With most of us probably due for a driving vacation, lets list the worst particular fast food joints we've stopped at. I'll go first. The worst I've ever experienced is the Emporia, VA McDonald's--practically had to beg the staff to serve us. A Hardees in Kinston, NC is none too good either.

McDonald's in Lynchburg, Virginia for many reasons but primarily because the female server was three quarters of the way through giving us our food when the manager told her to cook some more fries - she took it literally and put out food down, out of reach of us, and proceeded to go and get some frozen fries from the freezer. Bad.

The worst fast food place we've ever been to is every single McDonald's we stopped at driving through Florida, that didn't have an indoor air conditioned playland! This may seem a minor point to some of you, but to parents of small, antsy children on a long car trip, those indoor playgrounds are a blessing, especially in Florida in the summer.

Isn't it a little unfair to single out a specific fast food restaurant, especially when the problem has to do with the service? The turnover at these places is constant and the chances are that little high schooler who didn't give you your food in 3.5 seconds will be gone.

I won't name the franchise (because it's not a national but a local issue, as "al" stated) but I went to a fast food burger place in the tenderloin area of SF and was totally disgusted. A used condom hanging over the edge of the toilet bowl, dry feces inside the bowl, live bugs in the corner of the bathroom, grime on the floor....no way was I about to test the food.

I wouldn't let my children anywhere near those McDonald's play places. When was the last time one was cleaned out? Blood, urine, spit, snot, and worse. How much e-coli is in those play balls, huh?

In Gatlinburg they have a hard time keeping those play balls in stock. They started charging entry into the Playplace, or kids can just pay-by-the-lick.
And just try to find a urinal that still has the mint in it!

"Icky", BELIEVE me, I don't let my kids play in the ball pit! I've seen McDonald's workers go around sweeping the balls that are scattered around the play area into the same dustpans they've already swept who knows what, and then toss the balls back into the pit. Gross!

My husband was in line for a morning biscuit, lazily watching the activities behind the counter in the cooking area. A laaarge woman was kneading the biscuit dough, when she suddenly stopped. Her floured hand went digging into her blouse to scratch an apparent armpit itch. Once relieved, she went right back to kneading that dough. "So," my husband thought as he turned on his heels to leave, "that's what they mean by "made from scratch biscuits"!

Two words: White Castle.

Anywhere. They're STEAMED fer cryin' out loud! Blech.

My vote goes for Wendy's and McDonald's located on Prince William Parkway in Virginia. Dairy Queen and even IHOP IMO have both lost their flavor. Some of these fast food restaurants wouldn't be so bad if management would just see that they are thouroughly cleaned.

Any Kentucky Fried Chicken Anywhere

Al, I was answering the question, it was the worst fast food place BECAUSE of the service, Teddy didn't specify it had to be the worst food etc.

Hello?! The absolute worst has GOT to be WHITECASTLE!!! Everyone I know who craves Whitecastle knows full well they'll regret it the next day. Oddly enough there seems to be some unwritten rule that the subsequent, inevitable gastro-intestinal disturbance is just part of the experience. I can't understand it but I know my fellow NYers will back me up! LOL

ttt

Kentucky Fried Chicken, it is a mystery to me why they have to use gallons of lard to cook that chicken. When the chicken gets cold......YUK

Personally I find all fast-food totally vile. Anyone who reads "Fast Food Nation" is going to have a very different opinion about these places afterwards and will definitely think twice about ever eating this crap again. I like a nice crispy french fry as much as anyone -- but I'm making my own now.

I can't believe that no one has mentioned Arby's yet. I don't know what type of meat they put on those buns (I suspect their actually skin-grafts) but it sure isn't beef.

Tom

White Castle

Glad to know the what the meat at Arby's is, now what does Hardees make their burgers from.........no wait don't tell me I don't eat there anyway.