Fast food in Pennsylvania has more disappointments than a Philadelphia Eagles season.
The government that gave America cheesesteaks somehow can't control a simple burger.
Because more than 12 million residents deserve better, these chains continue to serve substandard food.
Pennsylvania's fast food failures make gas station hot dogs look gourmet in comparison.
1. Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr. has a minimal presence in Pennsylvania with fewer than 20 locations.
The West Coast burger chain is struggling to compete in Pennsylvania's crowded fast-food market. Menu prices exceed most competitors by 15-20%.
Portion sizes do not justify the premium pricing structure.
West Coast prices don't work in Pennsylvania's economy.
Charging more for less food is a terrible business strategy.
2. Burger King
This flame-grilled burger chain came to Pennsylvania in the 1960s.
The company struggled with staff shortages, which affected the speed of service. Many locations report wait times of more than 15 minutes for basic orders.
Complaints about food temperature are common as burgers are often served lukewarm.
The promise of flame grilling rings hollow when your burger arrives cold.
Waiting 20 minutes for mediocre food tests anyone's patience.
3. Taco Bell
There are nearly 200 Taco Bell locations nationwide in Pennsylvania.
The chain's late-night focus appeals to a younger audience. However, older guests often find the spice content overwhelming and the quality of the ingredients questionable.
Order accuracy remains an ongoing issue at many Pennsylvania locations.
You should not have to check your luggage before leaving the parking lot.
But that has become standard at Pennsylvania Taco Bells.
4. KFC
Kentucky Fried Chicken entered the Pennsylvania market in the early 1970s.
The chain once dominated fried chicken sales across the state. That's why the recent decline in quality is so noticeable for long-standing customers.
The fat content in the food has increased while the chicken pieces have become smaller.
Your napkins shouldn't need their own napkins.
The Colonel would be ashamed of what happened to his recipe.
5. Subway
Subway operates over 800 locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The sandwich chain has faced several food safety scandals in recent years. Bread quality has decreased significantly since the supplier change in 2019.
Many locations have issues with ingredient freshness, especially vegetables.
Wilted lettuce and questionable tomatoes are in no way “fit to be fresh”.
Pennsylvania deserves better than stale bread and meat.
6. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut dominated the Pennsylvania pizza market for decades.
The chain has closed 40% of its Pennsylvania stores since 2015. The remaining branches often operate with skeleton crews, which affects the quality of service.
Delivery times often exceed promised time frames by 30-45 minutes.
Cold pizza isn't a feature, it's a failure.
The red roof once meant reliability, today it signals disappointment.
7. Wendy's
Wendy's operates approximately 300 locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The Square Burger chain markets fresh, never frozen beef. However, many locations in Pennsylvania have issues controlling food temperature.
The transit accuracy averages less than 75% at most locations.
Fresh beef means nothing if half your order is missing.
Getting what you actually paid for shouldn't feel like winning the lottery.
8. Arby's
Arby's roast beef sandwiches came to Pennsylvania in the 1980s.
The chain operates fewer than 100 locations nationwide. The limited menu variety limits the food offerings for health-conscious customers.
The sodium content in most menu items exceeds recommended daily limits.
Having meat doesn't mean there are healthy options.
Just reading the nutritional information will cause your blood pressure to skyrocket.
9. Popeye's
Popeyes, a Louisiana-style chicken chain, expanded into Pennsylvania in the 1990s.
The restaurant gained popularity through chicken sandwich wars on social media. But here's the thing: service speed hasn't improved with popularity.
The waiting time is an average of 20 minutes, even for simple orders.
Viral fame doesn't excuse glacial service speeds.
The chicken sandwich craze died down, but the terrible wait times remained.
10. White Castle
White Castle brought slider burgers to Pennsylvania in select markets.
The chain only operates 12 locations across the state. Limited availability frustrates customers who want consistent access.
Small portion sizes require ordering multiple items to fill you up.
Driving an hour for small burgers makes no economic sense.
In these scarce locations, you'll spend more on gas than on food.
11. Long John Silver's
Long John Silver's seafood chain operates 25 locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The restaurant specializes in fried fish and shrimp dishes. However, oil quality varies significantly depending on location and layer.
Food often tastes overly greasy and has an aftertaste of stale oil.
Old frying oil ruins even the freshest fish.
This rancid taste lingers long after eating.
12. Hardee's
Hardee's operates fewer than 50 locations in Pennsylvania markets.
The chain markets thick burgers and breakfast items. For similar food at cheaper prices, it is better to opt for local restaurants.
Service training appears to be inconsistent across Pennsylvania locations.
Local restaurants serve better burgers without the corporate confusion.
There is no point in paying premium prices for mediocre service.
13. McDonald's
McDonald's has been serving Pennsylvania since 1961.
The chain operates more than 500 locations across the state. But here's the catch: the quality varies significantly between franchisees.
Current customer complaints focus on cold food, slow service and cleanliness issues at multiple locations.
Golden arches used to have a special meaning in this state.
Now they are just a reminder of falling standards.
14. Church's Chicken
Church's Chicken operates approximately 15 locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The Texas-based chain offers spicy fried chicken and sides. I made a classic mistake when I assumed that their “mild” options would also suit sensitive palates.
The heat is too strong for many older guests.
The spice levels in Texas don't translate well to preferences in Pennsylvania.
If light food burns your mouth, there's something seriously wrong with the menu.
15. Lady
Checkers drive-thru restaurants serve Pennsylvania with approximately 30 locations.
The chain focuses on seasoned fries and dual drive-thru service. However, the quality of food suffers when stored in a heat lamp for a longer period of time.
Burgers often taste dry and overcooked when served.
Heat lamps turn decent burgers into leather hockey pucks.
Fresh food shouldn't require luck, but that's exactly what you need here.
16. Sonic Drive In
Sonic operates more than 40 drive-thru locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The chain offers roller skating carhops and an extensive range of drinks. But here's the catch: the quality of the food doesn't match the entertainment value.
Despite short preparation times, burgers often arrive cold.
Roller skates cannot compensate for incompetent food handling.
The novelty wears off quickly when your food arrives ice cold.
17. Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box has an extremely limited presence in Pennsylvania with fewer than 10 locations.
The California-based chain offers 24-hour service and diverse menu options. However, the ignorance of local tastes is evident in the food preparation.
Menu items often contain unusual combinations of ingredients that do not appeal to traditional palates.
Experiments with California cuisine are not what Pennsylvania expects.
Strange ingredient combinations aren't innovative, they're just confusing.
18.Roy Rogers
The Roy Rogers Roast Beef chain has about 20 locations in Pennsylvania.
The restaurant's popularity peaked in the 1980s and 1990s. Aging equipment and outdated facilities show the chain's decline.
Food preparation methods have not adapted to modern health standards.
Nostalgia cannot hide the impending breaches of health regulations.
Outdated equipment produces outdated food that no one should eat.
19. Krystal
Krystal's Slider chain operates fewer than five locations in Pennsylvania.
The southern-based restaurant offers small square burgers similar to White Castle. Limited presence in Pennsylvania makes consistent quality control difficult.
At the few locations available, the food often tastes different.
Five locations cannot maintain adequate quality standards.
Every visit feels like Russian roulette for your digestive system.
20. A&W
A&W Root Beer Restaurants operates approximately 15 locations throughout Pennsylvania.
The chain once dominated the drive-in restaurant market across America. This is why current declines in quality are particularly disappointing for long-standing customers.
The root beer floats remain okay, but the quality of the food has dropped significantly.
Decent drinks can't stop terrible food from ruining the experience.
Memories of childhood visits only make current visits even more depressing.
