Customer Reviews Warn: Worst Fast Food Chains in America

Though fast food chains may not be the healthiest option, they have become a staple for many who seek quick and convenient meals. 

According to more than 115,000 fast food reviews left on PissedConsumer.com, not all fast food experiences are equal. Customer reviews, a valuable source of honest feedback, reveal the darker side of some popular restaurants. While there may be some occasional positive mentions of tasty food or specialty food items, they don’t offset the complaints about the staff being rude, inattentive, or simply nonprofessional.

So, what are the worst fast food chains according to consumers? Let’s dig through the data and examine a list of 10 most criticized fast food restaurants. 

Key Insights

• The quick service restaurant industry (QSR) in the United States is one of the most established in the world, with consumer spending in the sector of more than $349 billion in 2023.
• The top 10 most discussed fast food companies include popular places such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, among others. 
• To avoid issues with fast food restaurants and maximize your positive experience, visit chains during off-peak times, study online feedback on a review platform, carefully examine the menu before your order, and consider using mobile apps.

1. McDonald’s: Slow Service and Missing Items

Number of McDonald’s reviews: 15,7K
McDonald’s rating*: 1,9

As one of the most popular fast food restaurants, McDonald’s is a household name. The golden arches are easily recognized and are associated with quick burgers and fresh, crispy fries. In fact, location is one of the positive aspects mentioned in McDonald’s reviews. 

What do McDonald’s reviews say?

McDonald’s reviews don’t just mention convenient locations, however. The McDonald’s complaints focus on unprofessional service and rude treatment. Fast-food customers report “extremely slow service,” “poor management,” and “missing items” when sharing their experiences. Many of them are not satisfied with McDonald’s customer service.  They even write about raw meat being served in restaurant locations and foreign objects in food. In review #5867330, a McDonald’s customer “purchased a double quarter pounder meal” to find “a whole sheet of plastic inside my burger.”

2. Pizza Hut: Messed up Orders and Poor Customer Service

Number of Pizza Hut reviews: 9.1K
Pizza Hut rating: 2.0

With decades of history, Pizza Hut has developed from a table-top pizza joint to a home-delivery or to-go pizza model. Pizza Hut’s mission statement claims that they “take pride in making a perfect pizza” and they work to deliver “helpful service on time all the time” as reviewers note. While Pizza Hut’s delivery service and timelines may not always beat that of the worst food delivery services, they at least claim to be trying.

What do Pizza Hut reviews say?

Poor customer services, messed up orders, and unprofessional behavior are some of the most common issues mentioned in Pizza Hut reviews. At the same time, Pizza Hut gets things right and some customers do praise good food in their feedback.

This was not the case for one reviewer, however. In their Pizza Hut review, they explained that they ordered from the company for the first time and it delivered burnt breadsticks. Over the course of three phone calls with the company, she was increasingly displeased with how the store treated her and her concern, including using profanity directed at the client. This customer was not impressed and summed up:

I am more disgusted with the fact that corporate doesnt care about employees treating pain customers in this manner…Ive never heard of someone talking to a paying customer this way its like unbelievable!

3. Subway: May Leave a Knife in Your Sandwich

Number of Subway reviews: 7.3K
Subway rating: 1.8

As a build-it-your-way sandwich shop, Subway should be able to cater easily to customer needs. They need only choose the items to put on their sandwich and enjoy. How are things going in reality? 

What do Subway reviews say?

Subway reviews tell us that things don’t always go as expected. Despite having many positive reviews about good food, customers complain about poor Subway customer service, foreign objects in their food, and rude staff at the restaurants. 

One customer left a review after placing a mobile order to a local Subway store. When her husband arrived to collect the food, the restaurant claimed they didn’t have the mobile order and then proceeded to make the two sandwiches incorrectly. The employee argued with the customer, dug through the trash with her gloved hands, and charged the customers for extra meat when none was provided. 

4. Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen: Incomplete Orders and Slow Service

Number of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen reviews: 6.3K
Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen rating: 2.0

Originally founded in New Orleans, Louisiana, Popeye’s is a popular fried chicken restaurant serving mild and spicy varieties of customer favorites. Customers leave many reviews on PissedConsumer.com expressing their worries and certain disappointments. 

What do Popeyes reviews say? 

Popeyes reviews tell us that the restaurant does some things well, like serving good food and good chicken. Other areas, however, are concerns. Some customers complain about bad customer service and negative attitudes on the part of the employees. Others aren’t impressed with the food offerings. 

A Popeyes customer from Southwest Philadelphia shared their frustrating experience at one of the locations. They received undercooked chicken, were met with poor customer service upon returning it, and ended up with poorly seasoned replacements:

Our chicken was pink in the middle. After finding another ride to take the food back; I was not greeted with empathy, concern, anything besides did you want change a piece of chicken.

5. Taco Bell: Bad Management and Service

Number of Taco Bell reviews: 6.3K
Taco Bell rating: 2.0

As a well-known fast food joint specializing in Mexican fare like burritos and tacos, Taco Bell brings different offerings to the convenience food industry. The company’s values include "providing fast, friendly, and accurate service." Is it really so? What do customer reviews tell us?

What do Taco Bell reviews say? 

The type of food and taste are often mentioned in the pros of Taco Bell reviews. However, there are plenty of negatives as well including bad management and poor customer service. Taco Bell customers note that in some locations they have experienced bad service with a bad attitude.

Also, customers mention messed orders and poor quality of components. 

One customer in review #5402840 shares their frustrating experience with the order, which was not like they ordered:

Ordered 2 cheesy roll ups add beef, tomato and extra cheese. Got home 1 roll up had no cheese and few tomatoes. The other had very very little cheese and again few tomatoe.

And it was not the first time orders were incorrect in “this particular location.”

6. Domino’s Pizza: Burnt Food and Rude Staff

Number of Domino’s Pizza reviews: 6K
Domino’s Pizza rating: 2.0

Another pizza chain, Domino’s Pizza claims to have the “humility and courage to embrace and lead change.” Clients and their satisfaction have become the company's priority. Let's look at what customer reviews have to say about it.

What do Domino’s Pizza reviews say? 

Some customers have noted the combination of convenient locations and good pizza at this establishment. Others, however, leave frustrated Domino’s reviews about poor customer service, burnt food, rude staff, and challenges when they need a refund. 

One disappointed customer ordered from Domino’s Pizza while she was at work. The pizza arrived at her home to feed her children but was burnt. Since it was the third time it had happened, the reviewer called the store to ask about solutions. The manager at Domino’s suggested the solution was to “come in to pick up my order from now on.” The reviewer was frustrated with “all the attitude” and wanted a credit on the order, but to date that has not occurred. 

7. Jack in the Box: Poor Management and Lack of Attention

Number of Jack in the Box reviews: 4.7K
Jack in the Box rating: 2.0

Known for being one of the first fast food restaurants to stay open twenty-four hours, Jack in the Box is a favorite of late-night snacks and desserts.

What do Jack in the Box reviews say? 

While some Jack in the Box reviews praise the company for good food and close locations, other customer reviews mention issues with staff attitude, management, and inappropriate customer service. 

One reviewer claimed in their review on PissedConsumer.com that after ordering at the local Jack in the Box, the drive through employee was “obnoxious and refused to refund or remake my order” when it was burnt and had an odd taste. The conversation escalated to the point of the employee threatening to call the police on the customer, and the customer ultimately left feeling like the employee was “unacceptable and racist.”

8. Little Caesars: Bad and Rude Customer Service

Number of Little Caesars reviews: 4.5K
Little Caesars rating: 2.3

Another pizza joint joining the list of worst fast food restaurants, Little Caesars offers cheap pizza to-go. With their hot and ready offerings, customers can walk in, grab a freshly made pizza, and be out the door almost immediately. 

What do Little Caesars reviews say? 

Customers praise the good pizza and affordable prices in their Little Caesars reviews.

But not every review is positive. People note poor customer service at the restaurants and at the company in general. They also report a poor quality of food and difficulties in ordering.

In review #5776881, one customer reported about “horrible service and food posioning.” The reviewer explained that “pizza had weird smell and taste” and their kids got sick. When they tried to resolve the issue, they didn’t get the necessary help:

...cashier Evelyn who did not give me any help for corporate number or mangers or supervisor contact she made no effort to call any one or help me.

9. KFC: Raw Food and Poor Product Quality

Number of KFC reviews: 4.2K
KFC rating: 1.9

Another well-known fried chicken joint, KFC specializes in their “passion for serving finger lickin’ good food.” Of course, customers don’t always find this to be the case based on the many KFC reviews left on our site. 

What do KFC reviews say? 

KFC reviews mention reports of raw or old food being served, foreign objects in the food, and poor customer service. KFC customers are frustrated about “gravy taste,” “rotten,” or “cold” food. Still, there are some positive bits of feedback, including good chicken and store locations being close to home.

One frustrated customer in review #5024756 complained about their order from KFC in Muscatine, Iowa. They wanted to get “food for a family get together.” However, the quality was not sufficient:

...the biscuits were hard as a rock, chicken was dry we couldnt even eat it we were missing a famous bowl and 2 extra biscuits!

10. Chipotle: “Horrible Customer Service” and “Bad Service”

Number of Chipotle reviews: 3.1K
Chipotle rating: 2.0

Chipotle is a popular fast food restaurant chain that is well-known for its Mexican-inspired menu. While customers like this restaurant for its food sustainability, Chipotle reviews bring attention to some consumer issues.

What do Chipotle reviews say?

While some Chipotle reviews praise the company for good food, especially “when you get all of your order,” customer complaints highlight issues with rude staff and “horrible customer service.” 

According to data on the PissedConsumer platform, 28% of users think that Chipotle should improve its customer service and only 9% would recommend this fast food chain to friends and colleagues. 

One Chipotle customer in review #5870764 expressed dissatisfaction with the service at one of the chain’s locations. They emphasized issues with staff who had a bad attitude, served incorrect portion sizes, and failed to properly prepare a quesadilla. The reviewer stated:

Worst experience ever and worst food and they had nasty attitude and didnt give the right portion size. 

Tips to Avoid a Bad Fast Food Experience

If you are afraid of the worst fast food chains and want to avoid a negative experience, it’s always good to go in aware of what you’re working with. Here are some practical tips to help:

• Visit during off-peak times. If you come during the lunch or dinner rush, you’re less likely to get good service. Visit when the location isn’t jammed and employees are frantic. 
• Review the menu online. Most fast food chains have their menus available online. You can visit their sites and learn about options and prices before you go. This will help to make sure that every choice you make is the best one for you.
• Check your order before leaving. Before you leave the counter or drive-thru, look at your order carefully to ensure everything is correct. Check if your special inquiries have been followed, all items are included, and the size of the portion is as expected.
• Use mobile apps and loyalty programs. Many fast food restaurants have mobile apps and loyalty programs to offer discounts, rewards, and promotions to their customers. 
• Assess cleanliness. When you arrive, check the restaurant's cleanliness. If the dining and food prep areas are not clean, there is a higher chance the food will be handled in the same way.
• Communicate clearly and calmly. When you place your order, speak clearly and confirm your selections. If you have any food restrictions or special requests, kindly stress them with confidence. Don't stay silent, and ask questions if you need clarification.
• Ask to talk to the supervisor if there is a need. If you have an issue at a fast food restaurant and it cannot be resolved by a staff member, politely request to speak with the supervisor. A supervisor is usually able to address more significant problems. 
• Examine online reviews. Before going to the place, read customer feedback. An online review platform is a great place to find consumer insights. Some locations are known to be slow in the drive-through or have difficulties with customer service. 

What experience have you had with fast food chains? Was it positive or negative? You may write a review and share your insights with fellow customers.

*Disclaimer: Ranking and statistics are based on our users’ review texts and Pissed Consumer posters’ reviews. Also, a company’s rating is calculated using a mathematical algorithm that evaluates the information in the profile, including users’ rating, the number of resolved issues, the number of company’s responses, etc. The algorithm is subject to change in the future.