10 fast food chains that are no longer worth the wait or the money

Fast food chains used to be the easy and cheap backup, but some of them have made us question when a quick meal began feeling like a gamble.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s was once the safe choice. It wasn’t amazing. It wasn’t terrible. It was simply there, and you knew what you were getting, like a Baconator when you were hungry. You could get nuggets when you weren’t. 

The prices have sadly been creeping up over the years. A combo meal is often $11 or more. A place that was once the safe option now feels a lot more high-maintenance. No wonder people have quit going.

Chipotle

Something’s felt off at Chipotle lately. It’s not simply the flavor. No, it’s that feeling that you’re not being treated fairly. Your burrito bowl could look completely different from what the person in front of you got. A Wells Fargo analyst actually looked into it.

The results were all over the place. The heaviest bowl was 26.8 ounces. The lightest was 13.8 ounces. You could order from the same menu and pay the same amount. But you could get a completely different meal. It’s not worth it.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut used to feel like an event. All those red cups and sit-down booths made it feel so special. Let’s not forget the greasy pan pizza. However, most places don’t feel like that. It’s like they’re only hanging on. 

The chain’s already begun closing down 250 stores this year. It’s that bad. But it’s not that much of a surprise. The price of a large pizza is dangerously high, not to mention the insane price of a pizza on delivery apps. Is the old magic really worth it?

Arby’s

Nobody goes to Arby’s for burgers. They go for roast beef and curly fries, along with that oh-so-special horsey sauce. But the price doesn’t seem worth it. It’s basically just a sandwich run, after all.

You’ll pay easily $12 for a large roast beef combo in some places, and the sandwich still feels way too light. Arby’s is a place built on meat. But the truth is, it doesn’t feel like you’re getting much of it.

Five Guys

Five Guys has always been expensive. That’s pretty much a fact. You could walk in to get a burger and fries, nothing crazy. Yet the receipt looks like date-night math. It’s only gotten worse over the years, as the average meal costs around $20.84.

That includes the fries overflowing into the bag. It’s only fun the first few times. A single cheeseburger, fries, and a drink now cost more than most sit-down lunches. It’s way too much.

Panera Bread

Paying extra for Panera didn’t used to feel bad. You were paying for the experience, after all. You got softer lighting. You got warm soup and a delicious bakery smell. Now, though, it seems overpriced. What exactly are you paying for?

Access to a place where people pretend to work on laptops for three hours? It’s not worth $15 for a You Pick Two. It gets worse when you add drinks or pastries. You’re better off recreating the experience at home.

Little Caesars

They built the Little Caesars empire on a single promise. You didn’t have to think. No, you could just walk in and grab a hot and ready pizza, then leave. Nobody wanted artisan slices. Nobody cared whether they were wood-fired or hand-tossed. It was hot and ready.

However, it’s not as ready anymore. The price has jumped up, and it doesn’t justify the pizza anymore. You get 33% more pepperoni, yes. But the appeal of Little Caesars was the cost, not the pepperoni. You could get a pizza for $5. Now it can be as high as $7.99. 

White Castle

There’s still some charm at White Castle. It’s thanks to the tiny burgers and little cardboard boxes. Unfortunately, the value doesn’t seem the same anymore because you need way too many sliders to feel full.

Two isn’t enough. Three maybe. Four, when you’re being honest. Some of the best deals come from app promos and late-night windows, so you end up spending a lot more than you need. All that to feel satisfied. 

Taco Bell

Of course Taco Bell still gets people. Where else can you go for tacos after 9 PM? However, the magic of the old chain has disappeared. You won’t get a ridiculous amount of food for a few bucks anymore.

It doesn’t help that the menu’s changed. Bean burritos aren’t like they used to be. When you factor in how the ‘value’ meal’s gone from $5 to $7 to $9, it doesn’t feel like Taco Bell used to. It’s not worth it.

Papa Johns

Let’s be honest. Nobody just gets pizza at Papa Johns. You get the garlic sauce. You get the cheese bread, too, and maybe the wings. Then you check the receipt. It’s $30 for a meal that used to cost a lot less.

Pizza’s one of those foods where people compare everything, and Papa Johns isn’t always one that wins out. It seems like you’re paying a lot but not getting much back.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.