When it comes to fast food, convenience often comes at a cost. While many chains offer quick meals that are easy on the wallet, not all fast food is created equal. Some establishments are known for serving low-quality ingredients, excessive sodium, and unhealthy fats, which can contribute to various health issues over time. Additionally, practices related to food sourcing and sustainability can raise concerns. For those looking to make healthier dining choices, it’s wise to be aware of which fast food chains might be best avoided.
Little Caesar
This fast food chain received a low ranking due to its subpar produce and freshness. Customers frequently reported that the ingredients lacked genuine “fresh” flavor, and the pizzas were often overly greasy. Although it’s viewed as budget-friendly, it’s not a preferred choice for many. If you find yourself here for pizza, it’s likely because all the better options are closed.
Panda Express
Panda Express falls short of delivering real, authentic Chinese cuisine. While it offers a decent and fairly filling meal, many customers have noted that the sauces and toppings tend to have a uniformly overly sweet flavor. Additionally, the vegetables often lack freshness and are coated in sticky sauces. For a more authentic taste, consider exploring smaller, local establishments that serve better pan-Asian dishes.
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Taco Bell
Taco Bell, recognized as the largest Mexican food chain in America, has earned an unfortunate reputation for causing stomachaches among its patrons. Many of their ingredients, including simple vegetables like tomatoes and lettuce, are often not fresh on the day they are served, and the well-known cheese sauce is likely reheated. Is it really worth the risk of potential food poisoning for a cheap and convenient taco?
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Pizza Hut
Founded by two brothers in 1958, Pizza Hut rapidly rose to fame as one of the most recognizable pizza chains in America and worldwide. However, as chains grow larger, they often begin to cut corners. Customers have reported issues such as cold pizzas upon delivery, insufficient toppings, and concerns about the contamination of meat and vegetables. Additionally, their prices have become relatively high compared to the declining quality of their offerings.
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Domino’s
In the competition for the top pizza chain, Domino’s goes head-to-head with Pizza Hut. Known for their “value” bundles ideal for parties and cozy nights in, Domino’s has faced numerous complaints. Customers have raised concerns about service speed, price hikes, and the cleanliness of dining areas. Many have indicated that unless there’s a special deal, they are unlikely to choose Domino’s over other pizza options.
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Church’s Chicken
Founded in 1950, Church’s Chicken started by offering fried chicken, biscuits, and fries. However, consumers generally do not rate this chain highly due to its greasy yet often dry food, which is frequently served lukewarm. Some customers have also complained about their sauces being lumpy or overly salty. Moreover, many people outside the US are unfamiliar with the chain, which isn’t a promising indicator of its reputation.
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CiCi’s Pizza
This growing pizza chain, which now has around 500 locations in the U.S., does not rank highly in customer satisfaction due to its lack of quality and overall freshness. Customers have voiced concerns about unclean dining areas, often finding dirty tables and food that has been left out for extended periods. The sight of whole pizzas left exposed for too long certainly doesn’t convey a sense of “fresh cuisine.”
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Burger King
Despite its success across the country, this major burger chain frequently faces criticism from patrons. With bland food and excessively high fat and salt content, it ranks among the lowest quality fast food options available, as most of its burgers contain over 700 calories. Nonetheless, this hasn’t hindered the chain from expanding to over 13,000 locations worldwide.
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KFC
Another massive food chain found throughout the U.S. and globally, KFC frequently receives complaints from patrons about its excessively greasy food, overly salty seasoning, and unclean dining areas. While the large portion sizes may be viewed as a value for money, they raise concerns about overall health, particularly with the giant buckets of chicken available. Despite these issues, it seems that many customers continue to flock to KFC for its famous secret blend of herbs and spices.
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Sbarro
Founded in 1956, Sbarro began as a pizza-by-the-slice establishment and soon expanded to include pasta and salad options to cater to a wider audience. However, the quality of their food has declined over the years, with many customers noting that it often tastes reheated and flavorless. This decline may be a consequence of trying to do too much at once, leading them to lose focus on perfecting at least one item on their menu.
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Taco John’s
Only 41% of customers indicated that they liked Taco John’s enough to return, which doesn’t bode well for the fast food chain, especially with numerous competitors in the market. Often described as a heavy, greasy, and salty selection of carbs, many patrons feel the food isn’t worth the trip to the drive-through. Given the choice between Taco John’s and Taco Bell, which would you choose?
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Long John Silver’s
Known for their fish and chips, as well as fried seafood platters, these meals are popular among the British but have not gained the same traction in the U.S. According to consumer surveys, the chain has only a 40% repurchase rate, indicating that more than half of patrons wouldn’t choose to dine there again. Of those who do return, most opt for the baked seafood to avoid the greasy batter.
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Hardee’s
Described as thin, dry, and salty, these are not ideal qualities for a burger. According to a consumer survey, only 34% of customers claimed to be actual fans of Hardee’s food. The chain often faces criticism for its poor customer service, as well as the quality and freshness of its offerings. With numerous burger joints available, Hardee’s needs to improve its game to remain competitive.
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Jimmy John’s
Who needs a sub that can exceed 1,000 calories in an instant? The freshness of ingredients at Jimmy John’s is often called into question, along with concerns about food additives, and many customers have reported that ingredients are left out for hours. The average sub at this chain is also extremely high in calories and sodium. This raises a significant question: what exactly are they putting in these sandwiches?
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Carl’s Jr
Most of their menu items are excessively high in calories for no apparent reason. According to a consumer survey, only 33% of customers genuinely enjoy Carl’s Jr food. The fries are often undercooked and slathered in thick, gloopy cheese sauce, while the burgers are either burned or under-seasoned. Overall, this chain has a poor reputation across the country, positioning itself as just another mediocre option for a quick and greasy burger meal.
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Arby’s
Arby’s claims to have “the meats,” but the chain has struggled in recent years due to a failure to improve the quality of their ingredients and toppings. Their sandwiches are often packed with so much sodium-laden beef that it borders on offensive to the healthcare industry. When ordering a beef sandwich, most customers don’t expect to receive an entire cow’s worth of meat.
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Bojangles
Only 43% of Consumer Reports taste testers indicated they would return after trying the food at this chain. Although they claim to specialize in chicken, they aren’t in contention for the top spot. Customers frequently complain about undercooked chicken, which poses serious health risks. Additionally, this chain remains largely unrecognizable to those who aren’t regular fast food patrons in the U.S.
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Subway
In 2018, Subway closed over 1,000 stores, which may be partly attributed to widespread complaints about the freshness of their ingredients. After all, how difficult is it to slice a tomato fresh each day? The chain has also implemented price increases nearly every year, making it less of a quick, affordable lunch option. Additionally, Subway has faced numerous scandals regarding the actual contents of their bread and prepared meats.
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Krystal
If you’re not familiar with Krystal, think of it as a lesser version of White Castle. This smaller fast food chain has around 350 locations in the U.S. While they are known for their burgers, many find them bland and oddly unappealing, with even their small amounts of sauce failing to enhance the flavor. It’s probably best to steer clear of Krystal and seek out an actual White Castle instead.
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Del Taco
Essentially, this chain is a worse version of Taco Bell. They face constant criticism for their extremely slow service, and even when the food finally arrives, it’s often unpleasant and flavorless. Everything seems overwhelmingly salty, and the meat manages to be both fatty and dry at the same time. It’s hard to understand how they can mess up a basic order of chips and dip so badly.
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White Castle
This chain gained some fame after appearing in the 2004 comedy *Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle*, but their food doesn’t quite live up to that level of notoriety. Known for their small, square hamburgers, that’s about all they offer—just small and square. There’s a reason they were only popular in 2004 and have since faded from the spotlight. When thinking of fast food, White Castle is not usually the first name that comes to mind.
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Wendy’s
Despite Wendy’s savvy social media presence, their food doesn’t enjoy the same level of success. In 2018, a video went viral showing a Wendy’s employee discovering a dead mouse inside a bag of hamburger buns. While some claim the video was fake, it raises the question: are you willing to take that chance? Most customers seem to prefer the Wendy’s Frosty over the actual cooked food, which isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement.
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Checkers
Founded in 1986, Checkers offers the typical fast food fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. However, their performance in Consumer Reports surveys leaves much to be desired, with only 36% of customers indicating they would return for more food. Long wait times and frequent “out of stock” items at various locations likely contribute to this dissatisfaction. It must be quite stressful for employees working in such an environment.
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Sonic
They attempted a unique approach with their roadside delivery tactic, but their food is still not regarded as enjoyable by most Americans. Recent complaints include squashed food in bags, undercooked meat, and soggy fries. Perhaps they should prioritize food preparation over delivery. Instead of launching a new neon-colored beverage every year, they might benefit from focusing on improving their cooked items.
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Einstein Bros. Bagels
If you’re looking for an authentic, chewy, and flavorful bagel, it’s best to steer clear of this place. Customers frequently complain about the plain and bland bagel options, and the fillings aren’t much better. The vegetables often appear old and stale, while the cream cheese is spread thinly with little substance. Einstein Bros definitely falls short of the standard set by traditional New York bagels.
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Quiznos
There has been a significant decline in Quiznos stores in America, dropping from around 5,000 in 2007 to just 800 today, which can’t be for good reasons. While the fillings are acceptable, the bread can occasionally be stale or oddly sweet. Many customers have voiced concerns about the prices of the subs compared to their actual value. If you’re craving a sandwich for lunch, it’s unlikely that anyone would recommend a trip to Quiznos.
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Jack In The Box
This fast food chain began as a burger joint but later expanded its menu to include fajitas, tacos, and even an all-day breakfast option. However, many customers complain about poor service and subpar food quality. Greasy items and crumpled packaging are not what patrons want to experience. It appears that many fast food chains struggle once they start adding a wide variety of items to their menus.
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A&W
A&W is known for their burgers, root beer, and root beer floats, which feature a big scoop of ice cream to enhance sweetness. However, many customers criticize their fries, describing them as consistently soggy and greasy—some even liken the experience to eating straight oil. Overall, A&W is another chain that fails to generate much excitement when it comes to dinner options.
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Auntie Anne’s
Beginning as a small pretzel shop in Pennsylvania, Auntie Anne’s has grown into one of the most recognizable chains in the country. However, despite their attempts to stay relevant by introducing new products like pretzel dogs and pizzas, they face challenges with poor customer service and a general lack of consumer interest. Their dough is often undercooked and excessively oily, causing it to leak through the bags.
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Boston Market
Previously known as Boston Chicken, this establishment offers a wide range of menu items, from sandwiches to pot pies. While the variety may attract a larger audience, they struggle with consistently messing up orders and keeping customers waiting for long periods. If you have a large family with hungry and impatient children, it’s best to steer clear of this place.
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Shake Shack
Shake Shack is often regarded as a trendier fast food option, but many customers question this perception. While their crinkle-cut fries are popular, numerous patrons feel that the size of their burgers doesn’t justify the price. Given the reputation for generous portion sizes in the States, customers expect better value for their money. Additionally, the freshness of their ingredients is often called into question, with wilted lettuce being a common complaint.
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Charley’s Philly Steaks
Known for their gourmet fries and real juice lemonade, this Ohio location often disappoints customers. The reason? They have received numerous negative reviews for poor customer service, particularly on TripAdvisor and Google. While it’s possible the staff may have had an off day, their subs frequently come out soggy and bland, even when drenched in fake, stringy cheese.
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El Pollo Loco
This chain struggles to compete with larger chicken franchises like KFC. Many customers find their value menu unimpressive, and they recently faced controversy over price increases. The quality of their chicken tends to be inconsistent, making it less appealing for those looking to explore different menu items during each visit. If you’re in the mood for chicken, it’s best to head to KFC instead.
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Cinnabon
For a place known for its sweetness, Cinnabon has garnered a reputation for having rude servers. This dough-heavy dessert chain is popular across America, but customers often report issues with the staff. Additionally, many have noticed buns sitting out for extended periods, leading to hard, stale dough—a major disappointment. To top it off, some of their cinnamon buns can pack a hefty calorie count, with some containing up to 800 calories each.
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Wingstop
Wingstop has earned a reputation for having some of the highest sodium levels in the restaurant industry, yet many customers find their wings surprisingly bland. Despite offering a variety of combos and sauces, complaints about insufficient seasoning and burnt chicken skin are common, even though wings are their specialty. When your main offering is chicken wings and you struggle to get it right, that raises serious concerns.
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Five Guys
Five Guys is known for its massive portion sizes, with burgers piled high with patties, cheese, and bacon—sounds delicious, but it’s a health nightmare. Nearly every item on their menu comes with a sky-high calorie count, which has certainly deterred some customers from returning. Even their small fries are large enough to feed a football team, making it one of the worst options for anyone watching their diet.
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Wienerschnitzel
Founded in 1961, this hot dog chain is among the most well-known in America, serving over 120 million hot dogs annually. However, it hasn’t escaped criticism. Many customers complain about the poor dog-to-bun ratio, leaving them feeling like they’ve wasted both time and money. After all, who really travels just to buy a hot dog?
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Smashburger
This chain, established in 2007, is relatively young compared to others on this list. It positions itself as trendier than typical burger joints, offering toppings like avocado and truffle. However, the nutritional value is dismal, with some burgers containing alarming levels of saturated fats. Despite their trendy image, they can’t conceal the greasy, trans fat-laden nature of their dishes.
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Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen, with its 80-year history of serving ice cream and sweet treats, is famous for its endless toppings and add-ins to their soft serve. However, all those extras contribute to some of the highest fat levels in the dessert world, making their offerings far from a healthy after-dinner snack. If you’re concerned about your health, it’s best to avoid ordering a large of anything here.
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Mcdonald’s
McDonald’s, arguably the biggest fast food chain globally, has the fame and profits you’d expect, but that hasn’t translated into better-quality produce. Despite selling 1,500 burgers a minute in America, many consumers rate it low in terms of freshness and food quality. Whether you get hot or cold fries seems to be a matter of luck. Adding to the frustration, US customers are annoyed that only European countries seem to get the cool side items.
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