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

Canadian fast-casual chain Freshii used a video-calling system called Percy in 2022, paying its remote workers based in Nicaragua $3.75 per hour, even though Ontario’s minimum wage is $16.55. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024

Like his other locations, this one will offer a fast-casual setting where customers can buy the artisanal New York, Detroit, Sicilian, Grandma and California style pizzas by the slice or whole pie. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Inspired by Chipotle Recanati drew inspiration from the triumph of fast-casual brands in the U.S., notably Chipotle, and started working on his brand proposition while still employed at Deutsche Bank. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 6 Apr. 2024

On that busy stretch of Hall Road, between Schoenherr and Hayes roads, HHC joins several other fast-casual chicken places, including a Chick-fil-A and Jollibee. —Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

The 22-seat fast-casual restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024

Chicken Guy is a fast-casual eatery chain by Food Network star Guy Fieri. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024

But owners of independent fast-casual and full-service restaurants aren’t sure that will be the case, and anticipate having to raise wages to keep pace. —Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

For fast-casual restaurants, investments in automation are coming to fruition: Sweetgreen implemented the Infinite Kitchen, an automation service that assembles salads and bowls, in its first store last spring and opened a second location with the technology in December. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above