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Many of us enjoy a cheeky fast-food meal every now and then. But unless you’ve worked on the other side of the counter, very few people think about what it’s like being a chain restaurant employee. All the customers have to go on is the quality of the food and service. Though everyone makes mistakes, some businesses seem to be in the habit of making their errors a regular feature.

Redditor u/Eris3344 wanted to get to grips with the landscape of chain restaurants in the United States, so they asked people to explain which ones are the worst and why. We’ve collected some of the most insightful answers to share with you.

#1

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants I was excited to try Taco Bell when they launched in the UK a couple of years ago. What the hell America, it's literally warm lettuce in an unflavoured Dorito.

jolloholoday , Anthony92931 Report

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GoGoPDX
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are 3 times when Taco Bell is great. 1: you are 19, broke, and want something other than hamburgers. 2: you are high, and Taco Bell is suddenly gourmet. 3: you're drunk, your friends are drunk, and the bars are closed. Taco Bell is open. Then there is the weird extra time Taco Bell is good. Some random Tuesday night after a long work day and you just want Taco Bell.

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#2

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Subway. Still lost about how they stay in business. The quality keeps dropping, the prices keep rising, the deals are shrinking, and their market share is being cannibalized over the last decade or so by places that offer a superior offering at less or just slightly more. I can walk in and get a Jersey Mikes sub for 10 bucks and it's miles better than anything subway can spit out.

radiantpenguin991 , CHICHI7YT Report

#3

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants I'm convinced Applebee's isn't a real restaurant. Just a front for repurposed takeout from neighboring restaurants.
 
ShawshankException:
I'm convinced their kitchen is comprised entirely of microwaves.

Olclops , Mike Mozart Report

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Ash Cash
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister worked at Applebees and said literally everything is microwaved ! Especially the "sizzling" plates. They make them hot then throw oil or water on it so it gives the fresh off the grill sizzle effect

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Most customers are practical. So long as the food tastes great and is pretty affordable, and the staff treats them well, they’ll be happy. However, some of the most important things happen behind the scenes. Ideally, all businesses would operate ethically, treat their employees well, and have high quality and hygiene standards.

These factors also often have an effect on the quality of the food that comes out of the kitchen. Motivated, well-trained, fairly paid, disciplined staff members will provide an excellent customer experience. On the flip side, workers who don’t get paid well, have no clue what they’re doing, and are managed poorly are more likely to not care about their jobs. Caring about the way chain restaurants operate means enjoying a better customer experience.

#4

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Golden Corral is an abomination.
 
GNOIZ1C:
Quantity, Not Quality™️

SirButtlockss , Ildar Sagdejev Report

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Rick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This the place you go in America to watch all the people waste excessive amounts of food and feel good about it.

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#5

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants I fail to understand how Dominoes is still in business. It's the cr*ppiest pizza out there. Like cardboard with red melted crayon for sauce. It's pathetic. With all the far superior places to get a pizza from.......why the hell do people still prefer Dominoes?

The_REAL_McWeasel , EPIC Report

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Sue Denham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this everywhere or just some places? We have Domino's in NZ and it's pretty good.

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#6

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants McDonald's, they treat their workers like s**t, they get paid to be abused by coworkers, customers, owners, and truck drivers. Get injured? too bad! That's a you problem! Get back to work!! You can't even make enough to SURVIVE food is s**t, overpriced, and I'd rather eat my own s**t over mcs**t. You have a family member dying? Oh well we need you to come in cus our best Boi Mc. Never does anything wrong needs a month off cus he "earned it" aka siting on his a*s doing nothing while you cook, clean, fry, assemble, and so on! Tldr: McDonald's is a hellhole and far worse than any fast food joint.

phantom56_ , Michael Rivera Report

Companies change their business practices to match their customers’ expectations. So if you feel that a certain chain of restaurants is getting super expensive, ladling slop on dirty trays, and treating everyone who walks through the doors poorly, vote with your feet. Boycott the restaurant and give the chain your honest feedback in writing.

Meanwhile, if you’ve seen hygiene standards slip and you’re honestly worried about your health, report the problems to your local organization responsible for ensuring food safety and standards. There’s nothing like a proper inspection to get restaurants in line.

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#7

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants They all suck, but Pizza Hut has to be the one that fell the farthest.
 
lemming_follower:
I've always believed there is money to be made on nostalgia. Pizza Hut executives are letting this demographic slip away. You think they'd offer a once-a-year special to satisfy us old-timers.
Of course, in addition to my 80's pizza, I'd want a few games sitting down at a cocktail arcade machine...

SpaceGoonie , Aaron F. Stone Report

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N G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pizza Hut in the UK is fairly good. I went to one in Florida and the cheese was terrible.

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#8

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Panera is on the list too.
 
Nature_Goulet:
Panera costs more than a regular sit down. Totally ridiculous.

TheMillenniaIFalcon , Dave Stone Report

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Phobrek
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I ate there once. Just had some soup and bread. The bread was nice, which made sense, that's what they're supposedly about. The soup was tiny, overpriced, and mediocre at best. How do you f**k up soup?

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#9

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants KFC. How can a chicken place be out of chicken so often? And bring back the corn on the cob as well as the tater wedges you fools.
 
TheGramdWaZoo:
It doesn't even taste like chicken anymore... It's just battered grease.
 
alwaysmyfault:
Bring back the buffet!

TheUnblinkingEye1001 , Phillip Pessar Report

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Stygtand
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fries looks and taste like they have been soaked in water after cooking them and the chicken is tasteless and not crispy. More like greasy. Dont get me started on their so called coleslaw..

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While chain restaurant employees ought to be proud of their jobs and try to do the best they possibly could, the responsibility doesn’t rest just on their shoulders. It’s also essential that their managers and bosses motivate them properly. After all, if someone’s superiors don’t care about the customers, why should the employees?

This motivation could, for instance, mean rewarding the staff with monetary bonuses for excellent work, top-notch customer service, and good hygiene practices. That way, there’s a very practical incentive to be at the top of your game. Similarly, workers ought to be incentivized in the long term as well. They should know what kinds of training, raises, promotions, and other perks they can reasonably expect, and when. And that comes down to upper management that genuinely wants their staff to thrive, and is transparent about their goals and expectations.

#10

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Sbarro. It takes a lot of work to ruin pizza.

ErikRobson , Mike Mozart Report

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Em
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard this a couple times lately. What exactly is supposedly wrong with it? My only issue with Sbarro is that it's delicious and the only one I know of still in existence is like 20 miles away.

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#11

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Burger King - awesome when I was a teenager, sucks now. I dunno, the food quality has gone too downhill for me.

dayofthedead204 , wikimedia Report

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Hawkmoon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to admit that this is the only fast-food chain I let myself be tempted by from time to time. In Europe, the quality of food is closely monitored, even "junk food".

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#12

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Hate me if you want, but I can't stand Olive Garden. Their menu is just too limited and their food has no inspiration.
 
DenL4242:
Why would anyone hate you for stating straight-up facts? Olive Garden can't even cook pasta correctly.

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Aisling Raye
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unlimited salad and breadsticks are sort of wonderful when you're broke tho lol.

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#13

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Chick-Fil-A. They cause horrific traffic jams. One just opened and it’s already making everyone around miserable.

It’s a damn sandwich.

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Aisling Raye
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never been and never will, so I can't comment on quality of food. The WTF America part of it is how horrible they are as a company. I absolutely cannot support a business that is so overwhelmingly obsessed with homophobia and the desire to shove religion down the throats (literally and figuratively) of the masses.

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#14

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Papa John's went from the top to the absolute bottom in a very short time. We refuse to order it anymore. It was never great but it has become inedible in the last 5 years or so. We actually threw it out last time we ordered it and made something else.

ArminTanz , Ildar Sagdejev Report

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CanadianDimes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of all the things the UK could import from the US, I will never understand why Papa John’s was chosen. It’s just so bad.

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#15

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Long John Silver, it has to be a cover for the mob or something.
 
draggar
Just something about fast seafood doesn't sit right with me.

cognitive_markets44 , Mr. Blue MauMau Report

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#16

Food? Mcdonald’s.
Being able to make the food? Popeyes.
Being able to CONSISTENTLY f**k up? Jack in the box.
Somehow getting people to order online? Chipotle.
Longest wait? Sonic.
Closing every store? Burger king.
Trying so damn hard to no avail? Arby’s.

Please support independent restaurants yall. Same price or cheaper, way better food, doesn’t take 30 minutes just to get fries, and your money isn’t going to some corporation.

somecow Report

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D-m Keilman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every Christmas I buy immediate family gift cards to local family owned restaurants. Found some really great places that way.

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#17

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants TGIFriday’s. Between TGIF, Applebee’s, and Chili’s (all essentially the same place) TGIF is the absolute worst. I doubt they even have fryers or ovens/grills in the kitchen - wouldn’t be surprised to just see 10 microwaves lined up.

OGpizza , Americasroof Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TGIFriday's is pretty good in Greece though. Maybe it's something regional?

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#18

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants I’m definitely going to get hate for this but Panda Express.

The food is mediocre at best but I will give them the benefit that you can’t find a larger portion of food for ~$10 anywhere else. However the real reason I say it is the worst is because due to how popular and widespread they are, it’s given a lot of people in less culturally diverse sectors the idea that all Chinese food is a cheap and greasy struggle meal. I am of East Asian descent and I’ve learned to stop suggesting Chinese food as a first date when meeting a non-Asian girl because I usually get hit with something like “What like Panda Express? Can we go somewhere better?” 🤦🏻‍♂️

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#19

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Waffle House

EDIT: I Googled "Waffle House shooting [hometown]" to support my point, but I then had to specify which one.

wilcobanjo , Mbrickn Report

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ConfusedCub
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A shooting has absolutely WHAT to do with food chain quality? I myself have never tasted their food but I really can't imagine it being any better or worse than ihop.

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#20

Denny's. EVERY time I eat there (desperate times call for desperate measures) It sucks. Only 24/7 place open by my airport. How can you screw up food that bad and stay open?

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David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Denny's is like McDonalds in that when you are traveling they both give you consistent mediocrity when dining in a strange town. You know they will be more or less c**p but you are familiar with that particular c**p and the prices so you eat there and then drive away asking yourself why.

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#21

iHop
Just go to a local diner. Much cheaper, better food, better service by far.

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Brocken Blue
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That assuming there *is* a local diner. Sometimes IHOP is the best/only game in town (and it’s always better than Denny’s)

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#22

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants My wife and kids LOVE this place, but I'm just gonna say it; Fazoli's.

It's literally just microwaved Italian Lean Cuisines (and if it's not I will be VERY surprised). It's not that it's gross, but I don't see the need to go out and pay a premium for it when I can hit up my local grocery store and nuke it at home.

Guardian-Boy , Mark Yen Report

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David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The description brought to mind that scene from - I think it was European Vacation - where the "fancy food" is just some guys in the basement popping ready meals into microwaves and then putting them on a conveyer belt up to the servers.

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#23

Sonic. Which sucks because I remember when the food there used to be good.

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#24

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Chili’s has gone so far downhill that it’s sad. 15-20 years ago it was the top family restaurant in my eyes. Food was excellent, service was good and the atmosphere was fun. Now, the food is bland, it seems every chili’s is woefully understaffed and every time I go, it feels miserable there. It was one of my favorite places to catch a bite to eat and now I don’t even bother anymore.

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#25

Cheese Cake Factory. One of the worst meals I've ever had from a restaurant is from them, and I can happily eat at Applebee's or wherever. Not only that but you pay a premium for their s**t food.

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DeShotz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People knock CF for having a huge menu, but everything on it is made from scratch at the restaurant except, ironically, the cheesecake.

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#26

Ruby Tuesday is absolute a*s.

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Jus Frpn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are they even around anymore? All the locations I know of closed. Their salad bar was decent.

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#27

Chipotle. The one time I attempted to eat there, I waited 20 minutes in line, the place was filthy, and then while my burrito was being made, the girl at the guacamole station LITERALLY VOMITED IN HER MOUTH AND RAN OFF THE LINE. The manager just called someone else up to take her place. I walked out. This was AFTER the whole "Chipotle is making people sick" thing, where they figured out it was sick workers and bad hygiene that was infecting customers with norovirus. That place is gross. I'll take Salsa Fresca over them any day.

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#28

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Never met a Red Robin that didn't give me food poisoning.

neonphoenix09 , JJBers Report

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#29

Tim Hortons.
 
DeliciousPangolin:
I hate their phony, mass-produced nationalist pandering. Especially from a foreign-owned company that does everything in its power to avoid employing Canadians. No one outside Ontario gave a s**t about TH until they started spamming TV with ads depicting themselves as a cherished Canadian institution. Where did they get the money to do that? By selling themselves to Wendy's.

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Krystle Deschene
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not a coffee shop anymore. They try to push to many products, and "refocus on dinner menus" I managed one (shamefully, for 20 years) and the changes they made are atrocious.... focus on coffee donuts and bagels. Fix the coffee machines. Fox the drive thru set up amd youll have happier customers again. And 100% this post is correct. They get a government grant to support foreign workers which is fine, no problem there. Problem is the owners pay for one house, stick 10 -20 foreign workers in it. Screw them over in every way possible. Yet we couldn't hold onto our long term locals because the owners didn't give a s**t about them

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#30

“Their Kitchen Is Comprised Entirely Of Microwaves”: 30 Of The Absolute Worst Chain Restaurants Arby's is just reconstituted diarrhea on a soggy bun.

kdeweb24 , Random Retail Report

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Stephen Andrews
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Logged in just to comment on this. About once a year I get overwhelmed by how good the food looks in the commercials and stop in. This is followed by a case of food poisoning that night/next day. This is about 10 years running now (apparently my brain has reset and wants to try again every 12 months). Hopefully, I’ve learned my lesson now.

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#31

Whataburger. I’ll never understand why someone would prepare a burger that way or why so many would pretend to like it.

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#32

National chains only? On the east coast we have Friendly's and that has got to be one of the worst chain restaurants I've ever seen I used to work in one, and the menu was the dumbest s**t. It's worse than regular fast food, served in a fast-casual sit down setting for some reason. I feel so bad for the waitstaff when the customers probably spend like $10-20 total for their meals which is comparable quality to like Tyson chicken nuggets it makes Applebee's look like fine dining. Just stick to ice cream!

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Stephanie A Mutti
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Friendly's used to be the best back in the 80's-90's. Then things started to slide. It was probably my favorite place as a kiddo.

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#33

I don't think there has been a single time where i haven't felt like vomiting after eating Carls Jr.
 
Bacchus_71
I just had a Carl's JR burger for the first time a couple weeks ago. I was in my bosses car, so out of respect I waited until I got home to shove my f*****g finger down my throat and puke that abomination up.

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#34

Cracker Barrell. The food is bad.

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#35

There's a regional chain called Runza. I guess Nebraskans like it. But I'd rather eat at Sonics, and I hate Sonics.

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Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had to ask my wife on this one. Some of her family lives in Fremont so of course she's been. She said Runza is a special taste. That's all she said.

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#36

In my experience Buffalo Wild Wings but it could just be the one that is close to me. I went 2 times like 7-8 years ago. Never been back since. Sticking with hooters for the win.

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Shawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? I think BWW is far better than hooters for wings. Pricy but consistent and good and all the flavors are a great way to have wings as a family with young ones.

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#37

Shoney's. Come for the terrible music and bleak decor, stay for the buffet that's been sitting under heat lamps for, oh, let's just say "a while."

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WonderWoman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never ever ever going to partake in a buffet again. A petri dish of hellish proportions.

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#38

Bob Evans.

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Andy Williams
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One thing is clear for all fast food. When you stop smoking weed, its not good anymore

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#39

Hard to choose, so many! Applebee's, Chili's, Panera, but Texas Roadhouse is my personal worst. Their steaks are only tender because apparently they soak them in a salt solution, super loud, hate the line dancing thing! (The other 3 just have crappy, old, overpriced food).

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Shawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its called brining and is a legitimate way to prepare steak. I think Texas Roadhouse is one of the best cheap steak houses. Great quality and incredibly consistent. The one by me was always 1-2 hours out for seating no matter the day of the week and the same experience every-time over 10+ years. And the butter? OMG!

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