McDonald's

[jim]

I wish they would go back to the saturated fats because they taste better. And looking around at any McDonald's today doesn't look to me like the oil has made much of a difference in people, and in fact people look worse than they did 25 years ago. People wobble into McDonald's now.

[tlombard]

I always found that my fast food enjoyment depended a lot on the store. The Hardees by my subway stop just got totally re-furbished, but that hasn't helped their terrible burgers with cold cheese, slab-hard bacon nor have they improved their always-stale fries and overly milky milkshakes. The staff just completely suck. A fresh Hardees burger meal with a milk shake is probably my favorite fast food order, and they can't get any of it right.

The McDonalds on Times Square? Insanely busy, but god damn does every Big Mac and fries come out hot and perfectly condiment balanced.

When I was attending Iowa State last millenium, the Arby's in Ames Iowa had a big plaque saying Top Store in the Country by their company several years running. All the staff made jokes to customers, the food was flawless (I mean, for Arby's, of course) and they have totally ruined me on Arby's forever, because every other time I've had it, at least one part of my old favorite order is mediocre to inedible.

Why did you have to go there. Now I'm craving Battle's BBQ. I kept my job there JUST for the employee meal twice a week.

[cardsfansince82]

I only go to McDonalds to meet up with hookers. Wendy's lost my business when they all switched to those coke freestyle abominations.

[tlombard]

I rarely eat McDonald's because there are too many other great options around me but I did stop in last night and picked up a couple of double cheese burgers. It was pretty awesome when somehow the cashier saved me 75 cents with them. Originally she rang it up and gave me a total but then changed her mind and said that she had an idea. She took off the double cheese burgers, added two McDoubles with extra cheese and I got the same thing just a good deal cheaper.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Not that the quality of fast food has ever been great, and maybe I've just grown out of it, but it seems that most places are absolutely terrible now.

McDonald's can't make an Egg McMuffin without burning the McMuffin to [expletive] half the time. Their fries suck now. You'll get a mix of the ones that have been sitting out for a half hour, the not cooked enough soggy ones, and the rest of the decent ones. The Big Mac patties are what, the size of a half dollar now?

Jack in the Box can't make a burger without drying it out to the point where it's not edible. Their appetizer offerings used to be awesome including those perfectly seasoned chicken breast pieces. Now they've got power-washed McNuggets basically.

Burger King changed their fry recipe 3-4 times and they're terrible. The Whopper is still decent if you can luck out with some lettuce and a tomato that aren't white.

Hardees burgers are always dried out. You can make a 5 patty cheeseburger, but you're going to need a 2 liter to wash that sucker down.

Taco Bell makes me question all of my life decisions the following day after I inexplicably end up there.

Steak n Shake burgers are still pretty good, but their milkshakes now taste like Hershey's syrup.

Wendy's is still pretty decent.

On top of that the prices everywhere have jumped incredibly for a product that's getting worse and worse. It costs almost $1 for a White Castle cheeseburger now? Go [expletive] yourself.

You're better off dropping a few more bucks and taking a step up with fast casual joints or staying local.

[haltz]

Wendy's or Chik-fil-a or I don't bother.

The last time I ate McD's was the one at Jefferson and 44 and the bun was so stale on the double cheeseburger that I ordered I didn't even take a bite. I knocked on it and it made noise like a piece of wood.

[heyzeus]

The question I always ask myself is "how is it that those fast food places have kept their prices so insanely low?" I mean, the 99cent value menu concept - all of them had the same [expletive] on that menu at the same price back in the 90s. How is it all the same price today, despite much higher real estate, labor, and ingredient prices?

There's no such thing as magic. One of those three inputs has to change in order to keep the price the same. The only thing they can control is the ingredient input. In short, those burgers are still 99 cents because they're made of [expletive].

[Cheddar Tom]

Wendy's or Chik-fil-a or I don't bother.

This, except I make exceptions for Steak N' Shake and Taco Bell breakfast.

[wart57]

They [expletive] YOU at the drive-thru, okay? They [expletive] YOU at the drive-thru! They know you're gonna be miles away before you find out you got [expletive]! They know you're not gonna turn around and go back, they don't care. So who gets [expletive]? Ol' Leo Getz! Okay, sure! I don't give a [expletive]! I'm not eating this tuna, okay?

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Wendy's or Chik-fil-a or I don't bother.

This, except I make exceptions for Steak N' Shake and Taco Bell breakfast.

Taco Bell breakfast is surprisingly decent. Probably the best thing on their menu.

Chick-Fil-A is good all the time.