Quick-Service Favorites
In light of my recent trips to Chicago and Boston, I have devoted today’s feature post to a very essential part of traveling–quick-service restaurants. As you might suspect from my daily eats, I tend to be pretty selective about the kind of eateries I choose to dine in while on the road–this is one of many reasons that my family refers to me as “the annoying child.” Fortunately for me and my family both, I have discovered a few grab ‘n go restaurants that provide satisfying and healthful meals.
There is one place that I almost always visit whenever I make a trip to Chicago. Michigan Avenue? Lake Michigan? No, I make a stop at The Corner Bakery.
The Corner Bakery is similar to places like Panera (sampled here) and Atlanta Bread Company (sampled here) in that it offers an assortment of salads, sandwiches, soups, and, of course, amazing breads. What sets The Corner Bakery apart, however is the fact that I always leave having tried something new–there is such a variety for omnivores and herbivores alike. You can find The Corner Bakery in seemingly random locations throughout the country, in Arizona, Colorado, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania Texas, and Illinois, among others. Oh, and they have free Wi-Fi:)
Corner Bakery favorites:
Salad Trio: Asian Edamame Salad (couscous-based); Ginger Asparagus Salad; fruit salad
Lentil Vegetable Soup; artichoke-zucchini panini (sans provolone)
oatmeal with cranberries, raisins, & walnuts, cooked in skim milk
When people ask me to describe Moe’s, I usually provide the following answer: it’s like Subway for Mexican food. You can customize any item to your liking, whether it be extra guac, no cheese, or in a bowl. While it is very similar to Chipotle (another favorite), Moe’s wins my heart because it offers grilled tofu in addition to black beans as a “meat” item; I typically order both! Perhaps Moe’s guacamole is not quite as addictive as Chipotle’s, but somehow I manage to eat every last bit of it whenever I visit. Moe’s locations can be found across the country, with one location in Canada! (Ontario)
Moe’s Southwest favorites:
Close Talker Salad: lettuce, black beans, grilled tofu, salsa, guacamole, & cucumbers; rice
Close Talker Salad with extra guac, black beans, & tomatoes
Au Bon Pain
Au Bon Pain is yet another restaurant within the salad/sandwich genre of eateries toward which I tend to gravitate. What distinguishes Au Bon Pain, however, is that they live up to their name–they make “good bread.” Although, really, “good” does not adequately describe the caliber of their baked goods; “lusciously fresh” or “exquisitely appetizing” would be more apt. Alas, I’m not sure such descriptions would translate as succinctly into French.
In addition to their sandwiches and salads, Au Bon Pain’s breakfast offerings (including oatmeal!) are equally plentiful and delicious. Au Bon Pain locations can be found along the east coast and into the Mid West.
Au Bon Pain favorites:
Garden Salad; grapes; mixed nuts; soymilk; BREAD
salad with chickpeas & black beans, cuke, & tomato; more fab bread; Sobe Life Water; apple & Barney Butter
GLORIOUS!
oatmeal with dried cranberries & almonds; banana; chamomile tea
What are your favorite quick service restaurants? What do you typically order there?
Filed under: Feature Post
Hello and welcome! I have created this blog for people who love food, especially healthful, vegetarian food.
I have just graduated from Duke University with degrees in English and psychology. I plan to pursue a master's degree in nutrition starting in Fall 2010. Ideally, I would like to combine my love of food and the written word someday as a health writer.
This is a great list! I prefer to hit up places like Panera, Subway, and Chipotle where I can get something reasonably healthy. McDonalds is a no-no!
Wonderful picks!!
My favorite quick-service spot = One Lucky Duck in NYC. I always order the S&M salad
There is a Moe’s near the mall I go to sometimes, I need to check it out I guess!
i wish we had panera here, everyone always blogs about how good it is! actually i dont have any of the spots you posted about! dang. i don’t love any quick service spots around here.. i guess paradise bakery may be the best bet.
I see the Corner Bakery Cafe around here all the time! Never been to it though, I might just have to go and check it out.
Never heard of Moe’s. But anything with guac catches my attention!
Very nice girl. I had to hit up A LOT of these type of places while we were traveling this weekend. I am a huge fan of Chipotle. I always get a salad there with onions and peps, beans, the corn salsa (so yummy), and a little cheese. YUM! My mom and I use to frequent au bon pain- they have a lot of delicious combos (and lots of naughty extras too
).
mmmmmmmm love this post! i love aubon pain – i get the mediterannean wrap on lavash – soooooo good! i also like the bread bowl cream of broc soup (but that’s a rarity that i’ll order it). in boston i love border cafe and get the black bean tostada salad (minus cheese) with extra nacho chips/salsa
I don’t have any favourite quick service place. But the one I went to most often (in Canada) would have to be Tim Hortons. lol. I usually get a bagel, toasted, with lettuce and tomatoes.
Otherwise, there’s this cool little cafe about a 4 minutes walk from my dorm which serves this AMAZING vegan dessert bar. At one point, I went every night the weather was ‘decent’ just to grab that…=p
I used to live downtown Chicago in the Gold Coast when I was fresh outta college. What fun I had…
And I happened to live about 2 blocks away from a Corner Bakery. I really never went there much. My rent payment consumed most of my income and I couldnt afford expensive pastries much…but it’s sure good. It ain’t healthy in the least, but it’s tasty.
Fave quick place now? Don’t have one. Between being gluten, dairy, and soy free….and vegan and high raw…aint nothin quick or easy about food choices
It’s called fruit, veggies, and plan ahead!
Loved the post, brought back old memories
The portobello goat cheese sandwich I got from Au Bon Pain was one of the best I’ve eaten at a grab ‘n’ go eatery. I was impressed! If I ever have the chance to go back I would for sure.
I. LOVE. MOE’S! There’s one down the street from us and we just LOVE it!!! I agree, the tofu is fantastic!
Yum yum. I really want to try that salad for corner Bakery…
But I don’t live in the US.
Usually I just go to Pita Extreme and get their Grilled Chicken, lol. Better than Subway but nothing spectacular.
those are some great picks! I love au bon, even though it can be a bit expensive. I especially love their “portions” which are really good over salad or as a snack.
I love mexican salads like your one from Moe’s, too! I’ve never been to a Moe’s… I don’t think we have them up here though. We do have Baja Fresh which has similar food except not as “fast”.
Moe’s is one of my faves – I used to eat it all the time in grad school!
what a great and helpful post! Thanks for sharing!
Great post! I loved me some Moe’s when I lived in Florida, but now that I’m out west, it’s all about the taquerias. I’ve seen Au Bon Pains around but never eaten there – next time I’m stuck in an airport with one (which seems to happen every time I travel), I’ll check it out.