Yes, fast food is not expected to be great, but we want familiar choices that we have come to call "good", based on what is available under the circumstances, and are the most acceptable choices for our palate and preferences. The fear is that an unfamiliar choice or vendor may be even worse, and of disappointingly bad quality and/or value.

We are familiar with the variability in quality and value of the large fast-food chains (at least how we each perceive them), so much so that we gravitate not only to the fast-food chains, but also to particular fast-food chains.

Not only is there a battle between the national fast-food chains (which we can evaluate by familiarity and experience), there are also the smaller, local chains and vendors, which can be a wild card. These are often are quite good - - because they have to be - - in order to squeeze out the established incumbents. But their unfamiliarity and risk factor may result in aversion by hurried travelers.


Having a consistent, though mediocre-at-best, choice has the benefit of an easy, no-brainer decision, but the result is probably that one also won't even think about the 'food' as one chows it down. A mindless activity from start to finish, but accomplishes the task of getting something (that almost qualifies as) sustaining, with a minimum of effort. And a consistent choice has no threat for one becoming upset from unexpectedly bad food. I remember getting disappointingly poor quality crab cakes from a fast-food place in BOS...

It is normally best for fast-food places to not try to be culinary giants and offer exotic food choices that don't satisfy the mainstream gullet or some idea of middle-of-the-road palatability. Great if a marriage of 'really good' and 'fast' happens, but the best food will only be at sit-down places. Some of the best chowder I've had is at such a sit-down place in BOS. Unfortunately, the large sit-down chains also suffer from mediocre food and choices. The local sit-downs can be a better alternative, as can be the local fast-food places. The 'Potbelly' in BWI is an example. They do lots of the little things right, and are a good value.


The poster mentioned being at an "unfamiliar airport", but LAX would not be an unfamiliar airport for one living in LA, or for many people transferring on the West Coast. If one takes a bit of time (once) to figure out the menu at the new place - - how long can that take? - - and order from it, one may have a new favorite. If you live in LA, or transfer in LAX occasionally, you will remember (!) your favorite, or, at the very least, be more familiar with the menu and hit upon a new favorite the second or third time. From then on, the question of a national chain or the local place (at that particular airport) becomes moot. At least for me, the BK at T4 became moot after they put up the new expensive video screen menu (both the screen and the menu were expensive) and did away with the Value Menu.


The old risk/reward question. But when on a MR, and in an unfamiliar airport, the scale tips towards the unfamiliar, in that when on a MR, one does not get to see much outside airport security, and a bit of local flavor is welcome as a bit of an experience - - whether positive, or sometimes not so good.