The Best and Worst Fast Food Restaurants in 2024, According to Data
In theory, a customer should be able to walk into a restaurant operated by a large fast food company like McDonald’s or Taco Bell and receive the same food and service as they would at any of their other locations. But as any fast food lover knows, that’s not always the case. The quality of the food and the overall experience can vary greatly due to poor management or execution by restaurant operators and staff, making some establishments a must-try and others a no-go.
Fortunately, the commercial publication Fast Company has just released reports on the top five and bottom five McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco BellAnd KFC restaurants in the United States. Based on weighted scores that take into account average Google Maps ratings and the number of customer reviews, these lists are a useful tool for anyone looking to find the fast food restaurants where they’re likely to get the best meal and experience, or to see how stores under the same company umbrella can differ.
We’ve compiled all of these well- and poorly-rated fast food restaurants from the Fast Company reports below, so read on to find out the best and worst McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and KFC restaurants in the US right now.
McDonald’s
A McDonald’s restaurant in Texas located in 2130 Main Street Eagle Pass Restaurant took home the award for the nation’s best restaurant with a weighted score of 8.63 and an average rating of 4.3 on Google. Reviewers raved about the quality of the food, customer service and the appearance of the restaurant.
“I didn’t eat anything when I walked in, but I just wanted to comment on the amazing interior design. There’s plenty of space inside and I love that they have this machine where you don’t have to talk to an employee to order your food!” wrote one fan.
McDonald’s stores in 720 Imperial Ave., Calexico, California; 2045 Jericho Highway, New Hyde Park, New York; 10207 Lakewood Blvd., Downey, California; And Highway 101 S. Brownsville, Texas completed the rest of the top five.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s in 10042, S. Zarzamora Street in San Antonio was rated the lowest with a weighted score of -6.35 and an average Google rating of 1.37. Many negative reviews complain of poor service, long wait times, and food that is far from fresh at this location.
“Since this establishment opened, there has not been a single visit where the food has been completely fresh. The burger patties are always room temperature and never warm or fresh. In rare cases, you will get fresh fries, but they drop the rest of the order,” wrote one reviewer. “They allow customers to sit in front of the speaker and do not respond until they have finished processing the previous customer in line. I always order through the app, and not once have they placed the order correctly.”
The other four lowest-rated McDonald’s are those located in 18423 US-20, Goshen, Indiana; THE Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport North Terminal; 13591 Grant Street, Thornton, Colorado.; And 9225 E. Cadence Parkway, Mesa, Arizona.
Burger King
If you’re looking for the best Burger King in the United States, you’ll want to visit the one located in 3040 Ella Boulevard in Houston. It has a weighted score of 11.05 and an average Google rating of 4.60, with guests praising the excellent customer service and food.
“The customer service here is awesome!!!!! The manager Esperanza is always friendly, kind, and professional. The food is always hot and fresh. I really like this place because of the employees that work there,” said one reviewer.
Burger King restaurants in 12790 NW Seventh Ave., North Miami; 2280 E. Garrison St., Eagle Pass, Texas; 6085 Montana Avenue, El Paso, Texas; And 11400 NW 41st St., Doral, Floridacompleted the rest of the top five.
With a weighted score of -7.48 and an average Google rating of 1.42, Burger King has 4301 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, South Carolina is the lowest rated in America. As one reviewer noted: “This is probably the worst Burger King location!! It seems like there is only one person working at a time, and each person has the worst attitude and is unwelcoming. The food is cold and doesn’t seem to be fully cooked. Both Coca-Cola Freestyle machines don’t work properly, and even if they did, most of the flavors are gone. It’s the same every time I’ve been here. Don’t waste your time here!”
Burger King stores in Highway 408 North 149, Earle, Arkansas.; THE Honolulu International Airport; 205 New Neely Ferry Road, Mauldin, South Carolina; And 5934 Ardennes Street, Building C, Fort Liberty, N.C. completed the rest of the bottom five.
Taco Bell
America’s highest rated Taco Bell is located in 5200 CA-1 in Pacifica, California, with a weighted rating of 9.81 and an average Google rating of 4.42. Diners love this restaurant’s staff, food quality, and beach views.
“The customer service is good. The food was hot and delicious. One of the best Taco Bells ever. The food and view are definitely worth it,” wrote one reviewer.
The other four top-rated Taco Bell restaurants are located in 925 FM802, Brownsville, Texas; 402 Dixieland Rd., Harlingen, Texas; 3509 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Union City, New Jersey.; And 420 S 10th St., McAllen, TX.
On the other hand, the lowest rated Taco Bell in America is located in 1519 Saxon Blvd., Deltona, FloridaWith a weighted score of -5.56 and an average Google rating of 1.78, this restaurant has accumulated numerous complaints regarding inaccurate orders and long wait times.
“Seriously, the SLOWEST SERVICE ever. I order ahead through the app, go to the drive-thru, and EVERY TIME it takes me about 20 (minutes) to get my food. Fast food? It would be faster to go sit down at Chili’s, eat a meal, and go home,” one reviewer wrote.
The other four lowest-rated Taco Bell restaurants are located in 1810 E. Seymour Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio; 355 Dix Ave., Queensbury, NY; 1893 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y.; and 7660 Barrington Rd., Hanover Park, IL.
KFC
According to diners, you won’t find a better KFC in the United States than the one located in 637 E National Avenue in Brazil, Indiana. With a weighted score of 11.12 and an average Google score of 4.67, customers appreciate the fast, friendly service and consistent quality of food they receive at this location.
“The food was hot and ready. The staff was very nice and helpful. The place was crowded but we didn’t have to wait to be served,” wrote one reviewer.
KFC restaurants located in 501 S. Main St., Sapulpa, OK.; 1301 Southern Hills Center, West Plains, MO.; 514 S Commercial St., Harrisburg, IL.; And 3970 Hwy 411, Madisonville, TN. completed the rest of the top five.
With a weighted score of -8.60 and an average Google rating of 1.48, a KFC Los Angeles International Airport has been named the worst in America, with customers complaining of poor employee treatment, inaccurate orders and extremely slow service.
“Worst KFC!!!! RUDE for no reason! Food takes forever so I had to cancel my order and get my $20 refund for a chicken sandwich and fries,” wrote one reviewer.
The bottom five also include KFC restaurants in 21566 N. John Wayne Pkwy, Maricopa, Arizona.; 4727 N Midkiff Rd., Midland, Texas; 16980 W Yuma Rd., Goodyear, Arizona.; And 1960 E. County Line Rd, Littleton, Colorado.
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