10 Iconic Fast Food Items That Have Gone Downhill

Remember how fast food used to taste back in the day? Many people will recall the difference in quality and portion sizes. Nowadays, more and more customers are complaining about the changes they've seen from the most iconic fast food items, citing shrinking sizes, poor presentation, and an overall decline in quality. Sure, we understand that rising food costs have left many restaurants pinched, leaving them with no choice but to reduce portion sizes or quality or increase prices to protect their already slim margins. But let's be honest: Our sympathies are reserved for the small businesses and neighborhood spots that truly add color to the culinary landscape, not the dime-a-dozen fast food restaurants that underpay their workers and are still seeing rising profits.

Although complaints about declining food quality at fast food restaurants seem to be relatively universal, we're taking a look at some of the most iconic fast food menu items to see how much they've gone downhill in the last several years. We've pulled comments from Reddit to show just how far customers think these items have fallen, digging into how exactly they've gotten worse over time. We're not saying that you shouldn't buy any of these menu items. But when you really think about how they've changed, you might question whether they're still worth the cost.

Is there any fast food menu item more iconic than McDonald's Big Mac? This burger is stacked high with two thin, salty burger patties, American cheese, pickles, shredded lettuce, and those glorious finely diced onions. The signature Big Mac sauce only adds to the deliciousness, usurping basic ketchup and mayo every time. But according to many Big Mac fans out there, the burger used to be a lot better than it is now. One customer took to r/mildlyinfuriating to question what happened to the Big Mac. They said they used to work at McDonald's, so they know how the sandwich is supposed to be made. Theirs came with way too much sauce on it, and they questioned why there apparently wasn't any quality control.

Another Reddit user who bought a Big Mac in France questioned the use of the term "big," since their sandwich was much smaller than they had anticipated. "In France (I don't know about elsewhere), eating at McDonald's has become way more expensive than eating at a real restaurant," another Reddit user commented. Others have also alleged that Big Macs are getting smaller, with one Reddit user calling out the patties' shrinking size specifically. Whether the size of the sandwich has actually gotten smaller or not, one thing is for sure: Many McDonald's customers seem to feel like they're not getting their money's worth when they order this menu item.

Another heavy hitter on the fast food scene is Burger King's Whopper. This sandwich, stacked with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles, is known for its cheeselessness. It's an arguably more refreshing take on a fast food burger that's been on the Burger King menu since 1957. But in that time, the sandwich has apparently seen some changes, and it doesn't seem like customers are too happy about it.

One such customer posted on r/fastfood about Burger King's Whopper, wondering whether anybody else felt like the sandwich tasted better in the early 2000s than it does now. They said that they used to love the burger, but it just doesn't taste like it once did. A commenter on this post wrote that fast food in general had gotten worse because companies wanted to use cheaper ingredients to increase their profits. 

Another Reddit user asked a similar question, also claiming that the burger was better back in the 2000s. "Now, whenever I try the [Whopper], it's a soggy and tasteless mess," they said. On a different thread, yet another customer also said that the menu item had gone downhill but complained of dryness instead of sogginess. Regardless of specific criticisms, there are more than a few people out there who aren't happy with how the sandwich has changed.

Sure, you can get a chicken sandwich at a ton of different fast food chains, but actual, dedicated chicken-focused fast food restaurants, like Chick-fil-A, should be the best places to get a chicken sandwich. After all, these are places that literally focus on chicken and don't just think of it as an alternative to a burger. But even though Chick-fil-A is known as a chain customers trust for quality, that doesn't mean that customers haven't seen a decline in the quality of the restaurant's signature chicken sandwiches.

A Redditor asked the r/fastfood subreddit whether others thought that the chicken quality had declined at Chick-fil-A. They specifically called out the chicken on the sandwiches, saying that its texture had gotten worse and its size had decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic. They also mentioned that prices for the chicken at the chain had risen. A commenter affirmed that the original poster wasn't alone. 

On a different thread, another Reddit user said that the chicken sandwiches had gotten smaller, while another post echoed the same complaint about shrinking sandwich sizes. "It looked more gray in color and the patties on the sandwich shrunk in size. It's just never been the same since," they said. Other users complain that the patties have gotten thinner and fattier, despite the fact that they used to be thick and juicy.

In a fast food world full of burgers and fries, Taco Bell sets itself apart by serving up Mexican-American menu items like tacos and burritos. Perhaps the most iconic item on the menu, though, is the Crunchwrap Supreme. You can choose between chicken, beef, and beans for your source of protein, and the wrap also comes stuffed with a smattering of veg. Add in the tostada for crunch, and it's clear why this is such a beloved menu item. Or, perhaps we should say that it was a beloved menu item, since some are questioning whether it's worth buying anymore.

A few years back from the time of writing, one customer wrote that they hadn't had a good Crunchwrap Supreme in a few years, even though they used to love them. Another wrote that they'd "officially broken up" with the Crunchwrap Supreme, attaching a photo of a particularly thin and sad-looking one to their Reddit post. But that depressing Crunchwrap wasn't even as bad as the photo of one on another Reddit user's post — this one was so unbelievably thin that you have to wonder how any Taco Bell employee thought it would be okay to serve.

If you'd never had a Crunchwrap Supreme before, you might just think that's how they come. But according to yet another Taco Bell customer on Reddit, they used to be filled more generously in the early 2000s. "Nowadays, every [Taco Bell] I go to skimps on the ingredients, wraps it so loosely it falls apart, and doesn't toast it long enough," they said.

For bacon lovers, there's perhaps no better fast food menu item out there than Wendy's Baconator. This sandwich made its debut in 2007, and since then, it's been a solid choice for all those who want even more meat than a standard burger can provide. The sandwich comes with ½ pound of beef, six slices of bacon, American cheese, mayonnaise, and ketchup. It sort of seems like a dream sandwich for those who love meat and hate vegetables.

But former fans of the sandwich on Reddit claim that the burger isn't what it used to be. According to one poster, the Baconator used to be massive. "Now it's a Dave's single with ketchup and bacon for $14," they said. A commenter on the post added that the bacon is also subpar now. Another pointed out the lack of bacon on their burger, and a commenter wrote that their brother had ordered one, and it didn't come with any bacon at all. They're not the only ones; another customer also complained about getting less bacon than they used to, claiming that Baconators almost had too much bacon back in the day. "Sad how things have changed," they wrote. If you're looking for a sandwich that's guaranteed to be absolutely stacked with bacon, it seems like you might want to skip Wendy's and go elsewhere.

In-N-Out is a beloved West Coast chain that's perhaps best known for its Double-Double, a simple but delicious burger that features two beef patties and two slices of American cheese, in addition to the classic combo of tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. The sandwich was first advertised in 1963, and since then, it's been a must-try item on the burger chain's menu. But how do modern-day Double-Doubles compare to the old-school version of the sandwich? Well, if you ask some Redditors, there's been a decline in Double-Double quality over the years.

A Redditor noted that not only does the burger seem to be lower quality than it once was, but the patties have also shrunk. "They used to have more meat, now a [Double-Double] is more like a single," another Redditor said, noting that they wouldn't go back to the chain after a particularly egregious experience with In-N-Out's food. Yet another poster wrote that the patties had gotten thinner specifically and that Double-Doubles weren't as satisfying as they once were. They also complained about the chain's rising prices. Nobody wants to pay more for a sandwich that feels less substantial than it once did.

It turns out that the Big Mac isn't the only McDonald's product that has gone downhill, according to customers. Another culprit is the chain's Quarter Pounder, which comes with a thick burger patty, American cheese, pickles, and onions, with ketchup and mustard for added flavor and moisture. This is the kind of burger you order when you want a more substantial bite of meat than the thin-pattied Big Mac can provide. But according to some customers, the burger isn't what it once was.

The name "Quarter Pounder" implies that the meat is, of course, actually a ¼ pound (before cooking, at least). Regardless, one customer accused the chain of shrinkflation, providing potential explanations for why the patties seem thinner than they used to be. A commenter on this post who claimed to be 60 at the time they wrote it said that they'd definitely seen the sandwich shrink. A different Reddit user said that they often feel gristle when they bite into McDonald's burgers, including the Quarter Pounder. And in response to a 2018 change McDonald's made from frozen to fresh beef for its Quarter Pounders, a Reddit user said that the original version was actually better than the new one.

Burger King's Chicken Fries stand out from the fast food crowd because they're not something you can get everywhere. While there are countless burgers, chicken sandwiches, and even tacos in the fast food sphere, Burger King is the only place we know of where you can get this kind of side dish in chicken form. Despite that novelty, Burger King customers don't seem to be particularly happy about how the Chicken Fries have been tasting in recent years.

A Burger King customer posted a picture of their carton of Chicken Fries on Reddit, asking what had happened to the menu item. Although the carton was quite tall, the fries inside were tiny, making it look like the serving size was way bigger than it actually was. A commenter on this post remembered how they tasted back in 2011. But when they'd had the Chicken Fries more recently, they found that they didn't taste nearly as good as they had back then. A different Redditor actually measured a fry to show just how small it was and posted the photo in the r/shrinkflation subreddit.

Another Reddit poster straight-up accused the chain of shrinkflation. Not only had the fries gotten smaller, they wrote, but the fries they received were mostly breading. On the r/Millennials subreddit, a Redditor said the chain's Chicken Fries didn't taste like the crispy ones from the early 2000s.

KFC is another one of those fast food restaurants you go to when you're looking for something a little different from the standard burgers-and-fries fare. Perhaps one of the chain's most iconic items is the Famous Bowl, a dish packed with mashed potatoes, corn, cheese, chicken nuggets, and — most importantly — lots of gravy. This dish came out in 2006, though. How has it changed since then?

According to some customers online, it's not as good as it once was. A Redditor wrote that "KFC [Famous Bowls] suck now," specifically calling out the small amount of mashed potatoes and corn you get, as well as the chicken that's mostly breading. Another Reddit user posted the name of the product in the r/shrinkflation subreddit. In response to a separate thread in which one poster called KFC's Famous Bowls being "just alright," a commenter said the menu item was significantly better 15 years ago. If you haven't had a Famous Bowl in a while, just be warned: It may not taste like you remember it tasting back in the day.

There's no denying that Dairy Queen is the Goliath of the fast food ice cream world. Although you can get plenty of savory items on the chain's menu, most customers are probably going there for the ice cream specifically. And what's Dairy Queen's most iconic ice cream offering? If you ask us, it's the Blizzard (even if it's not technically ice cream). These frozen dairy treats are combined with various mix-ins for a sweet and texturally interesting dessert, but according to some, they aren't as good as they once were.

A Reddit user said that Dairy Queen in general had gone downhill, but they specifically pointed out that the chain's Blizzards were no longer mixed properly. "I remember when [Blizzards] had the toppings throughout. Now its the first 20% has toppings and the rest is nothing," they said. On a different thread, another customer echoed this same sentiment. But that's not all. On the r/DairyQueen subreddit, a customer questioned what had changed with the chain's Blizzards, claiming that they were more watery and melted faster. Yet another Redditor wrote that when they order Blizzards these days, they're usually only three-quarters of the way full. It's not just about volume, either; a Reddit user also complained that their Blizzards "tasted like they were freezer burnt and like it has crystals on them."

To determine which menu items should appear on this list, we searched for Reddit comments about how certain iconic fast food dishes had changed over time. The items that received the most overwhelmingly negative feedback appeared on this list. We looked for specific complaints about portion size and overall quality, although more specific complaints were also noted.