Mac and cheese is fun.

There's just something about a warm, gooey, cheesy bowl of mac that brings me back to the days before I had to worry about rent, medical bills, and the looming climate apocalypse.

Read more: I tried the signature burgers from 5 major fast-food chains, and the winner was obvious

Armed with a handful of lactose pills, I went on a quest to find the best mac and cheese the fast-food world has to offer. I ate the mac and cheese from Manhattan locations of six chains: Popeyes, Boston Market, Panera, KFC, Subway, and Chick-fil-A.

Each one was melty and cheesy, but only one offered a tangy and rich flavor that left its competition in the dust.

Here's how they compared.