One might argue that the longest-running and most popular fast-food burger chains (such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and White Castle) have withstood the test of time by maintaining consistency in food quality. Unfortunately, some beloved fast-food chains will lose their edge in 2025 due to a variety of factors, including rising ingredient costs. For example, multiple Whataburger customers have reported that the popular Southern burger chain’s food quality has dropped significantly.
Although smaller than some of the larger fast food chains, Whataburger is another long-standing fast food chain that first opened in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today, the burger chain has more than 1,000 locations, nearly 800 of which are in Texas. Whataburger offers a variety of popular menu items, but is best known for its custom-made burgers using never-frozen beef patties.
However, according to several customers in the r/Whataburger thread on Reddit, the quality of Whataburger has declined in recent years, mostly since the start of the pandemic. The original poster, who claimed to be a regular Whataburger customer, claimed to have noticed a difference in taste, and many Reddit users agreed.
Notably, despite customer complaints, Whataburger’s sales increased 9.4% in 2024, reaching its highest revenue in history, according to Franchise Times. At the same time, sales of McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast food restaurant, increased slightly by 0.9% in 2024.
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Reddit Complaint
Whataburger Burger Combo – The Image Party/Shutterstock
Some Reddit users were particularly unhappy with the situation at Whataburger’s burgers and fries. One customer said, “I’m in Texas and the restaurants near me have really gone bad. They used to be so delicious and fresh and now you have to wait 20 to 25 minutes for burgers, fries, and breakfast that taste stale and low quality.” Many of the complaints were about the fries, which were reportedly no longer hot and crispy like they used to be, and the toppings and overall quality of the burgers had declined.
Some people also complained about the poor service they received. One person complained, “Since selling out, the food quality has declined and so has the customer service. I gave up two years ago. Although I have been offered free meals, I have refused them.” There is speculation online that the quality of Whataburger’s food has declined since a majority stake in Whataburger was sold to Chicago-based investment bank BDT Capital Partners in 2019.
As with many businesses transitioning from family to corporate businesses, there is a perception that focus on quality has diminished to accommodate expansion. However, it’s difficult to quantify whether the food is in general decline or, like many fast food restaurants, people are getting a batch of inferior food here and there. You have to decide for yourself the authenticity of Whataburger.
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Read the original article about Mashed.