50 Best Fast Food Restaurants in Durham

“I love the food Go there for the best food ever“

“I was there while my dad was in the ER. The service was top notch as usual but the kindness demonstrated by the staff was more than I could have asked for. Truly great people and service. ❤️“

“Shout out to the nice gentleman that helped me when I did a mobile order to the wrong store! I've always had very pleasant experiences here!! Thank you again!!“

“EVERYTHING!!! 🤤🤤😋😋😋❤️💙👍💯 this place I recommend as the best burger joint I ever went to. it is soo yummy. 😍🥰🙃“

“Thank you for donating lunch for our volunteers and staff here at Habitat for Humanity Restore Durham Thank you“

“My dad used to take us as kids to this Captain D's when we lived in Durham (2000s). He moved to Graham, NC two years ago but he still travels to this restaurant at least once a month. Today, he invited my siblings and I to join him. This time we did not use one table like the old days, we needed three because we each have children of our own! It is always a pleasure dining in because the staff is always extra nice and caring. Today we felt extra loved and cared for, not only by our parents, but by every staff member of Captain D's. I didn't catch everyone's name, but I wanted to give a huge shout out to each and every member that was working today. We were there around 11:47 a.m. and we look forward to going back soon. After all, we enjoy that 40 minute drive, too!“

“9/29/26
I visited Cookout twice in the past 2 weeks for dinner. I made a point to visit again because Jacs (or Jacks) provided excellent service. She was so personable and friendly and her positive and bubbly energy made my day.

I have been visiting cookout since it opened. My family and I always enjoy their burger combo with fries and nuggets and sweet tea. The grilled chicken breast sandwich is smaller but still good. It’s a nice clean location and the service is top notch.“

“First of all, shout out to the staff! They saw my birthday story on IG and actually came out to wish me a happy birthday. 🥹 Once they realized it was our first time there, one of the employees walked us through the menu, made sure everything was made correctly, and was just genuinely kind. I didn't catch her name, but she definitely made our first visit even better.

Now...let's get to the food. 😏

Here's what we ordered:
🥭 Mango Habanero Chicken Strips
🍟 Buffalo Ranch Chicken Fries
🦀 Lemon Garlic Crab & Shrimp Fries
🍗 Buffalo, Buffalo Lemon Pepper & *I think* Lemon Cajun Wings
🍉 Watermelon Lemonade

I don't do bone-in chicken, but my parents said the wings were good.

I was a little skeptical about the whole lemon garlic + seafood + cheese situation...but somehow it WORKED! Lol

Everything was delicious!

I've been wanting to go back ever since...but I'm also trying to unbig my back 😅...and I'm not in the area nearly as much as I used to be.

I'll definitely be back though!“

“Good food up to the usual five guys standards if not better. The fries are amazing. The one downside is five guys increased cost but on the flip side for that increased cost you are getting a damn good burger and fries fried in peanut oil and they also tell you the farm where the potatoes came from so even trade off in my opinion“

“service is great ..Food is awesome“

“Today, friday around 2pm, this crew produced an incredible tray, best i’ve had in a long time. burger made right, plenty of cajun on non soggy fries, quesadilla not overcooked and plenty of sauce inside. Cashier gave ample honey mustard. 10/10 cookout experience“

“Great food and even better service. customer service still means something at Chick-fil-A.“

“We took our students to eat at Cookout for the first time and everything was great! The prices were affordable for out students and plenty of room to dine in. Thank you for the wonderful service you provided for out students and staff. We had an awesome time. May God continue to bless you all!“

“This was a Mecca experience for me! Have been craving Del taco ever since moving away from the West Coast. It was awesome to be able to eat a half pound bean cheese burrito, churros, and a chicken, soft taco once again…

The food was quite fast. However, unfortunately, the service was not stellar. I stood at the counter for a while before someone asked me how I was. I told him I was great and I was ready to order. Then they told me I needed to use the kiosk.

I’ve seen this at a couple of Taco Bell‘s as well. It seems like these locations are deterring a register team member. It’s almost like the push for self check out in retail.“

“The food was delicious 😋 exceptional service. Although there was a very long line at drive thru, they got us all out in good time. Better than what I expected. My house salad was great. Had hot honey mustard wings and sweet and spicy wings. The wings were delicious and not hard .“

“You can never go wrong with cookout when you don't want to cook. You better open your box to verify you received all your food. Especially if ordering 4 plates. Even with ordering 4 plates they are still stingy with the sauces. Quick and hot always.“

“Awesome food!!“

“My favorites are the Chicken Pot Pie soup with the pie crust crumbles on top and the Powerhouse salad with artichokes.“

“I went to this cookout on 70 1540 Miami blvd this afternoon on Sunday and it was my first time at cookout and I want to thank cashier Xavier for helping what I wanted and I said that .. because he was suggesting items to me when I came to speaker and he was very cheerful and patient .. also he was greeting me and smiling .. he got my order correct and food was fresh and delicious .. I’m very highly satisfied and I am coming back“

“The Staff, like Mr. Philip, Ms. Rebecca, Mr. T, and several others are really great here. Friendly, accommodating, if there may be any issues. Food is tasty, and hot. Love ccx ation is very convenient. I keep returning to this location.“

“This location of Chick-fil-A doesn't have the mobile through drive through feature, so it can take a little longer than normal if you're used to using Mobile Thru. It still moves pretty quickly, and the people are very friendly and helpful there. The parking lot is small, I've never tried to park and go in to the actual restaurant, but I imagine during busy times of the day it would be difficult to do so because of the traffic coming and going for the drive through.“

“Okay. I'm not local. I wasn't sure what to expect. But I've heard great things about Biscuitville. Great things. This was very good. I had the No. 1 combo. Cheese, egg, crispy bacon on a Biscuit! with a hash brown patty and some of the best coffee I've had in ages. This is a fast food joint. Very friendly counter staff. So busy that the food was fast and very fresh. A line of cars around the building. Bacon was smoky and crispy. I'll be back when I'm in town.“

“These are absolutely the nicest people making the worlds greatest sandwich. You really should take minute and go see them. I guarantee you will love it.“

“I love this location. I’ve had 1 issue and it wasn’t their fault it was really mine because I didn’t read the menu correctly. I called the store and explained the issue and the Assistant manager was a huge help. She insisted on fixing it even though it was my fault, this says a lot! There is a great leadership team and an amazing employees. I normally go in the night after work and I’ve always got hot food and fresh . They are my favorite location ! I’m big on customer service and how I get treated and will advocate for them. Advice to anyone that has an issue with this location, give them a chance to fix an issue. Everyone has made errors in their lifetime it’s not fair that we hold them to a higher standard. Be understanding to certain situations. Before calling corporate to complain call the store first. I wouldn’t advise that if I didn’t know from experience with this location, that customers are important to them!“

“I have to say that I have encountered some of the kindest friendliest people in Durham in the past few days. I would like to recognitivea couple I encountered this morning. I was trying to find a place to eat breakfast and decided on Hardee’s since I had not eaten breakfast at one in a very long time. The Hardee’s at 2721 Chapel Hill Road had two of the most genuinely friendly people . Since I could not get my app to recognize their survey barcode in the store. Thanks Lisa and Angie for putting a smile on my face this morning and I hope some way their bosses see this so they can recognize what gems they have working for them.“

“Cashier lady was very sweet. I ordered the chicken filet biscuit meal, fries with extra seasoning, and a sweet tea..food was delicious as always. I asked for honey mustard, didn't have to pay extra. Highly recommend, will be back! 💙“

“Firehouse Subs Durham North Carolina. I have got to admit my first experience was outstanding. I'm an armed security officer with inline defense. For whatever reason the register would not accept my American Express. I've actually had this happen before we're certain stores or establishments don't accept this type of credit card. I had no cash on me and forgot my debit card at home. The two people on duty went above and beyond. They gave me my first sub for free rather than turn me away. My extended gratitude to Firehouse Subs.“

“After a long time i had the best biscuit sandwich , so fresh n perfect . Spicy chicken sandwich was really good and hash browns were soft fresh n light .Very good breakfast, fresh quick n best 😄. Was travelling and will definitely try this again . Hot weekend breakfast 🥪.“

“Can't remember the last time I went in a fast food place and everyone actually smiled and said good morning! I also mean besides the people I was directly dealing with! Amazing, keep it up. Food was good also.“

“I had a great experience at Freddy’s! The **steakburgers** are exactly what you want when you're craving a classic burger—pressed thin with those perfectly crispy, seasoned edges that give them so much flavor.
A few highlights from the visit:
* **The Shoestring Fries:** They are always hot, thin, and crispy. Make sure to use the **Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce**; it’s a game-changer.
* **The Custard:** You can’t leave without getting a concrete. The vanilla custard is incredibly smooth and rich, and they don't skimp on the mix-ins.
* **Atmosphere & Service:** The retro vibe is fun and nostalgic, and the staff was friendly and efficient, even during a busy rush.
If you’re looking for a quality burger and a treat that’s a step above standard fast food, this is the spot. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Once upon a time, I only ate Bojangles breakfast and I loved it. Now, this is my go-to place for lunch as well. They have THE BEST fast-food grilled chicken sandwich! They are usually busy therefore the food is always fresh. I get service with a smile and I appreciate that someone is always cleaning the dining area. I recommend to everyone that's in the area.“

“Super nice folks working there so I’m not going to roast too badly. But, the prices at this location are WAY elevated compared to stand alone locations. Example: pizza is $4.99 at the stand alone location near me (way too much to start with) and $6.49 at the mall location. Nearly $10 for Mexican Pizza and a small drink. Just be aware….“

“Great stuff. Go with a build-your-own and load it up with as many toppings as you can. I piled mine high with almost everything, which definitely had it feeling less like a pizza and more like a casserole. I’d wager they’ll limit toppings at some point or raise the price significantly. It’s a solid value right now with how expensive everything is. Could’ve used a bit more cheese tho.“

“The amazing lady that works the drive-thru named Aquarius is absolutely AMAZING! Let me tell you, home girl customer service skills are absolutely TOP TIER, she always has a smile on her face, friendly and no matter how many cars are n that drive thru she’s always friendly, smiling, happy and gonna try to upscale u a frosty, cookie, pie or something lol 😂……long story short, basically, Good customer service is so hard to find and I always try to acknowledge it when I see it……and like I said, her people skills are amazing and I hope she’s getting the recognition she deserves while working there……Aquarius! Girl stay amazing“

“Amazing service by the two gentlemen who were working tonight!
Big shout-out to both of them — they had wonderful smiles and such a great attitude. One was wearing glasses and the other had a hat. They were working today, so please don’t forget to give them a big shout-out! I didn’t get their names, but they definitely deserve the recognition.“

“The chicken is always spot on. But the fries are floppy before they come out of the container.

Parking: The unit sits in front of Staples and Lowe's Foods. Advantage is you have a very large parking lot if you need it.

Kid-friendliness: Staff treats kids like the people they are, not a sometimes noisy visitor.“

“Go every year best stand at The New York Sate Fair by far! Everything is amazing.“

“Clean. Food was good. Servixe was excellent. Early in the morning right after work, I dont eat breakfast Hardees so i really appreciate the patience and recommendations. Donovan was very helpful and studious young man. He was polite and had good energy. Good morning experience
Ordered a lot of biscuits. They were delicious“

“I've been going to this Arby's for a while now. I have to praise Jaquel who always provides AWESOME customer service -he's a hard worker and from what I can tell, dependable. I also want to commend the young lady who waited on me this evening - she was polite, thorough, and had great customer service skills! I highly recommend this Arby's!“

“I had never ordered or eaten from Checkers…they happened to be open and wife wanted Checkers, I was eyeballing every other restaurant but this one…no particular reason why. The AI ordering was a little weird but the food was good, so good in fact that after the wife got her food and after I saw that amazing food…all other restaurants were put on pause! I flipped a looooeeee (U turn) and ordered some for my self! Glad I did! The staff were responsive and the place seemed to be in good order, and yes it was FAST!“

“Lynn Was So Nice! She's was very patient & attentively taking my order. All of the staff was super nice & clean as well. When the supervisor on shift, Javier @ this time tried to give Lynn A hard time about taking my $100 bill-----she was very accommodating to me despite his 1st instinct not to take my money EVEN when I was willing to order MORE food in which I really didn't need or want to break the bill down even smaller. Thank you Lynn! Because of you this store gets 5 stars from me! 🫶🏾❤“

“First time ever having Bojangles. we got a family 12 piece meal. The chicken was so good and tender, the biscuits were insane we loved them , the mac cheese, the rice and the beans were out of this world. and the Sweet Tea was soooooo good. Glad we got to eat here while we were on this side of the country.“

“This is how a BK should be! Super friendly staff, exceptionally clean, delicious, hot food, and it looks like on the commercials! Coming from Wilmington where NO ONE goes to either BK because they're awful, this was a breath of fresh air! Best fast food fries I've ever had! Yes, even better than the ones served by the Clown! Place was darn near spotless inside with a guy mopping everywhere, not just in the easy to see areas. Cashier smiling constantly and alternating from speaking English to Spanish and back without missing a beat. Extremely friendly and got my order fast! We dined in and he even asked if everything was ok as we were leaving. That's service you rarely see anymore!
We will definitely be coming back here when we return to Durham as it made me remember his much I used to love BK before the ones in Wilmington turned to trash!“

“I got a chicken plate with fried rice I visit often. The portions are always big enough for left overs. The spring rolls are very good as well. The Hispanic woman with green and black hair at the front counter was very polite and quick to help. Food does not take long and is always hot. Can be slightly pricey depending on what you get but I think it is worth it.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Outstanding Subway!

This Subway is hands-down one of the best I’ve ever visited—and I’ve eaten at Subways all over the world! The team here is always super friendly and genuinely welcoming. You can tell they enjoy what they do because they work so well together, always with smiles and great energy. The bread is always fresh, the sandwiches are made perfectly every time, and the entire experience feels fast, clean, and upbeat.

And let’s talk about the chocolate chip cookies—they’re next level! Perfectly baked, soft, and delicious. Without question, this team makes the best Subway cookies anywhere.

Huge kudos to this crew for setting the bar high and consistently delivering an amazing experience every visit! 👏🥪🍪“

“Their food is fantastic. We traveled from Maryland and noticed the signs coming down the road and there's none in Maryland. Chicken and biscuits were delicious.“

“I love my McDonalds. The drive thru crew at this location is 99% great! Friendly, efficient, and accurate. The food is usually hot and good. I have a concern and a praise. I have a request that you fix the drive-thru problems at this location. I’d like to suggest that you install some sort of barrier poles that prevent driver thru users from skipping line and blocking traffic. Recently the drive thru was revamped at restaurant #22325 at 204 W. NC HWY 54 in Durham NC, I’m sure in an effort to create efficiency but it has created a new problem. By adding two lanes without a barrier to keep folks cars in the main line before splitting into two lanes. Cars are making two lines immediately which *completely* blocks other traffic trying to drive by, and blocks in parked cars in that part of the lot, leaving them frustrated while trying to leave. Furthermore, it is unfair to those considerate drivers who are waiting properly in line to be bypassed by the drivers who want to cheat the main lane. Your system currently relies on the courtesy of all to run smoothly and if you haven’t noticed, common courtesy is not so common anymore. Please help.“

“Absolutely exceptional service and food! Every time I come to Firehouse Subs, the food is made fresh and exactly how I want it. You can really tell they care about the quality of what they serve.

The two young ladies working during my visit were extremely polite, friendly, and welcoming. One of them was named Bob, and unfortunately I didn’t catch the other girl’s name, but they both provided amazing customer service and made the experience even better.

I’ve recommended this location to my entire family, and now they love it just as much as I do! We’ve tried plenty of other sub places, but Firehouse Subs has easily become our favorite. Matter of fact, this is the ONLY sub place we plan on going to from now on!

Great food, great people, and consistently great service. Keep up the amazing work — you’ve definitely earned some loyal customers!“

“Shout out to my crew at Jimmy Johns! Backstory: My wife is pregnant and craving sandwiches, but as only a few know, deli meat has to be cooked to be safe for her to eat. So I have to get it on the side to cook at home. So I walked in, explained this, and as if I was a family member; got it all sorted out for me. I have gone about 4-5 times now and they are the best group of workers. Very friendly, efficient, and just cool to chat with while you wait the (maybe) one minute to make your food. Definitely recommend to everyone. Food’s GREAT. Staff is GREAT. Definitely have my recurring business.“

“Love the Philly steak sub,...been a fan of the restaurant since the mid 90's“