Fast Food Chains With The Best Comfort Food Options

Fast food may (or may not) be synonymous with what we'd all describe as comfort food. In fact, we'd venture to say that nearly all comfort food comes with its own level of subjectivity that hinges on personal perspective and how you define nourishing foods that truly bring contentment. Still, we're willing to bet that most would agree that there are certain foods out there that really work to universally soothe our minds, bodies, and taste buds. Thankfully, many of these same foods are also widely available at your local fast food eatery, even if you've never noticed them there before.

From homestyle favorites to a few unexpected grabs, there's a little something out there for everyone if you're willing to look hard enough. And unlike cooking up your favorite comfort meals at home, ordering from a fast food joint doesn't take more than a few words at the drive-thru speaker and a couple of minutes waiting in line before you can treat your tummy to something truly satisfying.

Eager to learn more? Join us on our mission to uncover the very best comfort food dishes the fast food world has to offer.

Mmmm, how could you not think of mashed potatoes and gravy when you think of ultimate at-home comfort? For some reason, there aren't many fast food joints that offer up decadently whipped potatoes, and we really wish they did. There are, however, at least a handful of restaurants that do, but we've found that one fast food mashed potato pick, in particular, tends to be our favorite ... and that's KFC's mashed potatoes and gravy.

As many others can attest, KFC mashed potatoes have a special aura about them. They're creamy and have a unique taste that makes them stand out from other fast food potatoes we've tried. Not only this, but the gravy is also smooth and superbly flavorful, taking the already deliciously creamy base up and over the edge.

Of course, there are plenty of naysayers out there who claim that KFC mashed potatoes are basically garbage. And to that, we believe those people are entitled to their opinion. We don't actually expect every fast food mashed potato to literally taste like Mom's at-home recipe, but seriously, for what it is, can we all just agree that KFC has done a pretty good job imparting awesome flavor to such a comforting dish?

Hot and fluffy freshly baked biscuits? Yup, that's how Bojangles does it, and no, we aren't just saying that. Bojangles is known to deliver biscuits that are literally baked fresh every day following a 49-step recipe process to ensure maximum freshness. Oh, but that's not all!

As if it weren't enough for Bojangles to offer biscuits in practically the same format our grandma would serve them, it goes the extra mile by giving us the option to select from berry-stuffed biscuits, pimento cheese smeared biscuits, biscuits stuffed with fluffy egg and breakfast meat, and even a fried steak biscuit for a hearty bite on a hungry morning.

Yes, Bojangles really does go all in when it comes to biscuits, and we must say, we're grateful. Not too into all the fancy toppings and mix-ins? No problem. Devour the biscuit plain or with a smidge of honey, jelly, or butter, and enjoy every bite!

Whether you've ever heard of Jollibee before or this is your first time learning about the chain (it has 1,400 locations worldwide), you seriously need to go try its fried chicken. Sure, there are many restaurants out there offering fried chicken by the bucket, and this recommendation is by no means a knock on the others. However, we've noticed that everybody has their own expectation of what good fried chicken should actually taste like, so there's a lot of variability in which fried chicken brand people actually can agree on as tasting good.

Interestingly, this isn't so much the case with Jollibee's chicken. In most instances, people simply adore this fast food restaurant with a Filipino twist, with many claiming the fried chicken there (and even the gravy it offers to dip it in) is nothing short of spectacular. We even found one Reddit user going as far as to say that this fast food joint dishes up chicken that blows even KFC and Popeyes out of the water!

As for us? We're going to pull the "no comment" card on that one since any ranking of the best fried chicken brands tends to be a touchy subject among die-hard fans. Still, these comments serve as proof to show just how delicious most people think the fried chicken at Jollibee truly is.

If pot pie isn't classified as otherworldly in the realm of comfort, we're at a loss for what is. It isn't every day you can visit a fast food joint and see pot pie listed on the menu, but if you're lucky enough to have a KFC near you, you might just be able to snag one during your lunch break.

The KFC pot pie is chock-full of all the usual suspects you'd expect in a satisfying meal made from scratch, with savory chicken doused in warm gravy and mixed with chopped carrots, peas, and soft diced potatoes — ah, we're just melting at the thought! In addition, the pastry used to top the pot pie is light and flaky, making this a delicious and fairly uncommon pick that's sure to comfort you when you're in need of something soothing on the tongue. Pair this up with a Southern sweet tea or classic lemonade, and you've got a close-to-home comfort meal fit for royalty.

Corralling the words "peaches," "cream cheese," and "fried pie" all in one menu item description is enough to make us want to take a special trip to Hardee's, even if there isn't one near us. Yep, it's true; Hardee's offers a peaches and cream cheese fried pie, and, according to one reviewer, this hand-held pie is awesome.

Now, we will say that a peaches and cream cheese pie isn't quite as common of a flavor as apple pie, but the smooth fruity flavor of peaches melded with the rich decadence of cream cheese is enough to make us unequivocally consider this a comfort food, even if we've never necessarily sampled something like this at home.

Indeed, a peach pie has somewhat of a Southern flair to it, and, in accordance with its taste, we're SO here for it. We love the crispness of the fried crust intertwined with the richness of the filling. It's definitely worth grabbing; so be sure to make a trip to your local Hardee's to sample it if it sounds like something that'd suit your fancy.

Culver's is known for serving up hot, fresh, and delicious burgers along with frozen custard fit for a king. But did you know that Culver's also offers its own rendition of fish 'n chips to its customers? It's true. The fish tastes unbelievably tender, flaky, and fresh, something we don't often associate with typical drive-thru fast food.

So, how do you order it? To start, you'll need to decide whether you want to sample Culver's North Atlantic cod either as a sandwich or on its own as part of a meal. The meal naturally comes with cole slaw and fries; however, you could switch out the sides in most circumstances if you really want to. In either case, you can expect the bold, tantalizing flavor of fresh fish that packs such a clean and refreshing taste you'll likely forget you're eating fast food in the first place.

Just as any other true mozzarella cheese fan can attest, not a day goes by when we aren't craving mozzarella sticks. The best cheese sticks come fried to a crispy crunch, offering satisfying amounts of gooey cheese that could stretch for miles if we wanted it to.

Sadly, most fast food mozzarella sticks aren't likely to achieve these high standards ... but Arby's? It definitely knows how to get the job done right. Arby's mozzarella sticks are fried to a perfect crisp and deliver an impeccable amount of cheese with an infinite stretch, making it truly worthy of its prestigious "cheese stick" name. It is then served with a cup of hearty marinara, which makes the perfect pairing for this exceptional Arby's offering that truly melts our hearts.

No, it isn't a health food, nor should it be. But if it's pure unadulterated comfort you're after, welcome to the ultimate comfort food.