Americans eat a lot of fast food, but that doesn’t mean everyone loves fast-food restaurants. Many people outright hate them or at least a particular chain. Here are some that frequently arise, along with why people can’t stand them.
Burger King
Burger King seems to get more mentions as the worst than any other franchise. Common complaints include poor quality of food and even worse service. Many note that employees frequently seem downright hostile.
KFC
KFC seems to have really gone downhill in recent years and rivals Burger King for the most-disliked fast-food franchise. The skin is often greasy and soggy instead of crispy, the sides are mediocre, and prices are sky-high relative to food quality and portion size.
Wendy’s
There was a time Wendy’s was a big hit and a great value for its 99-cent menu. In recent years, though, those deals have all but disappeared and prices have risen well ahead of inflation.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is another franchise that people say now charges prices that don’t reflect the quality of the food. The food also frequently seems related to emergency bathroom trips.
Whataburger
In Texas and other states where Whataburger is popular, there’s a lot of hype about this well-named restaurant. However, a lot of people think it doesn’t live up to the hype and that they frequently get your orders wrong.
Starbucks
Most people don’t go to Starbucks for the food, and according to a lot of reviewers, the franchise probably wouldn’t survive long if they did. The sandwiches are often bland and rubbery, which seems about right since they’re premade and just heated up in a microwave or toaster oven.
Chick-fil-A
Not too many people have complaints about the food quality or customer service at these restaurants. Instead, it’s the incredibly inefficient drive-through lines, the kids running amok inside, and the standing around forever when picking up a mobile order.
Panda Express
Drive-through Chinese food might sound like a great idea, but a lot of people would disagree. Citing poor food quality, they recommended going to a true family-owned Chinese restaurant for dine-in or takeout.
Long John Silver’s
You don’t see many of these restaurants anymore, and there’s a good reason for that. An unappealing menu and mediocre food quality drove a lot of people away. There just don’t seem to be that many people interested in fast-food fish.
Domino’s
For many years now, you’ve been able to walk into a Domino’s and order pizza, wings, or sides. Unfortunately, they changed the recipe for the crust, and although you can get a pizza cheap here, many prefer to spend more on something better.
Chipotle
Chipotle used to be a popular alternative to traditional fast food, so what happened? Most likely, it was the combination of rising prices, declining portion sizes, and inconsistent quality control.
Popeye’s
Nearly everyone who goes to Popeye’s agrees the food is good. The problem is that the service isn’t; common complaints are wait time and discourteous employees.
White Castle
Some people swear by White Castle, and that’s fine. However, some people consider their slider burgers little more than onion-dominated grease bombs.
McDonald’s
Few people go to McDonald’s expecting high-quality food, so that’s not the problem. Instead, they go expecting something fast and edible for a cheap price, and that’s the problem. Even before inflation took off a couple of years ago, prices at McDonald’s took a big jump up, undermining the biggest appeal of the restaurant for many.
Subway
If a franchise competes with Burger King and KFC for most-hated in this thread about the worst fast-food franchises, it’s Subway. Common complaints include the bread's taste, the ingredients' freshness, and even a strange smell in many restaurants!
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