Here Are the Nominees for The Fasties, Thrillist's First-Ever Fast Food Awards

Long before the advent of the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich and the runaway plant-based burger trend, we've had a borderline-obsessive focus on telling you about the latest from chains like Wendy's and Burger King, how to order from In-N-Out Burger's secret menu, and even how to get, say, your favorite nuggets for free. Now, we're taking our fast food expertise and our unmatched hunger for all things served in grease-stained bags to the next level. 

Introducing The Fasties, Thrillist's first-ever fast food awards, arriving on Wednesday, February 19. Think glitzy TV and movie award show, but to honor the best things that came out of fast food restaurants in 2019, and uh, decidedly shorter.

The 16 award categories range from Best Sauce to Best New Menu Item of the Year. We'll finally put the "Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars" to rest (at least, for now) by presenting a winner in the Best Fried Chicken Sandwich category. Among the highest honors are Regional Chain of the Year and Chain of the Year. The Most Valuable Pickle (MVP) award will finally give the savory sandwich toppings the recognition they deserve. There won't be a celebrity red carpet, but there will be a ketchup carpet and an "In Memoriam" reel honoring the menu items we lost throughout the year. 

MORE: What's the difference between fast food and fast casual?

Yes, handing out golden burger trophies to fast food chains may sound ridiculous, but... that's kind of the point. We take fast food seriously, but we also don't take ourselves too seriously. Look no further than our wild, hour-long podcast about Taco Bell or this super-specific ranking of McDonald's dipping sauces. The Fasties are the ultimate embodiment of this intense -- yet playful -- focus on fries, Frosties, and everything in between. Of course, Thrillist isn't the first to hand out fast food awards, and we probably won't be the last. 

The 2020 Fasties winners will be announced via an awards show on Thrillist's YouTube channel and here on Thrillist.com just in time for lunch at 12pm ET on February 19. In the meantime, grab a chicken sandwich, check out the nominees, and vote for the People's Choice in a few of the categories below.

Best Fried Chicken Sandwich

Best Burger

Best Plant-Based Burger

Best Fries

Best Taco

Best Dessert

Best Chicken Tenders

Best Breakfast Sandwich

Best Sauce

Best New Menu Item of the Year

​​​​​​Best Coffee

Regional Chain of the Year

Chain of the Year

Menu Item of the Decade

Lifetime Achievement Award

Most Valuable Pickle (MVP)