Some like it hot, and some like it with extra chips. But we can all agree, restaurants that serve queso in under five minutes are the absolute best. As a cheese lover, there’s nothing quite as delicious as a bowl of gooey, spicy, hot cheese. Lucky for me, cheap queso served quick isn’t hard to find. Here’s the best fast-food restaurants for satisfying your queso cravings.
Taco Bell
Shakespeare once wrote, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and that is so true for Taco Bell’s nacho cheese sauce. It may not be called queso, but it’s queso in my heart. And isn’t that what truly matters? Plus, this cheesy molten goodness sells for about $1, making it perfect for any queso-lover on a budget. Now that’s what I’m taco-ing about (sorry, not sorry).
Chipotle
Chipotle’s decision to start selling queso has been surprisingly controversial. Social media has been abuzz with disappointment over this dip, which Chipotle decided to make with all-natural ingredients. Most criticism stems from the lack of traditional processed cheese, as the natural cheese and spices have a rather plain taste and grainy texture. Sure, it’s no guac, but at least you can feel healthy(ish) about the ingredients, amirite?!
Wendy’s
Wendy’s queso doesn’t follow the regular chips-and-cheese route, opting instead for the cheesy heaven to be bestowed on their bacon cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, and fries. Honestly, I’m not even complaining. Queso deserves to be smothered over anything and everything, and Wendy’s is doing it right by pouring it over their fries and burgers.
Moe’s
When Chipotle rolled out their new queso, Moe’s called it a “queso imposter.” To be fair to Moe’s, most cheese dips feel like queso imposters once you taste a chip-full of their queso blanco. It’s warm, rich, and has that perfect gooey consistency that keeps everyone coming back for more. When it comes to queso, Moe’s sure knows how to make someone feel welcome.
Qdoba
Qdoba is the OG-offerer of fast food queso, rolling with their signature queso since 2000. While the rest of these establishments are just now jumping on the queso bandwagon, Qdoba has always been there for us. Their queso has chunks of peppers and is full of flavor in every bite, which just goes to show that the original is almost always the best.
Del Taco
Del Taco may not have the nationwide availability and reputation of their competitors, but their queso blanco is not one to disappoint. Like many others on this list their queso is a new menu item, but it’s already well on the path to Rookie of the Year. They also offer it on their fries and nachos, which is a win-win for everyone involved.
As far as fast food restaurants that serve queso go, I say the more cheese, the better! I’m loving this new trend of offering queso at fast-food restaurants, and I for one hope it continues. Who knows, maybe it’ll catch on with more chain restaurants (I’m looking at you, Panera). For now, enjoy these spicy cheese offerings while they last.
#SpoonTip: Hungry for more? Here’s where to find the best queso in each state.