fast casual

adjective

Offering, or relating to, a style of mid-priced restaurant dining in a casual atmosphere, usually with freshly prepared food but without full table service.

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Meanings

adjectivefast casual (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOffering, or relating to, a style of mid-priced restaurant dining in a casual atmosphere, usually with freshly prepared food but without full table service.

    Diners looking to save a few bucks trade down from full-service restaurants, or fast casual ones—the industry's name for outfits that have counter service but are marketed as classier than the average burger joint.

    2025 May 3, “McDonald’s troubles suggest US consumers are getting into a pickle”, in FT Weekend (Lex. section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 20
Cite this entry
APA

fast casual. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fast%20casual

MLA

“fast casual.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fast%20casual. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fast casual,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fast%20casual.

Source: fast casual on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.