Alabama’s 8 best fast-food items, from Milo’s sweet tea to Jack’s biscuits

Alabama knows fast food, and not the kind you can get anywhere in America.

Our state has drawn a line in the sand to establish itself a true drive-thru contender with the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and other kings and queens of the quick orders.

From burgers to beverages to chicken to sweet treats, Alabama has the fast-food goods, and here are eight reasons why.

Milo’s -- Sweet tea

Arguably the most famous fast-food item born in Alabama, Milo’s remains the gold standard for sweet tea, at least any place with a drive-thru. But I’d put their brew up against any restaurant’s. And you know what else? I’ll take it over grandma’s sweet tea, too -- how about that? It’s a refreshing, note-perfect blend of not-too-sugary (though still plenty sugary) with a strong-enough bite to make the textbook tea. Mixed with their melt-in-your-mouth pellet ice, it’s the perfect beverage, fast-food or otherwise. Oh, and there’s a slushie version called the Milo’s Sweet Tea Freezey, and it’s glorious.

READ: 11 things you might not know about Milo’s

Guthrie’s -- Box

Tastes like fried chicken. Flat-out, the closest recipe to what grandma might make at Sunday dinner. Golden brown with just the right crunch, the Guthrie’s chicken finger is unmistakable, and the restaurant’s primary menu item -- the box (tenders, fries, toast, slaw) is a perfect fast-food meal. Tender and delicious, nearly 100% of the time. Guthrie’s, founded in Haleyville in 1965, is now headquartered in Auburn. So for what they may lack in the trophy case compared to their rivals 160 miles away, they have no equal in the chicken finger game. A box of Guthrie’s satisfies all, and when you see a bucket or even a platter of that chicken at a party or tailgate, forget about it. Fried goodness.

MORE: Fast food chicken fingers ranked: Who has the best?

Foosackly’s -- Foo Sauce

A slightly spicier batter for chicken fingers that doesn’t create too much breading certainly makes for a zestier alternative, kicked up a notch with the chain’s homemade Foo Sauce. When paired with arguably the best French fries of the bunch (crispy, classic crinkle-cut) plus a solid piece of square toast (and at a solid price for a box of five tenders), Foosackly’s is a fine choice. They pride themselves in serving “real” honey mustard, maybe a dig at other fast-food joints that serve up, well, the less real kind. They have Sweet & Spicy Kung Foo (see what they did there?), buttermilk ranch, smoky BBQ, jalapeno ranch and classic buffalo. But since they insist you can’t fake the Foo, we’ll opt for their tangy take on the classic blend of ketchup, mayo and more.

Checkers -- Famous Seasoned Fries

The Famous Seasoned Fries are “secretly seasoned” according to the chain that was founded in Mobile, a surprise to many Alabamians who have long frequented the drive-thru favorite. Checkers has burgers that will beyond suffice for a lunch or late night snack, but those savory orange fries keep us coming back for more, even among stiff competition from more mainstream joints like McDonald’s and Wendy’s.

Taco Casa -- Ice

Normally, we’d pick the beefy nachos or the Taco burger or even the classic tacos, but let’s reserve a spot for the best ice in the state of Alabama. You read that right: Ice. “The good ice,” some call it, the restaurant’s beloved shaved ice for which devoted diners will travel across town instead of ordering a soft drink at any other drive-thru or gas station. The shaved ice inside the familiar Styrofoam cup has done its part in establishing Taco Casa’s legacy, which began in Tuscaloosa 50 years ago. A sweet tea, Dr. Pepper, or even just a water on that ice sends you right to cactus heaven.

READ: ‘The good ice’ people travel great distances for at this Alabama restaurant

Jack’s -- Biscuits

The burgers, fried chicken, fries, and mashed potatoes will do the trick -- and we also think the hand-scooped, very real milkshakes deserve special appreciation in the age of glop plopping from machines that so often break down at the worst possible times. But down in the South, we need a good biscuit (or two) to start our day. Crispy to bite, fluffy to chew, delicious to taste as they melt in your mouth. Just as good as or even better than Hardee’s or the other biscuit elites in the fast-food world.

Sneaky Pete’s -- The Original

You could go with the Famous Chili Dog, the Chili Cheese Dog, the Junk Yard Dog, Pete’s Slaw Dog, or even Pete’s Spicy with Beef on their assorted menu of scrumptious hot dogs. But we’ll let the Original represent the whole crew here: “The one that started it all in 1966,” the website says. “The Original features a Sneaky Pete’s hot dog topped with mustard, onions, kraut and Sneaky Pete’s Famous Sauce!” The Birmingham-based eatery opened in 1966, and has served their distinctive lineup of dogs for six decades.

Hamburger Heaven -- Cheeseburger

First opening as a small restaurant on U.S. 78 in Irondale in 1982, the restaurant has served burgers made to order using ground beef delivered daily and topped with special Hamburger Heaven sauce. Birmingham residents could enjoy it at least once or twice a week if their G.I. doctors approved. While considered fast food, the restaurant likes to take its time, offering locally purchased produce and cutting its own lettuce, tomatoes and onions every day. “The restaurant also boasts a signature sauce -- a tangy, tomato-based sauce that tops each burger. Next time you’re out running errands, stop by one of their four locations to try the burgers -- ranging in size from mini to ¼- to ½-pound,” wrote Julia Sayers.