Poll: Has fast food been tasting worse to everybody else?

[Atmos Duality]

FOREWARD: I know the caveat of "It could just be that one branch". OK?

From my observations:

-KFC has gone from bad to worse (I flat out refuse to eat there now),
-Pizza Hut is nowhere near as good as they used to be for reasons I just can't identify

-Wendy's...I dunno. Their fries and their burgers are very bland, but their chicken and Frosties are still quite good, maybe better than they were 10 years ago IMO. Still, I miss the old cheddar mushroom melt. The new one was like eating a regular Blandy's Burger with weird-grade nacho cheese on it.

-Subway can FUCK. RIGHT. OFF. I've contracted food poisoning three different times at three completely different Subways in the last 4 years. Small wonder Jared can keep his weight down if he has the drizzling shits all the time.
For comparison, I've never once had that problem with any other sub chain.

-Taco John's only two things worth ordering on their menu: Potato Oles, and Churros.

-Jack-in-the-Box: It's identical to Old Hardee's (pre-97').

=McDonald's, Taco Bell, Arby's, Hardee's and Dairy Queen have remained largely the same for the last decade.
Not much to say except that I miss the Volcano Box at Taco Bell, the Pick-5 from Arby's (whose prices has shot into the sky relative to what they give you in such a short time), and the Spanish Omelet Bagel at McDuggles.

+Burger King's regular burgers haven't changed a bit either, but their new fries and soft-serve ice cream took an ENORMOUS leap in quality during last year's changeover (they finally got rid of those weird Potato-Head Era fries, finally).
+Chick-Fil-A, homophobia aside, these are my crack dealers. EVERYTHING is good, and consistently so.
Naturally, there isn't one in driving range for me, but apparently they're moving back into my area soon.

 

[Easton Dark]

You should get a double Baconator from Wendy's and see the light at the end of the delicious tunnel.

Fast food's great. I only eat it rarely, only when I go home and then only once or twice while there, so maybe 5 times total the whole year, but each of those 5 times it's been a good meal.

 

[Nazulu]

I don't think so. However, recently I've just ditched KFC altogether for certain Charcoal Chicken joints and some home made food restaurants because I find KFC now bland in comparison to those. Could be because I have had too much KFC (though I used to only get it once a month) or my tastes have just changed.

 

[nathan-dts]

Living in the UK, our fast food restaurants seem to taste a lot better than the US divisions. McDonalds and KFC tastes a lot better here, to me. US McDonalds tastes putrid, in my opinion.

So I can only comment on changes in my own country, of which I've not noticed any.

 

[nathan-dts]

I don't think so. However, recently I've just ditched KFC altogether for certain Charcoal Chicken joints and some home made food restaurants because I find KFC now bland in comparison to those. Could be because I have had too much KFC (though I used to only get it once a month) or my tastes have just changed.

I could eat popcorn chicken for the rest of my life and be happy.

 

[Nazulu]

I don't think so. However, recently I've just ditched KFC altogether for certain Charcoal Chicken joints and some home made food restaurants because I find KFC now bland in comparison to those. Could be because I have had too much KFC (though I used to only get it once a month) or my tastes have just changed.

I could eat popcorn chicken for the rest of my life and be happy.

Not me. I like variety. Plus a really well done lamb shank, black cod, duck or T-bone steak easily beat all the take away restaurants in flavour without a doubt.

 

[Best of the 3]

Nope. Same level of crap it's always been. Chances are your taste is maturing.

 

[TehCookie]

Yes, but I though it was because ever since I got a license I could buy it whenever I want. If other people think so that makes me wonder if there is something different in the food.

 

[Zac Jovanovic]

No, local fast food restaurants have always been awesome and still are. McDonald's food always tasted like crap to me in comparison ,not to mention the pricing.

I've been to KFC a couple times, it was pretty good, though a bit overpriced. Not good enough to make me a regular, and the place always feels a bit crowded to me.

I don't think we have any other franchise restaurants except Pizza Hut, which I also don't like, same reason as McD.

 

[TallanKhan]

For me it varies depending on the chain. I still enjoy Burger King and KFC as much as I used to but i feel McDonalds has lost something taste wise. I used to crave the occasional Big Mac but since my last couple of visits (almost a year ago now) I can't say I get that anymore.

As far as independant fast food outlets go thats a definate yes, the overall quality of the food seems to be slipping, I assume due to the owners sourcing lower grade ingredients in an attempt to rein in costs.

 

[Abomination]

I have been eating fast food less and less due to my age catching up with me and my weight needing to be kept in check... but when I do eat I have enjoyed fast food now more than I ever have.

Then again New Zealand has such high food standards regulation that franchises have to be on the ball with their quality.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I've been subsisting on almost a nothing but fast food diet over the last three years (yay college) and I think my taste buds went on strike a few months ago. If the food is starting to taste worse I haven't noticed.

 

[Ren_Li]

I've pretty much only ever eaten Pizza Hut on the fast food front. It might help that I've worked in two different Pizza Hut stores (one a delivery, one a restaurant) and still trust the food.

It should probably be remembered that the same chains are of different quality in different countries. Some of the things I've heard about US fast food, well... I don't exactly eat a lot anyway, but I don't think I would eat any at all in America. No offence to fast food lovin' Americans, but what I've heard doesn't make it sound like it compares well to what I'm used to.

 

[FalloutJack]

I don't eat alot of fast food. And the Chinese or Bento places don't count.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I've noticed that the McCafe drinks almost always have a distinctly syrupy taste to them. For example, I ordered an iced caramel mocha that tasted like ice water with a bit caramel sauce. Mocha Frappe also have a distinctly syrupy taste to them. As for foods, Big Macs gave me food poisoning once so I've been staying away from McFood that isn't chicken based. At this point all I'll have from McDonalds are the spicy chicken sandwiches or, southern style chicken biscuit.

I like Taco Bell. Everything there seems fine and they have that one exclusive Mountain Dew flavor. Generally I'll get a Volcano Burrito from them since burritos are better than tacos (there, I said it)

Wendy's gave me food poisoning once so it's been a while since I've eaten there. Once again though, Spicy Chicken is what I used to get from there. Unlike McDonalds their spicy chicken was actually spicy and had a great flavor.

I hate Burger King. The chicken sandwiches are alright but I can't help but feel it's over-priced compared to other places. I like their sweet potato fries but I wouldn't touch any of their burgers.

Chick-Fil-A is a place that I like but just like with burger king, I can't really justify the price. I may get it once in a while but I can't afford to go regularly. I like Chick-Fil-A more than Popeyes or KFC (I hate both) because they emphasis chicken sandwiches which is the optimal way by which to enjoy chicken (my opinion).

Roy Rogers is my favorite fast food place! Sadly it's only available in Maryland, Virginia and, Pennsylvania (I think, there could be more or less locations). My favorite things to grab from there are the goldrush chicken sandwich (fried chicken breat/patty thing with swiss cheese, honey and bacon) and the Double-R-Bar Burger (a hamburger with ham on it). Their roast beef sandwiches are also really good. They're a bit expensive though which is the only drawback.

I've only been to Zaxby's once or twice. It's pretty good and I'd go back for more.

Sonic is a place I've only been to a couple of times and I don't really care for it. Where I live it's advertised all the time but the closest one is in Baltimore; roughly 2 hours away. Once I finally got to one though, I found the best thing about them is the insane number of drinks you can get and the 24 hour Breakfast menu (why the Hell doesn't McDonalds do that by the way!?)

I really like Bojangles...I wish there were more in the DC area than that one in Union Station. Chicken Biscuits all the way.

There's an Arby's nearby but despite me not disliking them, I almost never go there. I should probably give it more of a chance...

There isn't a Hardees anywhere near me but I remember it being basically being Roy Rogers for Virginia.

There used to be an A&W/KFC nearby but it went under. I liked A&W but it was a bit pricy. Could have been why it closed down...

 

[loc978]

Happened all at once for me. I left the states in 2003, and I remember the stuff still being edible... came back in 2007 and it was all limp vegetables and bad cuts of meat on bland white bread (also, the price had about doubled). Pretty much gave it up at that point.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I go to various chains often enough, so here's my take:

McDolan's(Yes, I just called it that): Gotten worse. No more chicken selects, which were one of the few things I could eat there and not throw up. No McBites either, which is a shame. They tasted alright.

Burger King: Gotten worse. The axed the chicken fries and popcorn chicken, and the strips there are of okay quality at best. At least I always get them fresh.

KFC: Worse. RIP Popcorn Chicken. Service was good at the ones I've been to, but the fact they've cut out Popcorn Chicken really pisses me off.

Wendys: Same as ever. I don't like how their stuff tastes.

Taco Bell: Same. The food I've had there isn't that great, but Mountain Dew Baja Blast keeps me coming back. That stuff tastes good.

Culvers: Same. Their food is usually tasty and well-prepared, if a tad bit expensive. Good food is good food though.

Dairy Queen: Same. Strips, fries, and toast taste great. Lot of value for the money there.

A&W: Fantastic from what I remember. We don't have a lot of them in my general area though, so I don't get to go there often. Their food has been tasty every time I've been there though.

Sonic: I've only been to one, and the food there was dry, tasteless, and very unsatisfying. Verdict: Carpet bomb every branch and build more A&Ws.

Jack in the Box: We don't really have any in my state. Doesn't stop them from advertising the fuck out of it here though.

Chick-Fil-A: The owners of that place can go fuck themselves. No money going their way.

Popeye's: Same with Jack. There's nothing to talk about here...

EDIT: Forgot a couple:

Hardees: I remember their stuff tasting mediocre. Haven't been there it awhile.

Arby's: Worse. The loss of their popcorn chicken dealt a blow to them. Their curly fries are still good though.

 

[Eomega123]

The only fast food I ever indulge in is the occasional milkshake, and it's pretty hard to screw up a milkshake, so I'd say I'm at about the same level I was before.

 

[game-lover]

Nope!

It's as good as ever to me. I can't gets enough of the stuff.