A recently unearthed ancient Roman restaurant in Pompeii shows what it was like to eat fast-food in 79 AD

Pompeii fast food.Luigi Spina/Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP

• Archaeologists uncovered an ancient Roman food counter on December 26.
• The counter was preserved underground by the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
• Remains show that ancient Romans could buy wine, goat, duck, and other meals.

Archaeologists uncovered an ancient fast food counter in the ruins of Pompeii, and it shows that tastes haven't changed very much in the last 2,000 years.

The site, which was first discovered in 2019, was buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The excavation revealed a hot food and drink counter, the equivalent of street food or fast food today, called a thermopolium, literally "places where hot drinks are sold." At least 80 of these fast food shops have been found in Pompeii so far, but this site was the first to be excavated intact.

Read more: Restaurants have battled each other with breakfast offerings for years. In 2021, they'll have a new competitor - big food companies.

Here's how ancient Romans enjoyed fast food.