8 Restaurant Chains I Avoid and Where I Go Instead

Grabbing a bite to eat at one of your favorite restaurants is a great way to spend time with friends or family. Depending on where you live, you might be surrounded by chain restaurants or there may be a lot of hole-in-the-wall places with unique and quality food.

For those of us who live in larger cities, there’s a chain restaurant on every corner. Although there are many popular independently-owned restaurants across the country, there’s something about the familiarity of chains that makes restaurant-goers flock to them for lunch or dinner.

There are plenty of restaurant chains that offer excellent food, but there are also some that I prefer to avoid. With certain chains, I’m not a fan of the environment and with others, I haven’t had the best experience. Regardless of the reason for avoiding them, there’s a better alternative for every restaurant I try to avoid.

Many of the restaurant chains I avoid do have redeeming qualities and they’re some of the most popular chains in the country. Both Panda Express and Panera have over 2,000 locations across the country. However, I’ve found what I like and if I’m going to spend money on lunch or dinner at a restaurant, I want to find the places with the best quality food, service, and atmosphere. Keep in mind, the service and food quality at these restaurants may vary by location.

To create this list of restaurant chains I avoid and where I go instead, I’ve used mostly my personal experience at each of these restaurants. However, we also looked at reviews and ratings and compared some of the most popular restaurant chains. (Check out the 6 Steakhouse Chains I Avoid and 6 I Go to Instead.)

Here are 8 restaurant chains I avoid and which chains I prefer instead:

Applebee’s

Applebee’s is the kind of restaurant chain that has a certain nostalgia factor for many restaurant-goers. Maybe it’s because I didn’t spend much time at Applebee’s as a kid, but it doesn’t have that effect on me. While I’ve been there enough times for the menu and environment to be familiar, it’s not my favorite place to grab dinner.

Best Alternative: BJ’s

If you’re looking for a lively environment and excellent food, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is a great alternative. The food is always top quality and they also have an extensive food and drink menu. Their menu offers everything from steak to pasta and deep-dish pizza. Their prices are a bit more than Applebee’s, but the quality is worth the splurge.

Chili’s

Chili’s is another one of the most popular restaurant chains that’s nostalgic for many and is often considered the type of restaurant where you can meet friends for a meal and drink. If you’ve got a favorite dish at Chili’s, you’ll probably find the food is consistent each time you visit, but other than that, there’s nothing really unique about the menu.

Best Alternative: Cheddars

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the perfect choice if you’re looking for delicious comfort food that won’t break the bank. Everything at Cheddar’s is made from scratch and the low price is kind of unbelievable considering how much food you get and the quality of the meals. Everything from the drinks to the appetizers is delicious and you can’t beat the honey butter croissants.

Panera

Fresh submarine sandwich with ham, cheese, bacon, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and onions on wooden cutting board

I’m not saying you should avoid eating breakfast at Panera or enjoying a sweet treat from there. Their cinnamon rolls are as big as your head and most of their baked goods are pretty good. But when it comes to sandwiches, the prices are a bit high considering the amount of food and the presentation. Grabbing a quick lunch at Panera can end up costing $15 per person or more if you add on a drink and dessert.

Best Alternative: McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Deli is a similar option to Panera since they serve sandwiches, salads, and soups. You can even enjoy the choose 2 option, which is similar to the you-pick-two at Panera. Although the price at McAlister’s is similar to Panera’s, I find the presentation and freshness of the sandwiches to be better there. Plus, McAlister’s also has their famous spuds, or loaded baked potatoes.

Steak ‘n Shake

I used to love going to Steak ‘n Shake as a teenager, especially during their half-price happy hour when you could get your milkshake for half off. This chain is one of the ones that has a nostalgia factor for me, but it’s not the best place to go if you’re in a hurry, especially if you’re ordering food to go. I’ve had more than one experience at Steak ‘n Shake where I’ve had to wait an extraordinarily long time in the drive-thru or picking up an online order inside the restaurant.

Best Alternative: Shake Shack

When they first opened a Shake Shack near me, I was so excited to try out this chain. I have to say, it did not disappoint. Their burgers were delicious and their fries were perfectly cooked. We couldn’t leave without trying the frozen custard as well, which was worth the extra calories at the end of the meal.

Zaxby’s

mouth-watering delicious homemade burger used to chop beef on the wooden table.

I was initially excited when a Zaxby’s opened near me because I’d heard so many people raving about it. After visiting the drive-thru a handful of times, I became a big fan of their different sauces and wide range of fountain drinks. But I also noticed that the service and food were so inconsistent each time that it felt like a gamble every time I visited. I’m pretty sure I would have really enjoyed the food at Zaxby’s if I wasn’t afraid they would mix up my order or get my drink wrong.

Best Alternative: Guthrie’s

Gutherie’s is a restaurant that almost exclusively exists on the East Coast and predominantly in the South, but if you’re ever in a city with a Guthrie’s, you have to stop there for some of the best fried chicken and sweet tea. For $15, you can get tasty fried chicken fingers, fries, cole slaw, Texas toast, and the signature Guthrie’s sauce. Compared to most other fast food places, the service and quality of the food here are top-notch.

Five Guys

This is a tough one because when Five Guys first opened in my city, it was the place to be. I have to admit their burgers are tasty and considering they make them right in front of you, you know they’re fresh. However, Five Guys is a bit pricey, even though burgers are a decent size, and while many people love the fries there, I prefer crispy fries over soggy ones.

Best Alternative: Culver’s

The first couple of times I went to Culver’s, I didn’t see what the big deal was–but that’s probably because I kept ordering chicken instead of a burger. When it comes to their chicken sandwich, they’ve got nothing on Chick-fil-A, but their burgers are awesome, their fries are perfectly crispy, and all their food is made fresh. It’s one of the only fast-food restaurants I never feel bad about eating at.

Olive Garden

Trust me, I know what you’re thinking. Why would you want to avoid the unlimited soup and breadsticks at Olive Garden? Honestly, if I do go to Olive Garden, it’s specifically for the soup and breadsticks. As far as the main entrée items, there’s nothing really fascinating about them. Most people are aware that Olive Garden isn’t an authentic Italian restaurant, but most of the menu items can be found on other restaurant menus.

Best Alternative: Carrabba’s

If you’re looking for a quality meal that’s worth the price, Carrabba’s is the place to be. Like Olive Garden, it’s not the same as going to a family-owned Italian restaurant, but their food is absolutely delicious. From the fresh bread to start your meal to the tasty desserts, everything is high-quality and beautifully presented. I’ve been to Carrabba’s hundreds of times since I was a kid, and every meal has been exceptional.

Panda Express

If you’re craving Chinese food, you might find yourself at Panda Express. Typically, their food is consistent and you know what you’re going to get. You’re probably going to find better Chinese food at an authentic Chinese restaurant, but the main reason I stopped going to Panda Express is because of how long their drive-thru took. Even visiting other fast-food restaurants where the food was freshly made took a shorter amount of time than getting food to go at Panda Express.

Best Alternative: P.F. Chang’s

If you’re going to wait a while for your Chinese food, you might as well wait for a meal from P.F. Changs. P.F. Changs is a great sit-down restaurant with a classy and cozy environment. However, if you’re looking for something to go to, you can do take-out and delivery from the restaurant. There are also many P.F. Chang’s To Go locations popping up all over. (Don’t miss the US Cities with the Most Chain Restaurants.)