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6 Burger Chains That Just Aren’t Worth the Drive-Thru Line Anymore

Fast food doesn't always spell savings.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Sept. 30, 2026

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Eating out can be a fun pick-me-up at the end of a long day, and swinging past your favorite burger joint can give you that boost without ruining your budget. At least, that's how fast food used to work, but rising prices might be forcing you to try creative ways to stretch your fast food budget further. These days, a growing number of consumers report that burgers at some key chains no longer deserve their reputation for affordability.

Keep reading for our list of burger chains to skip if you value your bottom line.

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Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box has struggled with its image since at least 1993, when it was the site of a deadly E. coli outbreak that eventually overhauled meat inspection in the United States.

The chain might be perceived as a little more sanitary these days, but customers on ConsumerAffairs still give the chain just a 1.5 out of a possible 5, citing inaccurate orders and long wait times. Common complaints include "tiny" burgers that aren't worth the price, "horrible" food, and consistently poor customer service.

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McDonald's

According to Business Insider, McDonald's increased its prices by 10% in 2022, then raised them another 10% in 2023. While the chain's burgers haven't experienced its steepest price increases (that would be the fries, whose prices have jumped far higher than the rate of inflation), the company's CEO observed in 2024 that households earning $45,000 a year or less were eating in rather than going to McDonald's.

The McDonald's price hikes probably wouldn't sting as much if the company didn't spend decades billing itself as the place where a burger cost a dollar. Now, even with a new McValue menu rolling out, customers are having a hard time trusting the chain with their money again.

Wendy's

Increasing prices with decreasing portion sizes (not to mention declining quality) are common complaints among Wendy's customers. One frequent pain point is the loss of Wendy's popular 4 For 4 deal, where customers could choose from 4 $1 items to make a meal of small fries or a burger. Along with eliminating 4 For 4, Wendy's increased the price of its $5 Biggie Bag (which came with a burger, fries, drink, and side) to $6 — a switch consumers see as a lose-lose.

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Burger King

Burger King merits better reviews on ConsumerAffairs than Jack in the Box does, but only by half a point: with just two out of five stars (and over 1,000 reviews), the chain best known for its burgers isn't winning any popularity contests among customers.

Poor quality is a major factor in Burger King's declining rates. Customers complain about squashed sandwiches, terrible flavor, too much salt, and unsavory textures (one review wrote that their "Whopper had pickles like shoe leather," and their "French Fries were hard as pencils.")

White Castle

Unlike most other burger chains in the U.S., White Castle tried to help customers fight inflation by lowering prices, offering a temporary $7.99 deal on 10 cheese sliders. And while most burger chains have had to raise prices in most markets to cope with some of the highest beef prices in modern history, White Castle has at least slid under the radar: White Castle customers don't complain about price hikes as loudly as McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King customers.

Still, White Castle's quality has made its low prices less appealing to some customers. Unsatisfied customers point to long wait times and undercooked, cold burgers and fries, so there might not be much bang for your buck.

Carl's Jr.

A few decades ago, Carl's Jr.'s ads made fast food burgers sexy. Mouth-watering, juicy burgers drew crowds to the chain, but today's consumers are far less impressed. Fewer reviewers complain about burger quality than reviewers of other chains (especially Jack in the Box), but many reviews reference long wait times, poor customer service, and overpriced drinks and sides.

That said, Carl's Jr. launched a made-to-order "Burger Revolution" in September 2026. It's possible a custom, higher-quality burger will make consumers more willing to pay fine dining prices for a fast-food burger, but the new burger's success remains to be seen.

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Bottom line

It's unfortunate, but years of inflation have turned fast food from a cheap indulgence to a surprising financial mistake. Still, it's possible to treat yourself without upending your monthly budget. If Whoppers or McDoubles are some of your top comfort eats, you don't have to cut them out entirely.

Instead, combine cutting back on eating out with actively considering fast food when you craft your dining budget. Eating in more often can give you a financial cushion that ensures you can still enjoy the occasional treat when the craving strikes.