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

Experiences like these have shown that the best fast-casual brands tell stories that reinforce their DNA while leaving space for evolution, recognizing that today’s brand building is more about cultivating an ongoing relationship with the audience. —Steve Milton, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025

Burlingame is now home to a new location of the fast-casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen, serving up salads and grain bowls for customers looking for vegetable-forward, health-conscious fare. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025

Sophie’s Table Private chef Sophie Dalah—sister to Nathan Dalah, of the fast-casual restaurant chain ThisBowl—got her culinary start tossing leafy greens at her father’s café in Sydney. —Air Mail, 22 Nov. 2025

The generational trend is particularly bad news for fast-casual restaurants, which skew toward younger diners. —Amelia Lucas,melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fast-casual

• casual