When we lived in San Diego we didn't eat out at fast food restaurants very much...well at least we didn't for dinner and if we did it was usually because we were going out with friends. Well, since we have lived here we have gone to McDonalds like 10 times for dinner (which is a lot for us) and every time we eat there we look at each other and think about how weird it is to be eating there again.
So anyway, besides McDonalds we have tried a couple of local fast food chains that that are not seen so much in San Diego.
Taco Time
Our first and last experience with Taco Time was a week or so after we arrived here. We went inside to order and took a while to look over the menu. They had a chicken taco thing that looked good from the picture and so I was going to ask about that and Luke thought he might get something that sounded like a chimichanga. It was actually called a "Crisp Burrito." So we get to the register to order and I ask the (young) guy what was on the chicken taco thing. He promptly begins to ring up the chicken taco until I clarify that not I don't want to order yet, I want to know what is on it. "Oh" he says and turns around to search the picture menu up above for the item I am inquiring about. I realize he can't find it and I point it out. He says "oh-yeah" Then he proceeds to say, "well it looks like it has chicken, lettuce and cheese on top and some stuff inside." I say, "that's all?" Then he says, "uh, I think so." I'm annoyed with him so I say, "Are you just guessing from what the picture looks because I really do want to know what is exactly on the taco, so could you ask?" So he attempts to ask the worker making the food and she promptly repeats the list of ingredients to him (which I can hear) and then he turns around and can only remember 2 of the things she says and then tries to ask her again, but I stop him because I have heard what she said.
Another puzzling item on the menu was called "Mexi-fries." Luke and I both noticed that they looked suspiciously like tater tots. But this wasn't "Burger Time" or "Potato Time" so had to take them at their word that these were some sort of authentic Mexican side dish. What do we know, we only used to live like 5 minutes from the border.
So then we order and sit down. Our food arrives with just my order and we have to tell the guy that Luke's chimichunga is missing. So he was like oh okay. So he goes to get it and it's not made so he comes back and asks him which one he wanted again and then goes back, makes it and brings in out as I'm finishing my taco and then we both laugh because his "meal" is the size of a taquito. lol I think Luke was full enough because he had eaten some of my taco and plenty of the "Mexi-fries" (which did end up just being tater tots) while he was waiting. But we'll most likely NEVER go back there again because the food just wasn't that good.
Dairy Queen
Recently after an attempted meal at home gone bad, we went to Dairy Queen to gratify our grumbling tummies. We walk in and similarly to Taco Time we look over the menu because we haven't been there in a very long time. There are 3 different types of cheeseburgers: The regular cheeseburger, the classic cheeseburger, and the cheeseburger deluxe. The regular cheeseburger was kinda obvious that it was just the plain cheeseburger or even the "kids cheeseburger" if you will, but the problem with the other two was that the pictures both looked the same and they only varied by price and sesame seeds buns. So we decide to inquire about the differences.
We approached a young girl at the register and ask about the cheeseburgers. She looked behind her at the pictures on the above menu and said "I know there's a difference I just don't know what they are because they look the same to me" THEN she proceeds to look at us as if we should just pick one to order. I am again flabbergasted as thoughts of our Taco Time experience flood into my head, so I again ask if she can find out. The manager comes over and informs us that that 10 cent difference is that one has ketchup and mustard and the other has Thousand Island dressing. I think we both ended up getting the latter and they were yummy! So in contrast to Taco Time we actually really enjoyed our meal.
So I just have to say that I never thought I'd say this, (especially since I'm not even 30 years old yet) but "Young People These Days!" what the heck?!