9 Best Fast-Food Chains That Actually Serve Beer
In one of the best scenes in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, two characters discuss the differences between life in Europe and America. In the course of the conversation, at one point Vincent, played by Jon Travolta, says to Jules, played by Samuel L. Jackson: "You can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer… And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's!" Buy a beer at a fast-food restaurant? Sounds pretty great, but pretty hard to imagine here in America, right? Well, no, not really, actually. While you might not be able to buy a beer at a McDonald's here in the United States, it turns out there are actually quite a few fast-food chains in this country that do indeed serve beer.
In fact, a few fast-food restaurants even have a decent beer selection at the ready. So the next time you want to wet your whistle but also feel a bit peckish, don't settle for bar food, instead grab a quick burger or burrito and get a beer on the side. Here are 9 American fast-food chains where you can buy a legit beer.
(Just be sure to skip these 8 Worst Fast-Food Burgers to Stay Away From Right Now.)
Chipotle
Not only can you buy a beer at most Chipotle locations, but assuming you won't be driving shortly thereafter, you probably should. The chain usually stocks several refreshing beers, reports Black Tail NYC, such as a Modelo lager, that pair perfectly with the savory and spicy foods on the menu. Just note that at most Chipotle restaurants, you can't order just a beer, it must accompany food.
Weinerschnitzel
Not only can you get some tasty hot dogs at a Weinerschnitzel, but at some locations, they even have beer on tap. That's right, not in the bottle—at select Weinerschnitzel restaurants, there's fresh beer on tap, says Mashed.
Shake Shack
The impressive thing about Shake Shack serving beer isn't the fact that they do it, but that they have put together a very fine offering of brews. This not only includes imported and domestic beers but has even involved a partnership with a brewery that led to the creation of an original beer. That was the ShackMeister Ale, created by Brooklyn Brewery expressly for Shake Shack.
Smashburger
Need something cold and refreshing to wash down that 1,090-calorie Double Bacon Smash Burger? How about a beer? At most Smashburger locations, you'll find everything from the expected everyday brews like Coors Light and Miller Lite to richer ales like New Belgium's Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, even spiked seltzers from White Claw.
Sbarro
Traditionally better known for their ubiquity in shopping mall food courts and for their flirts with bankruptcy, today Sbarro is better known to many customers as a place to get a decent slice of pizza and a glass of beer. Or multiple glasses of beer, as at times, the chain has run promotions intended to gin up extra business in the form of free beers. Or, according to The New Journal, a fifth beer free after the purchase of four.
Burger King Whopper Bar
If you find yourself in Orlando, Las Vegas, Miami, or Kansas City, you should pay a Burger King Whopper Bar a visit. And that's partly because it's kind of cool to order a beer or a cocktail from a BK, but also because you can get some Whoppers there that are not on the menu anywhere else, according to Orlando Informer. Whopper Bars stock more toppings than the average Burger King, thus making the experience a unique one in terms of both food and beverage.
Baja Fresh
Baja Fresh has an impressive menu, with classics like quesadillas, tacos, and loaded nachos. And when it comes to booze, they not only offer craft domestic brews and imported Mexican beer, but they also have sangria at most locations, reports Menuism.
Steak 'n Shake
According to The Daily Meal: "Steak 'n Shake is the only traditional old-school major burger chain that sells alcohol," though note that not every location has beer available. Those that do tend to have a middling brew selection, stocked with easy-drinking pilsners or lagers, like Bud Light and Michelob Ultra.
Taco Bell Cantina
Want a beer with your Crunch Wrap Supreme or Beefy 5-Layer Burrito? It's not a problem if you're at a Taco Bell Cantina. In fact, you can go beyond beer and get a rum-based Party Punch, a Margarita, or even a glass of wine. That's because a Taco Bell Cantina is a bar and fast-food joint in one.
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