c/fast-food-failures

Dropped 18 bucks on a limited time sandwich and it was basically bread and sadness

I walked into a major chain last Thursday and paid $18 for their new 'premium' chicken sandwich that was supposed to have truffle aioli and crispy onions. What I got was a dry patty on a stale bun with maybe three soggy onion bits and no sauce at all. Has anyone else had a hyped up new menu item completely fail to deliver like this?

Changed my mind about Arby's curly fries after a visit to the one on 42nd in Portland

I used to think Arby's curly fries were the best fast food side out there. But last Tuesday I ordered a large and they came out cold, soggy, and barely any seasoning. Like they forgot to put the curly fry stuff on them. I ate three and threw the rest out. That was it for me. Anyone else have a bad run with a specific item that made you quit it completely?

I finally figured out why McDonald's fries go bad so fast

Had a conversation with my cousin who used to work at a McDonald's in Ohio about 5 years back. She told me they spray the fries with a sugar solution right when they come out of the fryer to keep that golden color. That sugar is why they get that weird soggy, almost slimy texture after like 10 minutes sitting in the bag. I always blamed the fries themselves but it's that coating they add on top. Has anyone else noticed that the fries from some locations hold up better than others?

Wasted $30 on a loaded burger that was literally all bread

I stopped at a Burger Shack in Phoenix last Tuesday and ordered their new triple bacon something burger. Took one bite and it was like chewing on a dry sponge, barely any meat or toppings for $30 with a drink. The bun was huge and the patty was this tiny thin thing hiding underneath. Anyone else get fooled by those fancy menu pics that look nothing like what you get?

Serious question, is Popeyes spicy chicken getting smaller or am I just unlucky?

I hit 8 pieces from Popeyes last Tuesday and I swear they were way smaller than normal. Like I counted them out because I was feeding my brother and me, and we both looked at each other like 'are these tenders or what?' lol. One side of me thinks maybe it's just a bad batch or the location near my job in Dallas is slipping. But the other side says maybe they're actually shrinking portions to save money and nobody's talking about it. Has anyone else noticed a drop in size on their spicy chicken recently? Or am I just hitting the wrong spots?

Had to pick between Popeyes and KFC for a work lunch run last Tuesday

I went with Popeyes because the chicken sandwich hype is real, but the biscuit was so dry I had to dunk it in my soda, has anyone else noticed their biscuits going downhill lately?

Rant: Paid $9 for a 'premium' burger and got a hockey puck on a stale bun

I was at a drive-thru in Nashville last Tuesday, starving after a long day, and saw this new 'smash burger deluxe' on the menu for $8.99. Figured why not, it's supposed to be fresh and hand-pressed. Took one bite in the parking lot and the patty was so overdone it crunched, like biting into a dried-out sponge. The bun was cracked on the edges too, probably sitting out for hours. I actually checked the receipt to see if I grabbed the wrong bag, but nope, that was my meal. I threw half of it away and grabbed a $5 sandwich at a gas station that was way better. Has anyone else gotten tricked by a fancy menu description for something that's clearly just reheated trash?

Took me three trips to realize the drive-thru missed my entire order

I sat in the parking lot eating fries for five minutes before I realized they forgot my burger and drink. Had to get back in line and wait another 12 minutes just to get what I paid for. Anyone else just sit there eating and not notice till the bag is half empty?

Popeyes chicken sandwich vs the new KFC version - which one actually disappointed you more? I tried both 3 times and I'm torn

Waited 22 minutes for a single breakfast burrito at 7 AM on Tuesday

Stood there watching them mess up three different orders before mine, even saw the cook drop a tortilla on the floor and pick it back up, has anyone else had a fast food order take longer than the actual drive to work?

Had to pick between a soggy chicken sandwich or a dry one last Tuesday

I was at a drive-thru in Milwaukee and the lady said they only had two chicken sandwiches left. One had been sitting under the heat lamp for "a while" and the other was fresh but they dropped it on the floor and just wiped it off. I chose the heat lamp one because I figured floor germs are worse. It was so soggy the bun basically melted. The lettuce was wilted and the chicken had this weird rubbery texture. Has anyone else had to make a gross choice like that at a fast food place?

The McDonald's Quarter Pounder that came with NO burger patty inside

I was driving through a McDonald's in Daytona Beach around 2 PM on a Saturday. Got my Quarter Pounder, pulled into a parking spot, unwrapped it and just saw the bun with some pickles and ketchup. No meat at all! I went back inside and the manager just stared at it for like 10 seconds before saying "I'll make you a new one." No apology, no refund offer, nothing. The second one they gave me was lukewarm too. Has anyone else gotten a sandwich that was literally missing the main ingredient?

Talking to a McDonald's cook changed how I see their breakfast

I was grabbing a sausage biscuit last week around 7 AM and this older guy behind the counter saw me looking at the menu. He started talking about how they microwave the eggs for the McMuffins and I honestly never thought about it before. He said the biscuit sandwiches are the only thing actually made fresh because they bake those in-house. I asked why the scrambled eggs are so rubbery and he just laughed and said they come pre-cooked in a bag. That conversation hit different because now I can't unsee it. Every time I grab a McMuffin I just taste that microwave texture. Has anyone else heard stuff like this straight from the people working there?

Hot take: if your fries are cold you waited too long to complain

The day I tried microwaving my burger instead of the drive-thru reheat trick

Stumbled on this by accident last week. Had a leftover Arby's roast beef sandwich that sat in the fridge for like 5 hours and it was tough as leather. Tried the usual microwave for 30 seconds and it came out soggy and gross. So I wrapped it in a damp paper towel and nuked it for 15 seconds flat, then let it sit for a minute. Actually came out soft and steamy, almost like fresh. Has anyone else tried something weird like that to fix a sad leftover fast food item?

Shoutout to ordering off the kids menu at Wendy's as a broke adult

I was sick of dropping $12 on a Dave's Triple that barely filled me up, so I tried the kids chicken nuggets meal for $4.50 last Tuesday. It came with a small fry, apple slices, and a drink, and honestly I was full enough. The portion size felt small at first but it actually worked for a lunch. Has anyone else tried downsizing to save money or is that just sad?

The time a drive-thru worker just handed me a bun with a single pickle

I was at a Burger Palace in Springfield last month, super hungry after work. I ordered their big double cheeseburger meal. When I got to the window, the guy just passed me a paper bag that felt way too light. I opened it right there and it was literally just the bottom bun with one sad pickle slice on it. He looked at me, shrugged, and said, 'Grill's down, that's all we got.' I was too shocked to even argue. Has a place ever just given you a totally wrong order without even saying anything?

I looked up the actual size of a famous burger and the numbers are wild

I was reading a food industry report online and found out the Big Mac's advertised weight is 7.6 ounces. I weighed one from my local spot last week and it was barely 6 ounces. That's a huge difference they're getting away with. Has anyone else noticed their fast food orders looking smaller than the pictures lately?

Shoutout to my friend who called the new spicy chicken sandwich from that big chain 'just a sad, wet napkin with commitment issues'

That one line from him in the drive-thru line last Friday perfectly summed up why I'm done paying $8 for a soggy bun and a single, limp pepper.

Rant: I dropped $12 on the new spicy chicken sandwich at Burger Barn thinking it would be different

The picture showed a huge, crispy filet, but mine was this sad, soggy little patty that looked like it sat under a heat lamp for an hour. I took one bite and the 'spicy' sauce just tasted like ketchup with too much black pepper. What's the biggest letdown you've ordered based on the menu photo?

The week the Taco Bell breakfast crunchwrap just disappeared from my local spot in Akron

I hit 15 different fast food places in one month trying to find a decent fish sandwich

I kept track on my phone after a bad one at Burger King. The final count was 15 spots, including two different Wendy's and a KFC that had it as a limited thing. Most were soggy, the fish tasted like freezer burn, or the tartar sauce was just sweet mayo. The worst was a place called 'Captain's Catch' in a mall food court, it was literally cold in the middle. Has anyone actually found a good fast food fish sandwich, or is it a lost cause?

The McRib used to be a real event. Now it's just a sad, soggy mess.

Showerthought: The new Burger King chicken sandwich is actually better than the old one, fight me

Vent: The Taco Bell drive-thru gave me a bag with nothing but sauce packets

I went through the Taco Bell on Elm Street yesterday and got home to find my bag felt weirdly light. Opened it up and there were literally 17 fire sauce packets (I counted) but zero actual food. The receipt showed my full order, so they just forgot everything but the condiments. I had to drive back and the manager just sighed and said 'again?' when I showed him. Has anyone else gotten a phantom meal where they remembered every single sauce but not a single taco?