Fast Food Employees Rank the Dirtiest Chains to Work For

Americans constantly eat out, especially at fast food spots. It's cheap (sorta) and quick (most of the time). But is it worth it? This depends on who you ask.

While fast food is convenient, it's also high in saturated fats and sugar, leading to health problems. On top of this, fast-food spots aren't the cleanest places to eat.

But don't take it from just us! Redditors took to the internet discussing multiple posts on which places were the dirtiest and worst to work at. Here are some fast food and casual restaurants that employees think are dirty and you should avoid.

Note: Not every location is the same. Each location has a different owner(s), so your experience may differ.

Not even free food or a discount is enough for some Taco Bell employees to eat at the restaurant. They know just how dirty, cheap, and unhealthy the food they serve is. And it makes sense. Have you ever gotten food poisoning from Taco Bell? It's a lot more common than you'd think. The food at Taco Bell has been recalled multiple times for containing Salmonella and E. coli.

Burger King isn't much cleaner than Taco Bell, although of course, location matters. Still, Burger King doesn't have the cleanest reputation, and employees know. This is a problem across the world. In Kent in 2024, a Burger King location was given a one-star rating for hygiene, making it the most unhygienic fast food spot in the country. It's since gotten up to a five-star, but let's see how long it stays that way.

Don't hate us, but internet users who work at Jack in the Box consider it one of the dirtiest fast food restaurants. They cite that management is lazy, dirty mop water is sometimes used to clean, and they are so understaffed that nothing gets deep cleaned. Jack in the Box has gotten in trouble for their food before. During the early 1990s, an E. coli outbreak in Jack in the Box restaurants sickened 732 people and led to the deaths of four children.

When was the last time you walked into a Dunkin Donuts and it was clean? If you have, congratulations, you are in the minority. Internet users, especially employees, constantly bring up the chaotic messes in Dunkin Donuts across the U.S.

Do you trust fast food seafood? Most people don't, and yet still, restaurants like Long John Silvers exist. Employees of Long John Silvers on Reddit frequently mention it's the dirtiest place they've ever worked. Some don't understand how anyone can stomach the shrimp. They also state that the food is a mix of dull, tasteless, and super greasy.

Once again, don't hate us if we bring up your favorite fast food chain. A lot of this is opinion-based and comes from reviewing what employees say online. With that being said, Arby's is another fast food spot employees don't recommend. Apparently, the fast food chain is known for getting super dirty during rush hours, and because of a lack of staff, the floors remain sticky until closing.

Sonic is also notorious for giving people diarrhea and food poisoning, as the food is so greasy. It's also a spot with a revolving door of employees. Some employees were so flustered with the dirtiness and the lack of management/support on shifts that they quit within a week (if not less)!

Technically, Golden Corral isn't a fast food spot or drive-thru, but a casual buffet. However, it's worth a mention because of how dirty the place is. Many locations are plagued with pest issues, including rodents and roaches. Not a pretty sight or thought when you're trying to eat.

Again, not fast food, but also not that different. Applebee's has had quite a few food poisoning scandals. In 2014, a few menu items were recalled after a food poisoning outbreak. They've also been sued before for similar reasons. For instance, Sloan Ross, a 19-year-old, filed a lawsuit against Applebee's after falling ill with E. coli.

Employees and customers have a lot of complaints about the popular chain Buffalo Wild Wings. According to both, the chicken quality is low and rubbery, and the floors always seem to be dirty. Gross!

Look up Wendy's employee reviews, and your jaw will fall open. So many employees, both current and former, are working at this chain because of its high demand/stress, and low wages. On top of this, they state it's hard to clean because of how busy it is, meaning some things remain dirty until morning. Lawsuits aren't uncommon with this company either due to food poisoning. In 2024, a family sued Wendy's after their daughter ate a meal there and faced extreme food poisoning caused by E. coli that escalated and left her with brain damage. When investigating, they noted that employees weren't changing their gloves after contamination.

One Reddit search and you'll see just how many former and current Denny's employees hate the company. But money is money, and when you have to work, what other options are there? The complaints from employees range from a lack of training to dirty kitchens and cross-contamination.

If you don't cook seafood right, you're bound to get food poisoning or indigestion. This is a common story for people who eat at Red Lobster. If you don't want to listen to employees, look at Yelp reviews. Food poisoning is a common complaint.

Church's Texas Chicken isn't the most high-quality place to eat, and it's not even cheap. Employees are rushed to finish orders quickly, resulting in burnt or under-cooked chicken! This is a recipe for disaster.

Last but not least is Taco Bueno, which, like Taco Bell, employees recommend staying away from. This cheap taco spot has been involved in a long list of food poisoning incidents. Check out the reviews of any Taco Bueno, and you'll see!