From Mexican to Mediterranean, and sandwiches to snow cones, there's a chain for almost every kind of cuisine. Even with dozens of locations nationwide, there are some chain eateries that customers say they would skip in the future. FinanceBuzz compiled a list of the franchises that customers often complain about, with big names like Starbucks and Panera Bread topping the list. Here are the most 'overrated' chains that customers say to avoid at all costs.
Panera Bread
With soups, salad and sandwiches on the menu, some customers were left fuming about recent changes at Panera Bread. Last year, the chain announced it would close all its fresh dough factories and switch to an 'on-demand' baking model using frozen bread. 'The bagels used to be really good, and their cream cheese,' one Reddit user wrote. 'Everything is pre-packaged now and shipped to site and they just pop it in the microwave (hot food) or put it in a water bath. Way overpriced for what you get.'
Starbucks
They're one of the world's biggest coffee chains with almost 17,000 US locations. For some coffee purists, Starbucks isn't worth the price tag or the lines. 'They never make my drink correctly,' one Reddit user said. 'And the syrup is always at the bottom. I wish I never got into the Starbucks habit. And I resent how in their app how they "challenge" you to spend your money to earn stars.' The company also revamped their rewards system, now placing customers into different tiers based on how frequently they visit.
Chipotle
This 'Mexican grill' has been on the receiving end of customer criticism lately, with some claiming that burrito sizes have shrunk in recent years. In 2024, Chipotle's then-CEO Brian Niccol announced that the chain had found more than 10 percent of its 3,500 locations were scoring poorly on portion sizes. Since then, Chipotle has been actively working on winning back diners with regular-sized burritos and the occasional discount deal - but some customers aren't convinced. One Reddit user shared his frustration after receiving a miniature-sized burrito for a whopping $12. 'I got barbacoa, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, and salsa...' the customer said. 'I've never had portions be a problem at chipotle and this is my first time.'
Papa John's
With plenty of competitors in the fast food pizza space, Papa John's announced plans to close 200 restaurants this year and another 100 by the end of 2027. It will also axe about 7 percent of its HQ staff. With low sales contributing to the company's downfall, one social media user said that even if Papa John's specializes in affordable pizza, they noticed 'a huge decline in service and quality over the past couple years.'
Cracker Barrel
Failed 'woke' rebrand attempt aside, Cracker Barrel has been accused of cutting corners by some customers. In 2025, the Southern country chain switched to making biscuits in batches and chilling them, rather than rolling out fresh dough on demand. It has since switched back to rolling biscuits by hand and baking them fresh. 'Prices went up, quality went down,' one Reddit user said. 'Freezing the bread makes it dry and disgusting.'
Panda Express
With so many local Chinese restaurants nationwide, some Panda Express customers argue that small businesses typically have better tasting food. 'Pretty much all of their food is bland, under seasoned and nothing to get excited about,' one Reddit user said. 'Orange chicken, their most popular dish, is overly sweet and yet still lacks flavor somehow.'
