Best Fast Casual Restaurants

What are the best fast casual restaurants in the country? Fast casual, or fresh casual dining includes restaurants that offer the best, freshest ingredients available in a fast-food kind of setting, with quick service. Need a healthy burrito made with free range chicken? That's fast casual. The idea is that yes, this is food made fast, but it's not typically as unhealthy as traditional fast food. What's the most tasty fast casual restaurant around? That's up to you to decide, with your votes. Be sure to add your favorite fresh casual restaurants that aren't listed, too!

In an economy that's struggled in recent years, fast casual restaurants have managed to prosper (in most cases). The demand for fresher, higher quality, healthier fast food options no doubt has driven consumers to seek out fast casual dining, whether it's Mexican, deli-style, bakeries, burgers or even pizza joints.

Some of the most popular fast casual restaurants are big chains, including Chipotle, Panera Bread, Zaxby's and Panda Express. Each of these fast casual chains represents a different kind of food option, but each has done extremely well. One thing all of these places has in common with fast food restaurants: There is no full table service. It's quick, it's simple and it's tremendously popular among foodies who don't want to eat at regular fast food chains or more traditional family restaurant chains, either.

Again, be sure to vote for the restaurants that you think are truly the best fast casual eateries around, vote down any you don't like -- and add any that are missing. Bon appétit!