fast-casual

adjective

fast-ca·​su·​al ˈfast-ˈkazh-wəl 

-ˈka-zhə-wəl,

-ˈka-zhəl

variants or less commonly fast casual

: of, relating to, or being a restaurant that combines elements of fast-food service (such as counter ordering) with other elements (such as made-to-order food) that are typical of a full-service restaurant

The fast-casual restaurants typically offer fresh, hand-prepared burgers and fries in an atmosphere that might feature plush chairs and a fireplace but no kiddie playland.

—Karen Robinson-Jacobs

Not content to merely upgrade their menus, some chains are looking at overhauling their entire concept to match the fast-casual approach, whereby meals typically are prepared to order and there is limited table service.

—Julie Tamaki

fast-casual noun

or fast casual

plural fast-casuals or fast casuals

… fast-casuals became the darling of the last decade, driven in part by the effects of the Great Recession, skyrocketing rents and rising food costs.

—Tim Carman

Examples of fast-casual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Red Rock Grill, which includes indoor and seasonal outdoor dining areas, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Castle Dome Cafe, a seasonal outdoor cafe, offers fast-casual dining options; and the beer garden, also opened seasonally, serves up cold beers and light snacks. —Sophie Mendel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2025

Dave’s is a fast-casual restaurant chain with a colorful, artsy, graffiti aesthetic that started as a pop-up in Los Angeles in 2017 and has grown like wildfire (too soon?) with nearly 300 locations around the country and annual sales reaching $1 billion. —Shimite Obialo, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Social media users were spreading and responding to rumors on Friday that fast-casual eatery Chipotle Mexican Grill was closing stores and filing for bankruptcy this year. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

Chicken Salad Chick Unlike most of the places on the list, there’s nothing fried or cooked on a griddle at this one-of-a-kind fast-casual restaurant that could only have started in the South. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fast-casual

• casual