Fast Food Showdown: Debating Our Favorites!

Summary

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Episode: Fast Food Showdown: Debating Our Favorites!
Release Date: December 12, 2024

---

Introduction: The Fast Food Debate

Timestamp: 00:26

Rachel Cruze and George Kamel kick off the episode by welcoming listeners to a lively discussion centered around affordable food, a topic that often sparks strong opinions. They emphasize that today's debate focuses on the financial aspects of fast food rather than health implications.

Rachel Cruze [00:26]: "What do you like. Because, listen, y'all all think I'm like this bougie, debt-free Tesla driving girl. I'm not."

Matchup 1: McDonald's vs. Taco Bell

Timestamp: 04:03 - 06:13

The first showdown pits McDonald's against Taco Bell, with both hosts leaning towards Taco Bell due to its late-night availability and perceived value.

• George shares a personal anecdote about a late-night Taco Bell run, highlighting rising prices:

  George Kamel [05:00]: "It was over $5 for two very basic tacos... Probably $1.19 for each of these tacos."

• Rachel concurs, noting the impact of inflation on fast food pricing:

  Rachel Cruze [05:35]: "Thanks, inflation."

They conclude that both enjoy Taco Bell's offerings but recognize the increasing costs.

Matchup 2: Chick-fil-A vs. Zaxby's

Timestamp: 06:20 - 10:32

Next, Chick-fil-A faces off against Zaxby's, with Rachel favoring Chick-fil-A despite acknowledging Zaxby's flavorful options.

• Rachel expresses a preference for Chick-fil-A's consistent quality:

  Rachel Cruze [06:24]: "I just love Subway, too, but you're going..."

• George highlights Chick-fil-A's higher prices, sharing his experience with the brand:

  George Kamel [07:25]: "And I recently got a kid's meal at Chick Fil A alone... It was over $8 for a kids meal, y'all."

They discuss the balance between quality and cost, ultimately leaning towards Chick-fil-A for its reliable experience despite the heftier price tag.

Matchup 3: Arby's vs. Sonic

Timestamp: 08:08 - 16:07

Arby's takes on Sonic, with Rachel showing a clear preference for Sonic due to nostalgic ties and its diverse menu.

• Rachel reminisces about Sonic's unique offerings like mozzarella sticks:

  Rachel Cruze [08:52]: "I think it's better quality Payway. I can actually see the guy, like, sauteing it back there."

• George contrasts the two, mentioning Arby's robust sales and unique sauces:

  George Kamel [10:32]: "You can get a double roast beef or double beef and cheddar meal for just seven bucks..."

They conclude that while Arby's offers hearty meals, Sonic's variety and nostalgia factor make it their chosen favorite.

Matchup 4: In-N-Out vs. Whataburger

Timestamp: 14:14 - 19:58

The In-N-Out vs. Whataburger segment delves into regional favorites, with both hosts expressing strong loyalties.

• George shares exciting news about In-N-Out expanding to Franklin, Tennessee:

  George Kamel [14:36]: "There is an In N Out headquarters coming to Franklin, Tennessee..."

• Rachel praises In-N-Out's affordability and consistency:

  Rachel Cruze [15:56]: "And it's still a family-owned company."

They appreciate In-N-Out's quality and Whataburger's nostalgic value but agree that In-N-Out remains a top contender.

Matchup 5: Domino's vs. Papa John's

Timestamp: 16:28 - 18:41

In this pizza showdown, Domino's competes against Papa John's, with Rachel favoring Papa John's for its taste and customization options.

• George discusses Domino's higher sales but notes Papa John's loyal fan base:

  George Kamel [18:19]: "In 2023, Domino's brought in 9 billion in sales. Papa John's only had 2.1."

• Rachel highlights Papa John's superior ingredients and encourages listeners to utilize app rewards:

  Rachel Cruze [17:09]: "If we have kids, like, over, like, for movie nights, I'm always going Papa John's."

They acknowledge Domino's widespread presence but prefer Papa John's for its flavor and customer loyalty.

Matchup 6: Wendy's vs. Burger King

Timestamp: 18:52 - 19:48

The battle between Wendy's and Burger King sees both hosts favoring Wendy's for its diverse menu and value.

• George reminisces about Wendy's affordable meal deals from his childhood:

  George Kamel [19:00]: "It's a lot. Now their spicy chicken sandwiches, so good."

• Rachel points out Wendy's superior sales compared to Burger King:

  Rachel Cruze [19:48]: "Sounds like a lot."

They agree that Wendy's offers better value and variety, making it the preferred choice over Burger King.

Fast Casual Showdown: Chipotle vs. Moe's

Timestamp: 22:10 - 23:58

Transitioning to fast-casual options, Chipotle faces Moe's Southwest Grill, with both hosts praising Chipotle for its quality and customization.

• Rachel praises Chipotle's customizable bowls, emphasizing affordability:

  Rachel Cruze [22:37]: "I make it beans, chicken."

• George shares a cost-saving hack for Chipotle orders:

  George Kamel [22:38]: "If I'm splitting with Whitney... it should be free. There's your life, hack."

They advocate for Chipotle's flexibility in meal planning and budget-friendly options.

Local Favorites and Recommendations

Timestamp: 32:27 - 34:10

The hosts highlight local Nashville spots, recommending places like Edley's Barbecue, Baja Burrito, and Culver's for their unique offerings and community presence.

• George emphasizes Edley's Barbecue as a top-tier local choice:

  George Kamel [33:17]: "Culver's deserves a mention... It's Wisconsin."

• Rachel adds variety by mentioning Mojo Tacos and Maniacs:

  Rachel Cruze [32:12]: "Mojo Tacos is another great spot."

These recommendations cater to listeners seeking quality local options beyond national chains.

Promotions: Delete Me & Cozy Earth

Timestamp: 20:12 - 22:02

While discussing fast food, Rachel and George introduce listeners to services like Delete Me and Cozy Earth, offering exclusive discounts.

• Delete Me Promotion:

  George Kamel [20:33]: "20% off any of their plans. Very affordable and great peace of mind."

• Cozy Earth Endorsement:

  Rachel Cruze [20:50]: "It's lit literally like silk. Like, it is amazing."

These segments provide listeners with valuable resources for managing online data and upgrading their home comforts.

Final Matchups and Takeaways

Timestamp: 34:10 - 36:30

As the episode nears its close, the hosts recap their favorite choices and underscore the importance of budgeting when dining out.

• George advises on cost-effective ordering:

  George Kamel [34:20]: "Using an every dollar budget to find margin to buy affordable meals to make at home."

• Rachel reinforces eating at home to save money long-term:

  Rachel Cruze [34:30]: "It's going to save you more money."

They emphasize balancing occasional dining out with home-cooked meals to maintain financial and health goals.

Guilty as Charged: Honest Confessions

Timestamp: 36:36 - 40:54

In the closing segment, Rachel and George share their guilty pleasures related to food.

• George admits to complaining about undercooked steak, receiving complimentary meals as a result:

  George Kamel [37:22]: "They surprised and delighted and said... they comped the meal."

• Rachel confesses to sending back an overly peppered cocktail:

  Rachel Cruze [38:35]: "It’s just like, think about black pepper just being a whole thing. Dumped and stirred in that drink."

They laugh over their experiences, adding a relatable and humorous end to the episode.

Conclusion: Final Ratings and Costs

Timestamp: 39:51 - 40:54

Rachel and George rate their latest fast food experiment, the Raspberry Dream Dirty Soda Mocktail, giving it a 7 out of 10. They break down the cost per glass, emphasizing budgeting tips for dining out.

George Kamel [40:17]: "Cost breakdown is just $1.63, which I imagine they charge like seven times that at one of these soda shops."

They conclude by encouraging listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and check out related episodes for more financial insights.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Inflation Impacts: Rising prices affect all fast food and fast-casual chains, making affordability a central concern.

• Quality vs. Cost: While national chains offer consistency, local spots provide unique flavors and community connections.

• Budgeting Tips: Strategic ordering and meal planning can help manage costs when dining out, but home-cooked meals remain the most economical choice.

• Personal Preferences: Nostalgia and personal experiences heavily influence brand loyalty and favorite choices.

Notable Quotes:

• Rachel Cruze [00:26]: "What do you like. Because, listen, y'all all think I'm like this bougie, debt-free Tesla driving girl. I'm not."

• George Kamel [05:00]: "It was over $5 for two very basic tacos... Probably $1.19 for each of these tacos."

• George Kamel [18:19]: "In 2023, Domino's brought in 9 billion in sales. Papa John's only had 2.1."

• Rachel Cruze [22:37]: "I make it beans, chicken."

• George Kamel [34:20]: "Using an every dollar budget to find margin to buy affordable meals to make at home."

---

This episode offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of fast food favorites, balancing personal anecdotes with practical financial advice. Whether you're a fast food enthusiast or a budget-conscious listener, Rachel and George provide valuable insights to help you make informed dining choices.

Transcript

[Rachel Cruz]

Foreign. Hey, guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel and this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Cheers, George.

[George Camel]

Cheers. Wow. Jinx. You owe me a Coke.

[Rachel Cruz]

Or do I owe you? What is this?

[George Camel]

Raspberry Dream Dirty Soda Mocktail?

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, that is.

[George Camel]

That's got a ring to it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's something. That is something. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be many experts talk about what you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money. And today we are unpacking a very controversial topic. Affordable food.

[George Camel]

That's right. We're tackling the hard issues today. And some people have big feelings about little things like Wendy's and Shlotsky's and other cheap meal spots on the go. So we're going to address this debate head on. We're going to talk about the financial aspect of it. And can we just say, not an episode about health. So before you say, do you know how bad fast food is for you? You are not the target demo for this episode.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I'm reading books and listening to podcasts about how terrible it all is. So we know, we know.

[George Camel]

I'm teaching Rachel that nutrition labels exist. So we're working on it. We're having a good time.

[Rachel Cruz]

It is real. What we put in our bodies is very important. And also, what are we sipping on?

[George Camel]

George, here's what we're putting in our body today. It's a Raspberry Dream Dirty Soda Mocktail. And we're gonna give you the rating. Reveal the cost per glass at the end of the episode.

[Rachel Cruz]

And this is the drink. Apparently I've not seen it yet, which I love reality tv, but apparently. The Mormon controversial Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Yep. Apparently this is what I only know.

[George Camel]

Cuz my wife was watching it and I.

[Rachel Cruz]

Did you watch any of it?

[George Camel]

She watched all of it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

I need season two right now. Like, she was obsessed.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, I need it. I need to get on the train.

[George Camel]

But if you didn't know, Mormons famously are into soda shops because they cannot have alcohol or caffeine. Yes, from coffee, but soda's okay. And energy drinks.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm not sure.

[George Camel]

You guys, tell me. I'm still confused by.

[Rachel Cruz]

We got this pop culture. I'm going to call it drink.

[George Camel]

And this is one of Rachel's all time requested episodes. Is it because you just want to talk about your love of fast food?

[Rachel Cruz]

I just have opinions about fast food. Not the health of it again, but what I like. Because, listen, y'all all think I'm like this bougie, debt free Tesla driving girl. I'm not.

[George Camel]

She's so much more.

[Rachel Cruz]

But I'm not.

[George Camel]

She's so much more.

[Rachel Cruz]

I love, I do love fast food.

[George Camel]

She loves a Sonic and I and.

[Rachel Cruz]

Listen, we're eating a broccoli casserole for dinner tonight. Tomorrow, white bean chicken chili. Like I like. We eat healthy, right? On most of it. But when you need fast food, I am here for it and I will never say no.

[George Camel]

And we're gonna break it down for you. We're gonna rank it today. We're gonna do some bracket style challenges and I'm gonna class it up with my version of fast casual. So you don't want to miss this.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's gonna be good because I do think that the topic of food, it has gone up, right? Inflation, groceries, all of it. And we do talk about that. When you go out to eat, you spend more money versus if you ate at home. And again, it may not be true for like a single person running through like a Taco Bell drive through versus going to the grocery, right? Like, I think there's a level of it, but when you have a family and especially a sit down restaurant, all of it like you are end up spending more. But these are places that are cheaper because the quality's not good. But it's a reality that a lot of people face. And it is a reality. And you're busy, you gotta run through a drive through. And so we're talking about it and.

[George Camel]

We'Re going to sprinkle in some stats, prices, and fun facts for you along the way. And let us know in the comments who you're siding with, what your favorites are as we talk about them. Because we want your hot takes too. We have two rounds. We get the fast food round, which is your traditional cheap drive thru. Then we have fast casual, which is more. You're in line ordering at the counter, but no drive thru situation. Unless you count the chipotle.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. And you pay Chipotle $18 for a bowl of something. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[George Camel]

I sense the judgment already.

[Rachel Cruz]

Listen, I like cava. I'm not mad at it.

[George Camel]

Shots fired. All right, first matchup. You ready?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah.

[George Camel]

McDonald's versus Taco Bell.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah. Okay.

[George Camel]

Who are you taking in the match?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going Taco Bell.

[George Camel]

Taco Bell. Final answer. There is only one answer.

[Rachel Cruz]

Taco Bell.

[George Camel]

These two options are both for. Who would you say people desperate after 11pm the lines after 11pm at these places are out of control.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Taco Bell. Late Night.

[George Camel]

It's like a dm.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like, if you went to a wedding, had a fun reception, and you're like, you know, we just need, like, a little cherry on top.

[George Camel]

How often are you going to weddings then need a nightcap at a McDonald's?

[Rachel Cruz]

It happens. It's good.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, but. But Taco Bell. Two soft tacos. The nachos and cheese. I'm good to go. Get that fire sauce packet.

[George Camel]

Are you slapping?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm shaking it.

[George Camel]

I don't think it needs shaking. It's. I don't think it's that level of quality where it requires. I think it's all congealed to begin with.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know.

[George Camel]

It's very kind.

[Rachel Cruz]

What's yours? What do you. I pick Taco Bell.

[George Camel]

I do Taco Bell. This is one I actually did recently. Not by choice, but out of desperation.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

It was 11:30 at night in Columbia, Tennessee.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right.

[George Camel]

This is.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

This is all we have. I had just sang in our. My friend's band to fill in for our friend Zach Ford.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Who could not. He was sick.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

I went. I'm gonna fill in. Late night. Didn't get to eat dinner.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

I get the Doritos Locos tacos and a crunchy taco.

[Rachel Cruz]

How was it?

[George Camel]

It was food. It was good. Cause it was 11:30.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

I think most. Most of the time, fast food is only good because of your environment.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. I agree with you.

[George Camel]

You are starving and you're desperate. What I found surprising, though, was it was over $5 for two very basic tacos.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah. The inflation, man.

[George Camel]

It's getting in my head. I was like, probably $1.19 for each of these tacos.

[Rachel Cruz]

Right, Right.

[George Camel]

I apparently must have been in the 1950s, mentally.

[Rachel Cruz]

I like the Doritos one. That was like, the surprise. That's like a. That's a big step up. Yeah. How.

[George Camel]

I mean, what are you doing? Like, why do you think this Doritos taco is worth $7 now? So I was upset at the price, but I ate it and regret and then left.

[Rachel Cruz]

We are filming this right before dinner, and I am regretting it.

[George Camel]

We're both starving.

[Rachel Cruz]

I am so hungry, and I still have taco from Taco Bell. Sounds so good.

[George Camel]

Here's a fun fact. McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant chain by revenue, nearly 42,000 restaurants, a brand value of 38 billion worldwide. In the original price of a taco at taco bell, 19 cents.

[Rachel Cruz]

Man, I could have eaten everything. Thanks, inflation. All right, next up, we Got some chicken ready? Chicken on chicken.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Chick Fil a versus Zaxby's.

[George Camel]

This one's easy.

[Rachel Cruz]

Chick Fil A. I agree. Chick Fil A. But man, a Zaxby's kicking chicken sandwich. It's like Texas toast chicken tenders. And then you have like, a ranch, and then like, another sauce on top. It will like a spicy ranch.

[George Camel]

Where's the chicken part?

[Rachel Cruz]

It is so good. But I'm still going. I'm still going spicy chicken, saying, what's the Chick Fil A?

[George Camel]

But if you. If I'm on a road trip and I see Zaxby's, I'm at least like, you know what? That's a better option because they have the same.

[Rachel Cruz]

They have good salads at Zaxby's.

[George Camel]

That's usually what I think I have to do. But if I had my choice, I see a Chick Fil A and a Zaxby's, I'm going Chick Fil A every time.

[Rachel Cruz]

What do you get at Chick Fil A?

[George Camel]

Usually a grilled nugget meal. Okay, so I can have the fries, the nuggets. You get a drink.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. So good. Now a spicy chicken wrap from Chick Fil a is actually really great.

[George Camel]

Their salads are actually very good too.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Albeit pricier.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is feeling better.

[George Camel]

But I recently got a kid's meal at Chick Fil A alone. Sat in a booth alone, like a crazy person, waiting on my tire to be done.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah.

[George Camel]

And I felt strange, I'm gonna be honest. But I got a kid's meal. It was over $8 for a kids meal, y'all.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's expensive. Expensive. Chick Fil A is expensive.

[George Camel]

So fast food is not what it once was, price wise. Like, back in my day, I felt like it was like four or five bucks gets you a kid's meal.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. And why do we feel like when you eat Chick Fil A, you're eating a healthier version of fast food? Is it true or is that really not?

[George Camel]

I think it's because the. The environment, the people are nicer, the facilities are cleaner, and they feel like they're putting effort.

[Rachel Cruz]

I have an app. You put in your order. You go and you sit down. You go in and place. Put your order in. As you're getting there, sit down on the table. Put in your table number. The kids go play. They bring you your food like it's all done. And it is.

[George Camel]

I mean, it's a higher quality experience. But the ingredients, frightening. I dare you to read the ingredients on a Chick Fil A sauce. You won't sleep tonight. You will spend all night Googling. You're like, what the heck am I putting in my body?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh. All right, you ready for this? Arby's versus Sonic. Oh, man.

[George Camel]

That's a tough one, man.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sonic was like. That's like, where we went to in high school.

[George Camel]

It's nostalgic for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

You would go to.

[George Camel]

Is that why you still love. It is like the drive in, maybe. So my wife worked at a Sonic, and she did the roller skates and everything. You get, like, an extra quarter.

[Rachel Cruz]

You get paid more.

[George Camel]

An extra quarter.

[Rachel Cruz]

Car hop. Yes. My friends. My friends worked at Sonic, man. Sonic is. Sonic is good. Sonic Cheeseburger.

[George Camel]

You don't know anyone that worked at Arby's? We don't like who's working there. We don't know George.

[Rachel Cruz]

Hardworking Americans.

[George Camel]

I'm saying, like, your friends in high school worked at Sonic.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know what I mean? He was like, Sonic and Smoothie King. Those were like, the places that they worked at.

[George Camel]

What do you know about Arby's? They have the meats. That's all we know. Very mysterious.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. Okay. Arby's is one of Winston's favorites.

[George Camel]

Really? Is it the roast beef?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. And I. Roast beef cheddar with horsey sauce.

[George Camel]

The horsey sauce hits.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's not bad.

[George Camel]

I don't care who you are.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's not bad. And the curly fries. Their fries are some of my favorites.

[George Camel]

I did love their curly. You're right, man. I'm starting to get nostalgic for Arby's night.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. What do you do? Like, it's just.

[George Camel]

It's tough growing up. I don't think we had Sonic and.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't eat roast beef ever.

[George Camel]

When's the last time you purchased roast beef ever?

[Rachel Cruz]

Never. I don't think I've ever bought roast beef, like, at the grocery store ever.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

But Arby's, suddenly, it's okay. Which is probably disgusting. I know. Okay, so Sonic. My kids like Sonic.

[George Camel]

Sonic. I like the variety of Sonic. It's kind of like the. The Cheesecake Factory of fast food.

[Rachel Cruz]

The mozzarella sticks. They're so good.

[George Camel]

Wow. That's your go to.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. And now I got my kids on them. I introduced them to my kids. I selfishly was like, I don't really want them to eat it because they're gonna know how great it is. And then every time I order them, they're gonna want some.

[George Camel]

But you're like, I can't Gatekeep. If I want to be a good mom.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. What do I do? And now they're all addicted. They're like, oh, my gosh, we want the mozzarella sticks.

[George Camel]

Wow. But they still eat all the food at home. They'll still eat broccoli casserole.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, they're eating broccoli casserole. Okay, so we're okay. We're okay, people.

[George Camel]

That's my fear as a. As a parent.

[Rachel Cruz]

My mom cannot hear this episode. She'll be so disappointed.

[George Camel]

I can totally see her being like, do you know what's in here?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

All right, here's a fun fact for you, Arby's. You can get a double roast beef or double beef and cheddar meal for just seven bucks, which is cheaper than the Chick Fil A kids meal.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh. That's crazy. Yes.

[George Camel]

That's some bang for the buck.

[Rachel Cruz]

There you go.

[George Camel]

And did you know that saying, make it dirty at Sonic means adding coconut and lime to your drink?

[Rachel Cruz]

You know what? I think I did know that.

[George Camel]

I don't know what makes it dirty.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, Coconut lime.

[George Camel]

That feels very refreshing and clean.

[Rachel Cruz]

Diet cherry limeade is what Rachel in high school got all the time. You go get the Route 44 during happy hour, which just feels like way.

[George Camel]

Too much liquid for a human being.

[Rachel Cruz]

So true.

[George Camel]

You're not drinking that much water in a day.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, I know. All right, let's go. Sandwiches. My other favorite topic. This is a really hard one for me. We got my favorite Shalotsky.

[George Camel]

I've never darkened the door of a Shalotsky. I don't even know what they sell, to be honest. I would not know based on the name.

[Rachel Cruz]

How have you never been to a Shalotsky's?

[George Camel]

I've never been that desperate, I guess. I don't know. Like, why would I go to a Shlotsky's not knowing what it is?

[Rachel Cruz]

It's just I know my friends have.

[George Camel]

Never been like, hey, let's go to Schlotsky. Also, how do you make it nine syllables? Shlo t? Just Schlotzky's.

[Rachel Cruz]

Schlotzkies. Schlotskies, Schlotzkis.

[George Camel]

Like, it's two syllables. Shalotsky.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like, you gotta give it credit where credit's due. Shalotsky's versus Subway. Shoot.

[George Camel]

I have trust issues with Subway.

[Rachel Cruz]

I just love Subway, too, but you're.

[George Camel]

Going Subway over Schlotzki's.

[Rachel Cruz]

No. No, I can't. Number one, no olives. Shalotsky's the cracked pepper chips and a Diet Coke.

[George Camel]

Wow, that was way too fast.

[Rachel Cruz]

And it's expensive. Okay. Shalotsky's is expensive and slow.

[George Camel]

It feels like it's higher quality in my head.

[Rachel Cruz]

It is. I think so. Yeah. But it takes for. It's a long. Probably because they make it because they're actually making it. It takes them a moment to make the sandwich.

[George Camel]

But they don't have sandwich artists like Subway, do they?

[Rachel Cruz]

Do what?

[George Camel]

There's no artistry at Schlotsky's. They're just throwing it all together. At Subway they have sandwich. That's what they call themselves, sandwich artists.

[Rachel Cruz]

Really?

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

What do you get? Okay, I get the. I get the Italian bmt.

[George Camel]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Rachel Cruz]

With banana, peppers and tomato and lettuce.

[George Camel]

Back when I could eat Subway, I was doing like the meatball marinara or the sweet onion chicken teriyaki.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow, you went like real crazy. I'm shocked.

[George Camel]

Is that crazy?

[Rachel Cruz]

Meatball at Subway and chicken at Subway feels like a lot.

[George Camel]

What are you getting?

[Rachel Cruz]

Italian bmt. Salami, Ham.

[George Camel]

Like you don't know where that salami's been.

[Rachel Cruz]

Cold cuts like a sub, like a regular meat.

[George Camel]

What animal does that come from?

[Rachel Cruz]

But yeah. All right.

[George Camel]

She's like game, recognized game. What the heck is pastrami? It's pork. It's pork.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man. What do you pick? Well, you gotta pick Subway. Cause you haven't been sauce.

[George Camel]

I don't know. Maybe I need to go and experience.

[Rachel Cruz]

Bread is good.

[George Camel]

I need to check if they have gluten free bread. That might change my mind. Subway. Here's a fun fact. Began in 1965 when 17 year old Fred DeLuca asked Dr. Peter Buck, who's a family friend and nuclear physicist. Feels like a flex of a detail, but okay. Asked him for advice on how to pay his college tuition, which by the way, go Fred, love debt free college tuition. It's awesome. And Fred's idea for a submarine shop and a thousand dollar investment from Dr. Buck. They formed a business partnership and today it is known as Subway. 37,000 restaurants worldwide. It feels generous to call it a restaurant, but I appreciate that. I respect the hustle. Yeah, I feel like Subway is. It's everywhere. It's in every gas station. There's one in your house probably right now. They're everywhere.

[Rachel Cruz]

They're everywhere.

[George Camel]

So at least it's okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

There may not be. I may be jumping the gun. Oh, I am. Okay, I'll wait. Okay, I'll wait. Because I have other subs that I Love, but we're going to wait.

[George Camel]

Next up, burgers.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, this is the. This is the fight on fight. Texas versus California.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

In and out versus Whataburger.

[George Camel]

This one's contentious. This is like choosing a football team, in a sense.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, I'm like, I know. Exactly. I've had both. And I know. Okay, you do yours. We're going to count to three. One, two, three. In and out. Yes.

[George Camel]

She does have class. We found it In n Out. And here's the best fun fact that has changed, I think, changed my family tree. There is an in N Out headquarters coming to Franklin, Tennessee, legitimately, right down the road from Ramsey.

[Rachel Cruz]

We feel it. We feel it's right.

[George Camel]

If I could throw a football, I could throw a football.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's gonna be right there.

[George Camel]

And not only is there a headquarters, there's a restaurant paired with it across the street.

[Rachel Cruz]

And is it gonna be like an hour long drive through every day?

[George Camel]

Initially, I think so.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know.

[George Camel]

But eventually people move on with their life. Except for us.

[Rachel Cruz]

And we'll be there.

[George Camel]

We are feral for this.

[Rachel Cruz]

So cheap. Easy. It is so good. I will say their fries are not my favorite.

[George Camel]

Oh, see, I love them. I get them well done. Which, if you didn't know, that's. You can get them extra crispy. So they're literally like. They are so crisp.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. That's probably what I need to do because they are a little. They're not my favorite.

[George Camel]

They're thin, but they're hand. I mean, you watch them hand cut the potatoes. So as far as quality goes, I love that I can actually see the quality right before my eyes.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good. Okay.

[George Camel]

And it's very affordable.

[Rachel Cruz]

Very much so. Yep. So In N Out's profit margin is estimated to be 20%, which is on the higher end of most restaurant chain spectrum.

[George Camel]

Good for them. Which is impressive because their burgers are like $3.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you know they have verses at the bottom of their cups? Yes, Bible verses. Yeah. They're like.

[George Camel]

And their fries, all their labels.

[Rachel Cruz]

And it's still a family owned company.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know.

[George Camel]

But here's another fun fact in the. If we're gonna start, you know, starting some religious beef here, Whataburger employees are encouraged to play Christian music over the restaurant speakers.

[Rachel Cruz]

Really? Well, that's interesting.

[George Camel]

I think Chick Fil A does that with muzak. You know, it's like an instrumental version of a song that you know. And you're like, okay. Little subtle.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. It's like, I. I hear that. Third day.

[George Camel]

There you go.

[Rachel Cruz]

Guitar.

[George Camel]

I'M glad we agree so far on most of these.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, you ready for the next one? Domino's versus Papa John's.

[George Camel]

I know you're going Papa John's all day.

[Rachel Cruz]

Every.

[George Camel]

People might think you're sponsored by Papa John's.

[Rachel Cruz]

I love Papa John's.

[George Camel]

You talk about. You talk about Papa John's more than you do your kids. So I forget your kids names. I know your Papa John's order.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's so. It is just so good. It's so good. You get the pepperoncini.

[George Camel]

Pepperoncini.

[Rachel Cruz]

And you get the garlic sauce, and their crust is thick, which I like. Now I like jets. Jets is like an elevated pizza order for us. Like, you're going to be spending more. But I get Papa Dough a lot on my app because we order it so much.

[George Camel]

Can you explain that to people what Papa Dough is?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, if you order enough on the app, you get, like, credit back. So I'll have, like, 10, 20. I mean, I'll have a lot on the app.

[George Camel]

Cause you spend hundreds on Papa John's a month.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, if we have kids, like, over, like, for movie nights, I'm always going Papa John's. I'm not gonna, like, order jets for the kids because I.

[George Camel]

So when parents are like, hey, let's get pizza. I got it in my app. I gotta get my papa Dough.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. No, not parents, but just, like, the kids are there, so I'm like, I'll order pizza for the kids, you know?

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

I just. Y'all, the crust is so good. It's just so good. It is so good.

[George Camel]

And you get delivery.

[Rachel Cruz]

I do. And sadly, it's been doordash recently. I don't think they have enough employees.

[George Camel]

I didn't grow up with Papa John's. It's not a part of my zeitgeist like it is for you. I did grow up with Domino's. My friend worked there, so he'd give us free pizza after a shift.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, that's fun.

[George Camel]

And he would do a custom pizza. It was a barbecue sauce base with chicken and bacon or maybe sausage and bacon. It was. It was amazing.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good.

[George Camel]

Delicious.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, Would you pick. Would you pick Papa John's or Domino's?

[George Camel]

I've had Domino's gluten free, and it's actually decent. I need to try Papa John's to see if it's up to snuff.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

But if I had to order today, you know, I'm a Marcos guy. If I'm gonna go with a chain.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, true. Marcos is Good.

[George Camel]

I feel like Domino's. There's, like a trust there I have built. Probably similar to what you built with Papa John's.

[Rachel Cruz]

What?

[George Camel]

You guys have a special.

[Rachel Cruz]

It is. It's.

[George Camel]

It's pretty good. Here's a fact for you. 2023, Domino's brought in 9 billion in sales. Papa John's only had 2.1.

[Rachel Cruz]

Ouch. Wow.

[George Camel]

Only a measly 2.1. But here's the deal. Die hard fans have discovered Papa John's uses less sauce on their pizzas than Domino's. So you can order extra sauce on your order. I'm an extra sauce guy.

[Rachel Cruz]

I am, too.

[George Camel]

If it's just like, cheese and bread, I'm like, I should have just ordered cheesy bread.

[Rachel Cruz]

But I did notice that it's less sauce, so that's like a known fact.

[George Camel]

Try doing extra sauce. It should be free. There's your life, hack.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thank you. I will.

[George Camel]

All right.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. Let's go burgers again, George. Wendy's versus Burger King.

[George Camel]

See, I feel like Wendy's is so much more than just burgers.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's true.

[George Camel]

My childhood is like, you get a dollar for the five piece nugget, a dollar for a chili, a dollar for a burger, and so a dollar for fries so I could get out of there. Four or five bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

It was a lot. Now their spicy chicken sandwiches, so good.

[George Camel]

That hits.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good.

[George Camel]

So I'm going to choose. But Burger King had us a lot of nostalgia. The rodeo burger had an onion ring on there with barbecue sauce. I love Burger King's chicken sand. Long ones.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good. That's why I get in the Nashville airport.

[George Camel]

There was something special about that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I agree. It's still around. Still around.

[George Camel]

So that's a hard one.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going Wendy's, though.

[George Camel]

Debate. If I had to go into a place, I think Wendy's, I'd go into today over Burger King.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, well, Wendy's actually beats Burger King in sales by just $0.8 billion.

[George Camel]

That's 800 a lot. Is that 800 million? That feels like not an insignificant amount.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sounds like a lot.

[George Camel]

Just 0.8 billion. It's not that much.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, before we head into our fast casual rounds, when we talk about other restaurants and maybe some apps that we have. Listen, spammers, scammers, they're everywhere. Just like fast food, right? You see them everywhere. They are everywhere. So removing your online data, you guys, is so, so crucial. And delete me is a great company and service to help you do that.

[George Camel]

That's Right. I feel like data is the new currency and we are giving it out to sign up for every fast food app out there. And so Delete Me helps remove your info from all these data broker websites that are selling it for a profit and they send you a report showing you exactly what they did. How much time they you? I'm at 55 hours of time saved, which is time I can be spending in a drive thru and ordering some food. There we go.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, but for real, your information's out there. You guys. Get it removed and use Delete me. It's fantastic. We'll put the link below and there's actually a great deal for our listeners.

[George Camel]

20 off. Go to joind deleteme.com smart money. You'll get 20% off any of their plans. Very affordable and great peace of mind.

[Rachel Cruz]

And you know what else I love?

[George Camel]

What's that?

[Rachel Cruz]

Cozy Earth.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

So this company, you guys, it has clothes, it has bedding, it has towels.

[George Camel]

I mean it has anything, blankets, robes.

[Rachel Cruz]

But any material is unbelievable. It's what the influencers would say is buttery. It's very buttery.

[George Camel]

I don't follow those people.

[Rachel Cruz]

But it's lit literally like silk. Like, it is amazing. I have some pajamas, I have some joggers. Our sheets.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean it, y'all, it is. It's unbelievable.

[George Camel]

We did the sheets, we cleaned the sheets this week as we do, by the way, Clean your sheets. It's probably time once a week, but we like unfurled them on the bed and it was like Aladdin's magic carpet. And Whitney was like, these are really the best sheets we ever had. I was like, I know.

[Rachel Cruz]

They are. It's so good. It's so good. And then Winston loved all this stuff so much he went online and bought a hoodie. Without our code.

[George Camel]

Your boy's out here paying retail. Would we have a code for 40% off?

[Rachel Cruz]

I was like, babe. And he was like, well, I just loved the material so I wanted a hoodie from it. I was like, well, we've got a code, so y'all don't be crazy. I know you're gonna buy some Cozy Earth stuff, but buy it with her code.

[George Camel]

Don't be like, Winston, go to cozyearth.com smartmoney or you can just use the code Smart money at checkout, let them know if you take the post purchase survey. You heard about Cozy Earth on this show.

[Rachel Cruz]

So get a great discount up to 40% off. That are great. All right, George, let's go a little Fast, casual. Let's go a little classier. Okay.

[George Camel]

To be fair.

[Rachel Cruz]

Get out of the car.

[George Camel]

In the meeting, I said, rachel, we can't just do fast food. The people deserve better. And so these are my. I don't know, pretentious. Oh, casual.

[Rachel Cruz]

The elevated.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

But probably healthier. Let's be honest option.

[George Camel]

Let's start off with an easy1. Chipotle vs. Moe's. Everyone say Chipotle if you like Moe's, you don't like Mexican food, you don't like tacos. You like queso.

[Rachel Cruz]

So true. I would say, yeah, chipotle is actually great. Get a. I get a bowl.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I make it beans, chicken.

[George Camel]

I do the hack where I can get two bowls out of one.

[Rachel Cruz]

What?

[George Camel]

Because you stack the ingredients and you can get extra of a lot of the things without paying more. So you can't get extra meat without paying more, but you can get extra fajita veggies, extra rice, extra salad. So when I get the bowl, I mean, they can't. They barely get the lid on there.

[Rachel Cruz]

So funny.

[George Camel]

And so either Whitney and I will split it as a meal, or I'll eat half and then save half for the next day.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. So it's good, though.

[George Camel]

You pay 11 or 12 bucks, but you get two meals out of it, which makes it cheaper than most fast food.

[Rachel Cruz]

I love it.

[George Camel]

And it's higher quality.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, next up, Panera versus Jason's Deli. Ooh, I'm kind of mad at Panera.

[George Camel]

What'd they do to you? Well, is it glorified hospital food now?

[Rachel Cruz]

It was on what we called the strip at UT in college. So it's called the Strip. It was where all the restaurants were, and Panera was, like, on there. And it was one that we would always go to. You just grab bagels or coffee. Like, it's kind of off campus a little bit, but it was so affordable, so easy. And then I went in probably, like, two years ago, y'all, and I got, like, a sandwich, a side, a drink, and it was like $18 or something.

[George Camel]

Whoa.

[Rachel Cruz]

It was very expensive. And they've upped their prices so much that I'm like, it's not worth. Like, I can't justify it. Panera's overpriced for me right now.

[George Camel]

I agree. And I do think the quality has gone down. I mean, I don't know how they get. Like, they must GMO their apples to be tiny. Have you ever got an apple from Panera? Or even worse, the bread? I'm like, Are you paying for my dentist visit after I have to shoot through this bread? Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's so hard.

[George Camel]

How do you make bread that hard?

[Rachel Cruz]

It's hard. So true. I know. It makes me so sad.

[George Camel]

It's one ounce of chips. That bag is just air. And there's like seven chips in there. I know, but I used to love that. You pick two.

[Rachel Cruz]

I used to love it all. Half a sandwich all the time in college, and I just can't anymore. And I'll be honest, I haven't been to a Jason's Deli in a while, but they have lots of options. They had a Turkey Bravo sandwich back in the day. That was delicious. Oh, no, no. It was a turkey. Oh, boy. Or something.

[George Camel]

Turkey Bravo was at Panera.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, so this was the turkey. Oh, boy. And do you remember? I'm sure they still have it. So it's just when I was a kid, the bread that you'd put on sandwiches and had onions like in it. So Amy O's.

[George Camel]

Amy O's.

[Rachel Cruz]

Can't get that. That's it.

[George Camel]

Onion bread.

[Rachel Cruz]

Amy oh's at Jason's Deli. So good.

[George Camel]

That's my favorite thing to get there. Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

With the avocado. Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

But if you're on a road. Here's my test. If you're on the road trip and you see both, which one are you going to? I'm probably still going to Panera, even though I know just feels safe. It's like the devil you know? I know they're gonna have decent coffee. I know they're gonna have, like, the energy drink that I like. You know, it's in every hospital, so if you've ever been in a hospital, you've seen a Panera.

[Rachel Cruz]

Is it really?

[George Camel]

It's in a lot of the hall. I've been in several.

[Rachel Cruz]

You okay, George?

[George Camel]

I'm doing all right.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna go Jason Sally on the road trip.

[George Camel]

Wow. So brave.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, we're gonna Shake Shack versus five guys. Shake Shack all day.

[George Camel]

Shake Shack wins.

[Rachel Cruz]

Shake Shack's good.

[George Camel]

I think back in the day, five guys, they're like Cajun fries were life changing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, see, I don't like their fries either. Everything's too, like, greasy.

[George Camel]

Everything's greasy. You're going to get it all over. But Shake Shack through the bag.

[Rachel Cruz]

Shake Shack is good, though.

[George Camel]

Shake Shack is good, but I'm like, I might as well go eat out if I'm going to get Shake Shack because the burger is like eight or nine dollars. Then we got to get the gluten free bun. Extra $17 for a gluten free bun. Then you got to get the fries separate. Then you got to get a drink separate. They don't do meals.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's true. That's true.

[George Camel]

But I do feel like it's a trendier, you know, you see it in big cities. I'm going shake shack. If I see and a bad experience at five guys in New York. Whitney needed to use the bathroom. I went, hey, five guys has a bathroom. And I know New York. They're gonna be like, hey, you gotta be a customer.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, you do.

[George Camel]

But they gave me. They gave me some heck. And I was like, I'm gonna buy a water. Like, they gave me a big attitude and about it. I slammed the water on there. I was like, I'm buying a water. She's using the bathroom.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

And I was like, go. You just go. I'm gonna pay for this.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna take care of it.

[George Camel]

I don't like the attitude in a five guys.

[Rachel Cruz]

That was one store, George.

[George Camel]

A shake shack. While they don't care, at least they're a little bit more friendly.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, that's fair.

[George Camel]

Maybe it was a new rough and tumble five guy situation. They were ready to fight.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, I'm ready for this one. This is a really hard one for me. Jersey Mike's versus Firehouse. I know where I'm going, but, man.

[George Camel]

I know you're doing firehouse.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm doing firehouse. The Italian fully involved on wheat. So good.

[George Camel]

Is that a way to order?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Fully involved at Firehouse. Yeah, it's like you're on. It's. It's just everything.

[George Camel]

I just don't think you've ever used the words fully involved until now.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, but, man, Jersey Mike's is so good, though. It is so good. Okay, but I'm going warm sub. Warm sub. Every day.

[George Camel]

I'm a warm sub guy. There's very few subs that I think are better. I'm going firehouse. And it's partially because they gave you a free sub on your birthday. So it's like, it's a part of my. They do the fabric of my life. On my birthday, they do get a firehouse sub.

[Rachel Cruz]

Really?

[George Camel]

And it used to be you could just show an id.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. What do you do now?

[George Camel]

Now I think you have to, like, sign up for the rewards program and whatever to get. Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. All right. I don't have that.

[George Camel]

But I'm going firehouse. It feels higher quality.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right.

[George Camel]

And I Like the branding.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, it's so fun. Makes me feel like a fireman Ladders Fireman Jersey.

[George Camel]

Mike's feels a little bit like there's a guy with some chest hair and a gold chain. I know there isn't, but it gives off that vibe.

[Rachel Cruz]

Gives.

[George Camel]

And no offense to Jersey, but we can do better. I prefer New Jersey. Michaels. I think it's a class. They needed a rebrand.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just go full.

[George Camel]

Full on name comes from a good family.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, let's jump on the plane. George. We're leaving. We're leaving America. We're going international here. You ready?

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Panda Express versus Payway.

[George Camel]

One of a cultural icon.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I.

[George Camel]

If you went to a P. F. Chang's, you were like, I'm so like, wow, we are really branching out. Like, this is a real different.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is Payway, though. This is the fast food version of PF Changs.

[George Camel]

That's right. Same company.

[Rachel Cruz]

Same company.

[George Camel]

I'm going Payway because I can actually eat things at Payway. Panda Express is too in the fast food realm for me. Like, Payway. No, there's no driving.

[Rachel Cruz]

I agree. It feels more like. I hear you.

[George Camel]

Panda Express feels like going to Sarcoo Japan in the mall, which I loved growing up.

[Rachel Cruz]

Hey, free samples. You eat it and you're like, that's actually really good.

[George Camel]

Like, you have to hand me free chicken teriyaki. I'm like, pull my leg, my guy. I'm going to get Sarco Japan at the mall. And as a teenager, you felt like you were like, oh, not going to tell mom. I got a free sample.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

It's not really cool, but yeah, Panda Express over Payway. I'm going Payway. I feel like it's higher quality Payway. I can actually see the guy, like, sauteing it back there.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know it's better food. I'm going Panda Express.

[George Camel]

We don't know what's happening back there.

[Rachel Cruz]

We're not sure, but it's fine. Dear one right downstairs. It's fine.

[George Camel]

Ramsay and I've never been, but I have friends that love it. Okay. This one is near and dear to my heart. Kava versus Zoe's. Ooh, Zoe's rip used to be a staple. It was then replaced by cava.

[Rachel Cruz]

It was okay. Zoe's like, gone forever. Is it, like, out of business? Do we know?

[George Camel]

Don't know. There may be still one in Green Hills. We don't know.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm for sure. Von Kava. Kava the pickle. The amount of pickled items they have makes me so happy.

[George Camel]

And as a person of Middle Eastern descent, it's. It's closer to the food of my people than any fast food I've ever had.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's true.

[George Camel]

You know what I mean? It's like I can't get my mom's cooking, but I can get kava.

[Rachel Cruz]

And it's.

[George Camel]

Can I tell you my order?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh, I'd love to hear it.

[George Camel]

It's fully involved. So I do a grains bowl.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep.

[George Camel]

Half saffron basmati rice, half brown rice, red pepper hummus, crazy feta, grilled chicken, fire roasted corn, pickled onions, salt brine pickles, tomato and onion, tomato and cucumber, cabbage slaw, Persian cucumber, kalamata olives, shredded romaine, garlic dressing, drizzle on top, the skook drizzle on top, roasted eggplant dip. And I skipped the pita.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow, George. Holy mackerels.

[George Camel]

No joke. But do you see what I mean? That bowl is very filling.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's so good.

[George Camel]

Very nutritious.

[Rachel Cruz]

Probably two meals. Honestly.

[George Camel]

Definitely two meals.

[Rachel Cruz]

And it's spicy.

[George Camel]

11 or 12 bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

There's a spicy harissa. The arissa.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good. But I gotta get on the side.

[George Camel]

If I'm splitting with Whitney. I try to tame down the spice just so I don't, you know, blow her away. But I think kava's still up there for me. A top fast casual.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, it's probably the night. It's probably the best quality food. Yeah, that. That and chipotle. I'm gonna end with that. Wow. So good, George.

[George Camel]

There's a lot of good stuff there. And again, these are all in a similar price range. I mean, no matter where you go now, fast food is expensive. It's gonna go. You cannot leave a fast food joint for one person without spending at least six, seven, eight bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

And then fast casual, you're looking at more like 11, 12, 13. You get the guac. That's an extra two bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Right.

[George Camel]

It can add up, especially if you're getting a drink. So I try to avoid getting a drink. I try to avoid any extras. I try to go with the base and make the most of that, if that makes sense.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. And to know what the extras are, because if you want more protein or anything else, just know. And hey, in the stuff, like, there are things that you're like, oh, we'll just get some sandwiches to go. But have the chips at home and have the drinks at home. Right. Like, there's ways to.

[George Camel]

And I've seen the hack where you get the big chipotle bowl and get tortillas on the side, and you can make, you know, two full burritos with one bowl or.

[Rachel Cruz]

So smart. Yes.

[George Camel]

So there's some. There's some hacks out there that are legitimate. You can get some decent bang for the buck. It's still cheaper to eat at home. Don't hear me say you're gonna hack your way to just eating out all the time. But.

[Rachel Cruz]

But if you're gonna do it. Yep.

[George Camel]

But going to Chick Fil A with a family now, I mean, it could cost you 60 bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah. I could probably look to see what. Yeah. What we spend. We were just there, Charles. It was his birthday. Told him you can go to any restaurant. Jay Alexander. Like, Jay Alexander's. We can go. We can go. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Swanky.

[Rachel Cruz]

Guess where he picked. Chick Fil A. Chick Fil A.

[George Camel]

What did he get?

[Rachel Cruz]

Just the kids meal. Just chicken nuggets and fries.

[George Camel]

I don't know, my man.

[Rachel Cruz]

And a chocolate milk.

[George Camel]

Stay humble, king.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. There are some great local fast casual spots here in Nashville.

[George Camel]

So if you always ask us, hey, I'm coming to Nashville. Where should I eat?

[Rachel Cruz]

So some fast casuals again. This isn't like, like the big restaurants. One of my favorites, Maniacs.

[George Camel]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Chicken. It used to be behind our old office.

[George Camel]

And then if you're going to be more in the Nashville area, closer to downtown, there's a spot called Baja Burrito. That's a local favorite.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sushi. All the way back from when Rachel was in high school. It's still around, and it's still one of the best. Is Peter Sushi and Brentwood. So good.

[George Camel]

And now a new location right by the Ramsey headquarters is Edley's Barbecue, which Edley's Barbecue. If you want good barbecue in Nashville area, Martin's Barbecue and Edley's Barbecue are probably your top tier.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep.

[George Camel]

Spots.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. Mojo Tacos is another great spot, too, for some Mexican tacos. There's some local Nashville. Nashville places. Okay. What's the spot that you want?

[George Camel]

Honorable mention.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Culver's. We didn't mention Culver's, but I think it deserves a mention.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think we should start out there with little cheese curds. So good.

[George Camel]

I went there recently. This was the weirdest thing. For some reason, Whitney and I decided to go to Culver's. We sat, like, on their little patio.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, it's great.

[George Camel]

And for some reason, I was like. I felt weird. I was like, what am I doing on a culver's patio. But we had a great meal out there.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good. I love that little nod to Culver's. I appreciate that.

[George Camel]

It's a good spot. Is that Wisconsin based with the Kurds or Minneapolis?

[Rachel Cruz]

Was it Wisconsin? It's Wisconsin. Okay. Because my friends in Minneapolis, when we go Visit them, like 10 years ago, they always had it just there. They didn't have one in Nashville for a long time. Then when it opens here, I thought, oh, we've made it.

[George Camel]

I hear cheese curds and I just feel like the people of Wisconsin must own the rights to cheese curds.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thank you, Wisconsin. Thank you.

[George Camel]

So my takeaways go to. For me, I'm gonna do a $12 kava bowl. Cause there's a strong potential for leftovers. And it's nutritious and filling.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna go large firehouse sub and split it with Winston.

[George Camel]

How generous.

[Rachel Cruz]

So I'm gonna save my mind giving.

[George Camel]

Like no one else.

[Rachel Cruz]

Because we both like the same order.

[George Camel]

Outrageous generosity.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's so great.

[George Camel]

And if you find yourself leaning on the option of it's fast, cheap, easy, challenge yourself to pivot by number one, using an every dollar budget to find margin to buy affordable meals to make at home.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. Yeah. Because honestly, eating at home, even though we've just talked about fast food and restaurants and all of it long, you know, especially with a family, like, long term, it's going to save you more money. And then I will bookend because I just listened to a two hour podcast about how terrible the food is here in America. We know it's not good for you.

[George Camel]

They're like, in Europe, that ingredient's banned. All I'm like, I know, I know.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, can I just say this for just a hot second? There is a part of me on this health kick. Cause I am reading ingredients now and I'm like, oh, yeah, here we go to you. But there is a thing of like, okay, we need healthy. And then they're like, oh, well, if you eat healthy, like fruit, it can't be in plastic at the grocery store. Then you're like, okay. And then they're like. And then if it's even not in plastic, is it have. You know, it starts to feel like a black hole. Like, I'm not Amish. Like, I don't live on a farm.

[George Camel]

You know what I mean?

[Rachel Cruz]

I live in the suburbs. Like, I just need a little help. And I may not be perfect on this new journey that I'm on.

[George Camel]

Love that you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thanks for your patience.

[George Camel]

It's Very kind. Well, I did find.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, I eat my fire.

[George Camel]

Here's the fact that changed my mind about eating out. So often restaurants have to mark up their ingredients by 300% in order to cover overhead, labor, profit, all of that stuff. So, no, it's cheaper to eat out. I'm going no. Scientifically and business wise. Absolutely. Not at all. Because you're paying for all of that with every order.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Even the materials, you, the fork, the takeout box, all of that is being paid for by you. So know what you're getting into. Try to limit eating out. Even if you're out of debt on a budget, it's still wise to limit it both health wise and financially. And Kelly was just talking about her crock pot meals tonight, and I was jealous. I was like, I wish I was on Kelly's level.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Just getting some.

[George Camel]

Getting some energy, extra thought, and prep the meal.

[Rachel Cruz]

The meal plan.

[George Camel]

Just making a routine. She gets up Saturday mornings like the great mom she is, gets her coffee and just starts planning out, hey, what's going on this week?

[Rachel Cruz]

And it works, and it's great. Well done, Kelly.

[George Camel]

You're an inspiration to us all.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thank you for being. Thank you for being you.

[George Camel]

All right.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, George. It's almost the end of the episode, and we close out every episode with guilty as charged. And this is where our producer, Kelly, gives us a new guilty as charge question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. So, Kelly.

[George Camel]

All right. Have you ever complained or sent food back because you didn't like it?

[Rachel Cruz]

It's like George's hobby.

[George Camel]

Yeah, I. I think I did it while we sat here. I tried to return the drink. I was like, no, no, no. I almost did this in our own cafeteria, Ramsay. But I was like, I'm not going to do that. Not going to do it. The most recent time I can remember doing this was a date night. It was a nicer steakhouse in Franklin. You know it well.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

And the steak was. Let's just say I think the cow may have still been alive.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh, George.

[George Camel]

It was that, like, I ordered it medium. I did not order medium rare. No, I ordered medium, and it came out okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Steak is. I feel like that's a. That's a socially acceptable take back to return steak to return to be cooked more. That's not terrible.

[George Camel]

But in my mind, I was like, they're just gonna cook it more and bring it back. No, no, no. They surprised and delighted and said, you know what? We're gonna make You a brand new steak.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

And then they comped the meal.

[Rachel Cruz]

What, the whole meal?

[George Camel]

The whole meal?

[Rachel Cruz]

Stop it, George.

[George Camel]

I was shocked. I was shook. I was aghast. So didn't do it for that purpose at all. It was very nice of them. And we were pretty. You know, I'm always like, hey, if you're going to do that, be kind. Don't be a jerk about it. Don't, like, make a big scene. Just say, hey, like, we ordered medium and this one came out. This. Or hey, this actually is not what we ordered. Or it's a wrong. If it's a wrong order, I have no problem. Sure.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Yep. Mine was a cocktail, and it was a pep. Like some kind of peppered cocktail or something. It was like a little bit of pepper. And I drink it, y'all, and I. I mean, I like, almost spit it out. Like, I. I couldn't handle it.

[George Camel]

Was it too spicy?

[Rachel Cruz]

Just like, think about. Think about black pepper just being a whole thing. Dumped and stirred in that drink.

[George Camel]

I love that.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I made Winston try it. And he was like, that's not drinkable. So I did. I told him. And then the bartender took a sip or like, took the straw. You know the straws they have. And then. And he was like, oh, bad ratios. So I felt better about it.

[George Camel]

That's good. I'm impressed that they tried it. I always want them to be like, hey, this is not me being like. I just didn't like it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you try it and you tell me.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, he was not. Yeah, he wasn't having it either. Made me feel better.

[George Camel]

So they comp the drink. That happened to us once, and we're like. They're like, hey, if you don't like it, just let us know. I'm like, wow, that's okay. So we tried and we're like, yeah, this was not for us. So they brought a new one and they charged us for all the drinks. That was kind of lame.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's not fun. That's not fun.

[George Camel]

Yeah. Guilty.

[Rachel Cruz]

Charged. Okay, who finished first? George.

[George Camel]

I think I'm closer.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think you are too honest.

[George Camel]

This Raspberry Dream dirty soda kind of tastes like a raspberry chocolate milk.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's pretty good.

[George Camel]

And this is apparently a Swig dupe. I am told Swig is a soda shop chain that's very popular in Utah with the Mormon community because so does their thing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Some of the influences I follow, they always have a swig cup in there.

[George Camel]

Always got a swig and it's gained popularity because of these influencers. So what's your rating on this?

[Rachel Cruz]

It's a little sweet. I'm going to go seven out of ten.

[George Camel]

Okay. I'll go seven out of ten as well.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

I was pleasantly surprised.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, it's not. It's better than not.

[George Camel]

But you'll soon know why. It's a solid drink. So the cost breakdown is just $1.63, which I imagine they charge like seven times that at one of these soda shops. It's got raspberry puree, which is fresh raspberries and sugar, coconut creamer. Apparently this is a non. A non dairy one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Great.

[George Camel]

And Dr. Pepper, which is a great base. That's actually hard to screw it up when Your base is Dr. Pepper.

[Rachel Cruz]

Dr. Pepper is really, really holding it down.

[George Camel]

Is that when your go to sodas? Like what is your go to soda when you're ordering fast food?

[Rachel Cruz]

Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper.

[George Camel]

That's a good American.

[Rachel Cruz]

How about you?

[George Camel]

You're a true patriot. Diet Dr. Pepper. If I'm feeling like wow. Yeah. Gonna live on the edge. Chick fil a sometimes if I want to be better, I'll get like an unsweet tea lemonade kind of.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'll get a situation. Yeah, I'll get a sweet tea.

[George Camel]

They call it a sun joy now. They gave it a fancy where they.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do half and half. So good.

[George Camel]

So get the recipe in the show notes if you want to make this. It's fun for the whole family, kids included, because it's a mocktail, so great.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, it's closing time and if you guys enjoyed this episode, make sure to leave us a review. Subscribe, we want to hear from you guys. And if you love a little treat, make sure to check out our episode on harmless purchases that drain your bank accounts. So we'll see you guys though next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy hour.