Top Chefs Tell All: The Fast-Food Restaurants They're Not Ashamed to Love

"The hamburger is definitive, greasy but oddly clean-tasting at the same time, and the sauce actually is 'special.' And the shake tastes the way shakes tasted back when I was a kid. It makes me tear up just thinkin' about it." —Alton Brown, host of Iron Chef America
Order: One hamburger "Animal Style" and a chocolate shake

"I dare anyone to tell me their burgers aren't as good as any you'll find anywhere, from fast food to fine dining." —Tyler Florence, host of Tyler's Ultimate
Order: Double-double cheeseburger "Animal Style"

"It's fast, it's hot, there are code words — what's not to enjoy?" —David Myers, Sona and Comme Ca, Los Angeles
Order: Double-double cheeseburger "Animal Style" and fries

"It's the perfect example of classic American fast food. It satisfies my craving for meat, crisp fries, and their special sauce." —Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, California, and Per Se, New York City
Order: Cheeseburger, fries "well done," and a Diet Coke

"It's a rite of passage for all visitors to California." —Nate Appleman, Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, New York City
Order: Two single cheeseburgers, one "Animal Style" and one regular with onions and fries

"The places are incredibly clean. I'm impressed as hell by that. And whatever's in that sauce is tasty." —Charlie Palmer, Aureole, New York City, and Charlie Palmer Steak, multiple locations
Order: Double-double cheeseburger "Animal Style"

"I love their big, fat burritos. Sometimes we'll have them as a fast Sunday night dinner." —Brian Bistrong, Braeburn, New York City
Order: Burrito with extra guacamole and sour cream

"They have a charcoal grill right next to the register where they grill the dogs. I go to Ted's every time I visit my relatives in Buffalo." —Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill, New York City, and Gotham Steak, Miami
Order: Foot-long dog with chili or mustard and relish, fries, and a chocolate shake

*Ted's has been around since 1927 and has eight locations in western New York and Arizona. Visit at tedsonline.com.

"My favorite fast-food memory is probably of Mighty Taco. It's a local [Buffalo] chain that I started going to when I was in high school, and we'd hang out there at 2 and 3 a.m. It was the first time I'd had a taco or any kind of Mexican food." —Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill, New York City, and Gotham Steak, Miami

"I've been going there since I was a kid." —Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill, New York City, and Gotham Steak, Miami
Order: Buster Bar or hot fudge sundae

"Burger King is king! I think overall their fast food packs in the most flavor." —Laurent Tourondel, BLT Restaurants, multiple locations
Order: Whopper

"The food is light, healthier, and the space is designed well." —Laurent Gras, L2O, Chicago
Order: Six-pack of steamed bao (Asian bun)

*A Chicago mini-chain offering buns and potstickers. They even have egg-bacon-cheddar buns for breakfast.

"It might not sound pretty or look pretty, but I can't get enough of them." —Govind Armstrong, Table 8, multiple locations
Order: Brain tacos or carnitas

*A stand-alone in Los Angeles, serving cheap Mexican food and beer since the 1970s.

"Who doesn't like spicy, delicious, perfectly greasy, crunchy fried chicken? Duh." —Michael Schlow, Radius and Via Matta, Boston

"I ate from Five Guys in Brooklyn Heights last month with my son Luca. He is almost two years old. If my wife isn't home, we'll have a guys' night together and pick up burgers and fries." —Brian Bistrong, Braeburn, New York City

"I have my own creation that I order: a chicken cutlet hero with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and loads of Tabasco sauce, which I add myself." —Scott Conant, Scarpetta, New York City and Miami

*A fast-growing chain in New York City.

Kerry Simon, Simon at Palms Place and CatHouse, Las Vegas
Order at Capriotti's: The Bobbie sandwich (wild turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayo)
Order at Wahoo's: Grilled fish taco

"Crunchy, rich, creamy, totally not good for you, delicious." —Craig Hopson, Le Cirque, New York City
Order: Curly fries with buttermilk sauce

"I treat myself to KFC about three times a year. I love that crunchy fried crust. It's like the crumb on top of crumb cake; the chicken is an afterthought, really." —Michael Psilakis, Anthos and Kefi, New York City
Order: A bucket of fried chicken

"I only order the rotisserie chicken (flameante) which is pleasantly seasoned, properly cooked, and comes with some very good ranchero-style pinto beans." —Stephan Pyles, Stephan Pyles Restaurant, Dallas

"They're open late, so I can always get something on my way home from work." —David Burke, Fishtail, New York City

"It's like a fresh, clean, Texas version of McDonald's." —Tim Love, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and Love Shack, Fort Worth, Texas
Order: Whataburger with cheese, bacon, and jalapeños, and two sausage-and-egg taquitos

"They use a skirt steak rather than a lesser cut of meat. And I love the way they cook their tongue." —Paul Bartolotta, Ristorante Bartolotta, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Order: Taco di carne asada or taco di lengua (beef tongue)

*Three locations, all on the same block in Chicago, and there are still lines.