How does Wendy's manage to stay alive as a business and not get bought by one of the better fast food chains? I sometimes wonder whether they even know they're competing against a handful of other stores and, if they know, whether they care. I got food from this place a lot when I was a kid, and didn't really have a problem with them back then. Now, they've lost their charm for me and just aren't the same anymore. They're now another restaurant that offers mediocre food at absurd prices.
I don't really have a problem with the service because they're nice and quick. What I do have a problem with is how they can have sandwiches that are in the $3-5 range when Subway does the same, although Subway's sandwiches are much bigger. Seriously, these burgers are tiny. Unless you order the 3/4 lb burger, they all are. How is it that the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club is $5.29 and the Cheesy Cheddarburger is 99 cents when they're almost the same size? One has a slab of chicken, a slice of cheese, a piece of lettuce, a few strips of bacon, and some mayonnaise. The other is just a beef patty and some melted cheddar between two buns. There's no creativity here, they're both way too small, and one shouldn't cost more than five times the other.
Okay, so Wendy's burgers are pretty much horrible no matter what you order. Getting a decent meal here is a matter of knowing the right things to order. You can get a 5-piece spicy chicken nuggets here for 99 cents, which would be a good deal... if this were McDonald's. These chicken nuggets are also really small, not that great, not that spicy, and really have nothing going for them but their price. For 99 cents, you can also get a small normal frosty here (basically chocolate soft serve ice cream), which is about the only good thing that comes with no strings attached. There's also the fries which are okay, but they're honestly kind of tasteless without ketchup and show a lot of potato skin. It's really unappealing. Another option is a single cold and tasteless baked potato with chives; it comes with sour cream and butter, and sells for $1.39. I personally don't think it's very good, but it's a lot considering the price.
For fast food options nearby, there's a Subway and McDonald's farther east along Redmond Way. I hate to say it, but the KFC nearby is also kind of bad. You could probably even get better food for a lower price at the QFC nearby. Just not here, please. The cheap burgers from the 99-cent menu are bare-boned and disappointing, and the more expensive ones are just the same. Nearly everything else they have is bland or otherwise unpleasant. I do like their frosties, but you could probably get a similar treat that's better at Dairy Queen. Really, the only time you should ever come here is when it's late at night and all the other stores are closed. Otherwise, stay away and get food somewhere else. read more