Revealing New York’s 12 Most Unhealthy Fast Food Spots

New York is a city that runs on energy, attitude, and plenty of fast food. But not every grab-and-go spot is doing your health any favors.

Some places pile on the grease, sugar, and sodium in ways that make even the most dedicated food lovers think twice.

Hidden behind catchy menus and tempting smells are meals that pack a serious nutritional punch. If you’re watching what you eat, these spots might just be worth skipping.

1. McDonald’s Golden Arches of Excess

McDonald's Golden Arches of Excess
© Truly Belong

Nothing screams “American fast food” quite like McDonald’s supersized offerings. Their Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese packs a whopping 740 calories and 43g of fat before you even add fries!

New Yorkers hitting the Times Square location often consume their entire day’s worth of sodium in one sitting.

The McFlurry might seem like an innocent treat, but at 510 calories, it’s more of a meal than a dessert.

2. Burger King’s Caloric Kingdom

Burger King's Caloric Kingdom
© Adobe Stock

Crowned with excess calories, Burger King’s menu makes nutritionists cringe. Their Triple Whopper with cheese delivers an eye-popping 1,220 calories – over half the recommended daily intake for many adults.

The Manhattan locations attract late-night partiers seeking greasy satisfaction. Even their seemingly innocent chicken fries contain more sodium than you should consume in several hours.

Remember when they advertised flame-grilled as healthier? Turns out, char marks don’t cancel calories.

3. KFC’s Finger-Lickin’ Fat Fest

KFC's Finger-Lickin' Fat Fest
© Tripadvisor

Colonel Sanders didn’t become famous by counting calories. KFC’s Extra Crispy Chicken contains more fat in one piece than some entire meals should have – with a single breast packing 530 calories and 35g of fat.

Brooklyn locals line up despite the nutritional nightmare. The Famous Bowl combines mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, cheese and fried chicken into a 720-calorie gut bomb.

KFC’s secret recipe might include 11 herbs and spices, but healthy eating habits definitely aren’t among them.

4. Taco Bell’s Tex-Mex Calorie Fiesta

Taco Bell's Tex-Mex Calorie Fiesta
© Healthline

Smothered in cheese and wrapped in carbs, Taco Bell’s creations are dietary danger zones. The Crunchwrap Supreme – a fan favorite at their Queens locations – delivers 530 calories and 21g of fat in one handheld package.

Late-night taco runs become nutritional nightmares when you realize their Nachos BellGrande contains 740 calories.

Most shocking? Their Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze packs 280 calories – equivalent to eating several cookies – without providing any actual nutrition.

5. Wendy’s Square Patties, Round Bellies

Wendy's Square Patties, Round Bellies
© ABC12

Dave Thomas never advertised Wendy’s as a health food destination, and for good reason! Their Baconator delivers a heart-stopping 950 calories and 62g of fat in one sandwich – before adding any sides.

Manhattan office workers regularly demolish these during lunch breaks. The seemingly innocent Chocolate Frosty contains 590 calories when ordered large.

Wendy’s may pride themselves on never cutting corners with their square patties, but they definitely cut corners on nutritional value.

6. Sonic Drive-In’s Speedway to Weight Gain

Sonic Drive-In's Speedway to Weight Gain
© QSR Magazine

Racing toward caloric overload, Sonic’s menu items hit nutritional guardrails at every turn. Their SuperSonic Double Cheeseburger with mayo races past 1,140 calories – nearly a day’s worth for some people!

Staten Island families often don’t realize their Route 44 Cherry Limeade contains a whopping 270 calories of pure sugar.

The Footlong Quarter Pound Coney stretches both your stomach and waistband at 830 calories. Sonic may be quick with service, but there’s nothing fast about burning off these calories.

7. Dairy Queen’s Not-So-Royal Treatment

Dairy Queen's Not-So-Royal Treatment
© Tripadvisor

Frozen treats fit for calorie kings and queens rule at DQ. Their Large Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard contains a shocking 1,320 calories – almost an entire day’s recommended intake in one cup!

Bronx teenagers flock here after school, unaware that a single Chicken Strip Basket with country gravy contains 1,250 calories.

The irony? Many customers order a diet soda thinking it balances out their 800-calorie Peanut Buster Parfait. DQ’s royal treatment guarantees one thing: a larger waistline.

8. Quiznos’ Sub-Standard Nutrition

Quiznos' Sub-Standard Nutrition
© Tripadvisor

Toasty subs touting freshness hide caloric catastrophes at Quiznos. Their Large Classic Italian sub delivers an astonishing 1,520 calories – equivalent to approximately 6 candy bars!

Midtown office workers justify these massive sandwiches as “healthier than burgers.” The truth?

Their Chicken Carbonara sub contains more fat than many fast food burgers. Adding their Broccoli Cheese Soup seems virtuous but adds another 330 calories of creamy indulgence to your meal.

9. Jack in the Box’s Nutritional Nightmare

Jack in the Box's Nutritional Nightmare
© Eat This Not That

Jumping into New York recently, Jack in the Box brought its infamous calorie bombs with it.

Their Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger delivers a staggering 930 calories and 65g of fat – more than many people should consume in an entire day!

Long Island commuters grab these on their way home. The Jumbo Jack with cheese might sound like standard fare, but at 670 calories, it’s anything but basic.

Their loaded tiny tacos seem like a small indulgence until you realize the full order contains 730 calories.

10. Chick-fil-A’s Deceptive Poultry Pitfalls

Chick-fil-A's Deceptive Poultry Pitfalls
© Thrillist

Masquerading as a healthier chicken option, Chick-fil-A’s menu hides surprising calorie counts.

Their Deluxe Chicken Sandwich with waffle fries and a regular lemonade creates a 1,100-calorie meal that exceeds half a day’s recommended intake.

Financial district workers justify these indulgences as “just chicken.” The truth?

Their 8-count Chicken Nuggets meal with sauce contains more sodium than several packets of ramen. Even their market salad becomes problematic once you add their sugar-laden dressing.

11. Smashburger’s Waistline-Smashing Selections

Smashburger's Waistline-Smashing Selections
© The Business Journals

Flattened on the grill but heavy on calories, Smashburger’s offerings expand waistlines across the Big Apple. Their Double Bacon Smash with cheese crushes dietary goals at 930 calories and 62g of fat.

Upper East Side residents often pair this with their infamous Smash Fries, adding another 420 oil-soaked calories.

The Häagen-Dazs shakes seem like a perfect pairing but add a whopping 760 calories to your meal. Smashed patties might be their technique, but smashed nutrition goals are their specialty.

12. Little Caesars’ Pizza! Pizza! Problem!

Little Caesars' Pizza! Pizza! Problem!
© Tripadvisor

Hot-N-Ready doesn’t mean healthy at Little Caesars. Their ExtraMostBestest pepperoni pizza delivers 280 calories per slice – meaning a typical three-slice serving packs 840 calories and 36g of fat!

Harlem families grab these $5 pies as budget-friendly dinner options. The Crazy Bread seems like a simple side but adds 100 calories per stick.

Their cheese-stuffed crust option transforms an already indulgent meal into a full-blown calorie catastrophe, adding approximately 80 more calories per slice.