Severe lack of fast food options in this area (Alexandria: homes, live)

[Lemming95]

traffic..(you can blame anything on traffic in NOVA)

The drive through is an important part of a fast food place .If you don't have the capacity for the folks to use a drivethrough you can't make a living. And that is a lot of land and $$$

[michgc]

A good local chain is California Tortilla. It's similar to Baja Fresh. It started in Bethesda and has expaneded into Pennsylvania and Delaware as well as DC, MD, and VA. It's very good.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by beatlecrazy

I always thought we had an over abundance of fast food places. I live in Manassas now, and there are tons of Taco Bells, Chick Fil A, KFC, etc. One that I haven't seen is Sonic, but I've never been there yet. I get tired of fast food since most of it tastes the same, but every once in a blue moon I have a craving for some TB or a Jr. Whopper from BK. Last time I was even at a McDonald's was over a year ago - I have no desire to frequent those places.

I think the point several earlier posters were making is that conditions in Manassas and other communities farther away from DC have many more fast food options because the cost of operation of the business isn't as bad as in close in areas. You won't find many Wendy's, McDonald's, etc. in Arlington or Alexandria, nor in the District. When I moved here from the midwest I was surprised at how few there were, having been accustomed to driving in any direction for 3 minutes and having at least one such joint. But I soon located all of the DC area ones near my house :-).

I think someone made a good point about the drive through window. If people wanted to get out of their cars, they would likely go to places like Chili's or a local restaurant.

Also, around here a lot of supermarkets are expanding their prepared food/take out selections. Probably 1/3 of the Whole Foods in Clarendon is devoted to this, and a big chunk of Harris Teeter is too (their sushi is great- expensive tho'). I think these substitute for some fast food convenience, since people can pick up groceries at the same time.

[HereinVA]

Originally Posted by Lemming95

traffic..(you can blame anything on traffic in NOVA)

The drive through is an important part of a fast food place .If you don't have the capacity for the folks to use a drivethrough you can't make a living. And that is a lot of land and $$$

What about 5 Guys? I don't think any of them have drive thrus (at least, I've never seen one) yet they've done well.

[persnicketygal]

Originally Posted by saganista

Living in the Vienna area, I've got NINE Chick-Fil-A's within ten miles of me. Never been to any of them, but it doesn't seem like we have any sort of shortage in that area in these particular parts. We have plenty of Greek and assorted other carry-outs as well. A little more expensive perhaps, but better food, and cellphones make it easy to call ahead so your order ready by the time you get there. Good food fast.

"Good food fast"-- this is is what I was talking about. Need to find a good Greek carryout place (right now, I get my gyro fix at Metro 29 diner).
To me, Baja Fresh falls into that category. I think that's the variety we need, and maybe more people would drive right by the typical fast-food places. Kind of sad that you can't get a really good, freshly made salad quickly, unless you stop into the grocery stores that have the salad bars.

There are plenty of McDonald's/Taco Bell/Wendys and the like on the main arteries around here [insert your own "fast food/arteries" joke here], but they've become unappetizing. Last time I stopped in at Wendys for a fish sandwich, it was hardly cooked.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by persnicketygal

"Good food fast"-- this is is what I was talking about. Need to find a good Greek carryout place (right now, I get my gyro fix at Metro 29 diner).
To me, Baja Fresh falls into that category. I think that's the variety we need, and maybe more people would drive right by the typical fast-food places. Kind of sad that you can't get a really good, freshly made salad quickly, unless you stop into the grocery stores that have the salad bars.

There are plenty of McDonald's/Taco Bell/Wendys and the like on the main arteries around here [insert your own "fast food/arteries" joke here], but they've become unappetizing. Last time I stopped in at Wendys for a fish sandwich, it was hardly cooked.

I know I'm probably wrong here, but I think there are different levels of food service. I consider true fast food to be McDonalds, Arby, Burger King, Taco Bell--you know those places where the food is made somewhere else and basically cooked by machines and barely assembled.

Five Guys, Baja Fresh, Noodles & Co., Moby Dick, Qdoba, Chipotle, just seem a notch of from my idea of fast food. Sure, it's fast, but it's also more hands on, mostly not *as fast* and higher quality. Those places I don't really count as fast food but somewhere in between fast food and restaurant fare.

[chariega]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I know I'm probably wrong here, but I think there are different levels of food service. I consider true fast food to be McDonalds, Arby, Burger King, Taco Bell--you know those places where the food is made somewhere else and basically cooked by machines and barely assembled.
Five Guys, Baja Fresh, Noodles & Co., Moby Dick, Qdoba, Chipotle, just seem a notch of from my idea of fast food. Sure, it's fast, but it's also more hands on, mostly not *as fast* and higher quality. Those places I don't really count as fast food but somewhere in between fast food and restaurant fare.

This is how I think of it too. I think there are plenty of "not so fast" food places, just like the ones you mentioned, plus the places you can call ahead.

For a person in a hurry, who just wants to grab food without that typically long-ish wait, there isn't much VARIETY around here. There's McD's and Wendy's by the boatload, but not a lot of other options closer in.

[persnicketygal]

No you're not wrong, but why does "fast food" always have to be the lower rung? I'm glad that the people behind Baja Fresh decided to push that envelope. (Have been only to Five Guys among the mix you list, don't like it, but it seems like the 10-minute wait there still gets you the same quality as Wendys).
For me and my lifestyle and food preferences, fast food includes those places that you still might have to wait 10, 15 minutes, or call your order in ahead of time, but it's not quite a tablecloth or sit-down restaurant. Jerry's Subs is in that category, to me (where a chicken "cheese steak" fits in that more-healthy alternative). Just wish there was a better variety of better quality, you know?

I think with a little more variety, more people would realize that they're not locked into the 5-minute drive-through. Are we really all in such a hurry for cheap, so-so food? (Not that I've not done it, but still ...)

[queenswake]

I'm specifically talking about the Alexandria area bounded by 395 and 495. It's incredible how such a huge, dense geographic area has so few options for fast food. As of a couple of years ago, there is not even a single Wendy's in this region, no KFC, no Burger King, no Taco Bell outside of a mall. And few options even bordering this region.

I heard that Chipotle is demoing a new Asian takeout concept, so that could be interesting. Since everyone likes Chipotle, maybe this will spread too.

[pcity]

Wendy's is in Alexandria near the intersection of Van Dorn and Duke. Same plaza as Safeway.