Joe is Hungry is a giant in the fast food review space online, and hes maintained a pretty clean image since he got popular. This might change that. Thoughts?
ARBY’S PEACH COBBLER ROLL
In neither temporal measurement nor distance traveled does the journey of self-awareness need to be a long one.
From the time I barked my order into the drive-thru’s loudspeaker to the time I pulled up to the window, debit card in hand, I had already experienced an epiphany. For in those grave 30 seconds between thought and execution, I remembered that I hate peaches.
🛑 For the TLDR crowd, you can scroll to the bottom for a haiku that sums up the rating.
Low-level panic set in as I don’t want to waste 350; Both the approximate price and the calorie count.
There’s no turning back now.
Between my thumb and forefinger, I hold one of the rolls. It’s very hot, but my inquisitive fat boy nature dictates that I focus on the food’s form factor before I eat. Ignoring the discomfort of my two most important digits, I note that the roll is quite heavy for its size.
More important than its heft, I realize that the outside feels incredibly crispy and fried hard, but not to the point of being dried out. It reminds me of the shell of a good egg roll mixed with a dash of that old-skool MCDONALD’S FRIED APPLE PIE (review in bio) texture that McDonald’s came close to recapturing recently, but could never supplant the greatness that they achieved during the smoking-in-restaurants era.
Upon biting into it. I’m welcomed by a satisfying, tasty grease flavor that marries the dough in a funnel cake type of flavor. The grease and dough are so well-balanced that both are prominent without either being intrusive. As a bonus, the crunch level is phenomenal.
Internally, the filling doesn’t taste like peaches at all, which is why I liked it, but the world doesn’t revolve around me, and fans of that awful stone fruit are going to be disappointed. The interior does taste like fruit, and it’s quite pleasant, but I have no frame of reference to tell you which fruit that would be. It’s a warm, egg yolk-textured magma that makes me feel equal parts satisfied with the mouthfeel and distressed by the unnatural flavor, which portends health consequences from chemical exposure.
Haiku:
Faux fruit right and wrong
An uneasy flavor quest
Assuaged by crispness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
I was debating with friends on what fast food has the best fries and it blew my mind no one mentioned checkers especially if you live in the south you know what I’m talking about. Those are the only fries that don’t need ketchup or anything. They have the perfect crisp it’s literally perfection. McDonald’s fries are always a hit or miss only good when fresh and salty. These places I’m about to list never miss.
My top 3 are :
1.Checkers
2.Arby’s curly fries
3.Burger King (especially with the zesty sauce).
| Chain Name | Wok Inn Asian Cafe |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Chinese-American |
| # of US Locations | 8 |
| # of US States | 1 |
| Primarily located in | Local to San Antonio |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.34, standard dev. $3.03) | 182nd out of 295 meal reviews |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 6.5 (out of 10) / 6 (out of 10) |
This time it's a small, local fast food chain. Much like my earlier reviews of Mr. Teriyaki and Burger Boy, which are also hyper-local, this is more of an 'advocacy' review because I like it. So sue me.
Most people are familiar with Pei Wei and their menu of Asian-inspired dishes. Well, Wok Inn is pretty much the same thing, only a local version of it. A little bit cheaper, a little bit bigger portions, and (IMHO) just a little bit better tasting, too. Plus, they offer unlimited soup and rice with your meal.
I've been to Wok Inn many times in the past, so I know what to expect - pretty solid fast food versions of the usual classics like Mongolian Beef or Kung Pao Chicken and the like. I can't recall ever having a *bad* meal here. It's not as great as your favorite local hole-in-the-wall family-run place where the owner's kid spends the afternoon doing homework in the back booth. But also not poor either - quality ranges from "okay" to "pretty good".
This time around, I decided to give their cashew chicken a try - which is always a risk when you order something that is distinctly specialized. And sure enough, it really wasn't as authentic as a true Springfield-style cashew chicken (I would have been shocked if it was, TBH), but it was chicken and veggies and cashews in a garlic-oyster sauce, and that by itself was fine. (I mean after all, 90% of Chinese-"American" dishes are just different variations of stir-fried meat+ veggies+ sauce on rice or noodles, hard to mess that up too bad).
Wok Inn is part of my "regular fast food places" list when I'm home in San Antonio - never going to win any awards, but it is a solid meal. (Some other local-only fast food places on that list, BTW: the aforementioned Mr. Teriyaki and Burger Boy, plus Mr. Juicy, Frontier Burger, Papouli's, Zito's Deli, Fire Wok, Murf's Better Burger, Wrigleyville, The Dogfather, Gino's Deli, Sea Island, Longhorn Cafe, Wayne's Wings)
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
| Chain Name | Orange Leaf |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Frozen Yogurt |
| # of US Locations | 62 |
| # of US States | 17 |
| Primarily located in | Texas |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | not ranked (out of top 500 list) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | not ranked (out of top 500 list) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $9.86, standard dev. $3.81) | 46th out of 72 snacks |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 5.5 (out of 10) / 3 (out of 10) |
I'm not crazy about frozen yogurt in general. It's still generally a nice little dessert, but in the pantheon of other frozen confectionaries, it ranks below hard ice cream, soft ice cream, gelato and sherbert. I guess it's the left-handed stepchild of frozen desserts.
It did have its day in the spotlight, though, when it seemed like there was a TCBY on every corner. But changing consumer preferences have really taken their toll on the "FroYo" market, and it's not as dominant as it once was, as people turn more to bubble teas, and reacquainting themselves with gourmet hard ice cream again.
Orange Leaf is a regional chain, dozens of locations across several states, but mostly in Texas. The way it works is pretty easy - there are about a dozen different self-serve dispensers, that each offer up a different flavor of frozen yogurt, and you choose how much you want to put in your cup. Then, there's a self-serve selection of dozens of different toppings and mix-ins, from the expected (chocolate sprinkles, crushed nuts, fruits, candies) to some really weird shit. You put in as much as you want, but be careful, because the price is based on the total weight of your concoction.
And there's the rub - it's quite pricy for what you get. It's like seventy cents (more or less) per ounce, and that adds up fast. And makes it more expensive (by weight) than all but the priciest of ice cream parlors.
The other major issue I have with this type of place, is how sanitary it was. While I was there, there was also a large family of children from toddlers who were grabbing the trays and throwing them on the ground, to kids grabbing at the toppings with their sticky hands. And the lone employee giving off a "I'm so sick of this" vibe, stone-faced at the register.
Was the frozen yogurt good? Sure it was - it may not be my favorite but it's still tasty. But for my dollar there's so many other places to go that give more of a bang for the buck, and without germy little kids running around.
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE: This review series is scheduled to wrap up on Day 365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
| Chain Name | Penn Station |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Sandwiches |
| # of US Locations | 316 |
| # of US States | 14 |
| Primarily located in | Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | 171st (out of 500) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | 175th (out of 500) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.34, standard dev. $3.03) | 138th out of 295 meal reviews |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 7 (out of 10) / 5 (out of 10) |
I never intended to eat sub sandwiches three days in a row, but here we are. (Usually try my best to mix it up), Following visiting two local sandwich restaurants, the third one is a much larger, multi-state Midwestern-based chain, Penn Station East Coast Subs. Oh, wait...I mean, Penn Station SANDWICHES. They officially changed their name last month. Even though I thought "East Coast Subs" has a bit of a neat sound to it, and dropping that and replacing it with the bland "Sandwiches" is a bit of a thud.
The reasoning behind the name change is due to Penn Station broadening their menu. Pre-COVID, 90% of Penn Station's sales were hot subs and fries eaten in-store, and that is what they were known for. But Post-COVID, we've seen a sea-change in how people order and eat fast food, to where most of Penn Station's sales are by delivery or take-out (much like, well, the entire rest of the fast food industry). And we all know that any hot fast food item that is delivered turns into a cold, tasteless, soggy, greasy, congealed piece of shit after about thirty minutes sitting in some car. So, Penn Station has taken the hint, and shifted more towards non-heated menu items that aren't negatively affected as much by delivery.
Which is what I ordered - the classic Italian cold sub. Served open-topped with ham, salami, pepperoni and then larded up with fresh veggies and seasonings. It was great. I think I only have eaten at a Penn Station once before many years ago, so this was essentially all new to me, and Penn Station certainly nailed it. Good quality meat and soft bread, if this is their new pivot, I look forward to it.
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
I finally tried the new Shake Shack in Charlottesville, and I have mixed feelings.
First, the positives: the food was genuinely good. I have zero complaints about the quality of the burgers, the taste, or the presentation. Everything was prepared well. The restaurant itself also looks great. It has a modern design, warm colors, interesting artwork, and an atmosphere that feels fresh and inviting.
My issue isn’t with the food—it’s with the value.
For what is essentially a burger, fries, and a drink, I don’t think $25–$29 is a reasonable price. On top of that, the menu doesn’t offer many combo options, so you’re essentially buying everything à la carte, which makes the overall cost feel even higher.
More broadly, I think Shake Shack reflects a trend that’s becoming increasingly noticeable in Charlottesville. It feels like more and more restaurants are being priced for affluent residents, tourists, and people considering moving here, rather than the working- and middle-class people who actually live here. I’m not even talking about low-income residents—I’m talking about people with average jobs who simply want to enjoy a casual meal without spending close to $30 per person.
Charlottesville’s restaurant prices are beginning to resemble those of much larger cities, yet we don’t have the same population, economy, public transportation, entertainment options, or overall amenities that typically justify those prices.
Again, this isn’t a criticism of the employees or the food itself. I enjoyed both. My concern is that Charlottesville continues moving toward a dining scene that feels increasingly exclusive instead of accessible, and Shake Shack, in my opinion, is another example of that trend.
I’m curious what everyone else thinks. Is this just the new normal for fast-casual restaurants, or do you think Charlottesville is becoming increasingly expensive relative to what the city actually offers?
| Chain Name | East Bay Deli |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Sandwiches |
| # of US Locations | 12 |
| # of US States | 1 |
| Primarily located in | central SC |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.34, standard dev. $3.03) | 148th out of 295 meal reviews |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 6 (out of 10) / 5 (out of 10) |
From one sandwich place to another - the day before I had visited the South Carolina local Groucho's Deli, and now I'm at another sandwich chain down the road, called East Bay Deli.
Given that they are both vying for the same customers, it seemed natural for me to compare one to the other. Both lean heavily into offering NY Deli-style sandwiches, but aside from that (and the geographic overlap), the two couldn't be more different. Groucho's was more like your local small-down countertop deli, which East Bay Deli takes a different approach with a more cosmopolitan look and feel, more akin to Jason's Deli, for example.
That's fine - variety is the proverbial spice of life, as they say, so having multiple good sandwich shop choices isn't a bad thing. While East Bay Deli does tout their NY deli style origins, they do have a very distinct nod towards a more local selection on their menu. I chose the "Chicken Charleston", which is a hot open-top hoagie with chicken breast, onions and peppers and melted white cheese, with a side of store-branded chips. A nice satisfying choice with fresh hot chicken and the roasted vegetables making for a nice lunch, albeit with the bread a bit dry and the overall portion size was on the smaller side for the price.
Not the knock-your-socks-off discovery like Groucho's was (at least for me), but a fairly decent sandwich spot with a varied menu that I'd have no issues visiting again.
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
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I went to mcdonalds and then hesburger back to back in Tornio and the food quality was completely different. Mcdonalds burgers always taste dry and artificial with not enough sauce and the fries have barely any salt and shits so over priced.
Hesburger burgers taste fantastic and never feel artificial even if the ingredients arent what i would usually order. The fries taste fantastic even without extra salt and sauces are fantastic. You even get ice with your drink and shits reasonably priced.
Mcdonalds is American so i literally dont understand why it doesnt taste as good. Its so weird.
I have been reviewing a different fast food/fast casual restaurant every day for the past 200+ days, and earlier I reviewed the following three restaurants. However, these three received "poor" scores for one reason or another, but based on previous experience and visits I knew they could do better. Perhaps it was an "off day", perhaps it was the specific item I ordered. In any case, here are some "second chance" reviews, where I am re-visiting the chain, to see if it can redeem itself and earn a higher score.
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Second Chance Review #25. From Day 188: Jersey Mike's (3307 locations, 50 states)
I have visited Jersey Mike's many times in the past, and never had an issue with them...until the ONE TIME I went to review. Wouldn't you know it. Well, half their menu are hot subs, so I thought I would give that a try, and that's basically where I failed: Ordering something I was unfamiliar with. Well, whether I ordered poorly or not, it was still a sub-standard hot sub. But not really a fair, when comparing to all the other non-hot-sub places.
So, this time around, I chose a more standard cold sub, like I'm used. And yes, it was a better experience. But not a "great" experience. Freshly cut meat, soft bread, and metric buttload of lettuce (which I'm usually not a fan of shredded lettuce, but I know here it's cut fresh, as opposed to sitting in some bag for days on end). A perfectly decent sandwich, but having eaten so many other subs at so many other places in this review series, Jersey Mike's just seems a bit...lacking in comparison now.
Meal Quality: +1.5, going from 4 -> 5.5. Meal Value (no change), going from 5 -> 5 (out of 10)
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Second Chance Review #26. From Day 140: Zaxby's (991 locations, 20 states)
I used to be a pretty big fan of Zaxby's. But I dunno, seems something happened over the past few years and they sort of lost their way.
I can't really pin down what's different, it's just that nothing seems to stand out any more. This "second chance" I chose a combo of wings and tenders with fries. Wings ended up being small and chewy tough. Tenders were dry with flavorless breading. Fries were your run-of-the-mill fries.
Given the number of underwhelming Zaxby's meals in a row I've had, we're way past three strike you're out by this point. Maybe they screwed the pooch during their rapid expansion (like so many other chains), or maybe it's a private-equity-leeching-them-dry scenario (like even more other chains). At this point, though, I don't really care any more, given there's so many of their competitors I can go to instead.
Meal Quality: +0.5, going from 3.5 -> 4. Meal Value: (no change), going from 5 -> 5 (out of 10)
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Second Chance Review #27. From Day 17: Braum's (327 locations, 5 states)
This was one of the more controversial original reviews from (good god) almost a year ago. Braum's is probably better known as an ice cream stop, but like Dairy Queen they also have a full line of fast food staples, too -- and THAT is what I was reviewing. (Their ice cream menu, separately, is good stuff and damn cheap, too)
This time around, I chose the jalapeno pepper jack cheeseburger. Which, I guess, is supposed to be spicy, but it's really a 1/4-alarm burger at most. No matter, let's just judge it like I would an average burger.
And that is pretty much what it is. If you're had a DQ Brazier cheeseburger, this is pretty much the same. Nothing fancy about it. The meat patty itself was pretty 'feh', similar to the pre-cooked meat pucks you find at true fast food places that pull it out of a warming tray rather than cook it fresh. The veggies, were nice a fresh (look at that tomato!), though. And once again for the billionth time, fries were fries.
A better meal this second time around, but still excruciatingly middling. I'll stick to just ordering the ice cream goodies at Braum's, and leave the cooked food to elsewhere.
Meal Quality: +1.5, going from 3 -> 4.5. Meal Value: (no change), going from 6 -> 6 (out of 10)
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More "Second Chance" reviews coming down the line, in addition to the regular reviews! (And no, not every second chance review will be a positive one :))
| Chain Name | Baskin-Robbins |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Ice Cream |
| # of US Locations | 2125 |
| # of US States | 45 |
| Primarily located in | Everywhere (and internationally) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | 82nd (out of top 500 list) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | 83rd (out of top 500 list) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $9.86, standard dev. $3.81) | 58th out of 72 snacks |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 7.5 (out of 10) / 8 (out of 10) |
Baskin-Robbins is, and always has been, the King of Ice Cream Parlors. For eight decades, they have been the dominant chain across the United States (with twice as many more overseas to boot), spread across 45 states (sorry Dakotas and upper New England), serving up frozen goodness in 31 flavors. Fun fact: Did you know that they specifically chose "31" so that customers could choose a different flavor for every day of the month?
For a while there, it seems that Baskin-Robbins was in the doldrums, with negative growth for several years the earlier part of this century. With so many competitors popping up, with "gimmicks" like adding 'mix-ins' on a cold slab of granite, or in a waffle cone, or shaped in rolled flowers, Baskin-Robbins was seen more as an ice cream parlor from the past generation. But they seem to have turned things around of late, with expansions overseas, and perhaps due to pricing - more on that later.
Baskin-Robbins was the chain that I grew up with, the occasional treat when I was a kid, and all the flavors were great (except for bubble-gum, which is the definition of 'found satan' ice cream). But as an adult, I just don't find myself walking in to places like this, for the occasional scoop. So...it's been a while.
I chose a fairly straightforward two-scoop chocolate sundae, with the darkest chocolate flavor they had. Ah, the nostalgia is strong. They do serve up quality ice cream, nice and smooth and hard (as opposed to the soft stuff you find in supermarkets that may be fluffed up with so much air and other non-dairy ingredients it legally cannot be called ice cream), very richly chocolate. Doesn't look like much in the plain paper cup, but don't judge it by that.
And best of all? The price. This was about four bucks cheaper than if I ordered something similar at Marble Slab or Cold Stone or Kilwin's or Bruster's or Van Leeuwen or Handel's - in fact, Baskin-Robbins clocks in as the cheapest hard ice cream place I've been to (the only places cheaper serve soft-serve, like Dairy Queen). Not only that, but if I visited the day before, they have a weekly sundae special that would have knocked the price down two more bucks on top of that. Score! Maybe it's worth getting re-acquainted with Baskin-Robbins all over again.
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE: This review series is scheduled to wrap up on Day 365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
I’ve been a pretty frequent Jollibee customer for a long time, but after a series of experiences, I honestly don’t feel like going back anymore. I’m posting this because I’m curious if anyone else has had similar experiences, or if I’ve just had really bad luck with my local location.
The first thing is the pricing.
I know food has gotten more expensive everywhere, but paying around $19 for a 6-piece Chickenjoy just doesn’t feel worth it anymore. At that price, I’m expecting consistently good food and consistently good service. Instead, I’ve had the opposite.
The experience that really started changing my opinion happened one night when I drove there around 10:30 PM. The restaurant’s posted closing time was 11:00 PM. I walked up to the entrance and could clearly see several employees inside. People were still sitting down and eating, and multiple employees were just standing around talking.
I stood outside for a while, expecting someone to at least come to the door and tell me they had already stopped taking orders if that was the case.
Nothing.
Nobody acknowledged me. Nobody opened the door. Nobody explained anything. They just looked over and continued what they were doing.
That honestly felt pretty disrespectful. I wasn’t upset that they wanted to stop serving early if that was the case—I was upset because basic communication would have taken ten seconds.
Then another time, I placed an order through the app around the same time because the app was still accepting orders. I drove all the way there for pickup.
Again, the doors were closed.
I went through the drive-thru, and they simply told me they were closed and that my order had been canceled.
I explained that I only ordered because the app showed they were open. I asked if there was anything they could do.
The answer was basically, “Call customer service.”
That was it.
No apology. No assistance. No attempt to help. I ended up having to contact customer service myself just to get my money refunded.
Then came the order that really finished it for me.
I bought a 6-piece Chickenjoy, got home, and realized there were only 5 pieces in the box.
The next day, I went back politely. I wasn’t angry. I simply explained that my previous order was missing a piece and asked if they could make it right.
They went to the back for about a minute and then brought out my replacement piece. One employee said something like, “Sorry about the other day,” in a very matter-of-fact way, handed me the chicken, and that was the entire interaction.
No real acknowledgment of the inconvenience. No effort to make up for the mistake. Not even an extra piece or a coupon—just the one piece that had been missing.
I understand mistakes happen. Missing an item isn’t what made me stop going there. It was the pattern. Between the pricing, the confusing closing hours, the app order issue, the lack of communication, and then this, it just felt like customer service was always treated as an afterthought.
At some point, I realized every time I opened Uber Eats and saw Jollibee coupons, I just didn’t feel like ordering anymore.
It’s honestly disappointing because I used to enjoy Jollibee quite a bit. But when you’re paying premium prices, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect employees to communicate with customers respectfully, have ordering systems that actually match their operating hours, and handle mistakes in a way that leaves customers feeling valued instead of brushed off.
Has anyone else had similar experiences, or is my local Jollibee just an exception?
The location is the one near TX medical center. 8001 S Main St #100, Houston, TX 77025
I went to watch a movie and this is the first time I thought of having burger and bro it was so good crispy. After 5% off on District I got it in 179 only.
I am hella bored with popcorn stuff, gonna try different snacks from now on
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| Chain Name | Groucho's Deli |
|---|---|
| Food category | Primary: Sandwiches |
| # of US Locations | 29 |
| # of US States | 3 |
| Primarily located in | nearly all in SC |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025 | not ranked (out of 500) |
| Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.34, standard dev. $3.03) | 277th out of 295 meal reviews |
| Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal | 8 (out of 10) / 7 (out of 10) |
Forget all those big-time sandwich chains - it's the smaller, local places that rock!
Groucho's has been serving sandwiches since before my parents were born, but limited almost entirely to South Carolina. Dating back to an era when deli-style sandwiches meant something, Groucho's serves meat-piled-high East Coast hoagies, as well as "dippers", or stacked dagwoods, and hot "fork-and-knife-ready" sandwiches that would stand up to anything you would find at famous places like Katz Deli, but at a fraction of the cost.
This ain't your standard assembly-line fast food sub establishment. This is an experience.
I chose a standard hoagie, which is served open-faced with bologna and salami and provolone and cole slaw, then with freshly thin-sliced ham on top, served with their own name-branded potato chips. And best of all, this was the least expensive full-sized sandwich compared to the two-dozen-plus other sandwich places I've reviewed.
It was, to put it simply, delicious. fresh hot meat with melted cheese on soft roll, it really hit the spot. This place is a keeper! It's a shame the nearest location is well over a thousand miles away, though.
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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)
Not worth it. Missing half the container.
I order the 20 piece chicken tender meal (Jumbo tenders) from the Portillo’s/Barnelli’s location in Niles, IL pretty much every other week, and they’re usually really good. But I got them last night and something was completely off.
The breading was extremely dry, flaky, and crunchy, almost brittle. It tasted nothing like the usual tenders.
Hopefully this was just a one off experience because they’ve truly never tasted that bad, and isn’t the new normal. I know they were bought out by private equity but I never noticed a dip in the quality of their chicken tenders…
