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

Five years after Traveler’s Table debuted, the Mitchells expanded to fast-casual sister restaurant Traveler’s Cart at 1401 Montrose Blvd. —Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 5 May 2026

Hart said Hometown also helps fill an unmet niche downtown by adding a high-quality, fast-casual option that complements existing restaurants and broadens the choices available to residents and visitors. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

The upscale fast-casual culinary temple from Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Floresca, her VP of Culinary, debuted in Los Angeles in 2021. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

Best Restaurants Vital Root Part of the Edible Beats collective, Vital Root serves plant-focused, fast-casual dishes using herbs grown on-site, alternative flours, and seasonal produce. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fast-casual

• casual