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 owners of upscale Detroit restaurants Grey Ghost and Basan are opening their first fast-casual spot this summer. —Annalise Frank, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025

These 29 restaurants opened in Sacramento and its suburbs in December, adding options from fast-casual meals to $250 steak dinners to the region’s dining scene. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025

Additionally, more transformative changes are emerging, such as hybrid restaurant models that combine fine dining with fast-casual experiences. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

Since the rise of fast-casual chains, many diners have opted for the convenience and promised quality of players like Chipotle or Sweetgreen over the casual-dining chains that dominated in the prior decades. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above