What makes a fast food restaurant?

In fast food restaurants it is usually possible to eat the food on the spot, but basically it is prepared to be taken away and there are no waiters. Orders are taken at the counter, where customers pay as well. From the beginning fast foods were designed so that they can be eaten on the go, using our hands. Fast food units still sell fish and chips, sandwiches, pitas, hamburgers, fried chicken, fries, chicken nuggets, taco, pizza and ice cream most of the time. Fast food is produced in large quantities, using standard methods. Most items on the menu are made from processed base materials. As the emphasis is on the speed, standardisation and low costs of selling, high-level food engineering, the use of additives and special processing technology are inevitable. In the United States people spent USD 110 billion on fast food in 2000 – in 1970 this spending was at USD 6 billion. Recently fast food units lost market share against fast casual restaurants, which sell better food at a bit higher price.