No one knows fast food better than Framingham. You can find it on every corner in this town, but not all drive-thrus are created equal. So we spent weeks sampling burgers (and suffering indigestion) to bring you this official power ranking. The best ones pass the fry test. And if you don’t know what that is, then you need to be eating more fast food. Luckily, there’s no better way to start your journey than with this guide.
Saxonville Burrito Company
$ | (508) 309-7199 | WEBSITE
Picture for a moment if burrito shops were judged by their steak instead of their speed. If that were true, this juicy steak’s archetype would be the classic. You know, the one that sticks to tradition with satisfying results. This steak leans more tender than chewy because it’s cooked with care and quality. But the flavor is still there thanks to a generous chipotle aioli and fresh ingredients. If you want to go even bigger, they also have this in Quesabirria form.
McDonald’s
$ | (508) 875-9771 | WEBSITE
If you’re a fan of unsweetened iced tea, you’ll like this version. It’s swimming in lemon wedges. So while we thought it was a little too tart (especially with the added ice cubes throughout), folks with a preference for tangy drinks might enjoy it more. The helpful staff are a nice touch, too.
Burger King
$ | (508) 875-9832 | WEBSITE
For those who miss the Impossible Whopper at other Burger King locations, we have good news: you can find the same quality at this Framingham spot. Sure, you can get fast food anywhere, but it’s so much better here. It’s fresh and crispy like it just came out of the fryer. The proverbial icing on top is the shake machine that works reliably enough to count on for every visit.
Five Guys
$ | (508) 879-7500 | WEBSITE
The fries at Five Guys are cooked fresh in peanut oil for about ten minutes, giving them a completely unique crispy texture that’s somehow not too greasy. We like these fries, but it’s that crunch that makes them worth seeking out. They taste like they went on a road trip and spent all day in the fryer. Because they kind of did.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
$ | (508) 532-6695 | WEBSITE
Here’s another Jersey Mike’s classic. This one changes from time to time. Sometimes they mix it up with the Philly Cheese Steak, other times they keep it simple with the Turkey Provolone. But it always has that fresh quality we really appreciate. It’s consistently satisfying and straightforward compared to other subs on this list—the kind of meal you can grab any day without feeling guilty about it.
Wendy’s
$ | (508) 620-7360 | WEBSITE
We love the concept. The execution needs some work. Wendy’s is surprisingly clean and quiet, with hot and fast food service, and we now believe that this level of cleanliness deserves to become a fast-food standard. It has a similar appeal to higher-end chains: efficient, pleasant, and consistent. The biggest issue we have with Wendy’s version is with the atmosphere. Your local convenience store probably feels more inviting than this.
So consider this our desperate plea for someone to do something with this space—because we love it so much.
Chick-fil-A
$ | (508) 875-0405 | WEBSITE
Chick-fil-A’s special sauce tastes the closest to the secret family recipe you’d find at a backyard barbecue. It’s a particularly creamy one that clings to your sandwich like that old sticker you can’t peel off your car window. The smoky bacon soaks into each bite and makes the chicken’s top look like a freshly polished copper pan.
