In a popular thread on the social media site Reddit, Redditors debated a quintessentially American question: What fast-food chains need to go? It might seem hard to answer at first, but then you realize there are dozens of middling, overrated fast-food chains that you’ve never been to (or even heard of).
We’ve compiled Redditors’ most popular and interesting answers here, but don’t be afraid to share your hot takes.
Long John Silver’s
This nautically themed seafood chain has its loyalists (they love the hush puppies), but Long John Silver’s also has enough detractors that critiques of the chain received thousands of upvotes.
“I’d go about once a year, regret it, and then go back again when the bad memory wore off,” one Redditor wrote.
“LJS was my first job for 3 years, another shared.” “They bank during Lent and basically struggle every other day unless it’s holiday season, or some event/concert letting out near by.”
If you are going to a LJS, as it’s affectionately called, do yourself a favor and get chicken instead of fish.
Subway
Redditors railed at the once-popular sandwich chain in this thread, criticizing everything from the “tasteless” bread to its franchise business model.
“The only time I go to subway is because it’s the closest fast food to where I live,” confessed one Redditor, while others called out its lack of freshness, expensive sandwiches, and poor branding.
John Oliver has also lambasted the chain in a lengthy segment, calling out its mismanaged franchises.
KFC
Fast-food enthusiasts again panned KFC’s franchise model, blaming it for the fried chicken chain’s drop in quality. One Redditor claimed that his local KFC, which is “locally owned and operated,” still tastes amazing, while other franchise restaurants are “all absolutely terrible.”
Burger King
If Redditors are to be trusted, things aren’t looking good for the house of the Whopper. Critical commenters described Burger King’s food as “inedible,” “disgusting,” and “nasty,” though many admitted that quality varies by location. “Going to a Burger King is like playing Russian Roulette but with food poisoning. The quality of the locations varies so much it’s crazy,” one popular comment reads.
“Is Burger King even trying anymore?” someone else asked. “When I was a kid I remember them being a legit competitor to McDonalds and Wendy’s was barely an afterthought. Now its McDonald’s vs. Wendy’s for me.”
Golden Corral
The all-you-can-eat buffet chain has a lousy reputation on Reddit, where one user described it as a “feeding trough for people.”
“The best-tasting food there is the iceberg lettuce if that’s any indication how bad the food is,” another top commenter wrote. Ouch.
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Panera
Redditors charged Panera with being “overpriced” and “bland,” with one commenter describing it as “hospital cafeteria food at upscale prices.” However, another Redditor stepped in to defend the chain, noting that Panera sends its leftovers to charities and food banks.
Others reminisced about how Panera was once a quality place to dine, but has since fallen out of favor.
“Back in the early 2000s, people had really started to think about health in a different way,” one Redditor wrote. “Panera filled that gap. Decent sandwiches, soups, and actual fresh salads (at least compared to what was available), all available quickly.” One of the problems, this former fan went on, was that there are now other chains that fill the gap, such as Sweetgreen or Cava. Fair point.
Tim Hortons
This Canadian coffee and donut chain has seen a significant drop in quality, according to multiple Redditors. A top commenter said that the food is “laughable” and that the coffee tastes like “dog water.” “I feel as though I’m the only Canadian that can’t stand Tim Hortons,” they added.
Steak ‘n Shake
“It used to be good, but they died during the pandemic,” one Redditor wrote of Steak ‘n Shake’s decline, adding that the “food just tastes sad” these days. Others chimed in with personal experiences that underscored the chain’s less-than-stellar service.
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