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9 Best Fast Food Hangover Cures

Young woman eating hamburger fast food

Discover the best fast food cures for the dreaded morning after haze to help you wake up and shine after a night out. Discover the unsung heroes that can save you from the clutches of a pounding headache and an upset stomach in this enticing voyage into the realm of quick eats. We’ll reveal the secrets of why some fast food treats are the key to recovering from a hangover, whether they be savory or sweet. Prepare to satisfy your taste buds and take comfort in the knowledge that the path to recovery may lead to crispy fries, cheesy bliss, and the ideal combination of ingredients to help you beat a hangover.


Wendy’s

Wendy's
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Named for founder Dave Thomas’ daughter, Wendy’s opened as an old-fashioned burger stand in Ohio in 1969. Today, Wendy’s is one of the premier fast food burger restaurants with thousands of locations nationwide. Their menu now includes fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes, and other novel dishes. Still, their old-fashioned square-shaped burger patties, thick-cut french fries, and thick chocolate frosty reign supreme when it comes to Wendy’s favorites. I always go for large french fries to eat along with my chocolate frosty to satisfy my sweet and savory craving. For a hangover, I’d avoid the milk and sweetness, swapping the chocolate frosty for a cheeseburger.


Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box
Source: Instagram

Jack in the Box is a whimsical and edgier fast food restaurant that began as a California burger stand with a circus theme in 1951. Since then, the Jack in the Box menu became a favorite for late-night fast food smorgasbords that run the culinary gamut, from sandwiches to eggrolls, to crispy tacos. Jack in the Box is open later than many fast-food counterparts, so it’s an especially ideal location for drunken snacks that may prevent a hangover the next day. Their signature sandwich is the sourdough jack, a burger with swiss cheese, bacon, tomato, and special sauce between two thick slices of sourdough. The use of sourdough and Swiss sets it apart from the average burger. I love a Sourdough Jack, but my favorite hangover cure is their crispy hard-shelled tacos that only cost a dollar. 


Taco Bell

Taco Bell
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Founded by Glen Bell in 1962, Taco Bell has gained a cult following from hipsters, young adults, and vegetarians. Taking inspiration from Mexican cuisine, Taco Bell put an American twist on tacos by making them with: Fried tortilla shells, Ground, seasoned beef, Shredded cheddar cheese, Shredded lettuce, Tomatoes. Since then, Taco Bell constantly invents newer and more outrageous variations on tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas, often combining one or more into a decadent hybrid. Mexican food is the ultimate hangover cure due to its spicy, meaty, and greasy nature. Taco Bell adds to the greasy, meaty Mexican signature by adding cheese to the mix. My favorite hangover item at Taco Bell is the Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch with nacho cheese.

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Burger King

Burger King
Source: Instagram

Burger King originated as the East Coast’s counterpart to the West Coast’s newly opened McDonald’s franchise. Originating in Miami in 1954, Burger King is a fast food burger, sandwich, French fry, and milkshake restaurant with over 7000 locations in the US. Its signature burger is the Whopper, which continues to be the biggest seller. Burger King was one of the first fast food restaurants to offer Impossible burgers, making it popular with vegetarians and vegans. I always went to Burger King for their coke and cherry slushies. I recommend their bacon cheeseburger and fries for the ultimate hangover cure.


Carl’s Jr.

Carl's Jr.
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One of the oldest fast food chains on my list, Carl’s Jr., started as a hot dog car in 1941, owned and operated by Carl and Margaret Karcher. Their chili cheese dogs and tamales earned them enough revenue to open Carl’s Drive-in Barbecue joint. Carl’s Jr. restaurants opened as smaller versions of Carl’s Drive-in Barbecue.Today, Carl’s Jr. is an all-encompassing American comfort food fast food joint, selling: Burgers and sandwiches, Nachos, French fries, Shakes, Salads, Burritos, Breakfast. It’s hard to wake up early after a night of heavy drinking, but I’d set my alarm to catch their hefty breakfast meals. There’s no better hangover fast food breakfast than Carl’s Jr.’s Loaded Breakfast Burrito.


Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts
Source: Instagram

Dunkin Donuts opened its doors in 1948 as founder Bill Rosenberg’s brainchild after his successes as a coffee and donut vendor at factories and construction sites around Quincy Massachusetts. Rosenberg’s notion that coffee and donuts would be equally popular with the general population paid off as Dunkin Donuts has become the nation’s favorite fast-casual coffee house. The coffee at Dunkin Donuts is so good that it’s now sold in supermarkets nationwide. Coffee is certainly an important drink to counter the effects of a hangover. A strong cup of coffee paired with a rich and pillowy donut is a hangover breakfast of champions. Just don’t forget to wash it down with water if you want to beat the next-day blues.


In-N-Out

In-N-Out
Source: Instagram

Founded by Esther and Harry Snyder in 1948 in California, In-N-Out is a regional burger chain that serves the Southwest some of the best hangover fast food. In-N-Out remains a family business, with the Snyder’s son taking over as current CEO. Unlike most fast-food restaurants, In-N-Out never went public, so you can expect a higher standard of authenticity and food quality. In-N-Out’s simple menu has three varieties of hamburgers, french fries, and three milkshake flavors. In my opinion, the smaller the menu, the better each dish is because the Chefs have time and practice perfecting a smaller culinary repertoire. When I’m hungover, their Double Double two-patty cheeseburger smothered in their Thousand Island spread is a lifesaver.

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KFC

KFC
Source: Instagram

Named for the state in which it was founded, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is one of the nation’s oldest fast-food chains. Colonel Sanders opened the first KFC in 1930, and you can see his friendly face on every KFC sign, chicken bucket, and commercial. KFC currently has over 24000 locations worldwide. There’s nothing tastier than a bucket of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a buttery biscuit to cure a hangover and comfort your soul. My favorite hangover meal at KFC is the KFC Chicken Sandwich box with a thick, crispy filet, pickles, and mayo on a brioche bun with a side of mac n cheese, French fries, and coleslaw.


McDonald’s

McDonald's
Source: Instagram

The world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s opened in San Bernadino, California in 1940 under the direction of Richard and Maurice McDonald. Today, there are over 40,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide. No matter what continent you’re on, everyone knows about those golden arches. What I find fascinating is how McDonald’s menu changes from country to country, offering a unique and culturally-appropriate comfort food selection. In the states, McDonald’s menu is classic burgers, sandwiches, fries, and desserts. Their chicken nuggets and fries will always be my go-to order whether I’m hungover or not. 

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.