It was one of those days that we decided to have fast food. I am not too sure whether the meaning of “fast food” now is the same as back then; in the good ol’ days.

Back then, in the late 1970s & 1980s; you make your order at the order taker who at times doubles up as cashier… and before you can complete saying the “abra-ke-de-be-ra” magic mantra; your order is ready either for dine-in or take away. It’s like magic, only better; it is fast food.

Today, in the 21st century, where things are supposed to happen faster than a lightning strike, you have to make your order from a large, almost life-size screen. Now, first of all, this order-taking machine is supposed to be user-friendly. You have to be really good at this because you will be toggling between different screens for different item orders (and there are many). Up, down, left right… What was it again… Curly fries, large or small, onion rings, coke (drink) – medium size… You make the order for 5 people, which took you a cool 15 minutes… about to checkout only to see in the “just in case you might have missed these offers”; a special deal which includes over 1/2 the items you just ordered and are about to make payment. This means that you cancel the total order which took 15 minutes to make so that you can can flirt and be enticed with the new order special: order all the stuff you ordered earlier on, take on an additional 2 larger fries, an additional burger and get an ice-cream for half price. Get this: you are actually spending more than your original order. Sure you are getting more for what you paid for. But you are making an extra order, something you won’t ordinarily be doing.

By time you are done with the order taking screen (by now, you should have become real pals), you would expect to get your ordered food. That is ok if you paid using your credit or debit card. But woe to you if you decide to pay with cash! You will be punished! You have to go to the counter and pay cash to the cashier.

Then, go, find a seat and wait for your number, one that has been given to you once you have made payment; wait for that number to flash across an overhead monitor that indicates that your order is ready to pick up. After staring at that screen for a while, you realize that screen is not working. “723, 725, 743, 714”, numbers being called out by one of the counter staff. Oh, so this is what the calling out of the numbers are for. After a long wait, your number has yet to be called. Then, you know why the numbers aren’t called in sequence. You go up to the counter to ask why it is taking so long. “Your food is ready, maybe you did not hear your number was called out just now”, comes the answer from the counter crew. So, much for the use of technology. Then you question, “fast food”? How fast should the order take to qualify as fast food.

So, we were at Burger King. Burger King serves some of the best fast food beef burgers. Really nice. This is said without exaggeration. All their other food is nice, too; I’m sure; although I have not tried everything on their menu.

Another item on the menu that makes them stand out when compared with the competition is their french(?) fries, until recently. Their potato french fries comes with the skin on and tastes awesome. The quality of the potatoes is superb. Until recently….we had french fries from Taco Bell.

The french fries from Taco Bell were really good. Long, thick cuts, with the skin, just the right amount of softness, evenly fried. Tasted good when it was just out of the fryer. Tasted almost as good when it was cold. Taco Bell was giving Burger King a fight for the best fries from a fastfood joint in town.

When we popped in at Burger King for a nice beef burger with fries; their fries were a let down. They were short length (as in the picture), cut slightly above ordinary and tasted ordinary, instead of their long, baked-like, brown tan, always-good-to-the-taste, satisfying usual fries.

I think Burger King took a gamble with a downgraded version of fries, so much so, they were easily knocked off their top spot perch or pedestal. What happened to Burger King? Why this move?

Well, you are gonna here a lot of bells ringing, most likely the cash registers of Taco Bell. While Taco Bell serves some pretty good meals; they are hardly the choice when it comes to going for a burger.

Burger King still serves some good burgers. However, let’s hope that those life-size order-taking screens that are now available in many of the “fast-food” joints; can help make “fast-food” a reality; without sacrificing the quality of the food. I know you are gonna raise the question, “quality”?, fast- food? Don’t even bring in nutrition into the equation. 😂 “Boss, roti canai dua”.

NOTES: Wrote this at a whim, just to amuse myself, and hopefully; others, too.