After being a member of Odyssey for only three short weeks, I have done nothing but enrage myself over the troubling realities of our nation from a political standpoint. I have long reflected on the good things about our great nation, one of the forefront benefits being fast food. Delicious meals for cheap, produced with good ol' American efficiency. While this style of American dining ushers in a sense of nationalism among Americans, there is, of course, a conflict. There is often the conflict of which food joint is superior in all of the free land. Today, I will do my best to finally settle this dispute (or more likely spark dispute) among fellow Americans.

I have been a lifelong fan of food. I've begun my search for the best flavors known to man ever since my second-grade science teacher deemed me a "super taster," meaning I have a higher concentration of taste buds per centimeter on my tongue. Take it for what you will, but I love trying new foods.

In addition to my love for food, I find great joy in traveling. I have been lucky enough to have visited 46 of the 50 states in America (sorry Dakotas, New Mexico and Oklahoma; haven't gotten to you guys yet) It gives me great pleasure to experience the vastness of culture consolidated into one nation. And I have cherished every endeavor thus far.

That being said, I have most certainly had my fair share of "quick bites" in these states and have long contemplated a list of five that I deem to be the greatest of all time.

I would like to take this time to decipher what I will be constituting as "fast-food." I consider fast food to be a restaurant with no wait service or prolonged wait. That means I will be including the likes of Bobby's Burger Palace and Dominos.

All intricacies aside, from Zippy's in Hawaii to traditional McDonald's here are the top five American food chains:

Honorable Mention: Whataburger

Founded in Texas, it takes a rather traditional approach to the classic burger, offering single, double and even triple burgers. It isn't necessarily the quality of the food, I simply enjoy the "Texas Toast" buns used occasionally on their sandwiches. Their breakfast also offers a great window of southern favorites to choose.

Best Items: Whataburger Patty Melt, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit

5. Chick-Fil-A

This deep rooted traditional joint most certainly deserves a spot on the list as it is the second most consumed chain behind McDonald's. Chick-Fil-A has been a sweeping phenomenon on college campuses all across the nation. They credit themselves with inventing the chicken sandwich, and they sure back up that claim. The pricing is moderate, as they must compensate for their Sunday closures (kudos on continuing traditions, Chick.)

Best Items: Original Chicken Sandwich, Waffle Fries, Frosted Lemonade.

4. Chipotle

Even after recent cleanliness questioning, Chipotle still continues to be America's boss of burritos. Their simplistic approach to fast food proves to be very useful as faithful customers continuously return to their favorite burrito (or bowl) combination. The price is high, yet they most certainly deliver with a filling meal that will certainly have you returning weekly.

Best Items: Steak Burrito with Chips.

3. Panda Express

This might come as a surprise to many. However, I feel that this mall-centered chain pulls its weight as one of the nation's only Chinese chains. It is always a must stop location at any mall in the northeast or any late night takeout in sunny California. Their pricing is sometimes high as I found these restaurants to mostly be in high traffic locations with high real estate fees.

Best Items: Orange Chicken with Chow Mein.

2. In-N-Out Burger

This one's for the west coast. I have written several emails to their corporate team to try and get them to open in up in New Jersey to no avail. This chain lies only in the western states and has gained a lot of publicity from visiting celebrities on social media. They also provide a simplistic approach that cuts out the gimmicks. This fan-favorite is a must for any visit to California, as it will sure make your trip worth it.

Best Items: Double-Double with Cheese, Chili Cheese Fries.

1. Wendy's

Finally, the number one slot goes to a tried and true chain that has location numbers rivaling McDonald's. In my home state of New Jersey, it is the most widely consumed fast-food chain for a good reason. They use fresh beef in their burgers, which offers a noticeable difference. They have deals such as the "4 for $4" which has revolutionized the game. And we certainly cannot mention Wendy's without praising Frostys. This American tradition has withstood the test of time due to their immense quality for a low price.

Best Items: Baconator, Frosty, Asiago Chicken Sandwich.

Hopefully, I can either end or sustain discussion with this article, as I feel I have justly constructed a list of the greats. We are the innovators of food efficiency and our great food chains serving as more than proof to back up that claim.