10 Iconic Fast-Food Items Worth Eating

Sure, fast food has a bad reputation, what with all those health studies going around the media circuit, so perhaps a backlash to the backlash is in the works. And it seems the upcoming TV series Fast Food Mania is just that.

As we've mentioned before, this Discovery series will be touring historic fast-food destinations with host Jon Hein, a self-proclaimed fast-food aficionado.

"So many of these people associate these places with warm childhood memories when they pull up to a Dairy Queen or a KFC," Hein told us over the phone. "In this show we sort of illustrate what provokes that emotion, and how the fast-food restaurants have become part of the American landscape."

Hein's show will delve into the Taco Bell headquarters, the Five Guys kitchen, and go behind the scenes at a Sonic, where Hein himself straps on some roller skates.

"One of the places I loved going to was Corbin, Ky., where the original KFC is," he told us. "You learn all about Colonel Sanders, and they preserve the history of it all. Where they came up with the secret recipe, how they developed it and rolled it across the country. It's something special."

Of course, Hein is aware of the backlash against fast food, especially with Bloomberg's latest ban proposal on large soft drinks. His mantra? Everything in moderation.

"I mean, it's like drinking almost," he said. "If you drink a lot every day consistently, it's not good for you. But I think when you're in the mood you should go, and you should do it right."

Check out Hein's top 10 fast-food picks across the country in our slideshow. Fast Food Mania premieres this Sunday, June 3 at 10/10:30 p.m. on Destination America.