Fast food can take out a lot of the work that comes with planning a full meal, but just because a fast-food restaurant may be a convenient and often more cost-effective option doesn't mean you have to compromise on flavor or a meal that packs a punch.

Using reviews, awards and accolades as well as first-hand experience, LoveFood compiled a list of the restaurant in each state that serves the best fast food, from "fabulous no-frills food trucks [to] hole-in-the-wall gems, and mom-and-pop restaurants."

According to the site, the best fast-food restaurant in all of Missouri is Steve's Hot Dogs, a St. Louis hot dog stand opened over a decade ago by musician Steve Ewing that serves up incredible specialty hot dogs like the Horseshoe, The Bacon Cheeseburger and even the Hot Dog Flight, which gives you the option to sample several different varieties. Steve's Hot Dogs has multiple locations around St. Louis. Find your nearest one by visiting the website.

Here's what LoveFood had to say about the best fast-food restaurant in the entire state:

"Hickory-smoked all-beef hot dogs are the major draw at this relaxed counter-serve eatery, where every sausage is grilled to perfection and finished with regionally sourced toppings. It all began in 2011, when musician Steve Ewing opened his first cart to satisfy concertgoers' late-night cravings. Nowadays, Steve's Hot Dogs is famed for its limited-run collaborations with local restaurants, and for its signature St. Louis Dog, resplendent with grilled onions, peppers, bacon, provolone, and smoked mustard."

See the full list at LoveFood.com to read up on each state's top fast-food joint. You can also check out our previous coverage to see which restaurant serves the best "bucket list" barbecue in the state.

Donnie McClurkin