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

Advertisement Several retailers and fast-casual restaurant chains have struggled this year amid rising operating costs and inflation-wary consumers, including Big Lots, which is preparing to sell its stores, and Red Lobster, which filed for bankruptcy in May. —Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024

Chef Sean Brock's fast-casual burger joint Joyland in East Nashville is adding another local location to its roster — this time in West Nashville. —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Its mall restaurant tenants include more than 540 full-service eateries and around 2,000 fast-casual establishments. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024

The resilience demonstrated across various segments, from home services to fast-casual restaurants, highlights how adaptable the industry is to shifting consumer demands and that adaptability will remain in the year ahead. —Steven Beagelman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above