Popular Fast Food Menu Items Ranked

First up are apple slices, and this low ranking is for reasons you likely can already imagine. Though ordering apple slices at the drive-thru might seem like a noble and healthful pick, it usually only takes a few milliseconds after you've received them to realize they aren't all they're cracked up to be.

The average whole apple at the grocery store will cost you less than a buck, and though prices on packets of fast food apples vary, sometimes they'll ring up close to a dollar. This wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for the fact that the apple slices you receive at fast food joints are, quite literally, just a few slices of apple. Not only that, but they also taste oddly different, with almost a watery vibe that we can't quite put our finger on.

We don't know about you, but while fine for kids or as a healthier side option, we'll have to pass on consistently buying this one. The price point isn't worth it, and the portion size likely won't keep anyone older than the age of 5 full for very long.

While we admit it's not very often you'll see pizza served at a traditional fast food spot, it does happen on occasion, so we thought we'd make it part of the list. Pizza usually comes and goes at fast food restaurants, with places like Subway and Panera Bread giving it their best shot. As you might imagine, pizza ranks pretty low on our list of best fast food fare because, after all, everyone knows the best pizza comes from locally owned pizzerias.

Still, the consensus on fast food pizza is usually really bad or average at best. And while that's fine if you're just looking for a super basic pizza, it isn't so great when you're a self-declared pizza connoisseur and want a mouthful of piping hot pie with some quality. For this reason, fast food pizza has earned itself a lower rank than some of the other items. It usually isn't too bad, but it also isn't crazy good, either.

We're climbing the list a bit, and as we do, the outlook has the potential to transition from drab to helpful, offering a more promising perspective. Chicken nuggets are often more closely associated with kids' meals than they are adult cuisine, but if we're being honest, many of us love eating them. Whether it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane or an irresistible explosion of flavors, both serve as valid motivations to indulge in a generous helping of them at your neighborhood fast food joint.

Still, chicken nuggets can be a bit boring unless they're paired with something. We don't know many people who take their chicken nuggets plain, and since they don't normally come with customizable options, you're kind of just stuck with the same old nugget with every order. Nevertheless, the dipping sauces at several fast food locations are what give us hope for this old-time classic, with many restaurants offering fun and yummy options to dunk your chicken nuggets in. Choose from dips like barbecue, ranch, or honey mustard to get you started. These sauces often breathe new life into drab old nuggets, and for that, we're grateful!

Love cooking up fluffy baked potatoes in your own kitchen? Depending on which restaurant you frequent, you might be able to order something similar right from your local fast food menu.

Baked potatoes are a lighter and healthier fast food alternative to fries. And since they aren't drenched in a lot of oil, you can feel good about ordering one to pair with your salad, grilled chicken sandwich, or burger. Fast food joints often dish up baked potatoes topped with a variety of ingredients, which, in our opinion, is part of the fun. But if you aren't into soft potatoes stuffed with cheese, sour cream, and other heavy toppings, try asking for your potato plain instead.

From what we can tell, Wendy's and Arby's offer the most variety for loaded baked potatoes, but you can likely find them other places as well. Just keep your eyes peeled if you want to give this somewhat uncommon side a go. With potatoes that can be stuffed with lots of yummy toppings, we're willing to bet you'll be glad you did!

Hot dogs aren't on every fast food menu, but when they are, you're usually in for a treat. In general, it isn't hard to make a good hot dog, but some restaurants feature better quality meat and toppings than others. Freddy's Frozen Custard, for example, carries fresh Vienna beef dogs, while other yummy quick-serve hot dog joints make no such claim. Regardless, a good hot dog is a good hot dog, especially when you have fun toppings like bacon, cheese, onions, and chili to choose from. We've found that places like Portillo's and others have particularly tasty hot dog combos that, in fact, may actually make you forget all about that typical burger that's usually dominating your order. 

Load it up the way you like, but just remember that you might not find hot dogs gracing every fast food chain menu. If you do happen to snag a good dog, consider yourself lucky. Grab one, two, or three, and get ready to chow down!

A good fish sandwich is such a fun find, especially if you tend to drool over flavor combinations like tartar sauce, cheddar, coleslaw, malt vinegar, and fries. Every fast food chain does its own version of fried fish a little differently, and of course, some taste better than others. Still, when it comes to fish, everyone has their own version of what's acceptable and what's not, making the prized fish sandwich a very subjective, albeit much-sought-after item gracing fast food menus.

Restaurants like McDonald's often keep their fish sandwiches classically simple with a good helping of tartar sauce and cheddar layered atop a soft and fluffy bun. Other fast food establishments, like Culver's, take it up a notch by offering fresh crunchy cod on top of a bed of lettuce and hearty hoagie all while drowning the fish filet in a special recipe tartar sauce and serving it with a side of fries and cole slaw.

Despite the potential for opposing views, we think fish sandwiches are a fresh and tasty spin on otherwise heavy fast food cuisine. For that reason, fish sandwiches earn a special place in our hearts as an amazing fast food menu option, especially when you're in the mood for something different.

Whoever came up with breakfast sandwiches seriously deserves a pat on the back. Breakfast sandwiches help make our mornings worth waking up for, especially on a busy Monday when we'd love nothing more than to be back in bed asleep. It's for this reason we deem breakfast sandwiches worthy of your purchase and, not only that, but the fact is you also have a plethora of choices to pick from when visiting various fast food chains that work to make things that much more pleasing.

So, what uniquely filling breakfast items are out there? Try Wendy's Breakfast Baconator on your next morning run or try McDonald's well-known McGriddle if you like sweet and savory. In need of something different? Try the honey butter chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-A instead. No matter which sammie you choose, we're willing to bet it'll start your day off right. In fact, we can almost guarantee it.

You may be curious about why we've ranked the chicken sandwich as our top choice for fast food offerings. The reasoning is simple: They taste really good. Don't trust our judgment? Just take a look at major chains like Chick-fil-A that have made the majority of their profits simply selling chicken sandwiches to avid fans. Reddit users concur, stating that chicken sandwiches appeal to the "adult" palate as opposed to when we were Happy Meal-crazed kids. They also seem to fare better on the stomach than heavy greasy burgers do.

Today, fast food chains offer a plethora of yummy choices when it comes to chicken, including options like grilled chicken sandwiches, fried chicken sandwiches, chicken on biscuits, and more. When paired with filling and wholesome sides like a baked potato, salad, or fries, you've got a flavorful fast food order that'll suit even the pickiest taste buds. Enjoy!