Glossary
Fast Food Glossary: Industry Words Explained
Fast food has its own vocabulary, from industry acronyms to kitchen slang. Here are the terms you will see on menus, in the news and on this site.
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| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| QSR | Quick-service restaurant: the industry name for fast food. |
| Fast casual | Counter service with higher-quality ingredients and prices, like Chipotle or Shake Shack. |
| Franchise | A business model where independent owners run restaurants under a brand's name and system for a fee. |
| Franchisee | The person or company that owns and operates a franchised restaurant. |
| LTO | Limited-time offer: a menu item sold for a short period to create buzz. |
| Secret menu | Items or customisations not on the official board, like In-N-Out's Animal Style. |
| Value menu | A section of low-priced items or bundles. |
| Combo or meal | A main item bundled with a side and drink at a set price. |
| Drive-thru | Ordering and collecting food without leaving the car. |
| Speed of service | The time from order to delivery, closely tracked by chains. |
| Smash burger | A ball of beef pressed thin on a hot griddle for a crispy, browned crust. |
| Slider | A small square burger, famous at White Castle. |
| Soft serve | Ice cream with air whipped in, served from a machine. |
| Frozen custard | Dense ice cream made with egg yolk, served at chains like Shake Shack. |
| Pressure fryer | A sealed fryer that cooks chicken faster and keeps it juicy. |
| Nixtamalisation | Cooking maize with lime to make tortilla dough. |
| Daily Value (DV) | Reference amounts on US nutrition labels based on a 2,000-calorie diet. |
| Ghost kitchen | A delivery-only kitchen without a dining room. |
| Dayparts | Times of day like breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night, each with its own menu strategy. |
| Mobile order | Ordering ahead in an app and collecting at a counter, locker or lane. |
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Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 12, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.