So you’ve heard of counter-service restaurants and sit-down restaurants, with fast food and fine dining being prime examples of polar opposites in the restaurant world. But between the two lies a more elevated version of fast food, still within the quick-service category: fast-casual.
There are a number of key differences between fast food and fast-casual, both of which align with different diner preferences and business models. Let’s dive in!
What is fast food?
Fast food restaurants offer quick bites for extremely low price points—think McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, and Taco Bell. The service is kept simple, with customers placing and picking up orders, seating themselves, and grabbing their own condiments. They’re responsible for every step of the dining experience, save for actually cooking the food.
Menu items at fast food places are simple and easy to assemble, allowing workers to prepare everything quickly. However, customizations are limited, with few options for adding or removing ingredients. Plus, there tend to be limited dine-in options, with expectations that customers will grab a table and be in and out quickly or take their meal out entirely.
Meredith Sandland, Co-Author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant, discusses the convenience factor of fast food on The Pre-Shift Podcast:
“And here I think fast food restaurants have a bit of a head start because there’s always been eaten off-premise, right? It’s always gone out the drive-thru window. So the product design and the packaging were meant for the product to be taken away and eaten elsewhere. The convenience factor has been built into the model from the beginning, allowing these brands to adapt quickly to changing consumer habits.”
Fast food places also tend to open late, with many offering 24 hours of service, 7 days a week. For added convenience, drive-thrus or curbside pickup may be available, along with app-based ordering. Most fast food restaurants are franchises, offering a brand name customers can recognize and creating a consistent experience across all their locations.
What is fast-casual?
Fast-casual restaurants also offer quick bites for low price points—but typically, not as quick and not as low. Popular examples include Chipotle, Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, and Panera Bread. While service is still limited, and customers are typically expected to order at the counter, some restaurants have workers bring the food to tables.
Menu items at fast-casual places often have customization options. For example, Chipotle is well-known for its buffet-style ordering system, where customers build their bowls and burritos based on the displayed ingredients. Fast-casual restaurants also tend to emphasize more health-conscious food options, catering to customers who expect more high-quality ingredients—hence, the higher price points that come with it.
Felipe’s Taqueria, a fast-casual taco spot, started their business in 2006 with these ideas in mind:
”One of the tenets that we sort of came into the industry with was a real commitment to a higher quality product and in a fast-casual format using raw proteins and fresh produce every day,” says Pike Howard, the restaurant’s founder & CEO, on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
While fast-casual customers often take their meals to-go, dining in at these places is more common than at fast food establishments. The indoor ambiance of fast-casual restaurants tends to be more welcoming, with seating and decor that encourages a longer stay. This creates a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for customers, making it a popular choice for students and those looking for a casual dining experience.
On the other hand, opening hours are more limited for fast-casual restaurants. You also likely won’t be able to grab your order through a drive-thru, but there may be options to order through an app. And while many fast-casual restaurants are big-name franchises, it’s also common for independent restaurants to choose the fast-casual route.
Fast-casual restaurants have become increasingly popular with younger diners. One study revealed that out of 5 billion Gen Z restaurant visits between 2021 and 2022, about 4.3 billion were to quick-service restaurants. Gen Z customers leaned toward fast-casual dining, with a 4% growth in visits year-over-year.
Fast-casual vs. fast food: What’s the difference?
While fast-casual and fast food restaurants bear many similarities—with both being places that offer quick eats for generally low prices—the table below compares the main differences between the two.
| Characteristic | Fast food | Fast-casual |
|---|---|---|
Speed | Orders are typically ready in a few minutes. | Orders may be ready in a few minutes, but longer wait times can be expected due to complex meal preparations. |
Price | Pricing tends to be extremely low—a meal can cost between $5 to $7. | While pricing is still affordable, the average fast-casual check totals $12. |
Food quality | Customers expect consistent quality with mass-produced items. | Ingredients are of higher quality with customer expectations of healthy and fresh. |
Menu standardization | Menus are standard across locations with limited customization options. | Menus typically have a large range for customization— customers are encouraged to choose their own fixings. |
Service | Service includes counter-ordering or self-ordering with an app or kiosk, along with drive-thrus. Loyalty or points programs are also common. | Customers order at the counter with no option for drive-thru. There may be a table delivery service. Some have options for app-based ordering, along with loyalty programs. |
Dining experience | Customers can dine in but takeout is expected. Seating tends to be minimalist but functional. | Dine-in is more encouraged with comfortable seating and stylish decor. |
Should I open a fast food or fast-casual restaurant?
For aspiring restaurant owners, both fast food and fast-casual establishments offer distinct advantages. Understanding these benefits can help you make an informed decision about the type of restaurant you want to open.
Benefits of opening a fast food restaurant
Lower operating costs – Food costs for fast food restaurants tend to be low since customers value consistency, speed, and value over the high-quality ingredients of fast-casual spots. If an average meal is priced at $6, food costs per meal may be as low as $1.80, given a food cost percentage of 30%.
Plus, the limited service of fast food establishments means lower labor costs too—workers take orders, prepare food, and maintain a clean environment, while customers take on some of the responsibilities with self-ordering kiosks and self-seating arrangements. Lastly, the expectation that many customers will take orders to-go means less real estate (and a lower spend on interior design) is required to get a fast food place up and running.
Brand recognition – Most fast food restaurants are franchises, with a ton of brand recognition from customers at other locations. People know what to expect, leading to strong customer loyalty. However, the same can be said for big-name fast-casual spots, like Chipotle and Shake Shack.
Economic resilience – Fast food businesses demonstrated their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the go-to option for takeout. Their convenient drive-thru and curbside pickup options, coupled with their affordability and lack of tipping expectations, made them particularly appealing to budget-conscious customers during economic uncertainty.
Benefits of opening a fast-casual restaurant
Higher profit margins – On average, profit margins for fast food establishments range between 6 to 9%, while fast-casual places see a much higher number—17%. This is also higher than full-service restaurants which see an average margin of 5 to 10%. The ability to price menu items higher, coupled with low labor costs for limited service, creates an opportunity to increase profitability.
Market differentiation – While fast food caters to a large demographic, fast-casual establishments have an opportunity to appeal to more targeted audiences. With an emphasis on health-conscious foods and customization, fast-casual can cater to vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. The ability to offer diverse and inclusive menu options allows brands to attract loyal customer bases in an increasingly competitive food market.
Opportunity for growth – The global fast-casual market size was valued at $179.19 billion in 2024 and is expected to hit $191.02 billion this year. And by 2033, it’s expected to hit a whopping $318.52 billion—a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%. As consumer behaviors shift toward healthier dining options, fast-casual is expected to continue expanding, especially in urban regions with higher-income populations.
Danny Klein, Editor at Food News Media, explains the growth behind fast-casual establishments on The Pre-Shift Podcast:
“Fast casual really erupted because of the fact that that was born on demand, that there was too much quick service and too much casual dining, and it was over-leveraged and the guests wanted something a little bit different, a little bit more. This shift reflects a deeper desire for authentic experiences and quality over mere convenience. Consumers are increasingly savvy and conscious about where their food comes from and who is preparing it. They are seeking out brands that not only satisfy their hunger but also align with their values and lifestyle choices.”
Fast-casual vs. fast food: Wrapping it up
Both fast food and fast-casual places offer quick service for low costs, but fast food restaurants place a larger emphasis on speed, convenience, and affordability. In contrast, fast-casual establishments focus on higher-quality ingredients for customizable, health-conscious meals—paired with a more elevated dining experience—ultimately resulting in a higher price point. Both types of services offer unique opportunities for owners, depending on their restaurant goals.
Jessica Ho, Content Marketing Specialist
Jessica Ho
Content Marketing Specialist
Hi, I'm Jessica, Content Marketing Specialist at 7shifts! I'm writing about all things related to the restaurant industry.