Did the quality of fast food take a huge hit?

For sure it did. Post-pandemic it’s quite a lot worse in general. There are a variety of reasons for this, I suspect. Among them is that fast food companies started using lower-quality (thus cheaper) ingredients to attempt to ameliorate the effects of wholesale inflation. Also, I’m guessing the ubiquity of delivery apps divorced direct feedback on food quality from the experience of its consumption so there are fewer complaints that make it to anyone who notices or cares.

It’s not just fast food, though. Food quality even at middle- and high-end restaurants has nose-dived too. Recently, I got lobster ravioli with fresh crab at a local mid-end restaurant. It was nearly $40 for just the entrée. The dish had nearly no actual seafood in it, was otherwise entirely mediocre and the portion size was also extremely small.

When I pay that much for something, I expect it to be better than what I can make at home. That wasn’t even close. I could’ve whipped up something similar but tastier in 30-ish minutes.

So this decline in quality is occurring in every tier of restaurant.