18 National Chains New Yorkers Regret Eating At

New Yorkers know good food. With countless local delis, pizza joints, and authentic ethnic eateries on every corner, they’ve developed quite the palate. When these discerning city dwellers venture into national chain restaurants, disappointment often follows.

Here’s a rundown of the fast food and casual dining spots that leave New Yorkers wishing they’d stuck with their neighborhood favorites.

1. KFC’s Greasy Letdown

Colonel Sanders might have a secret recipe, but New Yorkers aren’t buying it anymore. The chicken often arrives lukewarm with soggy breading that slides right off.

Last summer, I grabbed a bucket before a Central Park picnic. My friends still haven’t forgiven me for the greasy fingers and stomachaches that followed.

With a dismal 2.89/5 rating citywide, it’s officially the worst-rated fast food chain for NYC dwellers.

2. McDonald’s Midtown Mayhem

Golden Arches? More like golden disappointments. The Times Square and Penn Station locations consistently serve up dry burgers and cold fries that make locals cringe.

Long lines snake through these tourist-packed spots while harried workers scramble to keep up. With a measly 2.99/5 rating and complaints about slow service flooding review sites, real New Yorkers know to steer clear of these McDisasters.

3. Burger King’s Royal Flop

The King has lost his crown in the Big Apple. Squashed Whoppers arrive in soggy wrappers, looking nothing like the glossy menu photos.

Wait times at NYC locations regularly stretch beyond 15 minutes, even for simple orders. Reddit threads overflow with photos of sad-looking burgers from Manhattan locations.

Averaging just 3.0/5 stars, these flame-broiled disappointments have New Yorkers pledging allegiance to local burger joints instead.

4. Church’s Texas Chicken Crosses the Wrong Road

Church’s might preach the gospel of fried chicken, but their sermons fall flat in NYC. The breading often tastes stale, and the sides lack the soul found in local Harlem chicken spots.

I once brought Church’s to a family gathering in Queens, thinking it would be a crowd-pleaser. My aunt still brings it up at holidays—and not in a good way!

With portions shrinking and prices rising, New Yorkers have lost faith in this Texas transplant.

5. Long John Silver’s Sunken Treasure

Seafood in a landlocked fast food joint? New Yorkers know better. The fish arrives suspiciously uniform, with a greasy batter that overwhelms any actual seafood flavor.

The handful of NYC locations serve up fishy disappointments that pale compared to local seafood shacks. When a city surrounded by water offers fresh catches everywhere, why settle for these processed planks?

The grease-soaked paper boats leave New Yorkers feeling like they’ve hit rocky shores.

6. Taco Bell’s Late-Night Regret

Sure, it’s open when nothing else is, but that 3 AM Crunchwrap Supreme comes with a side of morning remorse. The new meal boxes particularly disappoint, with skimpy portions and questionable quality.

I once stumbled into a Lower East Side Taco Bell after a concert, thinking it would satisfy my hunger. My roommate still references my groaning the next morning as a cautionary tale.

Even drunk New Yorkers are starting to think twice before this late-night mistake.

7. Wendy’s Square Deal Gone Round

Wendy’s might pride itself on never cutting corners with square patties, but quality corners get cut regularly at NYC locations. The supposedly fresh beef often tastes anything but, with dry patties and wilted toppings.

The Frosty machines mysteriously break down during summer heat waves when New Yorkers need them most.

Once a reliable fast food option, Wendy’s has fallen below expectations, with locals increasingly choosing bodega sandwiches over these disappointing square burgers.

8. Pizza Hut’s Cheesy Betrayal

In the pizza capital of America, Pizza Hut commits the cardinal sin: serving mediocre pies. The doughy, cheese-laden slices make New Yorkers cringe with every bite.

The crust, somehow simultaneously soggy and cardboard-like, bears no resemblance to proper pizza. My Brooklyn-born grandfather accidentally ate a slice at a birthday party and dramatically declared it “an insult to the city.”

When dollar slices from corner joints outshine your product, you know you’ve lost New York.

9. Subway’s Stale Situation

The once-fresh sandwich giant has fallen from grace. Bread arrives stale, vegetables wilt sadly, and meat portions have shrunk to nearly invisible levels.

NYC locations often reek of that distinctive Subway smell that seeps into your clothes. With authentic delis on practically every block offering piled-high sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, why would any New Yorker settle for these sad subs?

The answer is increasingly: they don’t.

10. Applebee’s Apple Doesn’t Fall Far

Microwaved mediocrity masquerading as casual dining. The handful of NYC Applebee’s locations serve up food that tastes suspiciously identical regardless of what you order.

I celebrated a job promotion there once, not realizing my mistake until the lukewarm mozzarella sticks arrived. My coworkers still tease me about it years later.

With thousands of independent restaurants offering authentic cuisine at similar prices, these chain confections leave New Yorkers with serious food regret.

11. Olive Garden’s Inauthentic Italian

Unlimited breadsticks can’t make up for the culinary crimes committed here. New Yorkers surrounded by authentic Italian neighborhoods (Little Italy, Arthur Avenue) find the chain’s sauces cloyingly sweet and pasta overcooked.

The Times Square location remains packed with tourists. Locals wouldn’t be caught eating these Italian-inspired concoctions.

The breadsticks might be unlimited, but so is the disappointment when you’re used to real Italian food made by actual Italian grandmothers.

12. Arby’s Roast Beef Remorse

Those famous roast beef sandwiches look nothing like their commercials. The meat often arrives suspiciously gray and paper-thin, swimming in a sea of mayo-based sauce to mask its shortcomings.

The curly fries, arguably their best offering, frequently arrive cold and limp. With legendary pastrami sandwiches available at iconic delis across the city, New Yorkers who venture into Arby’s emerge with a profound sense of having made a terrible mistake.

13. Panera’s Bread of Broken Dreams

Overpriced and underwhelming, Panera’s $15 half-sandwiches leave New Yorkers’ wallets light and stomachs growling. The soups taste suspiciously like the canned variety with a fancy ladle.

I once suggested meeting a client there, thinking it would be a safe choice. When the tiny portion arrived for the astronomical price, I could feel my professional credibility evaporating.

With countless artisanal bakeries offering superior bread and generous sandwiches, this chain’s appeal has gone stale.

14. Cheesecake Factory’s Menu Mayhem

The novel-length menu should be a red flag. No kitchen can possibly execute 250+ dishes well, and NYC locations prove this with consistently mediocre food across all categories.

Portions are comically large while flavor remains elusive. The cheesecake, their namesake item, is overly sweet and heavy compared to New York’s authentic bakeries.

With some of the world’s best dessert shops just blocks away, this factory-produced sugar bomb leaves locals wondering why tourists line up outside.

15. Red Lobster’s Fishy Business

Those endless shrimp promotions lure unsuspecting New Yorkers into a trap of tiny, rubbery disappointments. The seafood often tastes like it took a detour through several freezers before reaching your plate.

I made the mistake of taking my visiting aunt here because she saw a commercial. She still brings up the “seafood incident” at family gatherings.

With fresh seafood markets and oyster bars throughout the city, these sad crustaceans and their infamous cheddar biscuits leave locals feeling like they’ve been caught in a bad net.

16. Domino’s Delivery Distress

In a city with pizza royalty on every corner, Domino’s commits pizza treason. The sauce tastes suspiciously like ketchup with oregano, while the cheese has a plastic quality that’s impossible to ignore.

Even their much-hyped delivery guarantee falls short in NYC traffic. When dollar slices from random corner shops outshine your product in both taste and value, you know you’ve lost New York.

The cardboard-like crust leaves locals wondering why anyone would order this when real pizza is literally everywhere.

17. IHOP’s Pancake Predicament

Those colorful menu photos promise fluffy pancake stacks, but reality delivers flat, rubbery discs drowning in artificial syrup. NYC locations often serve breakfast items that taste suspiciously pre-made and reheated.

The coffee comes lukewarm in sticky carafes. With countless diners and brunch spots serving house-made pancakes with real maple syrup, New Yorkers who find themselves at IHOP usually do so out of desperation, not desire.

The regret begins with the first sticky bite.

18. Buffalo Wild Wings’ Mild Disappointment

Wings that are somehow both overcooked and undercooked, with sauce that never quite delivers the promised heat. NYC locations serve up disappointing drums and flats that make locals long for corner bar wings.

The sports bar atmosphere can’t compensate for mediocre food. During last year’s playoffs, I suggested meeting friends here—a decision that cost me serious New York credibility.

With authentic Buffalo-style wings available throughout the city at beloved local spots, these chain wings simply don’t fly with discerning New Yorkers.