Our top 5 fast food items of 2021, so far (and none of them are chicken sandwiches)

The flounder sandwich is basically the Popeyes chicken sandwich, but with fish. That means it’s got the soft, buttery brioche bun and some perfectly crunchy breading, and the whole thing leaves you very full and satisfied. The pickles are even accounted for here, though they don’t add much to the overall sandwich. A more generous smear of tartar sauce would have done more for the final product than the pickles. Still, it’s a great sandwich that proves Popeyes isn’t resting on its chickeny laurels. Read our full review of the Popeyes Cajun Flounder Sandwich here.

As part of its winter 2021 menu, Starbucks added a Pistachio Latte to the lineup that was specifically “crafted to offer comfort this season,” per the marketing copy. And in that mission, it more than succeeds. Rich, roasty pistachio aromas and toasty brown butter topping greet you as soon as you tilt the cup to your lips, and the creamy flavors might evoke memories of a pistachio-studded Carvel Flying Saucer for anyone lucky enough to have eaten those as a kid. This is a well-timed Starbucks offering that gets people out of their latte routine to indulge in luxurious flavors. Read our full review of the Starbucks Pistachio Latte here.

Chipotle certainly took its sweet time coming up with a quesadilla, but once it did, it got it 100% right. In true Chipotle fashion, both the filling and the sides come in generous portions (yes, even the guacamole), and the way the tortilla is cooked results in a crunchy exterior that renders quesadilla floppiness a non-issue. Does this chain understand us or what? Even the tray this thing comes in seems like a well-thought-out piece of the puzzle. Read our full review of the Chipotle Hand-Crafted Quesadilla here.

If this one seems out of left field, well, it took us by surprise too. In an effort to provide “a world of wonder, spectacle and Instagram-worthy moments,” TGI Fridays recently released its “Under The Big Top” menu full of circus-inspired appetizers and entrees. Most of the Big Top–themed offerings are too far over the top, such as a Whiskey-Glazed Donut Burger and a sandwich stuffed with mozzarella sticks, marinara, and extra cheese. But the Giant Churro Twists? Somehow, in a cacophonous menu lineup, the churros stand out as superb. They come with caramel and chocolate sauces for dipping, and they hold up well in transit, which is a major consideration in an era where delivery is on the rise. Read our full review of TGI Fridays’ Giant Churro Twists here.

Chicago is known for its Italian beef sandwiches, so when Buona (a fast food beef joint with 27 Chicagoland locations) announced a new vegetarian/vegan equivalent made with seitan, a lot of people were skeptical. But this sandwich—aptly named the Italian Beefless—is full of pleasant surprises. The seitan itself is thinly shaved and seasoned to evoke the feeling of eating real beef, and a hearty portion of olive oil is added to the mixture to mimic the animal fats that would be present in the meat. The jus is made from vegetable broth and spices, and giardiniera is vegan already, so you could really think of the Beefless as the natural next step in the fast food industry’s plant-based sandwich journey. Or you could just think of it as delicious. Read our full review of Buona’s Italian Beefless here.