These are the worst restaurant chains in the US: report
ByAngela Barbuti
Published June 28, 2025, 8:30 a.m. ET
302 Comments
It got slaughtered.
KFC was named the worst-rated food chain in the country, according to crypto exchange site ChicksX, which analyzed 7.3 million TripAdvisor reviews of 244 restaurant brands.
The Louisville-based fried-chicken giant, which has 4,095 locations in the US, had an average customer review score of 2.89 out of 5, landing it dead last in the pecking order.
“It was one of the few disappointments of my New York holiday,” TripAdvisor user Francesco N said in his review of KFC’s Midtown location in Penn Plaza, which has since closed.
3KFC took the crown as the worst-rated food chain in the country.SINSU1980 – stock.adobe.com
3McDonald’s landed in the second worst spot.FOTO_STOCKER – stock.adobe.com
Second to last was McDonald’s. It’s average score of 2.99 made it clear that many customers of its 14,300 US locations in America aren’t lovin’ it.
“The food was so nasty. It was dry. They took too long to take my order … some of the machines aren’t even working,” lamented Zahara J. who reviewed the McDonald’s on Broadway in the Theater District.
3Burger King took the third worst title.agencies – stock.adobe.com
You may not have it your way at Burger King either — as the Home of the Whopper was the third from the bottom, with an average score of 3 at its 6,678 locations in the country.
“It took 15 minutes before we received our order and the burgers were all covered with ketchup. Don’t waste your money here,” warned Jonas S. of the Burger King on Broadway in Midtown.
Rounding out the Worst 10 was Church’s Texas Chicken, Long John Silver’s, Taco Bueno, Taco Bell, Hardee’s, Wendy’s and Pizza Hut.
The top rated on the list was Andy’s Frozen Custard, which is based in Missouri and has 85 locations in 14 states.
Great Harvest Bread Company, a franchise headquartered in Montana that has around 150 locations in the country, came in second best. The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant chain with close to 100 locations, including two in New Jersey locations, landed in third.
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In New York, the Mediterranean-inspired chain Cava ranked the highest, with an average score of 4.55 out of 5.
In order to qualify for the list, the eatery must have had at least 150 reviews on the travel site.
