Welcome to Sunday Sobremesa, a twice-monthly thread to discuss food and culture while sipping on an americano (or licor deciruela1 if that’s more your style!).
On this week’s Friday Favorites newsletter, I talked a bit about high-low food pairings, and many people shared their own combinations in the comments. A frequent theme was fast food or take-out: French fries, hamburgers, and Chinese takeaway to name a few.
That discussion inspired today’s Sunday Sobremesa topic: What’s your favorite fast food or take-out/delivery food? It can be your favorite restaurant, or just a particular item/dish that you like.
To kick things off, I don’t often eat a lot of traditional “fast food” in the US sense of the word here in Madrid, but there was a period of time when we patronized Burger King specifically for their chicken tenders (that ended when they took them off the menu; now they only have nuggets and those are sub-par in my opinion). Back in the US, I have a whole list of foods I have to take advantage of when I’m visiting: the Arby’s curly fries and roast turkey wrap combo, Jimmy John’s Club Lulu sandwich, and McDonald’s French fries (they’re just not the same in Spain!) top my list.
As far as ordering in, I’ve recently been obsessed with Soy Sohho, which I mentioned in last week’s Friday Favorites—I had their Ban Mian Soy Sohho with rabo de toro (ox tail) a couple of nights ago and I’m already plotting a repeat order.
I’ve mentioned this before, but my intention of “hosting” this sobremesa every other week is not just for you guys to interact with me—although I love that part!—but also for you to interact with each other. So feel free to not only respond to me, but to each other! Also, you don’t have to stick to the original question; if ordering in makes you think of your favorite copycat restaurant recipe or your favorite TV show to pair with your combo meal, feel free to share that with us, too!
I pretty much always get the cheesy gordita crunch supreme style, and then I change up a second or third item depending on how I feel. I haven’t been to Taco Bell in a while though because all the ones around here keep getting our order wrong 😂
Hahaha continuous order errors really ruin the experience! There’s a Starbucks near my mom’s house that messed up my order three times in a row (and I don’t do complicated orders, think almond milk latte) and now I avoid it and go to another one. Although with all the crazy coffee orders, I understand how it could be hard to keep things straight! Taco Bell seems less complicated, though 🤣
LOVE Ramen! A couple of restaurants here have DIY ramen when you order in-- they send the broth, noodles, and meats/vegetables all in separate containers, and then you heat and assemble at home. It’s really cool because nothing gets soggy and you also get to eat everything actually hot as if you were in the restaurant.
McDonald’s fries really are the best! How do NY hotdogs compare to Chicago hotdogs? I’m not a huge hotdog fan (I love corndogs, though!) but I feel like Chicagoans are very particular about the toppings if I remember correctly!
Yes, lots of relish, dill pickle, onion, mustard, tomato, peppers and other stuff and served in a poppy seed bun , I prefer a plain NY hot dog 🌭 with mustard! Anne Byrn just wrote about hot dogs on Substack (Between the Layers)
Yeah, I’ve always preferred simple hotdogs, although I bet I’d like a poppy seed bun! I saw Anne’s post but haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet (I’m behind on my reading 🫣). I love the idea of “haute” dogs! 😂
Well... There is something I tried few months ago, and it was hen we ate in a Chinese restaurant, rice curry! You must think it's silly, but curry is not very common here and, in my city, which is not very big, there are not too many places where I can eat it. Well, I liked it. And now, if we ever order food, I'm in for the curry rice!
Sure! Just with vegetables, and it was really tasty! To tell you the truth, I have never used curry at home, and in fact I don't know how to use it! I have to look for some recipe!
I could eat Taco Bell every day of my life.
Hahaha great answer! Believe it or not they have Taco Bell here in Madrid! Do you always order the same thing, or do you switch it up?
I pretty much always get the cheesy gordita crunch supreme style, and then I change up a second or third item depending on how I feel. I haven’t been to Taco Bell in a while though because all the ones around here keep getting our order wrong 😂
Hahaha continuous order errors really ruin the experience! There’s a Starbucks near my mom’s house that messed up my order three times in a row (and I don’t do complicated orders, think almond milk latte) and now I avoid it and go to another one. Although with all the crazy coffee orders, I understand how it could be hard to keep things straight! Taco Bell seems less complicated, though 🤣
I worked at Taco Bell for a year and a half. It’s not rocket science. It’s just overworked employees not paying attention. 😂
😂
I really like chick-fil-A. I just love the spices they use!
I was wondering if someone was going to say Chick-fil-A! I like the waffle fries there (and the chicken, of course).
Pad See Ew, Ramen and Kimchi Pancakes are my jam at the moment!
LOVE Ramen! A couple of restaurants here have DIY ramen when you order in-- they send the broth, noodles, and meats/vegetables all in separate containers, and then you heat and assemble at home. It’s really cool because nothing gets soggy and you also get to eat everything actually hot as if you were in the restaurant.
McDonald’s fries and when I was in NY picking up hot dogs 🌭 from Gray’s Papaya
McDonald’s fries really are the best! How do NY hotdogs compare to Chicago hotdogs? I’m not a huge hotdog fan (I love corndogs, though!) but I feel like Chicagoans are very particular about the toppings if I remember correctly!
Yes, lots of relish, dill pickle, onion, mustard, tomato, peppers and other stuff and served in a poppy seed bun , I prefer a plain NY hot dog 🌭 with mustard! Anne Byrn just wrote about hot dogs on Substack (Between the Layers)
Yeah, I’ve always preferred simple hotdogs, although I bet I’d like a poppy seed bun! I saw Anne’s post but haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet (I’m behind on my reading 🫣). I love the idea of “haute” dogs! 😂
Yes! 😂
Well... There is something I tried few months ago, and it was hen we ate in a Chinese restaurant, rice curry! You must think it's silly, but curry is not very common here and, in my city, which is not very big, there are not too many places where I can eat it. Well, I liked it. And now, if we ever order food, I'm in for the curry rice!
That sounds delicious! I like curry a lot, in all forms! Did the one you ate come with some type of meat or vegetables?
Sure! Just with vegetables, and it was really tasty! To tell you the truth, I have never used curry at home, and in fact I don't know how to use it! I have to look for some recipe!
If you try a recipe and like it, you’ll have to report back!