Edinburg, Texas, is a town of delicious contradictions. Here, you’ll find gleaming new drive-thrus serving perfect fries mere blocks from family-run taquerias that have been cash-only for decades—all while dodging college students rushing between classes, clutching breakfast tacos. This guide celebrates that entire spectrum, from national chains to local legends, and includes the very best fast food in the Rio Grande Valley.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
$ | (956) 316-4656 | WEBSITE
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is a popular fast food spot along the main drag where you can grab a satisfying meal of juicy burgers, crispy fries, and delicious chicken tenders for about $10 per person. Your order includes those famous chicken strips with that addictive cane sauce, plus a side of fries and a drink. It’s all tasty, but before you head out, check out the Dallas Cowboys memorabilia on the walls and maybe pick up some sauce bottles to take home.
Sonic Drive-In
$ | (956) 287-7879 | WEBSITE
During the day, cars pull in and out of here grabbing quick meals from Sonic, a classic drive-in that operates with carhop service. But at night, Sonic turns into a fun spot worthy of a casual hangout with friends who like to enjoy shakes while sitting in their cars.
After you try great fast-food items like the Sonic Double Smash Burger with its thin, crispy meat and melted cheese, the Strawberry Cheesecake Shake, and the refreshing Cherry Limeade, stay for the convenience of ordering through the app. Just make sure to find a moment to appreciate the retro drive-in atmosphere, even if service can be hit or miss during busy times.
Dairy Queen
$ | (956) 381-9313 | WEBSITE
Not only does Dairy Queen serve some of the best soft serve ice cream in Edinburg, but it’s casual enough to swing by after a long day. The restaurant is located right off the main road and has a spacious, accessible setting with plenty of parking out front. That’s really why you should come here (and why you should skip the inside service when it’s slow), but the desserts—especially the blizzards and brownie sundaes—are solid.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
$ | (956) 597-4200 | WEBSITE
The sandwiches you’ll encounter here are much better than one might expect from a fast-food chain in a strip mall. There are some great options from a place that clearly cares about quality (and they aren’t cutting corners). Prioritize the #13 with added jalapenos, pickles, spicy relish, and chipotle mayo on Italian bread and the chicken Philly with bacon from their standard menu (get the Club Sub too). Should you come to this cheerful spot with upbeat music for a fancy date night dinner? No.
But it’s highly useful for hungry students and Edinburg office workers during their precious lunch breaks.
Pieology Pizzeria Edinburg
$ | (956) 348-2412 | WEBSITE
There is no pizza place in Edinburg quite like Pieology Pizzeria—and not just because the city lacks the fast-casual build-your-own options of many larger towns. It just has a very rare combination of customizable excitement, contagious efficiency, and affordable details sure to immediately satisfy your cravings.
The straightforward dining area left over from the previous occupant makes Pieology feel functional like a favorite lunch spot, and the kid-friendly accessibility is a practical convenience. The overall feeling of Pieology speaks to this place’s roots as a fast-food joint, when it was just families getting together for quick meals and one-of-a-kind personalized pizzas.
Fork to Fit Kitchen | Edinburg
$ | (956) 513-1649 | WEBSITE
Fork to Fit Kitchen is a healthy restaurant tucked away in a convenient Edinburg location, and stopping here will make you feel like a considerably more organized version of yourself during a hectic week. There are some very tasty things at this casual spot, especially meal preps. We really like their chicken enchiladas and buffalo chicken pasta, fresh grab-and-go meals that come with great flavor and health benefits.
The clean establishment is also perfect for busy individuals with convenient parking.
Stars Drive-In
$ | (956) 383-5388 | WEBSITE
Stars Drive-In looks like a classic fast food joint, but it excels with every detail of its crispy fries and generous banana splits. Almost everything is made fresh daily, including the warm fries, creamy ice cream, and sweet toppings. They’re open seven days a week, and it’s worth stopping by for a banana split, fries, and a refreshing slushie. Just look for the clean parking spots and welcoming drive-in setup.
They have outdoor seating available, but (especially during the Texas heat) we prefer sitting in the car with the AC on, where you can watch them prepare your order with care and consistency.
Golden Chick
$ | (956) 386-9225 | WEBSITE
Golden Chick is a fast food spot that is one of our favorite chicken restaurants in the entire area. It went through lots of changes over the years, and has recently expanded its parking and accessibility for convenience. But all you need to know is that it’s still a great place for a highly satisfying meal. The standout dishes include things like the Big & Golden sandwich, praised for its impressive size and delicious flavor, and the okra, which remains a favorite side dish.
Plus, it’s just a really welcoming place to hang out and have a quick dinner with some soft, buttery rolls.
Jack In The Box
$ | (956) 316-1558 | WEBSITE
Jack In The Box is basically a fast food burger spot—in the best possible way. The restaurant specializes in hot and fresh food served quickly, with excellent fries that come out crispy every time. Those are good, but our favorite item here is the late-night taco order, which sometimes comes with an extra taco by mistake—a happy accident. The third reliable option is their consistent quality veggies, which are noticeably better than other fast food places.
That’s it—just dependable basics done well—all quick and all tasty. It’s a perfect quick and affordable late-night option.
Taco Bell
$ | (956) 383-1005 | WEBSITE
Since 1962, this spot has been the best place to grab a quick bite in Edinburg—where you can watch families, students who are almost certainly cramming for exams, and the occasional hurried commuter all pass through in the course of a lunch. It’s still a good choice because it’s consistent, convenient, and one of the few fast-food spots in the area where you won’t be surrounded by $15 gourmet burritos and people who arrived via foodie pilgrimage.
Start with some crunchy tacos, listen closely to the manager’s recommendations, and if you’re ordering online, you know what to double-check.
The Party Taco Run
$ | (956) 287-2500 | WEBSITE
We have never had a more perfect taco than the ones served at The Party Taco Run, a small counter-seating spot in Edinburg. This is also why this place often has a line that could take a while (both for takeout and dine-in). The three or four tacos you’ll find here have a shell that’s crispy edge-to-edge, yet still warm and soft when you bite into it.
The highlight of the menu, a picadili taco with fresh toppings, spicy salsa, and an optional (but non-negotiable) drizzle of additional crema, makes us briefly lose consciousness. There isn’t much to do here but grab a taco at the counter or take a whole order to go. But that’s fine because this is food that deserves one hundred percent of your undivided attention.
Firehouse Subs Marval Plaza
$ | (956) 800-4506 | WEBSITE
Firehouse Subs Marval Plaza does delicious things with bread. You could build a sandwich skyscraper with their Hook and Ladder, and the Steak and Cheese is cheesier than a dairy farm. This casual spot right in Marval Plaza is a solid Edinburg lunch option (they serve all day), but only if you’re not in a hurry. It takes a moment to get your food, which is made fresh to order (and tastes like it).
But those tasty subs and that creamy Mac and Cheese are worth getting back to work five minutes later than planned. Firehouse Subs Marval Plaza is one of Edinburg’s best fast food spots, and we feel bad for the competition, because they’ve set the bar high.
