Fast food includes many different dishes that are cooked and served quickly. These meals are usually found in restaurants or takeout places and are eaten on the go. You’ll learn about various fast food types and names such as burgers, tacos, and pizzas, with examples to help you understand how they’re used. This post will help you learn different types of fast food in English with pictures for use in daily food conversations.
In This Page
Fast Food Types by Main Category
Fast food includes many kinds of ready-to-eat items that are quick to serve and easy to eat. These foods are often sold in restaurants, stalls, or food chains for busy customers. Below is a complete set of common fast food types and names.
Burgers and Sandwiches
These are quick handheld meals with meat, cheese, and vegetables between bread or buns.
Cheeseburgers: Ground beef patties topped with melted cheese in a bun.
Hamburgers: Classic beef burgers served with lettuce, tomato, and sauces.
Chicken Sandwiches: Crispy or grilled chicken in a soft bun.
Submarine Sandwiches: Long bread rolls filled with cold cuts, cheese, and salad.
Breakfast Sandwiches: Filled with egg, bacon, or sausage; often served in the morning.
Pizza Varieties
Pizzas come in many crust styles and toppings, making them a top fast food favorite.
Thin Crust Pizza: Crispy and light crust topped with cheese and sauce.
Deep Dish Pizza: Thick crust filled with heavy cheese and chunky tomato sauce.
Stuffed Crust Pizza: Crust edges filled with cheese or meat.
Calzones: Folded pizza dough with meat, cheese, and sauce inside.
Fried Food Choices
These are crispy and hot foods fried in oil, often served as main dishes or snacks.
Fried Chicken: Chicken pieces deep-fried with seasoned batter.
Chicken Nuggets: Small, breaded and fried chicken bites.
French Fries: Sliced potatoes deep-fried to a golden crisp.
Onion Rings: Sliced onions dipped in batter and fried.
Mozzarella Sticks: Cheese sticks coated in crumbs and fried.
Fast Food from Asian Cuisine
Asian fast food is quick and flavorful, often served in takeout boxes or bowls.
Chinese Takeout Dishes: Fast meals like chow mein, sweet and sour chicken, or beef and broccoli.
Sushi Rolls: Rolled rice and seaweed with fish, veggies, or tofu.
Fried Rice Boxes: Rice stir-fried with meat, eggs, and vegetables.
Korean Fried Chicken: Crispy chicken with spicy or sweet glaze.
Tacos and Mexican-Inspired Fast Foods
These dishes offer bold flavors and ingredients like beans, cheese, and salsa.
Soft Tacos: Tortillas filled with meat, beans, and vegetables.
Hard Shell Tacos: Crunchy shells packed with spiced fillings.
Burritos: Wrapped flour tortillas with rice, beans, meat, and cheese.
Quesadillas: Grilled tortillas filled with cheese and sometimes meat.
Nachos: Tortilla chips topped with cheese, salsa, and jalapeños.
Hot Dogs and Sausages
These are fast, grilled, or steamed sausages in soft buns, served with sauces or toppings.
Classic Hot Dogs: Plain sausage in a bun with ketchup or mustard.
Corn Dogs: Sausage coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried.
Chili Dogs: Hot dogs topped with chili and cheese.
Fast Breakfast Items
Fast food chains serve quick morning items for people on the go.
Hash Browns: Shredded potatoes fried into golden patties.
Breakfast Wraps: Tortillas filled with eggs, cheese, and sausage.
Egg Muffins: English muffins with egg, ham, and cheese.
Pancake Stacks: Fluffy cakes served with syrup and butter.
Fast Food Sides and Add-ons
These smaller items are served alongside meals or ordered alone.
Garlic Bread: Bread slices topped with garlic butter and toasted.
Coleslaw: Chopped cabbage salad with creamy dressing.
Mashed Potatoes: Soft potatoes blended with butter and gravy.
Breadsticks: Long, soft bread served warm.
Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts
Sweet cold treats often found in fast food chains or dessert counters.
Soft Serve Ice Cream: Smooth ice cream served from a machine.
Sundaes: Ice cream topped with syrup, nuts, and whipped cream.
Milkshakes: Blended drinks made with ice cream and milk.
Frozen Yogurt: Chilled yogurt dessert with fruit or candy toppings.
Fast Food Beverages
Quick-to-serve drinks that go with meals or sold separately.
Sodas: Fizzy soft drinks like cola, orange, or lemon-lime.
Lemonade: Sweet and tangy drink made from lemon juice.
Iced Coffee: Chilled coffee drinks served sweet or plain.
Smoothies: Blended fruit or vegetable drinks.
Regional and Cultural Fast Foods
Famous fast food items from different countries and regions around the world.
Indian Samosas: Fried pastries filled with potatoes and peas.
Turkish Döner Kebabs: Meat cooked on a vertical spit and served in bread.
Middle Eastern Shawarma: Thinly sliced meat rolled in pita bread.
Filipino Jollibee Meals: Fast food meals like spaghetti, burgers, or fried chicken from Jollibee.
Vegetarian Fast Food Options
Plant-based fast food choices without meat, often made for health or diet reasons.
Veggie Burgers: Burgers made from beans, lentils, or vegetables.
Grilled Cheese: Toasted sandwich with melted cheese.
Salad Boxes: Bowls of fresh vegetables, fruits, or grains.
Tofu Wraps: Tortilla wraps filled with grilled tofu and veggies.
Fast Food Combo Meals
Meal sets with one main, a side, and a drink, often offered at a discounted price.
Burger Meals: A burger served with fries and a drink.
Pizza and Wings Combo: Slices of pizza with chicken wings and a soda.
Family Packs: Large meals meant for sharing.
Kids’ Meals: Smaller meals with toys for children.
Drive-Thru and Takeaway Snacks
Fast bites you can order on the go without dining in.
Chicken Wraps: Grilled or fried chicken in a wrap.
Mini Sandwiches: Small-sized sandwiches, easy to eat quickly.
Sliders: Tiny burgers often served in sets.
Quick Fast Food by Cooking Style
Fast food cooked by grilling, roasting, or steaming for variety in taste.
Grilled Fast Food: Items cooked on open flames for a smoky flavor.
Roasted Chicken Meals: Oven-cooked chicken with seasoning.
Steam-cooked Dumplings: Soft dumplings with meat or veggies inside, steamed until cooked.
FAQs about Types of Fast Food
Fast food includes items like burgers, pizzas, fried chicken, tacos, and sandwiches, usually prepared quickly for takeout or dine-in.
Fast food refers to ready-to-eat meals like fries, hot dogs, wraps, and nuggets that are made quickly and served in casual settings.
Yes, pizza is one of the most common fast food types, with many varieties like thin crust, deep dish, or stuffed.
Vegetarian fast food options include veggie burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, tofu wraps, and fresh salad boxes.
Popular fast foods in Asia include fried rice boxes, sushi rolls, samosas, Korean fried chicken, and shawarma.
Read More
