We learn early as kids that “just because everyone else does it, doesn’t mean you should, too!”
Similar logic holds with popular chain restaurants.
Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s, you know, good.
Here are the eight popular chains that have the lowest approval ratings…
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We found eight chain restaurants that at least 95% of people have heard of, but have relatively low approval ratings (vs. other famous chains).
The data comes from surveys from YouGov.
An example of a popular chain that people do like quite a bit is Dunkin’. 97% of people know it (who are the other 3%?!?!) and despite all Dunkin’s competition, 72% like it!
Let’s get to the ones that didn’t score nearly as well…
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Know It: 96%
Like It: 57%
Sonic leads off our list. It has retro cool and every menu item under the sun (e.g. for sides, it has tots, fries, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, Ched ‘R’ Peppers, pickle fries, and various toppings on said sides), but unlike something like a lesser-known option like Culver’s, the taste of the variety just doesn’t stack up.
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Know It: 98%
Like It: 56%
Over the years, Denny’s has been around for many a late night, and it has some epic name recognition (Moons Over My Hammy? Genius naming!). But especially in recent years, there are arguably better late-night choices (including better diners…Waffle House certainly gets more love in the South!).
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Know It: 95%
Like It: 54%
Another one whose best days may be behind it. Is anyone clamoring to go to TGI Friday’s as a first choice these days? And if they are, do they get the side-eye from their dining partners?
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Know It: 95%
Like It: 53%
My #1 complaint about Buffalo Wild Wings? The size of the wings. They’re so tiny! I get that that keeps the costs down, but no matter how good the sauces are, it can’t make up for a lack of meatiness.
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Know It: 97%
Like It: 54%
Arby’s doesn’t have Buffalo Wild Wings’ problem. They have the meats!
I’m a sucker for the Double Roast Beef (again, more meat is better…although I find the Half Pound Roast Beef is a bit too much).
Still, only 54% of people like Arby’s, putting it at #4.
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Know It: 97%
Like It: 53%
Okay, this one would score a lot higher if it was a children’s poll. It’s debatable whether Chuck E. Cheese’s may be getting a bad rap. On the one hand, it’s a great experience for the kiddos (and their birthday parties), but the actual pizza has certainly declined over the years.
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Know It: 98%
Like It: 53%
This one (as well as #1) shocked me. I get that people like to make fun of its priciness and the burntness of its coffee, but to rank lower than McDonald’s (which has a 59% “Like It” score) and way lower than Dunkin’ (72%)?
Whatever, I still love a Starbucks coffee!
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Know It: 95%
Like It: 51%
I don’t get this one at all! Golden Corral is the least-liked famous restaurant chain. Personally, I think the food is both delicious and plentiful. But I guess a lot of people are skeeved out by buffets.
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Know It: 96%
Like It: 65%
We didn’t want to be all negative…As an example of one that you’d correctly guess that people do like quite a bit…it’s Chick-Fil-A with about a 2/3 approval rating!
Which brings us to…
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The worst-liked popular chains are:
1) Golden Corral
2) Starbucks
3) Chuck E. Cheese’s
4) Arby’s
5) Buffalo Wild Wings
6) TGI Friday’s
7) Denny’s
8) Sonic
Which begs the question…
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The data’s the data, but which chain doesn’t deserve to be on this list?
Alternatively, which chain were you expecting to see (I was surprised Red Lobster didn’t make the list, but it got a 61% Like Rating).
Let me know in the comments section!
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