7 Fast-Food Sandwiches You May Want to Skip, and Why
A familiar fast-food sandwich can sound like an easy win until the price feels steep or the first bite falls short of expectations. Sometimes, the issue is paying a premium for a simple grilled cheese.
Other times, a sandwich looks promising but disappoints a reviewer with its texture, toppings, or flavor. These seven sandwiches have drawn criticism in published reviews, although none is guaranteed to disappoint every customer.
Here is what budget-conscious diners may want to consider when weighing value before ordering.
Five Guys Grilled Cheese
Five Guys puts an interesting spin on a familiar comfort-food favorite by using an inside-out sesame-seed bun with American-style cheese melted inside. The sandwich is grilled until golden, and customers can choose additional toppings.
The question is whether that approach justifies the price. In a grilled-cheese comparison published by Business Insider, a reviewer paid $7 for the Five Guys version, compared with $3.25 for Sonic’s grilled cheese.
The reviewer actually preferred Five Guys on taste, praising its hot, melted cheese. Still, someone looking for an inexpensive, straightforward sandwich might prefer the cheaper alternative.
Shake Shack Grilled Cheese
Shake Shack’s grilled cheese keeps things simple, featuring American cheese inside a grilled potato bun. Its appeal is easy to understand, especially for diners who enjoy a warm, cheesy sandwich without extra ingredients competing for attention.
However, the reported price may give budget-minded customers pause. The same Business Insider comparison listed the purchase at $6, while Sonic’s grilled cheese cost $3.25. The reviewer enjoyed Shake Shack’s flavor but considered it noticeably smaller than Sonic’s offering.
That judgment was visual rather than based on measurements, so it should not be treated as a verified portion difference across locations. For diners prioritizing size for the price, cheaper options may deserve a look.
Related: 7 Foods You Should Never Store in the Fridge Door, According to Food Safety Experts
Burger King Big Fish
The Burger King Big Fish combines an Alaskan pollock patty with tartar sauce, lettuce, and pickles on a toasted potato bun. It offers a familiar alternative to burgers and chicken, but one reviewer questioned whether the purchase justified its price.
In a Business Insider fish-sandwich comparison, the reviewer paid $7.39 before tax and fees at a Brooklyn, New York, restaurant in March 2026. The patty seemed chewier than competing options, while the reviewer wanted more tartar sauce and better-distributed lettuce.
It ranked last among five tested. The crisp pickles and potato bun earned praise, but the overall combination left that reviewer wanting more.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
The McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish combines wild-caught Alaskan pollock, tartar sauce, half a slice of American cheese, and a steamed bun. Nevertheless, reviewers have disagreed about whether it delivers enough in terms of size and texture.
A Cleveland.com comparison reported a $5.29 purchase in the Cleveland area in March 2026. The panel felt the patty looked small relative to the bun and wanted more crunch and flavor. By contrast, Business Insider praised the fish’s flakiness and generous tartar sauce in a separate Brooklyn purchase.
If you want a substantial-feeling sandwich with a crisp texture, the Filet-O-Fish might not be your first choice, though other diners may appreciate its softer style.
Sonic Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Sonic’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich features a crispy chicken fillet, pickles, lettuce, and mayonnaise on a brioche bun, according to the restaurant’s product description. One review found the overall experience less memorable than that combination might suggest.
In a September 2025 chicken-sandwich taste test, Cheapism reported paying $5.29 and ranked the sandwich eighth among 10 tested. The reviewer acknowledged the large piece of chicken but criticized the lettuce for lacking crunch and felt the bun did little to improve the flavor.
However, PureWow’s comparison praised Sonic’s sandwich for its size, seasoning, and crispness. The conflicting assessments make this a preference-dependent pick rather than an obvious order to avoid.
Related: 8 Cheap Fast-Food Meals That Could Be Costing You More Than You Think
Zaxbys Signature Sandwich
Zaxbys builds its Signature Sandwich around a double-hand-breaded chicken fillet, Zax Sauce, three thick-cut pickle chips, and a toasted split-top potato bun. For customers considering this order, the seasoning and signature sauce may be the deciding factors.
Cheapism’s September 2025 taste test reported a $6.99 purchase and placed it ninth among 10 chicken sandwiches. The reviewer appreciated the crunch but disliked the seasoning and Zax Sauce.
That distinction matters: the criticism centers on personal taste, not a universally poor sandwich. Zaxbys has also highlighted a favorable ranking from Thrillist. If the sauce is not to your liking, the reported price may be difficult to justify, but fans may disagree.
McDonald’s McCrispy
McDonald’s McCrispy features Southern-style fried chicken and crinkle-cut pickles on a toasted, buttered potato roll. It is a relatively simple sandwich, with the crispy coating expected to play a central role in the experience.
In Cheapism’s September 2025 taste test, the reviewer paid $4.99 and ranked it last among 10 chicken sandwiches, criticizing its limited seasoning and lack of crunch. A separate Chowhound comparison also placed it last, citing bland flavor and limited toppings.
Those findings make the McCrispy worth reconsidering if bold seasoning and a crunchy coating are priorities. Still, the reviews describe individual purchases, not every sandwich prepared at every McDonald’s location.
A sandwich can be familiar and enjoyable to some diners while leaving others questioning the price. These reviews highlight different concerns, from the cost of a simple grilled cheese to disagreements over chicken texture, fish portions, and sauces.
The figures cited are historical purchase prices from published reviews, not confirmed October 2026 menu prices. Local costs, preparation, and personal preferences can all change the equation.
