15 Least Popular Fast-Food Restaurants (And Why People Avoid Them)
Fast food chains rise fast, but they can fall just as quickly. A catchy jingle or clever mascot might get attention, but what keeps people coming back is a mix of flavor, speed, value, and consistency. When any of those slip, even a household name can lose its grip.
In recent years, several chains have seen steep drops in loyalty and/or store count. Some even lost hundreds of locations. Let’s check out the fast food brands that aren’t holding up well.
Auntie Anne’s
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At one point, Auntie Anne’s was the default mall snack stop, but foot traffic was down, and so were their numbers. The fast-food chain has closed down 116 stores across the US. Customer loyalty has shrunk to 35%, and many now see the pretzel chain as more of a nostalgic bite than a go-to snack. Its relevance seems to fade as malls lose their pull.
Boston Market
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Boston Market lost 154 stores between 2018 and 2022. The place is known for rotisserie chicken and comfort food, and hasn’t adapted well to modern fast food trends. As newer options gain ground, customers say this one feels stuck in time, and the value just doesn’t match the price anymore.
Krystal
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Krystal’s tiny burgers might stand out visually, but that’s where the appeal often ends. The brand performs poorly in both customer ratings and loyalty. Reviews bring up weak flavors and questionable store upkeep. Compared to fresher regional burger chains, Krystal often gets skipped entirely.
Papa Murphy’s
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Papa Murphy’s invented a niche with take-and-bake pizza, but times have changed. Between 2018 and 2022, 269 stores closed. Many now see the concept as inconvenient, especially when hot pizza alternatives are available with no prep required.
Jimmy John’s
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The brand once leaned hard on speed, but quick service doesn’t hold customers the way it used to. Between 2018 and 2022, 166 stores closed. Loyalty sits near 34%, and critics often point to the bread that overshadows the fillings.
Sonic
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Sonic’s retro model appeals to a niche crowd, but a loyalty score of just 36% tells a larger story. Reviews frequently cite long waits and lukewarm food. Some fans still swear by the drinks and tots, but the overall experience often feels behind the times.
Hardee’s
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Hardee’s continues to lose ground and closed its doors to 157 stores between 2018 and 2022. Its average review score barely clears 3.27, and only a third of customers feel loyal. The reason for the decline is clear: their menus rarely change, their flavors are underwhelming, and competitors just do burgers and breakfast better.
Pizza Hut
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Once known for its sit-down restaurants, Pizza Hut now carries a 3.27 average review score and a smaller crowd of loyal customers. Many diners lean toward Domino’s or neighborhood shops, leaving Pizza Hut struggling to compete on both taste and price.
Long John Silver’s
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Only 41% of customers say they would come back. Even regulars mention uneven food quality and meals that feel too heavy. The chain’s seafood focus has lost momentum, and many restaurants show their age.
Subway
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The chain has shed more than a thousand U.S. locations in recent years, and the brand’s reputation has slipped with them. Customers often complain about declining quality and poor value, while online reviews frequently describe stores as unclean or uninviting.
Church’s Texas Chicken
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Church’s trails behind more polished competitors like Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. Its loyalty score sits at 38%, and reviews often mention lackluster service and food that doesn’t deliver. The average review barely cracks 3.15, with many citing outdated locations and a general feeling of decline.
Wendy’s
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Despite its size, Wendy’s shows just a 38% loyalty score. Diners often point to cold burgers, limp fries, and uneven service. For many, it no longer feels like a first option, more like a convenient backup.
McDonald’s
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The golden arches are everywhere, but that might be the problem. McDonald’s has the lowest brand-driven loyalty score at just 28%. Many customers go simply because it’s easily accessible, and not because they like it. The burgers have gone stale and cold, and generic flavors leave many feeling underwhelmed.
Burger King
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A 3.01 average rating and 33% loyalty rate place the chain near the bottom of the rankings. Customers often describe the menu as bland and overpriced, and many who once stuck with the Whopper now look to smaller regional rivals.
KFC
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KFC lands at the bottom of the list with the lowest average score, which is just 2.95 across 17 states. Customers are frustrated by soggy skin, bland sides, and a general sense that the brand has lost its spark. Once a household name for fried chicken, it now faces real credibility issues.