The 11 worst fast food restaurants in America - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

simmytbone · 07-23-2014, 02:34 PM

http://theweek.com/article/index/264...nts-in-america

The 11 worst fast food restaurants in America
Consumer Reports' most recent ranking of our nation’s fast food restaurants
By Marine Cole, The Fiscal Times | July 22, 2014

Whether they like pizza, hamburgers, chicken, or sandwiches, Americans want more than just cheap meals when they eat out at fast food restaurants. The quality and freshness of the food, as well as the quality of the service, have become top priorities when choosing a spot to grab a quick bite, as shown by Consumer Reports' most recent ranking of our nation's fast food restaurants.

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 32,000 readers who ate more than 96,000 meals at 65 chains. The magazine found that the less ubiquitous fast food restaurants and the regional ones were the most popular with diners.

Those who were surveyed had to look at five criteria to rank each chain: food quality and freshness, value, politeness, speed of service, and cleanliness of the dining area. Based on these criteria, they then had to come up with a grade out of 100.

The top loser: Sbarro, which specializes in New York-style pizza. The chain has been doing so badly it closed more than 150 locations in North America in February and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a month later.

Other well-known names that made the list of the worst fast food restaurants include McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.

11. Panda Express
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
The only Asian fast food chain on this list, Panda Express allegedly offers gourmet Chinese cuisine, but the quality and freshness of its food is only so-so and its dishes are too pricey, according to the survey. Meanwhile, the quality of its service fared relatively well.

10. Taco Bell
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
The best-known Mexican fast food chain in the country, Taco Bell also ranked as the worst Mexican fast food chain in America, receiving particularly bad grades for its mediocre food quality and freshness. It recently entered the breakfast market, going head to head with McDonald’s.

9. Little Caesars
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
Pizza restaurant Little Caesars, which was started in Michigan more than 50 years ago, ranked especially low on the quality and freshness of its food, despite advertising its fresh-quality ingredients.

8. Domino's
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
Another global pizza chain ended on the worst fast food restaurant list. Domino’s fared poorly on all criteria including the quality of the food, the value of its food, the speed of its service, and the cleanliness of its dining areas — but its wait staff received a relatively high mark for politeness.

7. Pizza Hut
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
One of the most famous pizza chains in the world, Pizza Hut was started by two brothers more than 55 years ago in Kansas. Now part of Yum! Brands, it has about 6,000 restaurants in the U.S.

6. CiCi's Pizza
Consumer Reports' Grade: 72/100
CiCi’s Pizza, which launched in the 1980s in Plano, Texas, now has about 500 restaurants in 34 states. Although the chain received bad grades for the quality of its food and the cleanliness of its restaurants, it did okay with the speed of its service and politeness of its waiting staff.

5. Burger King
Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100
Another burger giant chain fared poorly in the rankings, with mediocre food quality and freshness and bad value for its food. Burger King, which debuted a Gay Pride Whopper this week, has about 13,000 franchised restaurants.

4. McDonald's
Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100
Every minute, McDonald’s sells Americans nearly 1,500 burgers, which it touts as being 100 percent USDA-inspected beef, free of preservatives, fillers, extenders, and so-called pink slime. But none of that prevented Consumer Reports’ readers from rating its food quality and freshness as one of the worst.

3. Church's Chicken
Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100
Church’s Chicken, also established in the 1950s, sells fried chicken, fries, biscuits, and jalapenos. The chain, known as Texas Chicken outside the U.S., has more than 1,600 locations worldwide.

2. KFC
Consumer Reports' Grade: 69/100
KFC’s food quality and freshness, its value, and the cleanliness of its dining area all got bad reviews. The chain, which has famously sold its fried chicken in buckets since the 1950s, has restaurants throughout the country.

1. Sbarro
Consumer Reports' Grade: 65/100
Sbarro, which specializes in New York-style pizza, placed especially low in this year’s list because of its poor food quality and lack of freshness. The company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year — the second time it’s done so in about three years.

credit: The Fiscal Times

Vahan · 07-23-2014, 02:45 PM

Good thing In-N-Out and The Habit aren't on there. Those are two of my favorites.

You may not have heard of these two, because they are based here in California. There are a handful of them outside of California, though (mainly in Arizona and Nevada).

isiahthomas · 07-23-2014, 02:50 PM

I like Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Church's Chicken. I haven't eaten Church's Chicken in a very long time. Cleveland used to have Church's Chicken and it might still be there because i haven't lived in Cleveland in a long time. I haven't seen any Church's Chicken in Virginia and Maryland. Popeye's Chicken is good. I'm surprised Wendy's isn't on the list. I love Wendy's bacon cheeseburger, french fries and their chocolate and vanilla frosty.

Retro4Life · 07-23-2014, 06:28 PM

I don't know...lists like this are useful, but it's fast food, what do you expect? It's not going to be very healthy, it's made quickly and cheaply and appeals to your taste buds, not your mind.

We only live once, I don't think an occasional bucket of chicken or Big Mac is going to kill anyone.

Mr. Television · 07-23-2014, 06:30 PM

Don't be dissing Taco Bell and KFC.

comedyfreak · 07-24-2014, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I haven't eaten Church's Chicken in a very long time. Cleveland used to have Church's Chicken and it might still be there because i haven't lived in Cleveland in a long time. I haven't seen any Church's Chicken in Virginia and Maryland. Popeye's Chicken is good. I'm surprised Wendy's isn't on the list. I love Wendy's bacon cheeseburger, french fries and their chocolate and vanilla frosty.

We use to have Church's Chicken in Northern California in the 80's and they all seemed to have closed here. They were gross the chicken was super greasy and the chicken tasted burnt. I don't miss them. On a side note, Popeye's Chicken wasn't mentioned so they must be good.

Regulus · 07-24-2014, 10:05 AM

I'd like to see Taco Cabana open some restaurants in my home state of Florida (They are centered in Texas and have branched out in New Mexico and Oklahoma). They SMOKE Taco Bell!!!

tlc38tlc38 · 07-24-2014, 10:37 AM

I would rank SUBWAY at #1 worst.

EVERY time I've been to ANY Subway, the service is bad and terribly SLOW.

No wonder Jared lost all that weight from eating there, you stand in line for 15-30 minutes waiting on your turn.

MickeyMac · 07-24-2014, 02:00 PM

Taco Bell deserves to be on that list

Total

Not only that, fake phoney Mexican food

No thanks!!!

Mace Dolex · 07-24-2014, 02:32 PM

McDonald's and In-N-Out are the two best in my opnion, occasionally I'll try Burger King but their fries are dried and stale.

Taco Bell and/or Pollo Loco depending on how long they've stored their food gives me the runs at times.

Church's Chicken I've only tried twice but dont' like the taste of the chicken.

ABlairican Pie · 07-26-2014, 07:41 PM

I'm glad I just make my food at home. I hardly go to fast food places, except when I feel I have to eat something. I do like Taco Time in the Seattle area, which has fresh ingredients and quality foods. I'd recommend that one.

Tubehead · 07-27-2014, 12:57 AM

11. Panda Expressi never carried for forging food
10. Taco Bell
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
I like tacos some times I usual get two soft tacos and Nachos'

9. Little Caesars
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100
I usual not big pizza eater but I like little Caesar

8. Domino's
Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100i only had them two or three times I never tried them to much my mom and dad usual get little caesars pizza
7. Pizza Hut
I like pizza hut a lot I been several times
.
6. CiCi's Pizza
don't like pizza . I don't like pizzas bar too many dirty hands touching the same pizza bar
Consumer Reports' Grade: 72/100
.

5. Burger King
Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100 I auctlly like buger king better then McDonalds their bugers are better for you . .

4. McDonald's
Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100food quality and freshness as one of the I love mcdonals I get big mac quarter pounder and chicken nuggets I also like their club house chicken & club house bacon hamburger I got it today

3. Church's Chicken
I don't like churchs much .

2. KFC
I like kfc I like their sanckers their good I like their poo corn chicken but they quite carrying it. but I usual get smackers or chicken strips

1. Sbarro
never heard of them I don't never been to new York so I never tried them before.

comedyfreak · 07-27-2014, 03:03 AM

Sbarro's are usually inside Malls, I have eaten there the pizza is pretty good.

tlc38tlc38 · 07-27-2014, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Sbarro's are usually inside Malls, I have eaten there the pizza is pretty good.

That's the only place I've seen a Sbarro is in a mall food court.

yankeesrj12 · 07-27-2014, 11:27 AM

I prefer Taco Bell to the other chain Mexican offerings of Moe's and Chipotle. The only thing I'd say is bad about Taco Bell is the slowness of service. Somehow I always end up waiting 10 minutes for my 'fast food'. Other than that, I love the food; cheap and it tastes good!

07-23-2014, 02:34 PM	#1
simmytbone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1,513	The 11 worst fast food restaurants in America http://theweek.com/article/index/264...nts-in-america The 11 worst fast food restaurants in America Consumer Reports' most recent ranking of our nation’s fast food restaurants By Marine Cole, The Fiscal Times \| July 22, 2014 Whether they like pizza, hamburgers, chicken, or sandwiches, Americans want more than just cheap meals when they eat out at fast food restaurants. The quality and freshness of the food, as well as the quality of the service, have become top priorities when choosing a spot to grab a quick bite, as shown by Consumer Reports' most recent ranking of our nation's fast food restaurants. Consumer Reports surveyed more than 32,000 readers who ate more than 96,000 meals at 65 chains. The magazine found that the less ubiquitous fast food restaurants and the regional ones were the most popular with diners. Those who were surveyed had to look at five criteria to rank each chain: food quality and freshness, value, politeness, speed of service, and cleanliness of the dining area. Based on these criteria, they then had to come up with a grade out of 100. The top loser: Sbarro, which specializes in New York-style pizza. The chain has been doing so badly it closed more than 150 locations in North America in February and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a month later. Other well-known names that made the list of the worst fast food restaurants include McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. 11. Panda Express Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 The only Asian fast food chain on this list, Panda Express allegedly offers gourmet Chinese cuisine, but the quality and freshness of its food is only so-so and its dishes are too pricey, according to the survey. Meanwhile, the quality of its service fared relatively well. 10. Taco Bell Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 The best-known Mexican fast food chain in the country, Taco Bell also ranked as the worst Mexican fast food chain in America, receiving particularly bad grades for its mediocre food quality and freshness. It recently entered the breakfast market, going head to head with McDonald’s. 9. Little Caesars Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 Pizza restaurant Little Caesars, which was started in Michigan more than 50 years ago, ranked especially low on the quality and freshness of its food, despite advertising its fresh-quality ingredients. 8. Domino's Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 Another global pizza chain ended on the worst fast food restaurant list. Domino’s fared poorly on all criteria including the quality of the food, the value of its food, the speed of its service, and the cleanliness of its dining areas — but its wait staff received a relatively high mark for politeness. 7. Pizza Hut Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 One of the most famous pizza chains in the world, Pizza Hut was started by two brothers more than 55 years ago in Kansas. Now part of Yum! Brands, it has about 6,000 restaurants in the U.S. 6. CiCi's Pizza Consumer Reports' Grade: 72/100 CiCi’s Pizza, which launched in the 1980s in Plano, Texas, now has about 500 restaurants in 34 states. Although the chain received bad grades for the quality of its food and the cleanliness of its restaurants, it did okay with the speed of its service and politeness of its waiting staff. 5. Burger King Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100 Another burger giant chain fared poorly in the rankings, with mediocre food quality and freshness and bad value for its food. Burger King, which debuted a Gay Pride Whopper this week, has about 13,000 franchised restaurants. 4. McDonald's Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100 Every minute, McDonald’s sells Americans nearly 1,500 burgers, which it touts as being 100 percent USDA-inspected beef, free of preservatives, fillers, extenders, and so-called pink slime. But none of that prevented Consumer Reports’ readers from rating its food quality and freshness as one of the worst. 3. Church's Chicken Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100 Church’s Chicken, also established in the 1950s, sells fried chicken, fries, biscuits, and jalapenos. The chain, known as Texas Chicken outside the U.S., has more than 1,600 locations worldwide. 2. KFC Consumer Reports' Grade: 69/100 KFC’s food quality and freshness, its value, and the cleanliness of its dining area all got bad reviews. The chain, which has famously sold its fried chicken in buckets since the 1950s, has restaurants throughout the country. 1. Sbarro Consumer Reports' Grade: 65/100 Sbarro, which specializes in New York-style pizza, placed especially low in this year’s list because of its poor food quality and lack of freshness. The company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year — the second time it’s done so in about three years. *credit: The Fiscal Times*
	__________________ Lisa Marie Varon, Lisa Moretti, Jazz, Lilian Garcia & Dawn Marie The Fab 5-Underrated, but AWESOME in my book Atlanta Falcons: RISE UP

07-23-2014, 06:28 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I don't know...lists like this are useful, but it's fast food, what do you expect? It's not going to be very healthy, it's made quickly and cheaply and appeals to your taste buds, not your mind. We only live once, I don't think an occasional bucket of chicken or Big Mac is going to kill anyone.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

07-23-2014, 06:30 PM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	Don't be dissing Taco Bell and KFC.
	__________________ Sonny

07-24-2014, 10:05 AM	#7
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	I'd like to see Taco Cabana open some restaurants in my home state of Florida (They are centered in Texas and have branched out in New Mexico and Oklahoma). They SMOKE Taco Bell!!!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

07-24-2014, 10:37 AM	#8
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I would rank SUBWAY at #1 worst. EVERY time I've been to ANY Subway, the service is bad and terribly SLOW. No wonder Jared lost all that weight from eating there, you stand in line for 15-30 minutes waiting on your turn.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

07-23-2014, 02:45 PM	#2
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	Good thing In-N-Out and The Habit aren't on there. Those are two of my favorites. You may not have heard of these two, because they are based here in California. There are a handful of them outside of California, though (mainly in Arizona and Nevada).

07-23-2014, 02:50 PM	#3
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I like Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Church's Chicken. I haven't eaten Church's Chicken in a very long time. Cleveland used to have Church's Chicken and it might still be there because i haven't lived in Cleveland in a long time. I haven't seen any Church's Chicken in Virginia and Maryland. Popeye's Chicken is good. I'm surprised Wendy's isn't on the list. I love Wendy's bacon cheeseburger, french fries and their chocolate and vanilla frosty.

07-24-2014, 02:00 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Taco Bell deserves to be on that list Total Not only that, fake phoney Mexican food No thanks!!!

07-24-2014, 02:32 PM	#10
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	McDonald's and In-N-Out are the two best in my opnion, occasionally I'll try Burger King but their fries are dried and stale. Taco Bell and/or Pollo Loco depending on how long they've stored their food gives me the runs at times. Church's Chicken I've only tried twice but dont' like the taste of the chicken.

07-26-2014, 07:41 PM	#11
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	I'm glad I just make my food at home. I hardly go to fast food places, except when I feel I have to eat something. I do like Taco Time in the Seattle area, which has fresh ingredients and quality foods. I'd recommend that one.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

07-27-2014, 12:57 AM	#12
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	worst fast food places 11. Panda Expressi never carried for forging food 10. Taco Bell Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 I like tacos some times I usual get two soft tacos and Nachos' 9. Little Caesars Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100 I usual not big pizza eater but I like little Caesar 8. Domino's Consumer Reports' Grade: 73/100i only had them two or three times I never tried them to much my mom and dad usual get little caesars pizza 7. Pizza Hut I like pizza hut a lot I been several times . 6. CiCi's Pizza don't like pizza . I don't like pizzas bar too many dirty hands touching the same pizza bar Consumer Reports' Grade: 72/100 . 5. Burger King Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100 I auctlly like buger king better then McDonalds their bugers are better for you . . 4. McDonald's Consumer Reports' Grade: 71/100food quality and freshness as one of the I love mcdonals I get big mac quarter pounder and chicken nuggets I also like their club house chicken & club house bacon hamburger I got it today 3. Church's Chicken I don't like churchs much . 2. KFC I like kfc I like their sanckers their good I like their poo corn chicken but they quite carrying it. but I usual get smackers or chicken strips 1. Sbarro never heard of them I don't never been to new York so I never tried them before.

07-27-2014, 03:03 AM	#13
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	Sbarro's are usually inside Malls, I have eaten there the pizza is pretty good.

07-27-2014, 11:27 AM	#15
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	I prefer Taco Bell to the other chain Mexican offerings of Moe's and Chipotle. The only thing I'd say is bad about Taco Bell is the slowness of service. Somehow I always end up waiting 10 minutes for my 'fast food'. Other than that, I love the food; cheap and it tastes good!