Their slogan says “Fan Food, not Fast Food,” but we’re not so sure, seeing as it’s made our list! With ice cream served upside down, Dairy Queen lovers know the ice cream joint has been serving up their thick serves since 1940! But even Dairy Queen has come under fire – it seems her American subjects aren’t so loyal! Apparently, the ice-cream doesn’t even taste like well… ice-cream – it’s got a plasticky, manufactured taste, and it melts before you can take a photo for IG!
We prefer our ice-cream to be made with fresh milk and cream (or sorbet for our lactose-intolerant friends), so anything other than that just irks us. But the ice-cream isn’t the only menu item that’s sent the public to bad-mouthing the chain – their hot dog looks like “a blown-up Slim Jim in a cold, soggy bun.” Yikes. Consumer Score: 43%
Wingstop
A recent consumer report found that about 44% of customers do make the return trip for their chicken wings when it comes to Wingstop’s performance. Famous for its house-made ranch sauce and hand-cut sweet fries, this is certainly a highlight for the majority of diners. But regardless – Wingstop isn’t totally free from criticism! Customers have two major complaints: saltiness and BONELESS “wings.” Yeah, go figure that one out. Sure, if they called them nuggets, we’d be kinda okay (though what’s in the nuggets is somewhat worrying), but not WINGS with no bones.
Maybe we missed the point – but at least they haven’t been criticised for poor quality or freshness, hence why it takes the #33 spot on our list! Consumer Score: 44%
Boston Market
Back in the 1990s (which, FYI, was almost 30 years ago) (we’re all crying) (let’s storm Area 51 and get the time machine), Boston Market gloated at the fact it had over 1100 locations in shopping malls and hubs across the great United States. However, we’re guessing business hasn’t been quite so good, with their numbers dwindling to less than 400 stores. Their main offering is rotisserie chicken, which makes for a simple, tasty dinner for those who are less inclined to put a chicken in the oven! Sure, it’s a convenient idea, but if you don’t do it the best, you won’t get the better share of the market.
Easily replicated, supermarkets started providing their own rotisserie chicken, which sent these guys packing! Maybe they need to look at some new menu items... Consumer Score: 43%
El Pollo Loco
Now you’d think with a name that translates into “The Crazy Chicken,” it’d hopefully be crazy good! However, it seems this is not the case for El Pollo Loco. Founded in 1975 in Mexico by Francisco Ochoa, the fast-food restaurant spent a few years perfecting its flavoring and freshness before opening in the U.S. a mere five years later. But it seems that the chicken man isn’t doing so good these days, with customers complaining of terrible customer service. To be fair, working in fast food isn’t the most glamorous nor the most fun (a lot of the time, it’s the customers who are the rude ones, amirite?), so if they’re a little snappy, we really don’t blame them.
We’re only human! Aside from the “rude staff,” reviewers have left comments about incorrect orders and mix-ups, as well as long wait times. Oh, and the food is bland, flavorless, and just not exciting. There is no pleasing anybody, sorry El Pollo Loco! Consumer Score: 43%
Taco Bell
Taco Bell has to be one of the most consistently popular fast-food restaurants in the entire United States. Think we’re wrong? Well, tell that to the 7,000 + locations it has! Pretty amazing stuff. In 2018, Taco Bell was, in fact, voted “America’s favorite Mexican restaurant.” Brava! With the Beefy Chalupa, Nacho Fries, and CrunchWrap ticking boxes for its diners, it seems that there’s also a percentage who don’t exactly agree!
Many diners, in fact, criticize the quality of the food. As far as satiety goes, their burritos leave consumers wanting more, whilst others complain that the food leaves them feeling nauseous and well... yeah, you know what Mexican food can sometimes do! The Taco Bell jokes come in thick and fast, and we’re sure you’ve heard a few! It seems that even the best Mexican is still open to criticism! Consumer Score: 43%