In-N-Out - IN!

The hoity-toity Zagat folks did a survey on people's fast food favorites, and the best hamburger in 2009 turns out to be - drum roll, please - In-N-Out Burger! Well, it's not the best-ever burger, but it's great for a chain, and to me, an In-N-Out burger animal style tastes like California. But don't forget the fries.

Another interesting tidbit from the survey: Dunkin' Donuts came in right behind Starbucks in the quick-refreshment category. Dunkin' Brands (they own Baskin-Robbins, too) just gave the top two communications people in the corporation their own personal dunking Friday.

Other notes from the Zagat survey: 

• Subway beat out all the major burger chains: Wendy's, McD's and Burger King, as well as Taco Bell.
  
• Panera was voted best salad. It's soups are top-notch, too, but they didn't have a soup category.
  
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro came in as the most-popular full-service chain, followed by Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill.
  
• McDonald's is still perceived as the best value in the country.