1. Late Night Drunchies: McDonald’s
The McDonald’s on Prince is the best place to satisfy your midnight munchies. For just $5, you can get a Big Mac, medium fry, and a large sweet tea. Those salty fries dipped in ketchup and paired with a juicy Big Mac will curb any drunk craving.
2. Starving and Broke: Wendy’s
Wendy’s 4 for 4 deal is the greatest thing ever to happen to college students. You can pick any four items on the 4 for 4 menu and pay just $4. Basically, you can get a meal and then some for next to nothing.
The next time your cravings are high but your bank account looks low, keep Wendy’s in mind.
3. Hungover: Varsity
I don’t know what it is about the Varsity, but for some reason, it is THE best hangover cure. However, getting to the drive thru line in Athens may confuse a hungover mind.
A Varsity hotdog and cheeseburger is my go-to for every rough morning I’ve had, and I’ll pair it with a Diet Coke to wash the hangover away.
4. Movie Night In Feels: Zaxby’s or Canes
After a heavy week of assignments, sometimes you just need to curl up in bed with a good movie and Southern comfort food. Whether you are a Zaxby’s or Canes shipper, either fried chicken plugs will help you meet your “me time” needs.
A chicken finger plate from Zaxby’s or a Box Combo from Canes will give you enough food to satisfy your hunger and make you feel full and loved inside.
5. Happy to be a Georgia Bulldog: Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is just a happy place. The employees always have the best manners and strive to make you feel welcomed. Every student knows that Thursdays at Chick-fil-A on Alps is where it’s at, because with your student ID, you get a free entree with your purchase of a meal.
Whether you’re in a good mood or in the mood for a good mood, Chick-fil-A is the place for a smile. The manager there will be happy to hold the door open for you, and you can be sure you will be greeted with a Southern hospitality and left with a “My pleasure!”
6. In A Hurry: Taco Bell
Taco Bell is perfect when you’re on the go. All you need is one hand to cradle your taco, and you can use the other to drive. Have a long boring drive ahead of you? Their blizzard blasts are refreshing with the perfect added caffeine kick that makes your drive a little sweeter as you sip on it during your journey.
7. Indecisive: Cookout
Cookout is perfect for those of us who have no idea what we want, because you can get any combination of food. You can complement a quesadilla with a hot dog and hush puppies without any shame. And never forget one of their variety milkshakes, that aren’t just for fry dipping.
8. When You Want To Feel Like You’re Being Healthy: Zoe’s Kitchen
Zoe’s is for those who want fast food but are trying to be healthy. They have great-tasting and nutritious options, like spinach rollups or their Greek salad. Zoe’s is not your typical fast food joint because you have to call ahead for your order if you don’t want to sit down. However, if you do, they are just as quick.
9. Southern & Spicy: Bojangles
Bojangles is the classic fast food joint for those of us who grew up down South. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is; Bojangles will give you a taste of some good ol’ Southern cooking with their Cajun fillet biscuit for breakfast or their chicken wings and mashed potatoes for lunch or dinner. But perhaps the best part of Bojangles is their hot sauce.
10. Post-Workout Hunger: Subway
You’ve just worked out and you feel like you haven’t eaten in days. But you just exercised, so you don’t want all your time and effort at the gym go to waste. Head to any one of Athens’ many Subways. A footlong sub can end up being very few calories if you leave out cheese and choose the right bread. A footlong could even last you more than one meal if you can’t eat the whole thing (but lets face it, who can’t eat a whole footlong?).
11. When You Are Really Craving The Meats: Arby’s
Who has the meats? You know the catchphrase. Arby’s has meats rare to most fast food restaurants like roast beef, turkey and ham for their sandwiches. So the next time you just really need some meat on your bones, but won’t settle for the usual burger or chicken sandwich, take the short trip off West Broad to Arby’s.
12. When You’re Too Lazy to Drive: Jimmy John’s
Jimmy John’s is wonderful when you really can’t motivate yourself to get your own food. Their freaky fast food delivery service guarantees less wait time than getting in your car and driving to a fast food joint. They’ll even drop it off in your dorm lobby. If you need a hearty wich, take a whack at the Gargantuan sub for something you can snack on all day (or week).