10 Gross and Overrated Fast Food Restaurants You Should Avoid

Fast food is a guilty pleasure for many people. While some fast food chains have a cult-like following, others leave much to be desired. A popular AskReddit thread asked users to name fast food places that are “grossly overrated.” The responses were varied and insightful. Here are ten of the most common answers.

1. Panera Bread

“Panera bread and I don't think it's close at all. They charge ten dollars and nineteen cents plus tax for a mac and cheese. It's good but I know how to make my own,” one person complained. Another person jumped in, adding, “Panera WAS good. I worked right by a Panera, and it was a treat to go there for lunch a few times a month. I remember getting their sandwiches, like early 2010's and those things were great. Bacon turkey bravo was my jam. Cheddar broccoli soup was BOMB.

Then, something happened around 2017-2018. They started skimping, quality took a dive, service quality decreased. The subway on the other side of the plaza was actually better quality and value. Stopping going. Recently I went back, and got a sandwich, and it was total garbage. Honestly a joke of a sandwich. I also got a bagel for later and that was trash too. Even the cream cheese was terrible. Walmart has better bagels by the dozen.”

2. Five Guys

“Five Guys is ok for three times what it should cost,” one person said. Someone else agreed, adding, “Agreed, the food is good, but $20 for a burger, fries and a soda is expensive when you can get you a better burger meal at a local restaurant where I am.”

Related: 10 Surprisingly Good American Foods, According to Non-Americans

3. Tim Hortons

“It's an absolute travesty that they've literally advertised their way into Canadian identity while cutting costs in every way possible. Their coffee is at the absolute bottom of the barrel, and I genuinely can't think of a major chain that serves worse food. It's awful.

Nothing is made in house, and simple basics, like toasting bagels – something that's been an issue for fifteen years – remains unaddressed. They're still somehow always cold AND burnt. Not to even touch on their abuse of temporary foreign workers, abysmal pay, and awful work culture. Easiest boycott you'll ever make,” someone griped.

4. KFC

“I remember when I was a kid, KFC was a legit treat and tasted so good. Then I somehow went like a decade or more before I ate it again and it was so soggy and watery. Don’t know what happened to the Colonel’s recipe but it sucked and I haven’t had it again going on close to another decade,” one person recalled.

Another person agreed, saying, “Aside from being soggy and watery, it seems like their portions have decreased as well too. I remember how the chicken back then were actually big pieces of chicken; compared to now, the chicken pieces have shrunken and are tiny.”

5. Starbucks

“As a former coffee drinker who had the whole home routine, Starbucks over roast their coffee so it is bitter and you have to add all those shots of flavors just to make it drinkable because why sell a $1 cup of coffee when you can sell a $15 cup of coffee,” one person revealed.

Another person jumped in, saying, “I never put 2 and 2 together and realized that’s why they make their coffee taste bitter. You’re so right. I always say that Starbucks addicts aren’t coffee/caffeine addicts, they’re sugar addicts.”

6. Whataburger

“I might be banished from Texas for saying this but Whataburger is just okay. The burgers and fries are good, but not worth the insane hype that they receive, and I find most of the breakfast options to range from mediocre to inedible. Plus most locations are incredibly slow so it’s fast food in name only,” one person said.

“Like so many other names on this list, Whataburger isn't what it used to be. The service is inconsistent from store to store. Even if you find a good Whataburger, it still doesn't compare to their former quality,” someone else added.

Related: 10 Disgusting Things That Smell Better Than They Taste

7. McDonald's

“100% McDonald's. Nothing about the food is appetizing. Everything on the menu looks fake and processed,” one person said. Someone else pointed out that while McDonald's isn't great, you do know what you're getting. “Also, you know exactly what you're getting. Other fast food chains seem to vary on quality. At McDonald's, I know exactly what I'm getting every time. Maybe faster or slower, but they nearly all taste the same.”

8. Raising Cane's

“Canes. Only thing good is the sauce and bread. I live in Louisiana – people here will whine all day long about underseasoned food but will literally back up traffic to get some bland Cane's chicken,” one person complained. Someone else took a dig at their menu, saying, “I have to admire the audacity of a restaurant whose menu asks not what you want but how many.”

9. Chick-Fil-A

“Chick-Fil-A is basic as fuck. It's good, but not as good as people hype it up to be. 10/10 times I'd prefer the Popeyes chicken sandwich, or a more local place called Slim Chickens,” one person admitted. “Yes! I’d rather have Popeyes or Zaxbys. Chick Fil A is “good” but not worth the wait, price, or homophobia,” someone else added.

10. Steak ‘n' Shake

“Steak ‘n’ Shake. Like so many of these places, they were legit at one point then suffered from over expansion and spiral down,” one person revealed. “They used to be GREAT back in like 2017-2019. Went every week, often twice a week. Then they got rid of their fry seasonings, reduced the menu to 4 burgers, and the quality dropped FAST. IDK what happened,” someone else added.

Read the original thread here.

This article was produced and syndicated by Max My Money.