Mystery Diner: Tasty bites served on the go at Tastee Bite

Summer is just about done, but that doesn't mean people aren't still looking for fast and tasty meals on the go.

I found that out during a recent visit to Plano's Tastee Bite, located along Route 34, where a smorgasbord of meals and treats is available for customers to enjoy in-house or through the convenient drive-thru lane.

I arrived at the start of the lunch rush and was promptly greeted upon my entrance. As always, when I visit a spot with fare like Tastee Bite, I looked over the menu – which surprised me as to the sheer number of choices available – and settled on the classic that I judge most restaurants on: chicken strips and fries.

I was given a number for my order and took a seat where I was able to observe a rush of customers, some new, some who seemed like old friends and frequent visitors. That's one of the best things about diners such as Tastee Bite; go often enough, and they turn into "Cheers," where everybody knows your name.

My chicken strips and fries were brought out quickly, and I was very pleased with what I tasted. The crinkle-cut fries were thinner than I would have thought, but were perfectly crisp and piping hot. I'm not sure how they were cooked, but they were flavorful enough to where I didn't really need any ketchup or salt. I ate about half of them before I even moved on to the chicken, which should say something about how good they were.

If I had to offer one critique of the chicken strips, it would be that three was not enough for me. That may be because I was kind of blind and may have missed the menu option with more chicken strips. But regardless, the chicken strips were amazing.

I'm not a fan of overly breaded strips, or breading that's too crispy or crunchy, but the strips at Tastee Bite were perfect. Slightly floury, with a touch of pepper and spice, the breading was golden and perfect, while the chicken was juicy and fresh – no gristle or fat to be found. I could have easily ate another three strips and been perfectly happy.

To close out my visit to Tastee Bite, I chose to embrace the remaining days of summer and order a mint chocolate chip fudge milkshake. Made promptly for me, despite the ensuing lunch rush, I was pleased to find a fresh-tasting shake, filled with chocolate, and thick enough to where I had to wait several minutes to be able to drink it through the straw. I really hope their shakes are served year-round because this could easily become a craving for me.

The nature of my job means that I'm on the go all the time, and as a consequence, I don't always get the chance to sit and enjoy a meal. But I'll definitely stop back at Tastee Bite, either to sit and relax or to grab something on my way to the next breaking news story.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Record Newspapers. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a restaurant and then reports on the experience. The Mystery Diner is not intended to be a restaurant critic, but does highlight the parts of a dining experience that he/she can recommend.