Alabama’s 8 Best Fast Foods, From Milo’s Sweet Tea to Jack’s Biscuits

Alabama knows fast food, and not the kind you find everywhere in America.

Our state has drawn a line in the sand to establish itself as a true drive-thru competitor with companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and other fast-food kings and queens.

From burgers to drinks to chicken to treats, Alabama has fast food, and here are eight reasons why.

Milo’s – Sweet Tea

Arguably the most famous fast food restaurant to come out of Alabama, Milo’s remains the gold standard for sweet tea, at least in any location with a drive-through. But I’d put their brew up against any restaurant. And you know what else? I also prefer it to Grandma’s sweet tea, don’t you think? It’s a refreshing and perfect blend of not-too-sweet (but still a lot (sweet) with a flavor strong enough to make a classic tea. Mixed with their melt-in-your-mouth granulated ice cream, it’s the perfect drink, fast food or otherwise. Oh, and there’s a slushy version called Milo’s Sweet Tea Freezey, and it’s glorious.

READ: 11 Things You Might Not Know About Milo

The Guthrie Box

The taste of fried chicken. The closest thing to what Grandma could make on a Sunday night. Golden brown and crispy, Guthrie’s chicken fingers are second to none, and the restaurant’s main course—the box (tenders, fries, toast, coleslaw)—is a perfect fast-food meal. Tender and delicious, almost 100 percent of the time. Guthrie’s, founded in Haleyville in 1965, is now headquartered in Auburn. So while they may lack the trophy case of their rivals 160 miles away, they have no equal in the chicken finger game. A box of Guthrie’s satisfies everyone, and when you see a bucket or even a plate of this chicken at a party or tailgate, forget it. Fried deliciousness.

MORE: Fast Food Chicken Fingers Ranked: Who Has the Best?

Foosackly Foo Sauce

A slightly spicier chicken finger batter that doesn’t create too much breading is certainly a hotter alternative, kicked up a notch by the chain’s homemade Foo sauce. Paired with the best fries of the bunch (crispy, classic crinkle cut) and a solid square piece of toast (and reasonably priced for a box of five tenders), Foosackly’s is a solid choice. They pride themselves on serving “real” honey mustard, which is perhaps a dig at other fast-food joints that serve, well, the less real kind. They offer sweet and spicy Kung Foo (see what they did there?), buttermilk ranch, smoky BBQ, jalapeno ranch, and classic Buffalo. But since they insist you can’t fake Foo, we’ll opt for their tangy take on the classic mix of ketchup, mayo, and more.

The Ladies – The Famous Seasoned Fries

The famous seasoned fries are “seasoned in secret,” according to the Mobile-based chain, a surprise to many Alabamans who have long frequented the drive-thru restaurant. Checkers offers burgers that are more than enough for a lunch or late-night snack, but those flavorful orange fries keep us coming back for more, even in the face of fierce competition from more traditional restaurants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s.

Taco Casa – Ice Cream

Normally, we would opt for the beef nachos, the Taco burger, or even the classic tacos, but let’s save a spot for the best ice cream in the state of Alabama. You read that right: Ice. “Good ice,” as some call it, the restaurant’s beloved shaved ice that loyal diners drive across town for instead of ordering a soda at any other drive-through or gas station. The shaved ice inside the familiar Styrofoam cup helped establish Taco Casa’s legacy, which began in Tuscaloosa 50 years ago. A sweet tea, Dr. Pepper or even just a water over that ice sends you straight to cactus heaven.

READ: At This Alabama Restaurant, People Travel Great Distances to Enjoy ‘The Good Ice Cream’

Jack’s Biscuits

Hamburgers, fried chicken, fries, and mashed potatoes will do the trick—and we also think that real, hand-made milkshakes deserve special recognition in an age of machines that often break down at the worst possible times. But in the South, we need a good biscuit (or two) to start our day. Crispy to bite, soft to chew, delicious to eat because they melt in your mouth. Just as good, if not better, than Hardee’s or the other elite of the fast food world.

Sneaky Pete’s – The Original

You can opt for the Famous Chili Dog, Chili Cheese Dog, Junk Yard Dog, Pete’s Slaw Dog, or even Pete’s Spicy with Beef from their diverse menu of delicious hot dogs. But we’ll let the Original represent the whole team here: “The one that started it all in 1966,” the website says. “The Original features a Sneaky Pete’s hot dog topped with mustard, onions, sauerkraut, and the famous Sneaky Pete’s sauce!” The Birmingham-based restaurant opened in 1966 and has been serving its signature line of hot dogs for six decades.

Hamburger Heaven – Cheeseburger

Opened in 1982 on U.S. 78 in Irondale, the restaurant serves burgers made to order from ground beef delivered daily and topped with a special Hamburger Heaven sauce. Birmingham residents can enjoy them at least once or twice a week if their gastroenterologist clears it. Although considered a fast food joint, the restaurant likes to take its time, featuring locally sourced produce and cutting its own lettuce, tomatoes and onions daily. “The restaurant also has a signature sauce — a tangy tomato-based sauce that tops each burger. Next time you’re out running errands, stop by one of their four locations to try the burgers — which range in size from mini to ¼ to ½ pound,” Julia Sayers wrote.