By: Brayden Marsh and Dahlia Man

Nashville Coop – 5.5/10

Ever wondered what the origins of the Nashville Coop seasoning was? It’s a blend of Southern, Jamaican, and Ethiopian flavors- how unique! Nashville Coop specializes in their chicken which is fresh, tender, and juicy. Aside from the chicken, the fries are always crisp and warm. As every other restaurant that is strongly rooted in chicken, the prices are similar ranging from $10-$16 for a single meal.

We personally found their meals to be appetizing, but nothing typically special. As you go higher on the spice scale, the chicken begins to lose flavor and commences a taste of a powder seasoning that doesn’t blend well with each other. The spice is present, but the flavor doesn’t hit the satisfaction. This is why we rated this restaurant a 5.5/10.

My Burger – 6/10

My Burger is a great local alternative to regular fast food burgers. They are less processed and we personally would rather go here than a McDonald’s or Wendy’s. Their prices aren’t anything special that sets them apart from a regular fast food restaurant, but we’ve also never been disappointed by a meal here, which can’t be said about most fast food chains. They also serve their fries and burger with their garlic or spicy mayo, which is a great addition to the food.

We give My Burger a 6/10 because it’s better than most fast food chains, but it isn’t anything super special that sets it apart from a regular burger.

Hook Fish & Chicken – 7/10

If you love lemon pepper seasoning, Hook Fish & Chicken is the place to go. Hook Fish & Chicken specializes in their signature seasoning coated in their freshly cooked meals. They have a wide variety of seafoods starting from cod dinners to oysters. As for their chicken, they have the classics of tenders, wings, and nuggets.

Although their prices may seem unreasonable, each meal comes in a large portion that could even be split for two. We rate this a 7/10 because they serve fresh foods with flavors that exceed our own tastebuds, but it is easy to become accustomed to. There are great options to get seafood and chicken, and Hook is a great place to start.

Dino’s Gyros – 7/10

Dino’s Gyros is a distinct fast food restaurant in comparison to our well known restaurants- they serve  unique ethnic foods originating from Greece; specializing in gyros. At Dino’s, you build your own gyro; a choice of protein, sauce, and toppings. On their menu, there is a wide selection of different meals you can choose from, such as soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, plates, bowls, and desserts. They serve fresh, high-quality, and flavorful Greek foods that peaks the interests of people who explore different ethnic foods.

We rate this restaurant a 7/10 because the food itself is very delicious and a step away from the usual fast food stereotype, however the portions could be improved for the price you pay, which is why we give it a 7/10.

Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies – 8/10

Davanni’s is a very versatile restaurant because they have so many different foods. They may be a little more expensive than most fast food, however the food makes up for it. They serve an assortment of delicious foods that most fast food chains wouldn’t be able to pull off.

We think Davanni’s is a great option because it’s almost like a dine-in, formal restaurant with the quality of the food they present. They also have very large portions just for a couple more dollars than other fast food, so you’re still getting your money’s worth. Davanni’s food is great, but it’s just slightly pricey which is why we think they deserve an 8/10.

Naf Naf Grill – 8/10 

We think the reason Naf Naf Grill isn’t more popular is likely because most of the time it’s overshadowed by the other fast food restaurants nearby since most of their locations are in malls or shopping centers. However, for the same price as all of these other restaurants, you can get a delicious chicken shawarma wrap that’s put together to your liking. They have an assembly line style menu, so you get to choose exactly what you get and try a variety of options.

This restaurant is great if you want to try something new, however there isn’t anything particularly special about them that would put them above other chicken shawarma restaurants, which is why we give it an 8/10.

Punch Pizza – 10/10

Punch Pizza could be argued as one of the best fast food restaurants in the Twin Cities. Their menu ranges from a price of $10-$16, and for that price you get a freshly oven baked pizza made out of high quality ingredients. We’ve also never had a bad experience at Punch Pizza, and the pizzas always taste better than what you paid for them.

For the price they offer, you could go to any big fast food restaurant and only get a mystery meat burger that sat out for a week prior and fries drenched in oil that’s been sitting in the deep fryer for a month. The food quality and taste for the price at Punch Pizza is ridiculous, which is overall why we gave it a 10/10.