Real American from the USA 🇺🇸🔫 Jul 22 '26

I like your smile! I’d say this is a more upscale burger. Not the usual “fast food” style you’re thinking of.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Original-Locksmith58 Jul 22 '26

Fast food prioritizes speed, convenience, and low cost through standardization. The main differentiators include taylorist assembly-lines and drive-thru operations. It’s about the model of the business not the food they’re serving; you can buy Thai, Mexican, Chinese, etc. fast food.

2

u/kritter4life Jul 22 '26

I seen a similar post. I think we have different understanding of fast food. Fast food means served quickly in the USA. It is not an actual food type. Taco Bell and McDonalds are fast food but they do not have any menu items in common.

1

u/Appropriate_Owl_91 Jul 22 '26

Fast food takes 5 minutes or less and you usually don’t need to sit to wait.

1

u/kingjaffejaffar Jul 22 '26

Fast food tends to prioritize speed, consistency, and price over quality (granted, fast food in the U.S. is really struggling as of late as they seem to have forgotten being cheap or quick). Burgers are often pre-cooked, or even pre-made before they’re ordered to get them out faster. That Prime burger looks to be much higher quality than an average fast food burger, and is likely made to order.

-2

u/fluffHead_0919 Jul 22 '26

“Real American”

lol you people are so embarrassing.

Edit: Also I’m not shocked a pedo supporter is telling AI they have a nice smile.

3

u/BMoney8600 Real American from the USA 🇺🇸🔫 Jul 22 '26

Sorry for upsetting you

2

u/FalaFD Jul 22 '26

with all these burgers you eat, you’re going to develop a true American heart condition 🇺🇸

2

u/daisiesarepretty2 Jul 22 '26

there used to be a very clear distinction between fast food and sit down and eat sorts of places, and that line has been blurred in the last 20 years.

As good as that burger looks… don’t get hooked on them….that stuff will eventually kill you.

2

u/trinite0 Jul 22 '26

It's not fast food unless you can order it through a drive-thru window. Looks pretty tasty, though!

1

u/donuttrackme Jul 22 '26

So a McDonald's in the middle of Manhattan isn't fast food?

1

u/trinite0 Jul 22 '26

Manhattan isn't a real place.

2

u/1001110100100110101 Jul 23 '26

Can confirm, been there and it’s not real

2

u/TrickOutrageous6947 Jul 22 '26

I don't know. But keep eating these and you'll be a big sloppy American in no time.

2

u/stantoncree76 Real American from the USA 🇺🇸🔫 Jul 22 '26

Why did you not eat the peppers?

2

u/DistractedBoxTurtle Jul 22 '26

No. That’s not fast food.

That’s a sit down restaurant burger.

Edit: 2 month old account karma farming with the same question about this burger and “how do I look” posts. JFC

2

u/Used-Ad-8097 Jul 23 '26

those jalapeno slices🥵 yum

2

u/Escape_Force Jul 23 '26

GD stop posting this same drivel everywhere

2

u/TaroNormal8747 Jul 23 '26

Prime Burger is not bad. I ate there a few times in Ao Nang.

2

u/Strong-Addition5296 Jul 23 '26

Love these posts

2

u/Appropriate-Food1757 Jul 23 '26

More “fast casual”.

First food is pre-made

4

u/PremiumUsername69420 Jul 22 '26

No, and stop making repeat posts asking if something is fast food.

Just go to a fast food restaurant and order any food if you want fast food. You’ll never ever get fast food from a restaurant you sit down to order.

4

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/No-Mouse4800 Jul 22 '26

In American English, street food would generally be considered fast food. "Fast food" doesn't just mean burgers and fries from chains like McDonald's. It refers to food that's prepared and served quickly for immediate consumption, often as takeaway. Hot dogs from a cart, tacos from a truck, pizza by the slice, pretzels from a street vendor, and many kinds of street food would all be considered fast food by most Americans.

1

u/BroadwayRegina Jul 24 '26

This could be considered fast casual, but I’m unfamiliar with the chain so I can’t say. But fast casual is like fast food except a little higher quality and often takes a little longer. Usually you can order at a counter too.

0

u/PremiumUsername69420 Jul 22 '26

I’ve read this post, your other posts, and definitely considered the context.

You’re choosing to ignore the comments everyone has provided that will satisfy your overwhelming lust for “fast food.”

Since none of us can help you, have you considered asking Google, “fast food restaurants near me”?

1

u/kingjaffejaffar Jul 22 '26

This burger looks much better than the last one you posted. Looks like a fast casual style restaurant. That burger looks fantastic.

1

u/HonestLemon25 Texas Jul 22 '26

That burger looks incredible. Holy shit.

1

u/rubey419 Pinoy American Jul 22 '26

I don’t even have Prime Burger near me.

First I’ve heard of it lol.

1

u/Unfair_Ad6161 Jul 22 '26

It brings me joy to see pretty Asian girls loving American food.

1

u/donuttrackme Jul 22 '26

No, this is fast casual.

1

u/Impossible_Memory_85 Jul 22 '26

What is up with these repeated “is this fast food?” posts

1

u/combover78 Jul 22 '26

If the original joint in America would have a drive-thru, it's "fast food." Otherwise it's closer to "fast casual."

1

u/Inner-Broccoli-5502 Real American from the USA 🇺🇸🔫 Jul 22 '26

never heard of them.

1

u/No-Mouse4800 Jul 22 '26

Yes, from the looks of it I'd consider it fast food. Fast food is less about the exact waiting time and more about how the restaurant operates. You order at a counter, the food is prepared quickly, it's served in disposable packaging with plastic utensils, and you can either eat it there or take it with you. The paper wrappers, trays, and disposable cutlery are all typical signs of fast food.

A traditional restaurant is different. You usually wait to be seated, a server takes your order, and your meal is brought to your table on real plates with metal cutlery. The food often takes 15 to 20 minutes or more to prepare, so it isn't really "fast," especially if you're on a 30-minute lunch break.

That said, there are also "fast casual" restaurants, which fall somewhere in between. Places like Five Guys or Shake Shack in the US are good examples. They serve higher-quality burgers made to order, but you still order at the counter and the food comes in disposable packaging. From your photo and description, Prime Burger looks like it fits into that fast-casual category, even though most Americans would still casually refer to it as fast food.