When 1st moved out west I was big In N Out fan, would look forward to when I was going to be near one (closest one is 50 minutes away). But one day I had the forbidden thought that 5 Guys was actually better and since then In N Out has plummeted in my estimation. Burger kinda flavorless. Animal fries are good idea but the cheese is never melted and there's always like 20 fries that aren't cooked properly or are just lil stubs. I try to limit my red meat so it's just not worth it to "blow my burger wad" on it. But Christ it's still so much better than the likes of McD's, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, etc.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:10 (two years ago) link
Of the ones I've tried Hardee's seems the most useless. But surely there's a non-US one that's worse.
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:11 (two years ago) link
the only time I've eaten at Hardees in the past decade is when riding the MegaBus from Orlando to Atlanta, because for lunch break, the bus stops at the same Hardees at the same Love's in Tifton, GA, every time.
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:12 (two years ago) link
left these morons off but shouldn't have, u could die here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Attack_Grill
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:13 (two years ago) link
also left off Habit Burger, which has >300 locations
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:17 (two years ago) link
voted BURGER KING they are all gross 100% of the time
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:19 (two years ago) link
It's a tricky poll because the ideal voter is someone who is well-travelled but also drawn to fast food burger chains, which seems like two different breeds of people
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:19 (two years ago) link
hmm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wieners_Circle
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:22 (two years ago) link
xxp >15 years ago, Burger King always felt like a step up from McDonald's. I've had it probably twice in the last 10 years, and it was so horrible.
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:23 (two years ago) link
half of the ones near here seem to have 3 employees, lots of flies, and non-functioning soda machines. and that was even pre-pandemic
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:25 (two years ago) link
I used to work at Burger King. I don't remember their food being so bad but I was only 16. We go once every year cuz one of us will be craving a Whoppy and it's always way worse than I remember. they don't really have anything good and every time I go it feels like all the food has been sitting for 15 minutes. the Hershey Pies still rule though
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:27 (two years ago) link
i worked at Steak 'n Shake in 1997. only job that I've ever quit mid-shift before.
I used my earnings to buy Slayer albums mostly
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:28 (two years ago) link
Voted McD's based on Super Size Me bits ("how many cows make up the 'one taste worldwide' slogan?", what is the hamburger actually made of?, the bonus scene showing mold rate for McDs items next to a local deli) which effectively killed my appetite for their food. Not fast-food burgers, but secondary nomination for Red Robin burgers, due to their scuttling busboys and transferring the dish gathering to their waiters/waitresses. It's the little things that drive loyalty.
Like Granny and limiting the red meat / burgers, Dick's Drive-In's greasy fries are my kryptonite. The burgers are unremarkable, low-cost nostalgia.
Haven't tried Wimpy's, though there's one up in White Center near several favorite beer spots, and http://www.lilwoodys.com/ is right next door to the Beer Star pub so they've been satisfying my burger needs lately.
If Burgerville is the Oregon-based chain, I've liked their burgers and admire their local/sustainable attitude.
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:28 (two years ago) link
Habit is good, I remember liking it but I can't remember their burger really. Only thing I remember is the fried green beans with wasabi dipping sauce, which may have been a limited-time thing.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:30 (two years ago) link
Actually enjoyed Steak 'n Shake in college ('80s), it felt so greasy and decadent
― Josefa, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:32 (two years ago) link
I don't know which Burger Kings you've been going to, but the two near me are always good. The burgers always taste fresh, the salad in them never wilted or weepy.
When I clicked on this thread I was going to reflexively vote for McDonald's - for people who like their food to taste like warm cardboard - but then I saw UK slophouse Wimpy. So I voted for them. Although I suppose for a place to be considered a slophouse the food has to have some moisture in it, which Wimpy never does. Everything there is so dry it's almost dessicated. Haven't been to a Wimpy in 25 years, last time was the one in Brighton. Absolutely no desire to ever go to one again.
Also RIP Little Chef and Happy Eater. Not really.
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:33 (two years ago) link
xxp the green beans are always available, but the dipping sauce is sriracha afaik
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:34 (two years ago) link
xp I think there's wide variation in the largest of these chains. I believe it's possible to have a good local version of a BK. We have one good Taco Bell here out of 5.
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:36 (two years ago) link
just like this McDonald's, which we have, where you can get gourmet food (lolz). i've only eaten here 2 or 3 times in my life though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Largest_Entertainment_McDonald%27s
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:39 (two years ago) link
Hardee's (eastern states) and Carl's Jr. (western states) are the same company and m/l the same menu I believe. Sonic is ok but I almost always get the chili dog because they don't warm their sandwich buns before assembly so the burgers are always cold. Voted Krystal based on a couple of visits back in the 80s/90s.
― Everybody Loves Ramen (WmC), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:45 (two years ago) link
I don't see Arbie's on the list but it's fucking sickening
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:48 (two years ago) link
re: McDonald's - when I saw them using the word artisanal used to describe their buns, I knew that the word artisanal was officially deceased
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:50 (two years ago) link
Arby's doesn't really do 'burgers' is why. I also worked there for 3 months lol. easiest job ever, stole lots of food.
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:51 (two years ago) link
"we put the 'anal' in artisanal"
and just wait till you meet Arti!
― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:54 (two years ago) link
I worked at McDonalds when I was 16, and while it was the worst job ever (the drive-thru), I still have the Fender Deluxe Reverb amp that I bought with $3.42/hr or whatever the fuck it was, so there's that
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:55 (two years ago) link
did you play it while on the clock
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:55 (two years ago) link
"with Andy, you get service and SOLOS"
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:56 (two years ago) link
One of my coworkers used to keep his McUniform shirt in an old mayo jar so it would be extra wrinkled when he arrived for work
We also used to suck all the nitrous oxide out of the whipped cream cans and then hide the empties in the walk-in cooler
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 18:59 (two years ago) link
Review Brah agrees that BK is the saddest, worst and he is very trustworthy!
https://i.redd.it/d6l4d1cnxygz.png
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:00 (two years ago) link
burger king definitely the worst of these in terms of actual food, tho you used to be able to get cherry and coke ICEES there! carl's jr also pretty bad. i agree that in n out has bad fries (they're only edible if you eat them in the car immediately after getting them; as soon as they cool off, they're cardboard), but i think the animal style burger is good enough to merit their high reputation. shake shack is my favorite of any of these.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:04 (two years ago) link
availability of veggie burgers at burger king over the past decade makes me sing their praises to the skies
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:05 (two years ago) link
yeah, to their credit BK did roll out veggie burgers pretty early on
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:12 (two years ago) link
incidentally i won't sully this poll with my vegetarian opinions
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:13 (two years ago) link
I've heard anecdotally that Jack in the Box's tacos are more or less vegetarian... they have a 'meaty' filling but they don't actually claim it's meat
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:15 (two years ago) link
thats been the legend since the 90s lol i dont think its true tho
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:16 (two years ago) link
ultimately my first choice here is McDonalds, nothing there registers to me as actual food. like if I was blindfolded and given one of their hamburger patties I don't know if I'd be able to identify what it was. that said I do love the McChicken even if it doesn't really taste like chicken. or anything else for that matter.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:17 (two years ago) link
Legit voted for In-N-Out as well because the quality gap between how they're perceived vs what they actually are is massive.
― Milm & Foovies (Eric H.), Tuesday, December 7, 2021 1:03 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
When I was in California a couple years ago, I stopped at an In-N-Out thinking, ok, this is raved about, eager to check it out. It was slightly better than Wendy's. Baffled by the hype.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:26 (two years ago) link
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, December 7, 2021 1:15 PM (one minute ago) bookmarkflaglink
at BK we used to have tacos that were 2 for a buck. I guess the whole goal was to be cheaper than Taco Bell which is a hell of a thing to aim for. I fucking hated them because they were so hard to make, the shell only pried open like half an inch and would often just break immediately. and people would order like 12 at a time. anyway they didn't taste too bad honestly but the meat was like this brown paste and I often wondered if it was even meat at all
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:26 (two years ago) link
in n out is dope yall weirdos... their stores are always in good shape and the food is always fresh as fuck
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:29 (two years ago) link
In'n'Out has a somewhat limited menu but I don't know all the cheat codes
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:31 (two years ago) link
lol the in n out voters itt are classic ilx 'thinking too hard' votes. only one of these places has served me still-frozen food and that was burger king.
― Nedlene Grendel as Basenji Holmo (map), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:33 (two years ago) link
In-N-Out's "secret menu" is akin to asking Taco Bell guy to squeeze one of every sauce packet onto your meal. it's part of what makes In-N-Out dogshit.
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:42 (two years ago) link
yes but the poll is titled 'worst fast-food burger joint' and in n out is clearly not the worst
― Nedlene Grendel as Basenji Holmo (map), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:45 (two years ago) link
At DQ, we served people still-frozen food and they loved it (the ice cream, yes, but occasionally a chicken strip).
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:45 (two years ago) link
A while back I stopped at a McDs after many years of not going there and the quarter-pounder I had was way better than I remembered. Turns out that they had recently improved how they were cooking the meat, and had seen significant sales increases as a result. The fries were worse than I remembered though.
― Kim Kimberly, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:49 (two years ago) link
https://i.redd.it/3yfg7ctrhmv71.jpg
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:50 (two years ago) link
The fries were worse than I remembered though.
I think they were forced to remove the horse fat
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:51 (two years ago) link
it was beef fat, because a rich guy had a heart attack and sued
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:54 (two years ago) link
A friend of mine claimed to have worked at Taco Bell corporate HQ and said that TB got a fair amount of their beef by pressure-washing it off of beef skulls. Waste not want not and all that.
― Everybody Loves Ramen (WmC), Tuesday, 7 December 2021 19:55 (two years ago) link
Restaurant profit margins are razor thin at best, so why use genuine lingonberries when you can just slather grape jelly on everything
― Andy the Grasshopper, Wednesday, 8 December 2021 19:18 (two years ago) link
love grape ribs
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 19:39 (two years ago) link
I have fond memories of the Big Buford as a super-yummy burger experience. These memories are probably 20 years old, but I also respect Rally's battered fries as the antithesis of the misguided "we just cut potatoes directly into the fryer" puritanism.― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, December 8, 2021 10:54 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, December 8, 2021 10:54 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
There's a poem in my next book titled, "Buford Special," because I've never been able to get over a place calling their specialty burger a Buford. What in the fuck is that.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 19:59 (two years ago) link
Perhaps named after Buford T. Pusser, the real life sheriff portrayed in the Walking Tall films?
― Josefa, Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:05 (two years ago) link
or Bufo bufo, the common toad
― assert (matttkkkk), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:09 (two years ago) link
Is there someone called Buford involved with the company, perhaps? Someone's child, maybe, or an early manager?
― Christine Green Leafy Dragon Indigo, Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:30 (two years ago) link
maybe Big Buford is what you call your butt after you gain twenty pounds from eating that damn burger
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:35 (two years ago) link
I cannot find, for the life of me, the reason for the name. I've been googling for like five minutes lol.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:52 (two years ago) link
There's now a Super Loaded Buford, tho, if anyone's interested.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 20:53 (two years ago) link
the original commercial has no clues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW6rgXwLYbM
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:00 (two years ago) link
lol the description says the commercial features two guys saying it was named after their Uncle Buford, but they don't say that in the commercial!
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:03 (two years ago) link
I'm now imagining a late 80s tv show where two detectives (Neanderthal, the table is the table), search for Big Buford, a missing hamburger magnate.
― ma dmac's fury road (PBKR), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:03 (two years ago) link
the trail went cold, Tabes. (takes off trenchcoat). i just don't know. maybe we never find 'im.
― Cool Im An Situation (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:04 (two years ago) link
It's a great name. My brother and I use it all of the time to express appreciation, e.g. "Can you pick up this Christmas gift for me? I'll owe you a Big Buford."
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:07 (two years ago) link
It is, but it's also *funny*, so much so that it sounds a little bit like something in a Tim & Eric sketch.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:09 (two years ago) link
maybe it should be typical film noir but a universe where the money is Big Bufords
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:11 (two years ago) link
Big Buford is the sickest drummer. Yes wasn't the same after he left.
― kurt schwitterz, Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:18 (two years ago) link
Some sources say Rally's was founded in Tennessee, which is where Bufurd T. Pusser was a sheriff, so that really could be it. Although other sources say Rally's was founded in Louisville, KY, so I dunno.
― Josefa, Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:54 (two years ago) link
There's also a town in Georgia named Buford.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 21:55 (two years ago) link
perhaps the burger was big and Jim Patterson was a fan of alliteration
― accordion folder full of Zoobooks (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 8 December 2021 22:07 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Tuesday, 14 December 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
I got gout after this thread, asshole
oh wait, i started it
...
asshole.
― hopefully this review helped someone (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 14 December 2021 00:03 (two years ago) link
haven't had many of these but jack in the box the worst of what I've had.
my favorites of this list - off-topic I guess- are probably a&w and white spot
― 《Myst1kOblivi0n》 (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, 14 December 2021 00:18 (two years ago) link
Jack in the Box is unspeakable
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Tuesday, 14 December 2021 01:49 (two years ago) link
Do not wind the crank
IHOP was only good when you could smoke in there. 2AM, drunk, the glass smokers cave filled with secondhand nicotine - tastebuds are irrelevant anyway.
― papal hotwife (milo z), Tuesday, 14 December 2021 02:13 (two years ago) link
just want to chime in and say i love Cook Out, Cook Out rules. also we had a Rally's where i grew up in the South and it was definitely a level or two above McD's/BK/etc. Rally's was good!
― alpine static, Tuesday, 14 December 2021 07:37 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Wednesday, 15 December 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
Not sure how scientific this polling is, but BK wins in a landslide... I'm a little surprised, but I haven't been there in years
― Andy the Grasshopper, Wednesday, 15 December 2021 00:18 (two years ago) link
I thought I voted for Sonic, but I guess I just decided to shoot my mouth off instead. Well anyway, fuck Sonic.
― peace, man, Wednesday, 15 December 2021 00:59 (two years ago) link
haha me too! add another one for Sonic
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 01:10 (two years ago) link
Same
― papal hotwife (milo z), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:14 (two years ago) link
Silent majority
― hopefully this review helped someone (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:24 (two years ago) link
i also voted for sonic wtf
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:44 (two years ago) link
Stop the Steal!
― ma dmac's fury road (PBKR), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:50 (two years ago) link
White Spot kind of an unfortunate name
― Fash Gordon (Neanderthal), Saturday, 5 November 2022 04:06 (one year ago) link
I don't understand why Burger King polled the most votes in this. My nearest Burger King - which I went to a few days ago - rules, while the McDonald's in the same town blows goats. I've eaten in a lot of Burger Kings and the worst experience I've had is getting a burger that wasn't terrible but could have been better, and felt a bit thrown together. MacDonald's on the other hand always seems to be disappointing - some places trend towards undercooking their burgers and slapping them together so the burger in its bun looks like it's been sat on, while in other places the burgers and buns are dry. Generally I think that McDonald's was much better in the mid to late 80s.
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Saturday, 5 November 2022 10:42 (one year ago) link