Fast Food Goes Rom-Com

Impossible reservations? Expensive prix fixe menus? High stakes expectations? Hard pass.

This year, we're leaning into a fast-casual kind of Valentine's vibe. We're seeing more and more fast food joints doing their most with heart-shaped treats, nostalgic eats and oddly romantic set-ups that will have you feeling the love (without feeling the heat.)

Whether you’re into candlelit sliders, chocolate-drizzled everything or pink-hued desserts that beg the question, “Will you accept this Blizzard?”, love is in the air and on the menu.

Check out some fast-food faves we ❤️:

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White Castle

The OG slider spot is turning more than 300 locations into “Love Castles” this Valentine's Day, complete with hostess seating, tableside service and festive décor from 4 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14. Bonus: snagging a reservation on OpenTable earns you even more freebies.

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‍Dairy Queen

Prepare to swoon — DQ is bringing back its Red Velvet Cake Blizzard and heart-shaped Red Velvet Blizzard Cupid Cake, starting Jan. 27 nationwide. The Blizzard is packed with red velvet cake pieces, cream cheese icing and DQ soft serve. The Cupid Cake is shaped like a heart, natch, layered with vanilla soft serve and red velvet cake — perfect for sharing (or not).

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Waffle House

Once a year, Waffle House dims the lights and invites diners to bask in that romantic yellow glow while getting smothered, covered or going all the way at more than 200 locations across the U.S. A little known secret, Valentine's Day is the one day a year that Waffle House takes reservations and serves up an affordable, one-of-a-kind date night. W special menu items, tablecloth-clad Formica tables and candles, this is the one night a year where something so wrong feels so right.

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‍Marco’s Pizza

Marco’s is dishing out love in the form of carbs and cocoa. From Feb. 8-14, their heart-shaped pizza returns for just $10. Pair it with something sweet, like Ghirardelli Chocolate CinnaSquares or the Double Chocolate Brownie. Skip the prix fixe stress and let Marco’s handle the mood lighting — after all, love is cheesy and that’s exactly how it should be.

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‍Sugar Factory

Sugar Factory is turning up the love factor with a playful-meets-gourmet menu perfect for date night. Picture this: Cupid’s Nachos, Pretty in Pink Chicken Sliders and the Lovebird Heart Pull-Apart Bread, plus over-the-top desserts like the Love Potion Shake and the Heart Tower of Sweets. Add in Valentine’s cocktails like the Be Mine Martini, and you’ve got the ultimate spot for sweet moments and indulgent eats.

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