12 Fast Food Restaurants That Have A Special Place In The Hearts Of Celebs
With all the elevated talents that celebrities have, they sometimes seem superhuman. It's as if they couldn't have anything in common with their fans. They couldn't possibly shop at the same stores or eat at the same restaurants that us regular folks do.
But that couldn't be further from the truth. They're not so different from everyone else. Even some of the biggest names in Hollywood have that urge to seek out a Double Double or a Krispy Kreme. And it really isn't all that unusual to find stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Justin Bieber, Anna Kendrick, or Gordon Ramsay waiting in line at the drive thru. Yes, even reality TV star Kim Kardashian occasionally gets a hankering for McDonald's french fries.
Where else do celebrities like to indulge? Lots of places! Whether it's burgers, burritos, pizzas, or pumpkin spice lattes, many celebrities enjoy fast food just like the rest of us. Read on to find where your favorites satisfy their cravings.
McDonald's
Kim Kardashian isn't the only one who loves the Golden Arches, where she occasionally treats herself to chicken nuggets, a cheeseburger, fries, an apple pie, and a vanilla shake. In 2013, MTV reported that Jennifer Lawrence stopped by McDonald's on her way to the Oscars ceremony, where she won best actress for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook." "I forgot to eat because I was so stressed trying to leave the house," she said. "I got in the car and could see the McDonald's right there, so ..."
In 2015, actress, screenwriter, and producer Mindy Kaling tweeted her love for the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish extra value meals and sundaes. On his late-night talk show on TBS, Conan O'Brien good-naturedly accused Kaling of being "on their payroll" due to the many times she has tweeted about the fast food chain. She admitted to being a busy person who enjoyed the convenience of ordering a Quarter Pounder and fries.
In 2018, supermodel Heidi Klum posted images of a Big Mac and fries to Instagram. Even Kardashian's ex, rapper Kanye "Ye" West, went so far as to pen a poem in 2016 about the world's largest fast food chain for Frank Ocean's magazine "Boys Don't Cry." In a 2020 TV commercial McDonald's shared the favorite orders of several celebrities, including Keith Urban, Millie Bobby Brown, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Mahomes, Magic Johnson, and more. So many celebrities are fans of McDonald's that it's nearly impossible to list them all.
Chipotle
Chipotle capitalizes on its popularity among certain influencers with a personalized Celebrity Card that grants the bearer free Chipotle for a year. Insider reported that in 2022, DJ and music producer Diplo brought attention to the card's existence when he used his to purchase meals for the 100 people behind him in line at the Mexican grill where he was grabbing some grub.
Chipotle's director of social and influencers, Candice Beck, told Insider, "To be considered for a Celebrity Card, you must be an authentic fan of Chipotle and organically be sharing your passion for the brand in everyday life." The first Chipotle Celebrity Card was created for mega fan and musician Ozzy Osbourne in 2003. While most cards expire after a year, Ozzy's does not.
Chipotle is also a favorite among athletes. Fast Casual reported in 2021 that the chain created a menu of specific athletes' favorite Chipotle orders so that fans could enjoy the same food as the likes of WNBA player Nneka Ogwumike, champion sprinter Michael Norman, and beach volleyball player Alix Klineman.
Former President Barack Obama has even been spotted at Chipotle. A picture was posted to Twitter as proof.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is popular with Californians everywhere, so is it any wonder that celebrities, many of whom are based in the Los Angeles area, love it too?
Kim Kardashian's go-to order at In-N-Out is a plain cheeseburger with cheese fries and a vanilla shake. Her sister Kylie Jenner is also a fan of the fast food chain (per YouTube). Pop star icon Beyoncé once posted a selfie to Instagram featuring a plate with an In-N-Out burger and fries next to a glass of champagne.
Some celebrity chefs are also In-N-Out fans. The late Anthony Bourdain told Eater that his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles was In-N-Out. He said he would stop by the location next to Los Angeles International Airport both on his way in and out of town. Gordon Ramsay told LiveSigning that he orders a Double Double Animal Style (a double cheeseburger with leaf lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, and the chain's famous spread) after working out. And in 2015, Padma Lakshmi wore a glamorous gown while holding an In-N-Out burger for a photo posted to Instagram.
Shake Shack
In a controversial move, model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen told Refinery29 in 2017, "I'm gonna go ahead and say Shake Shack over In-N-Out." While the rivalry between the two burger joints is perhaps not legendary, it is still very real among some fans. In-N-Out is famously clustered around California and in five other states, but Shake Shack has locations all over the world, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
Among the chain's superfans is Klay Thompson, a guard for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. In 2021, food delivery service Uber Eats partnered with Shake Shack to deliver to fans Thompson's favorite order: a Chicken Shack (the chain's signature crispy chicken sandwich) with an order of crinkle cut fries and a chocolate shake. For a limited time during the promotion, the price of the meal was lowered from $18 to $11, and random customers who ordered the meal were awarded with a miniature basketball hoop or bucket hat to be more like their hero.
Model Hailey Bieber, wife to Justin Bieber, is also a fan. When asked by Vogue in 2019 what mystery she would solve, she didn't hesitate. "The Shake Shack special sauce," she replied.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Who can resist a sweet, fried doughnut? Certainly not these famous fans of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
Shaquille O'Neal told Sports Illustrated in 2017, the chain's 80th year in business, that he "could probably eat a whole box" of the glazed goodness. The former NBA star owns a Krispy Kreme franchise in Georgia. "It's the No. 1 franchise in Atlanta," he said.
O'Neal is not the only celebrity to get into the Krispy Kreme game. Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett opened a Krispy Kreme franchise in Palm Beach County, Florida, more than two decades ago and later signed on as part of a larger partnership to help oversee the chain's South Florida operations. One of Krispy Kreme's senior vice presidents told the Greensboro News & Record, "He really has a passion for our product." Buffett also included a reference to Krispy Kreme in his song "I Will Play for Gumbo," which is on his 1999 album "Beach House on the Moon."
In 2013, Bloomberg posted photos of several celebrities eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The list included the likes of former The Tonight Show host Jay Leno, Rev. Jesse Jackson, model and reality TV host Heidi Klum, actress Frances McDormand, singer Usher, and former President Barack Obama.
Taco Bell
It turns out that one of Taco Bell's biggest fans is Academy Award-nominated actress Anna Kendrick. She told Conan O'Brien in 2012, "I love Taco Bell. ... It's like a kind of secret. It's like a dirty thing that I love Taco Bell so much." She admitted to going through the Taco Bell drive-thru late at night and then eating in her car. "I need help, Conan."
She is not alone. In 2015, while in Japan, Katy Perry posted a photo of herself waiting for an hour outside a Taco Bell in Tokyo to Instagram, saying, "You can take the girl out of America but you can't take the Taco Bell out of the girl." Actor and singer Justin Timberlake also posted a photo to Instagram showing himself behind the counter posing with Taco Bell employees in 2014 after the People's Choice Awards. "What do we do after we win 3 PCAs?!?! Easy ... Go to Taco Bell!! People's Champ, baby!!" he said.
Did you know Taco Bell has a taco truck? Reality TV show "Vanderpump Rules" stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright did. People reported that they had one parked outside their rehearsal dinner the night before their wedding in 2019.
Jimmy John's
Even big-name fast food chains like Jimmy John's exist in only so many places. But a celebrity's love can sometimes help expand that reach.
Drew Brees, the former NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, first got a taste of Jimmy John's sandwiches when he attended Indiana's Purdue University beginning in 1997. Brees told AOL that he would order Jimmy John's "like, three times a week."
After he graduated and began playing in the NFL, Brees no longer lived near a Jimmy John's. By the time he signed with the Saints, he said he decided he could no longer live without his favorite sandwiches. On a visit to Purdue in 2010, while "taking a bite into a No. 9 Italian Night Club," Brees came to a decision, telling himself, "Alright, that's it. I have to bring Jimmy John's to New Orleans."
Fortunately, Jimmy John's had recently decided to move into Louisiana, and Brees eagerly signed on as an early franchisee. These days, the chain has more than 2,700 locations in 43 states.
Domino's Pizza
Actress Lili Reinhart is known not only for playing Betty Cooper on the CW's "Riverdale" but also for her love of Domino's Pizza.
"Brb ordering Dominos now," Reinhart tweeted with a "Riverdale" animated gif in 2017. A week later, she tweeted an animated gif of her character, Betty, and KJ Apa's character, Archie, along with text that read, "KJ and I when we ordered Dominos to a boujee hotel bar/lounge." In 2019, she tweeted an animated gif of her character, Betty, talking on the phone while turning to a door. It read: "Someone's at the door ... and it isn't Dominos."
Reinhart admitted to MTV that she can be a picky eater and has often had pizza delivered to the set while filming. On one occasion, she said, the pizza delivery person saved her phone number for his own personal use and "tried to get me to follow him on Instagram." Not a cool move.
Popeyes
If you were "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," that apparently meant occasionally eating fast food. When Khloé Kardashian was pregnant in 2018, she tweeted about wanting food from fried chicken fast food chain Popeyes. She has also shared pictures of herself and her sister Kourtney enjoying Popeyes on their private jet to Instagram. Makeup artist Joyce Bonelli posted another photo to Instagram featuring the sisters boarding a small plane with a large bag of Popeyes food.
Anthony Edwards, NBA player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is another fan. In 2021, he brought a bag of Popeyes to a post-game media interview (per Twitter). A year later, according to a Twitter post by podcaster Dane Moore, when talking about building more muscle and dropping some body fat, Edwards was asked whether that meant he was giving up eating at Popeyes. "That's hard. That's the hardest thing to do," he said.
In 2021, Popeyes partnered with a Grammy Award-winning artist, creating Megan Thee Stallion Hottie Sauce. In a news release posted on Business Wire, the star said, "I've always been a fan of the Popeyes brand and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join the brand and help create the new [sauce]."
Starbucks
"During the week, I try to eat healthily, so that means salads, yogurt, and sandwiches," singer-songwriter Taylor Swift told WebMD in 2010. On the weekend, she said her diet is less structured and more indulgent. One daily treat that she refuses to give up, however, is Starbucks. On weekdays, she said she orders skinny vanilla lattes. On weekends, it's pumpkin spice lattes. "The point," she tells WebMD, "is I'm never cutting out what I love, which is Starbucks." In 2021, she partnered with the mega chain to promote her re-released album and share her latest favorite drink, a grande caramel nonfat latte, which Swifties soon learned to ask for by ordering "Taylor's latte" or "Taylor's drink."
According to J-14, Ariana Grande, Zendaya, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucy Hale, JoJo Siwa, and many more celebrities are also fans of the Seattle-based coffee chain. Brit+Co reported that actress Katie Holmes' go-to order is a half-caf soy latte. Singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus opts for a nonfat white mocha. Pop icon Britney Spears enjoys both Frappuccinos and iced coffees.
Swift is not alone in her love of pumpkin spice lattes. Actress Renee Zellweger reportedly orders one regularly while it is in season. Actress Abigail Breslin posted a picture to Instagram of a Starbucks cup and said, "THIS is a pumpkin spice latte. Never been happier. FINALLY." Then there's actress Danielle Fishell, who once tweeted: "Salted caramel mocha > pumpkin spice latte. Please don't kick me off the tweet machine but someone had to say it."
Wendy's
While founder Dave Thomas may have been a celebrity in his own right after appearing in countless Wendy's ads, the fast food chain has plenty of other famous followers.
When actress Florence Pugh appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in December 2019, she discussed her role in the movie adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel "Little Women" as well as some behind-the-scenes moments. Pugh revealed that while waiting for the horses to be reset when filming a Parisian carriage scene, her costar, award-winning actress Meryl Streep, said, "Oh, I would just kill for some fries right now." Pugh continued, "And within seconds, there was a [production assistant] that was out of breath ... and they had grabbed Wendy's fries in about 10 minutes." Another of Pugh's costars, Timothée Chalamet, recorded the moment for posterity, posting pictures on Instagram of the group eating Wendy's fries in their period costumes (per People).
Kim Kardashian and Kanye "Ye" West were also caught on camera years before their split dining out at Wendy's (via Twitter).
Tim Hortons
It is not an exaggeration to say that Tim Hortons is beloved by many Canadians. Although Timmies locations are scattered around the globe, the vast majority of restaurants are in its home country.
In 2019, CTV reported that Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes teamed up with Tim Hortons to celebrate his then-upcoming show at Toronto's Rogers Centre. An image of Mendes was printed on hot beverage cups as well as reusable ceramic tumblers. Said Mendes, "Tims has been a part of my life since before I can remember and I'm so proud to share my love for this Canadian tradition."
Fellow Canadian and pop star Justin Bieber has often shared his love for Timmies over the years. In March 2011, he tweeted, "late night McDonald's in Germany. I wish they had a Tim hortons. lol." Later that year, he tweeted, "TIM HORTONS!! I missed you. #CANADA" and posted a picture of his order on Instagram.
Bieber was excited to collaborate with Tim Hortons in 2021 on three new flavors of Timbits (the Tim Hortons version of doughnut holes). These "Timbiebs Timbits," as they were called, featured chocolate white fudge, sour cream chocolate chip, and birthday cake waffle. Bieber told People, "Doing a Tim Hortons collab has always been a dream of mine. I grew up on Tim Hortons and it's always been something close to my heart." A year later, People reported that Bieber joined with Tim Hortons again to create "Biebs Brew," a French vanilla cold brew.