“The customer is always right” — except when you are stuck in a 30-minute drive-thru line, dealing with a missing order, or getting attitude from an underpaid employee who’s just counting down the minutes.
Fast food chains rely on low or minimum wages to keep costs down, which often translates to a less-than-stellar experience for customers.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) surveyed nearly 15,000 diners, measuring key factors like order accuracy, staff courtesy, wait times, and food quality. Some chains improved, but others continued their downward spiral.
Here are 10 Fast Food chains with the worst customer service.
10. Burger King
Customer Satisfaction Score: 77
It seems the King’s crown is slipping, as customers complain that “they seldom have it their way” at Burger King.
The chain scored 77 in the latest ACSI ranking, with customers reporting slow service and frequent order mistakes in the home of the whopper “They open whenever they want, no apologies or even an acknowledgment of long wait times. Calls to store management and Emails to corporate do nothing,” shares a frustrated customer. “Comes from the top. There’s no monitoring. The workers rule the stores,” concludes another.
9. Wendy’s
Customer Satisfaction Score: 76
Wendy’s is famous for its sassy, often hilarious social media game, but no one’s laughing when it comes to keeping patrons happy in real life. The chain scored 76 this year, up from 74 in 2023, but inconsistency remains a major complaint. An increasing number of customers complain that the burger chain is in a downward spiral, pointing to rude service and long waits.
8. Sonic
Customer Satisfaction Score: 76
While Sonic’s ACSI score significantly improved to 76 in 2024, up from 72 in 2023, complaints about inconsistent service and long waits continue.
Many customers report that understaffed locations lead to extended wait times, even when placing mobile orders.
7. Little Caesars
Customer Satisfaction Score: 75
According to many Little Caesars customers, the chain is more “Lukewarm, Never Ready.” The chain scored 75 out of 100 for customer satisfaction with common complaints being inconsistent availability, long waits, and rude staff.
6. Subway
Customer Satisfaction Score: 74
For a chain that lets customers build their perfect sub, too many are walking away disappointed. Complaints about inconsistencies across locations, rude employees, sloppy sandwiches, and long waits placed Subway in the sixth spot with a score of 74, down from 75 in 2023.
Trending on Cheapism
5. Dairy Queen
Customer Satisfaction Score: 74
You usually go to Dairy Queen to satisfy a sugar craving, but according to customers, don’t expect sweet customer service. Similar to Subway, Dairy Queen’s customer satisfaction worsened, dropping from 75 in 2023 to 74 in 2024. Long wait times are a common complaint as well as food that arrives cold or hastily thrown together.
4. Taco Bell
Customer Satisfaction Score: 73
Just like Wendy’s, Taco Bell has a killer social media presence, but when it comes to customer service, the Tex-Mex giant has a lot of work to do. The chain scored 73 in the latest ACSI rankings, with complaints about incorrect orders, long wait times, and inconsistent food quality piling up.
3. Popeyes
Customer Satisfaction Score: 72
If you’ve ever waited over half an hour for a chicken sandwich, you’ll understand why Popeyes ranks third worst in customer service. The Louisiana chain knows its way around fried chicken — no one’s arguing that — but when it comes to service, customers say it’s a different story.
Sign up for our newsletter
2. Jack in the Box
Customer Satisfaction Score: 72
Jack in the Box’s says”We don’t make it until you order it,” but customers are finding that what they get isn’t always what they wanted. The chain ranks second worst in customer service, with complaints ranging from incorrect orders to unresponsive support.
1. McDonald’s
Customer Satisfaction Score: 71
Ronald’s got an attitude problem. McDonald’s ranks dead last in customer service, according to patrons, and this isn’t its first time at the bottom. The world’s largest fast-food chain also landed in last place for customer satisfaction in 2023 — though, to be fair, its score improved by 3%, jumping from 69 in 2023 to 71 in 2024.
Customers report messed-up orders and rude staff, a combination that’s making the golden arches lose their glow.
“Most of the time the employees are rude. I understand that some of them can be stressed, but they have some of the worst employees,” wrote one Redditor.“I really don’t have any more reason to go to McDonald’s.”
