These fast-food freaks are dangerously obsessed with greasy eats

New Yorkers are known for their sophisticated tastes in food. But to some, there’s nothing better than a Crunchwrap Supreme.

“If you go to the Union Square Taco Bell, you will see all of New York,” says Adam Chandler, author of the new book “Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom” (Flatiron).

And to some local obsessives, greasy chain classics are more than just a budget bite or guilty pleasure: They’re a religion.

Here, NYC’s top fast food superfans dish on their love of White Castle, Wendy’s and more.

‘I’m a White Castle Hall of Famer’

Robert Matarese can still remember the first time he went to White Castle, as an 8-year-old in 1959, and the many good times that followed. “It became ingrained in family events,” says Matarese, 68, a retired postal service employee who grew up in Hollis. “Whether it be a birthday, funerals, Thanksgiving dinners, my brother Jim and I, we would go get a case of sliders.”

In 2018, he was one of a dozen superfans inducted into the Cravers Hall of Fame with a ceremony at White Castle’s Columbus, Ohio, headquarters. He earned the honor by writing an essay about spreading his passion for sliders to his six children and 13 grandkids.

“[They] like the jalapeño sliders,” says Matarese. “But I’m a purist. I go with the originals.”

Since retiring outside Albany, NY — 113 miles from the nearest White Castle — Matarese limits his habit to a monthly indulgence.

He’s particularly looking forward to his February 2020 sliders: After asking his wife, Barbara, to celebrate Valentine’s Day at his favorite fast food joint for 10 years, she’s finally agreed to a night of romance and greasy miniburgers.

“She’ll order their Shrimp Nibblers and the Cheesecake on a Stick,” he says of his spouse, who refused to have White Castle cater their wedding. “We’ve made a convert of her.”

‘I’m hungry for cheap eats’

Tight on cash in grad school at NYU in 2018, Rebecca Alter ate fast food three to four times a week and was always on the hunt for meal deals.

“I’m thrifty,” says the 25-year-old writer.

Her favorite current bargain is the Wendy’s toggle that she bought for $2 last December — a while-supplies-last promotion that she pounced on — and keeps on her keychain. For the entire year, it entitles her to a free mini Frosty with any purchase at Wendy’s, which she considers superior to other spots.

“[Their] burgers really do taste more homestyle-backyard BBQ than [those from] McDonald’s or Burger King, but they’re not as heavy as a Five Guys,” says Alter, who lives in the West Village. “It tastes like real food.”

Alter has cut back on her fast-food habit since her grad-student days. She now eats pretty healthily, opting for zucchini noodles and roast chicken, and exercises regularly. When she does make it to Wendy’s a few times a month, she tries to convince herself it’s wholesome.

“I’m pretty sure the fries have bits of the potato skins on them,” she says. “So I can imagine that they’re fresh cut and rustic, and maybe even less bad for me.”

‘I got married at Taco Bell’

Though it may literally be clogging his arteries, Taco Bell helped fill Dan Ryckert’s heart.

When he first met Bianca — the woman who would become his wife — online, he mentioned in a text how much he loved Taco Bell. She responded by saying that she’d take the fast-food restaurant “over a fancy Mexican place any day of the week.” Ryckert, a 35-year-old video game podcaster, was smitten.

They got married two years ago, eschewing a traditional church wedding for nuptials at the Taco Bell Cantina in Las Vegas after winning a contest.

“Taco Bell flew out me, Bianca and both sets of parents, and we invited six friends . . . It was the best Taco Bell we had ever had. The chicken quesadillas were extremely crispy,” says Ryckert, whose go-to order is a chicken quesadilla with its special Fire Sauce. “They gave us Baja Blast champagne smoothies.”

No longer newlyweds, the couple reserves Taco Bell for a once-a-month indulgence, when they kick back and watch pro wrestling on TV. “We’ll have a giant cheat day; we have some drinks,” says Ryckert, who exercises daily and once celebrated the completion of a half-marathon with quesadillas and triple-layer nachos.

“Taco Bell is really good at putting way too much cheese on everything,” says Ryckert. “I tell them, ‘Put what you think is too much cheese on it, then put more.’ ”

‘I commuted hours for Arby’s’

When Igor Ribeiro moved to New York from Brazil in 2010, there was only one Arby’s in the five boroughs.

It took two subways and about an hour to get from his apartment in Murray Hill to the Arby’s in Queens every week, but it was worth it.

“I really like sandwiches,” says the 36-year-old IT engineer, who lusts after the Classic Beef ‘n Cheddar and the Grand Turkey Club. “I love the cheddar cheese — it’s creamy and soft.”

Since then, two locations have opened in Manhattan, and Ribeiro is a regular, keeping an eye out for special promotions.

“In 2017, I got a free meal every week for one year,” he says. Earlier this year, he even won a vacation on Arby’s dime.

“I got their coupons by mail and saw a promotion to go to Hawaii, so I decided to try,” says Ribeiro. “You had to click at noon, so I clicked very fast and it said ‘Congratulations.’ I was one of the 10 out of 160,000.”

On the trip, he connected with other Arby’s enthusiasts and enjoyed a picnic of the restaurant’s sandwiches and cookies at the beach.

He swears his passion for Arby’s is a departure from his otherwise wholesome lifestyle.

“I’m a healthy guy. I love the gym,” says Ribeiro. “I’m actually trying to cut down on red meat.”