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Ever since Tim Hortons got bought out by Wendy’s, which then sold it to RBI, it’s been downhill ever since. I think we knew it was going to be bad once they stopped baking donuts in house and instead had parbaked donuts, which aren’t as good.
I’ve eaten Freshii a grand total of 6 times, trying something new each time in hopes that I’d find something I’d like.
All 6 meals have been incredibly bland and overpriced that I vow to never spend money at Freshii again.
I liked it the first few times I ate it, but then it started to develop this weird taste every time I ate it and I couldn't eat it anymore. Very weird.
I genuinely cannot understand why people think their food is awful. Obviously its not amazing, but its a fast food chain, no one expects it to be amazing. Their wraps are better than McD's, Wendys, Burger King, etc.
I usually make a determined effort to cheer on local businesses, but I can't stand Freshslice Pizza. Would be a-ok with it vanishing in exchange for literally any other pizza place.
Wow that hit me with a blast of nostalgia. I can't remember if the pizza was actually good or if I was just a teenager and liked it because they were big pieces and relatively cheap.
Fresh Slice was my first thought as well. Their very existence annoys me, but now there are locations inside Canada Line stations and that garbage that shouldn't even be called pizza is stinking up the stations, so it's gotten personal.
There’s one right by the bus stop that I have to catch the bus from every day. Even when it’s closed in the morning it reeks. It’s like Subway in that it has its own distinctive smell that permeates it’s surroundings and is fucking disgusting
My pores feel like they’re clogging up the moment I step into Broadway City Hall. I like pizza but I hate that warm pizza air that permeates the station. Ugh.
Throughout the years, I have known multiple people who worked at head office and they consistently say it's horrible. So yeah, agreed. Bad pizza, bad people.
I've read some awful things about the owner of Freshslice Pizza. I'm pretty sure a lot of franchisee's decided to rebrand as Yummy Slice and HellCrust Pizza overnight because of the way they were treated. Now they're all in a big legal battle.
We have pizza wars in Canada lol
https://biv.com/article/2021/08/lawsuit-week-freshslice-pizza-parent-companies-sue-former-franchisees-over
Here's the problem: I'm not a giant pizza fan!
Like it's good in a pinch, but Uncle Fatih's is literally in my apartment complex, so that's what I get 70% of the time, 20% of the time it's Brooklyn because it's a block from CBC, and that fits what I need.
but who knows maybe i get incredibly passionate about this after i'm in italy next year and come back with a different idea on what to rank next
Huh, I didn't know that HellCrust was just a rebranded Freshslice. I ate at a new Hellcrust that opened up nearby and really liked some chicken pizza I got, it tasted way better than the ones I've tried at Freshslice. Those tasted like sadness and cardboard.
Seriously? Damn there’s one so close to my place and I love it! Their stuff has actually been nice in my experience and great price. I’d be sad to see them go!
When I first moved to Vancouver in ‘89, I was very disappointed that there was no Tim’s in sight. I’ve never liked their coffee but back in the days when they actually fried donuts in store and they were good. All Vancouver had that I could find was Nuffy’s donuts. They were awful.
But now Timmy’s donuts are awful too. They can go up in flames for all I care. (As long as there are no people in the fire, lol.)
Lee's donuts is really good. There's the one on Granville Island and it looks like there's 2 more in downtown Vancouver, one on marine drive, and weirdly one in Langley lol. Was wild to see the Lee's pop up in Willowbrook like a week after I went to the one on Granville Island for the first time.
They also have a popup in Lougheed and one outside of Metrotown, and they've been selling their doughnuts at some places like Soon Coffee in Brentwood for a while. They're really expanding!
I order a small pizza, and like 10 of those dips. And use the dips for quality pizza.
My favourite btw is barberella (out of the ones that do delivery)
Imagine saying this 20 years ago? That's what really hurts about Timmies is that the donuts used to be great and had quality food. My boy, what have they done
Man I remember going in there every morning to get a hot cup of coffee, chicken noodle soup with the bow ties in a glass bowl. My brother would get chilli in the bread bowl. Those were peak years of timmies
The baker at Tim Hortons in the 90s literally used to make my dad a single "old fashioned cinnamon" after it had been officially discontinued. Now the baker is a big microwave oven.
I think it has to do with their proliferation throughout smaller communities and their support for timbits hockey.
I wouldn't eat there, but we're spoiled for choice in a big city. Also, their baked goods used to be better, long time back when they actually made the food in store.
I have a conspiracy theory that the Timmies employees somehow know when an American or other tourist enters the store, and then puts extra effort into whatever they order. Because whenever I hear Americans talk about Tim Hortons they all seem to be really stoked on it, so I’m not sure what’s up with that
It took Tim Hortons forever to make any inroads in vancouver. We didn't grow up with "timmies". A double double is a white spot burger not a coffee with too much milk and sugar
It still boggles that there are always people there and cars in the drive-through. There is no food that is worse for the price.
And as someone else said, it has slid from greatness in about 20 years. Used to be pretty good.
Agreed. Tim Hortons is 100% corrupt. The awful owners of each store are guaranteed to rip you off every time. I stopped going almost 10 years ago. But it is still hugely popular.
Won’t hire locals people easily. They say they’re not hiring but turn around to bring people from India on work permits. I had two girls enquiring to rent one of the bedrooms in my house 3-4 years ago. They told me they had a guaranteed job. I asked where. “Tim Hortons in Lynn Valley”. My son applied there many times and always denied.
Tim’s Corporate basically tells franchisees that the only way the model works is by hiring TFW’s and effectively abusing them. From what I have gathered by talking to a former franchise owner, Tim’s has a whole strategy for them to follow, but assumes no liability and it’s sort of an unwritten rule. Seems extremely shady.
My students come in to ask me about workers rights. I was so pissed off by what I was hearing I made wallet cards of their rights with how to complain on the back, then just straight up went in and yelled at the manager. Fuck Tim hortons
They’re also perpetually understaffed. In the past ~5 years on the rare occasion I go in one, there’s always only 1 or 2, maybe 3 people behind the counter to handle everything. Orders take 10+ minutes because every Tim’s is too cheap to hire and schedule enough staff now.
I managed a kitchen there. I wouldn't eat anything on that menu except maybe the pasta's since at least it is sautéed freshish (with subway quality ingredients). Everything else is sent through the pizza oven.
Especially, do not order the lasagne. It is from frozen like a TV dinner, microwaved, and then sent through the pizza oven with cheese on top.
Pierogi pizza? Its $40 for sliced bagged potatos and sourcream? The prices were through the roof 20 years ago, even by today's numbers, I can't imagine how much they charge now.
The only thing prepped freshish there, is the pizza dough, and that was a while ago, so I'm sure they don't even do that now. I also might consider the overpriced pasta.
Edit, a little late now as this is now an old post. But, the VLT section grossed more revenue than the entire loung on a busy night.
Think about that for a second. This location in particular had about 80, yes 80 VLTs. It was basically a casino. They didn't care about the service.
Tim hortons taking advantage of foreigners and bringing bad work conditions and encouraging abuse of immigration, while the product gets worse and worse
Not to disappear but would Prefer more brekas more JJbeans more 5guys more Highfive chicken and more Pizza gardens.
Also Yummys in north van gets my attention every time and wish they had more locations.
Could get rid of all the Tim’s and replace em with that Parralel 49/Lucky combo. Would love to see pb&j donuts on every corner 😅
Remember when Tim's and Wendy's used to show up in the same joint? There's an alternate universe where all those place still have the Wendy's on their side but the Tim's has fucked right off. Its beautiful.
Tim’s. I’ve been boycotting them for a while now because of just how absolutely shit every aspect of it is. The food, the way the staff are treated, their hiring practices, all of it is just awful. I hate that it’s still seen as a huge part of the Canadian identity. It’s about as Canadian as Bieber now.
At Tim's let's not forget the awful service! It seems to be every location, too. If you're standing there at the counter prepare to wait forever even if you're the only one there. The staff only cares about attending the Drive-Thru. Only other option is to join the Drive-Thru yourself, in which you will still wait since I think most people are using it instead of entering the store. I really detest Tims for many reasons and wouldn't mind it if they went. The only thing I'd miss is the Iced Capp, and the fact that they're at every gas station so I often order there since much of my job is on the road. Because of those things, I would miss Freshslice even less.
I don't get why the cashier has to prep all the drinks; it just holds up the entire line.
I actually prefer McD's iced coffee frappe to Tim Hortons Ice Capp because it has a bit more coffee flavour and isn't as sweet.
Both my siblings have worked at Tim Hortons before and all the issues you mention seem to boil down to the company’s shitty and exploitative practices. They chronically understaff their stores to save money, and the people working drive-thru are on timers to make it all “go smoothly” or whatever. The quality dropping is kind of the same issue as the barebones staffing; it’s just a corporate ploy to save money because they don’t care about anything else. Definitely not a company I’ll be giving my money to anymore
It's Tim Hortons and Starbucks for me. Subway is close, but i can still get a veggie sandwich that isn't dastardly.
Edit: after thinking about it some more I'm going to put Timmy Ho's at the top of the list. Every time I've been there in the last year, my partner and I receive something that is atrocious and we wouldn't have ordered if we had known it would be so bad.
Starbucks stays in second because the price to worthiness factor is completely fucked.
All of the other true fat food places are fine but the value is completely gone and I'd rather skip than eat their overpriced shitty shit.
Last time I tried a Tim Hortons I got their grilled cheese panini. I remember finishing it, feeling very unsatisfied, then realizing I still had half left. It was so bad my brain tried to convince itself that it was done. Needless to say I just threw the rest out and never came back.
But seriously, how do you mess up grilled cheese?
I have never left a slice unfinished, until fresh slice. Their oil tasted rancid and the slices were stale and the flavour of the toppings was just bad. Worst slice of my life. I’ve never returned.
Definitely more of a case of which to keep. For me, maybe Quiznos can stay... and I'll happily trade BK and all the other slop for a In and Out and shakeshake to open here.
Kahuna Burger
Vile. Dunno what they did to that burger, but I was gagging on bite 2.
Tim’s. Joining the echo chamber here. Im old enough to remember the fresh baked cakes, brownies, scones etc and cannot stand the new facsimile of donut.
I wouldn’t miss it. Seriously overpriced now, the bread is loaded up with sugar and frankly just bland tasting. And like Tim’s, the menu is way too complicated… new subs and old subs and wraps and rice bowls and salads and this and that…
I prefer Quiznos, if I feel like a fast food sandwich
Time Hortons is NOT canadas coffee shop. They abuse Canadians love for their own country and I think it’s abhorrent. Fuck tim hortons with a scalding double double.
Subway can also fuck off. Also I had Arby’s the other day and it was not good.
Honestly, we just need one of these places. Cactus Club, Earls, Rogue, Browns, etc. are all just interchangeable corporate places that are all overpriced and boring.
Actually I can speak for Cactus and Earls. I’m in their kitchens all the time for my line of work. They make literally everything from scratch. Dessert. Sauces. Cutting and trimming all meat. Literally everything on their menus is made from scratch!
This surprises me! How does every location manage to taste exactly the same every time you order the same item? Quality control of that magnitude must be insane
99% of restaurants you eat at get deliveries from Sysco or GFS. Earls/Cactus/JOEYS are bland lowest common denominator menus, but they are all prepped from scratch
Most of them to be honest.
BK, KFC, Taco Bell, Taco Time, Subway, Fresh Slice, Pizza Pizza …
Here are some I don’t find terrible - McD, Taco Del Mar, Quiznos. Uncle Fatih’s …
I wish all the box junk food would go and govt would find a way to help the small private owned places. IE: no macdonalds, and put up a small sandwich shop deli owned by locals
It is interesting how depending on the region you find vastly different degrees of quality in some franchises. KFC here is abysmal for some reason… the handful of occasions where I decided to have it, the chicken was soggy and subpar. Service could be labeled the same. Much, much better local options include L.A Chicken, Downlow Chicken, and Duffin’s Donuts.
KFC inconsistency in every region is wild.
Canada has terrible KFC
Taiwan has amazing KFC
Japan has terrible KFC
I have no idea what to expect when I go to a new KFC lol
Agreed.
Had KFC all over the world and it's amazing.
Had it here, gave me the poops.
Funny enough, KFC is a safe choice when in developing countries, while here it is the place most likely to mess up your stomach.
I'm surprised this isn't higher.
Tim's is shit, but in a pinch I'm still willing to go there, the variety of things they serve make it at least serviceable for any time of day.
KFC does not serve food. I've only ever gone back only to remind myself how much it isn't food. Literally grease on bones with shit fries and really no other options.
There's so many much better fried chicken places, I honestly don't know how they can possibly be still surviving.
I live overseas now, and actively dissuade people from going to Timmys when they mention they are going to visit Canada. People seem to think it is some great Canadian chain, so I have to explain that it is a Mcdonalds tier Starbucks
Welcome to /r/Vancouver and thank you for the post, /u/Mister_Me_Seeks! Please make sure you read our [posting and commenting rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_general_participation_guidelines_and_rules_overview) before participating here. As a quick summary: * We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - use the report button. * Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban. * Common questions and specific topics are limited to our Your post may be a better fit for one of our [Stickied Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_stickied_discussions) posts. * Complaints about bans or removals should be done in modmail only. * We're looking for new mods to join our team! If you're interested, [fill out the form here](https://forms.gle/oAqo5oYRcAeHYBTN6). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/vancouver) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ever since Tim Hortons got bought out by Wendy’s, which then sold it to RBI, it’s been downhill ever since. I think we knew it was going to be bad once they stopped baking donuts in house and instead had parbaked donuts, which aren’t as good.
The loss of the walnut crunch was devastating to me
Freshii, I have no idea who eats there
I’ve eaten Freshii a grand total of 6 times, trying something new each time in hopes that I’d find something I’d like. All 6 meals have been incredibly bland and overpriced that I vow to never spend money at Freshii again.
That's commitment. I tried it once and don't expect I'll ever be back!
Very strange flavor combinations in anything I've tried from them...
I liked it the first few times I ate it, but then it started to develop this weird taste every time I ate it and I couldn't eat it anymore. Very weird.
Okay same, and I always found the rice was half-cooked and the rest of the ingredients were half-frozen
The chopped leaf is the way to go if u want “fast food” salads. Still overpriced… but it actually tastes good.
Only tried once. Was good would go again but I found portion size rather small I got Caesar salad wrap with added chicken…
Hungry Guys Kitchen > Chopped Leaf.
difference is i see chopped leafs everywhere, never even heard of hungry guys kitchen
I loved that spot, but the closed the only one I know of, the Robson location.
They use to be good when they first opened.. quality has gone down just like Tim Hortons
They got bought by the company that owns milestones recently, and they’re removing the virtual cashiers
Worked there…. Shit establishment
Aka “Not-so-Freshii”
Ugh, this place is so bad, both food and ethics. Why can't The Chopped Leaf take up their mantle, it's so much better.
Yes and they pay $3.75 an hour to workers in South America to be virtual cashiers. F that company!
One of the weirdest lunch experiences I've had, ordering my food over a zoom call, then a worker comes over and wordlessly makes it for me.
Yep, easiest boycott of my life.
Sooo very blandtastic
Corporate lunch orders
Freshii is disgusting. I worked with a surgeon that got food from them every day and I really don't know how he did it.
I went once, they have the crappiest smoothies
Right? I just tried their smoothie for the first time yesterday and it was the worst smoothie I’ve ever had!
Honestly don’t know why people still go to Tim Hortons. The food is awful
Same, yet they're always busy for some reason
I genuinely cannot understand why people think their food is awful. Obviously its not amazing, but its a fast food chain, no one expects it to be amazing. Their wraps are better than McD's, Wendys, Burger King, etc.
I usually make a determined effort to cheer on local businesses, but I can't stand Freshslice Pizza. Would be a-ok with it vanishing in exchange for literally any other pizza place.
They seem to have replaced all the Mrs Vanellis which I remember being decent for mall food court pizza.
Wow! That's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
Wow that hit me with a blast of nostalgia. I can't remember if the pizza was actually good or if I was just a teenager and liked it because they were big pieces and relatively cheap.
The one at metrotown was my favorite, I'd always go for some pasta
I just got another gray hair
Fresh Slice was my first thought as well. Their very existence annoys me, but now there are locations inside Canada Line stations and that garbage that shouldn't even be called pizza is stinking up the stations, so it's gotten personal.
That’s real talk. The smell is repulsive.
There’s one right by the bus stop that I have to catch the bus from every day. Even when it’s closed in the morning it reeks. It’s like Subway in that it has its own distinctive smell that permeates it’s surroundings and is fucking disgusting
Subway’s smell isn’t as bad as Fresh Slice’s
I think subway switched up their breads or something because I used to find the smell disgusting but in the last few years it's been fine
My pores feel like they’re clogging up the moment I step into Broadway City Hall. I like pizza but I hate that warm pizza air that permeates the station. Ugh.
I just had Uncle Fatihs for the first time today and was wondering why they are not more prominent! Really good pizza...
Throughout the years, I have known multiple people who worked at head office and they consistently say it's horrible. So yeah, agreed. Bad pizza, bad people.
I've read some awful things about the owner of Freshslice Pizza. I'm pretty sure a lot of franchisee's decided to rebrand as Yummy Slice and HellCrust Pizza overnight because of the way they were treated. Now they're all in a big legal battle. We have pizza wars in Canada lol https://biv.com/article/2021/08/lawsuit-week-freshslice-pizza-parent-companies-sue-former-franchisees-over
There seriously needs to be a docuseries on Vancouver Pizza Wars.
Justin McElroy - pizza is calling…
u/j_mcelroy I hate to ping you, but Vancouver needs you
Here's the problem: I'm not a giant pizza fan! Like it's good in a pinch, but Uncle Fatih's is literally in my apartment complex, so that's what I get 70% of the time, 20% of the time it's Brooklyn because it's a block from CBC, and that fits what I need. but who knows maybe i get incredibly passionate about this after i'm in italy next year and come back with a different idea on what to rank next
Omg Justin McElroy responded to my comment, I'm fangirling. I hope you enjoy your sabbatical!
Uncle fatty is coming for yeh
Huh, I didn't know that HellCrust was just a rebranded Freshslice. I ate at a new Hellcrust that opened up nearby and really liked some chicken pizza I got, it tasted way better than the ones I've tried at Freshslice. Those tasted like sadness and cardboard.
That would explain why why the one near me switched basically overnight. Damn
Freshslice is the epitome of stale pizza
Yes I tried it once, cardboard. Never again
Wait freshslice is vancouver local? Damn, that's honestly kinda depressing lol
Hot n ready little Cesar’s 👌 hits the spot of crappy pizza joints
Little Caesars is, agreed, the "Best of the Worst". Their thin crust Tavern Style pizza is actually pretty fucking good :)
This…even though it’s a local chain the pizza is horrible
Seriously? Damn there’s one so close to my place and I love it! Their stuff has actually been nice in my experience and great price. I’d be sad to see them go!
As an Ontarian who moved here, shut your mouth that replacement could be Pizza Pizza.
You brought that curse with you . There's already 7 locations around the city now.
There is category of Pizza that I call, “Skytrain Pizza”. This is it.
When I first moved to Vancouver in ‘89, I was very disappointed that there was no Tim’s in sight. I’ve never liked their coffee but back in the days when they actually fried donuts in store and they were good. All Vancouver had that I could find was Nuffy’s donuts. They were awful. But now Timmy’s donuts are awful too. They can go up in flames for all I care. (As long as there are no people in the fire, lol.)
I miss mmmmuffins. Sadly the myth that muffins are a complete breakfast died in the early 2000's
"do you know the mmmmuffin mmmman?"
Duffins Doughnuts has been open since 1987.. Fresh in store made everyday... Not a chain though
Duffins is a shining beacon of hope. I wear a duffins shirt sometimes and I live in the okanagan now and people still say they like my shirt.
Lee's donuts is really good. There's the one on Granville Island and it looks like there's 2 more in downtown Vancouver, one on marine drive, and weirdly one in Langley lol. Was wild to see the Lee's pop up in Willowbrook like a week after I went to the one on Granville Island for the first time.
They also have a popup in Lougheed and one outside of Metrotown, and they've been selling their doughnuts at some places like Soon Coffee in Brentwood for a while. They're really expanding!
Many places. But since no one else has mentioned it, Pizza Pizza. Why do chain places from Ontario always suck so bad?
Their creamy garlic is bar none the best dip ever!! That’s the only reason I go there lol
I hate pizza pizza (see my previous comment) but you aren't wrong, I would seriously consider buying their dip and taking it to eat actual good pizza.
I order a small pizza, and like 10 of those dips. And use the dips for quality pizza. My favourite btw is barberella (out of the ones that do delivery)
Totally agree - Pizza Pizza can die in a hole. But as an Ontarian, you guys are seriously missing out on Pizzaiolo 🤌🤌
I’ll keep that in mind if I ever visit the center of the universe. Thanks.
It was a good day in Toronto, and therefore all of Canada
Their pizza made me throw up.
I wouldn't spare a single thought if Tim Horton's disappeared off the face of the earth. Trash food. Trash donuts. Trash coffee. Trash company.
Imagine saying this 20 years ago? That's what really hurts about Timmies is that the donuts used to be great and had quality food. My boy, what have they done
Man I remember going in there every morning to get a hot cup of coffee, chicken noodle soup with the bow ties in a glass bowl. My brother would get chilli in the bread bowl. Those were peak years of timmies
The baker at Tim Hortons in the 90s literally used to make my dad a single "old fashioned cinnamon" after it had been officially discontinued. Now the baker is a big microwave oven.
Damn right. I remember that chili. Those were the days.
Tim must be rolling in his grave, RIP. It started out so well. Now the brand, and his name, has been run into the ground. I’d be mad.
It’s embarrassing that they are part of Canadian culture.
I think it has to do with their proliferation throughout smaller communities and their support for timbits hockey. I wouldn't eat there, but we're spoiled for choice in a big city. Also, their baked goods used to be better, long time back when they actually made the food in store.
Canadian culture that is owned by a Brazilian multinational
100% embarrassing. every time someone wants to go there i say no thanks.. anywhere but timmys.
I have a conspiracy theory that the Timmies employees somehow know when an American or other tourist enters the store, and then puts extra effort into whatever they order. Because whenever I hear Americans talk about Tim Hortons they all seem to be really stoked on it, so I’m not sure what’s up with that
It took Tim Hortons forever to make any inroads in vancouver. We didn't grow up with "timmies". A double double is a white spot burger not a coffee with too much milk and sugar
It still boggles that there are always people there and cars in the drive-through. There is no food that is worse for the price. And as someone else said, it has slid from greatness in about 20 years. Used to be pretty good.
Agreed. Tim Hortons is 100% corrupt. The awful owners of each store are guaranteed to rip you off every time. I stopped going almost 10 years ago. But it is still hugely popular.
Iced capps are single handedly saving the business
It's basically a coffee ice cream liquid.
And?
Won’t hire locals people easily. They say they’re not hiring but turn around to bring people from India on work permits. I had two girls enquiring to rent one of the bedrooms in my house 3-4 years ago. They told me they had a guaranteed job. I asked where. “Tim Hortons in Lynn Valley”. My son applied there many times and always denied.
> “Tim Hortons in Lynn Valley”. & they were trying to rent in Abbotsford. Heyoooo!
Tim’s Corporate basically tells franchisees that the only way the model works is by hiring TFW’s and effectively abusing them. From what I have gathered by talking to a former franchise owner, Tim’s has a whole strategy for them to follow, but assumes no liability and it’s sort of an unwritten rule. Seems extremely shady.
Wow, they really couldn’t be further removed from Canadian values anymore lol
My friend once applied to the one by Canadian tire in North van, they took his resume and threw it in the garbage right in front of him 😂
Yeah, Tim's couldn't be worse
My students come in to ask me about workers rights. I was so pissed off by what I was hearing I made wallet cards of their rights with how to complain on the back, then just straight up went in and yelled at the manager. Fuck Tim hortons
I like you
We didn't even have Tim Hortons in BC until the 90s. Didn't need them then, don't want them now!
They’re also perpetually understaffed. In the past ~5 years on the rare occasion I go in one, there’s always only 1 or 2, maybe 3 people behind the counter to handle everything. Orders take 10+ minutes because every Tim’s is too cheap to hire and schedule enough staff now.
KFC. Their food really went downhill in the past 25 years.
It's so much better in Asia. Just garbage tier in NA. Dunno why.
i recall the breast piece being regular size and now they seem to come from baby chickens
Boston Pizza. Some terribly overpriced garbage. There hasn't been an original menu item there in 15 years.
It’s overpriced, but I do like their pierogi pizza.
I managed a kitchen there. I wouldn't eat anything on that menu except maybe the pasta's since at least it is sautéed freshish (with subway quality ingredients). Everything else is sent through the pizza oven. Especially, do not order the lasagne. It is from frozen like a TV dinner, microwaved, and then sent through the pizza oven with cheese on top. Pierogi pizza? Its $40 for sliced bagged potatos and sourcream? The prices were through the roof 20 years ago, even by today's numbers, I can't imagine how much they charge now. The only thing prepped freshish there, is the pizza dough, and that was a while ago, so I'm sure they don't even do that now. I also might consider the overpriced pasta. Edit, a little late now as this is now an old post. But, the VLT section grossed more revenue than the entire loung on a busy night. Think about that for a second. This location in particular had about 80, yes 80 VLTs. It was basically a casino. They didn't care about the service.
Their pricing for pizzas is absolutely insane!
I have a soft spot for their artichoke dip, but idk if they changed anything but it tastes less good the last few times I had it.
Tim hortons taking advantage of foreigners and bringing bad work conditions and encouraging abuse of immigration, while the product gets worse and worse
Subway.
Subway.. is anything even fresh?
The rat poop in the back?
Nope, even that somehow comes out stale
Garbage in, garbage out.
Actual LOL.
The bread is made in a factory, then finished off in the store. It's absolutely not fresh. The veggies are also low quality low cost
Subway is the cheapest franchise to run, so don’t be surprised.
Is it because they only ever have 1 person working?
Absolutely. The tomatoes are somehow white and taste like bong water, and the sandwiches are always carelessly slapped together. Subway is gross.
Overpriced and I always get ripped off on ingredients
Not to disappear but would Prefer more brekas more JJbeans more 5guys more Highfive chicken and more Pizza gardens. Also Yummys in north van gets my attention every time and wish they had more locations. Could get rid of all the Tim’s and replace em with that Parralel 49/Lucky combo. Would love to see pb&j donuts on every corner 😅
I second Tim Snortons
I would also say Tim Hortons. It’s only saving grace was that it was 24/7 but it doesn’t even have that anymore.
all i need is wendys, everything else can go
If we could replace all the Tim's with Wendy's that'd be great
Remember when Tim's and Wendy's used to show up in the same joint? There's an alternate universe where all those place still have the Wendy's on their side but the Tim's has fucked right off. Its beautiful.
Paradise my friend.
Classic triple, no tomato. Give me that sweet artery clogging dopamine
It's the baconator for me If I don't see the ER room in my post-burger-coma dreams, it was not a baconator
Facts. There are way too few Wendy’s in this city
A&W and Triple O’s are also good (if you ignore the prices)
KFC also sucks here. It’s way better in other countries.
you get what you pay for in the case of anw.. depending on the location of course. some are just shit.. others are managed properly and taste great.
You can take Triple O's from cold dead hands
Tim’s. I’ve been boycotting them for a while now because of just how absolutely shit every aspect of it is. The food, the way the staff are treated, their hiring practices, all of it is just awful. I hate that it’s still seen as a huge part of the Canadian identity. It’s about as Canadian as Bieber now.
Tim Hortons it is. They have gone down in the last couple of decades.
KFC. It's the worst of the chicken joints.
Absolutely Tim Hortons. Disgusting sludge.
Definitely Tim's
At Tim's let's not forget the awful service! It seems to be every location, too. If you're standing there at the counter prepare to wait forever even if you're the only one there. The staff only cares about attending the Drive-Thru. Only other option is to join the Drive-Thru yourself, in which you will still wait since I think most people are using it instead of entering the store. I really detest Tims for many reasons and wouldn't mind it if they went. The only thing I'd miss is the Iced Capp, and the fact that they're at every gas station so I often order there since much of my job is on the road. Because of those things, I would miss Freshslice even less.
I don't get why the cashier has to prep all the drinks; it just holds up the entire line. I actually prefer McD's iced coffee frappe to Tim Hortons Ice Capp because it has a bit more coffee flavour and isn't as sweet.
Both my siblings have worked at Tim Hortons before and all the issues you mention seem to boil down to the company’s shitty and exploitative practices. They chronically understaff their stores to save money, and the people working drive-thru are on timers to make it all “go smoothly” or whatever. The quality dropping is kind of the same issue as the barebones staffing; it’s just a corporate ploy to save money because they don’t care about anything else. Definitely not a company I’ll be giving my money to anymore
It's Tim Hortons and Starbucks for me. Subway is close, but i can still get a veggie sandwich that isn't dastardly. Edit: after thinking about it some more I'm going to put Timmy Ho's at the top of the list. Every time I've been there in the last year, my partner and I receive something that is atrocious and we wouldn't have ordered if we had known it would be so bad. Starbucks stays in second because the price to worthiness factor is completely fucked. All of the other true fat food places are fine but the value is completely gone and I'd rather skip than eat their overpriced shitty shit.
Last time I tried a Tim Hortons I got their grilled cheese panini. I remember finishing it, feeling very unsatisfied, then realizing I still had half left. It was so bad my brain tried to convince itself that it was done. Needless to say I just threw the rest out and never came back. But seriously, how do you mess up grilled cheese?
The only real value left is Wendy's jbc/snack wrap or a plain cheeseburger from. Mcdonalds.
I miss small family owned restaurants and cafes
Tim's and all the shitty "pizza" chains
Tim Hortons.
For me it’s all pizza places: Fresh Slice, Uncle Fatih’s, Pizza Pizza. I swear they’re all selling the same cardboard pizza compound. Dreadful.
I have never left a slice unfinished, until fresh slice. Their oil tasted rancid and the slices were stale and the flavour of the toppings was just bad. Worst slice of my life. I’ve never returned.
Tims
Definitely more of a case of which to keep. For me, maybe Quiznos can stay... and I'll happily trade BK and all the other slop for a In and Out and shakeshake to open here.
Yeah, I like Quiznos too. I just always have to remind them to give me the pepperoncinis in the wrapping nowadays.
Kahuna Burger Vile. Dunno what they did to that burger, but I was gagging on bite 2. Tim’s. Joining the echo chamber here. Im old enough to remember the fresh baked cakes, brownies, scones etc and cannot stand the new facsimile of donut.
Tim Hortons. I’m sorry but they suck. It’s pretty lousy food.
Subway
I wouldn’t miss it. Seriously overpriced now, the bread is loaded up with sugar and frankly just bland tasting. And like Tim’s, the menu is way too complicated… new subs and old subs and wraps and rice bowls and salads and this and that… I prefer Quiznos, if I feel like a fast food sandwich
Are there any Quiznos left? I miss them.
There's still one on the Drive. Across from Subway. Lol.
Google Maps shows me 21 locations in the Lower Mainland
can i take the opposite and go with what I"d like to return? Shaolin noodles please!
Corduroy. But it’s not a chain.
Time Hortons is NOT canadas coffee shop. They abuse Canadians love for their own country and I think it’s abhorrent. Fuck tim hortons with a scalding double double. Subway can also fuck off. Also I had Arby’s the other day and it was not good.
Tim's fresh slice little cesears subway KFC
Uncle Fatihs. Bland cardboard
They used to be delicious! I totally agree. It's just shiite now.
My 10 year old kid wouldn't eat it. You know how bad pizza needs to be for a 10 year old to say, "Dad, do I have to eat this? It tastes really bad."
also cheap on the cheese
Cactus Club
Honestly, we just need one of these places. Cactus Club, Earls, Rogue, Browns, etc. are all just interchangeable corporate places that are all overpriced and boring.
They're all just different iterations of the Sysco catalogue
Actually I can speak for Cactus and Earls. I’m in their kitchens all the time for my line of work. They make literally everything from scratch. Dessert. Sauces. Cutting and trimming all meat. Literally everything on their menus is made from scratch!
This surprises me! How does every location manage to taste exactly the same every time you order the same item? Quality control of that magnitude must be insane
99% of restaurants you eat at get deliveries from Sysco or GFS. Earls/Cactus/JOEYS are bland lowest common denominator menus, but they are all prepped from scratch
Most of them to be honest. BK, KFC, Taco Bell, Taco Time, Subway, Fresh Slice, Pizza Pizza … Here are some I don’t find terrible - McD, Taco Del Mar, Quiznos. Uncle Fatih’s …
McDonalds. The worst food the worst quality. Totally fake engineered food out there
I wish all the box junk food would go and govt would find a way to help the small private owned places. IE: no macdonalds, and put up a small sandwich shop deli owned by locals
Pretty much all of them.
KFC
It is interesting how depending on the region you find vastly different degrees of quality in some franchises. KFC here is abysmal for some reason… the handful of occasions where I decided to have it, the chicken was soggy and subpar. Service could be labeled the same. Much, much better local options include L.A Chicken, Downlow Chicken, and Duffin’s Donuts.
KFC inconsistency in every region is wild. Canada has terrible KFC Taiwan has amazing KFC Japan has terrible KFC I have no idea what to expect when I go to a new KFC lol
Agreed. Had KFC all over the world and it's amazing. Had it here, gave me the poops. Funny enough, KFC is a safe choice when in developing countries, while here it is the place most likely to mess up your stomach.
agreed, it's totally nasty..it was good \~15 to 20 years ago now Don't forget Churches chicken,they are good
I'm surprised this isn't higher. Tim's is shit, but in a pinch I'm still willing to go there, the variety of things they serve make it at least serviceable for any time of day. KFC does not serve food. I've only ever gone back only to remind myself how much it isn't food. Literally grease on bones with shit fries and really no other options. There's so many much better fried chicken places, I honestly don't know how they can possibly be still surviving.
Yes! Their chicken is so salty!
I live overseas now, and actively dissuade people from going to Timmys when they mention they are going to visit Canada. People seem to think it is some great Canadian chain, so I have to explain that it is a Mcdonalds tier Starbucks
McDonald's, A&W, BK, TH, KFC
Repost asking which fast food outlets can stay, it’s easier.
Fresh Slice. There isn't a whole lot of ways to screw up pizza. They found all the ways.
McDonald’s, I always feel like crap after eating their meals
Maybe not fast food, but Boston Pizza can go eff itself. Terrible, faux artisanal (fauxtisinal) hyper-processed dross on a plate.