Metro Phoenix restaurant ranked the worst McDonald’s in America

Aside from the obvious question of whether or not the ice cream machine is working, how much can McDonald’s locations really differ? A lot, apparently. And the very worst location in the entire country is right here in the Valley.

A recent study by SEO Backlinks examined the Google rankings of McDonald’s restaurants nationwide. The lowest score went to the golden arches in Surprise.

The restaurant has an average Google rating of 1.55 stars. For comparison, Arizona is home to 267 McDonald’s, which average 3.41 stars across the board.

The modern stand-alone building sits at the northwest corner of 163rd Avenue and Pat Tillman Boulevard in a shopping center anchored by a Fry’s store. It’s in the far northwest reaches of the Valley, out past the Loop 303. But the next time you take a road trip to Wickenburg or Las Vegas, maybe don’t plan to stop for your McMuffin here.

“This is the worst McDonald’s in Arizona!!!!” one reviewer recently wrote. “Slow service, old food! Nothing is ever fresh and you wait at least 20 minutes in the drive-thru every single time!”

Many of the reviews note the supposed fast-food destination’s incredibly slow service, forgotten orders and stale or cold food. One reviewer simply posted the McDonald’s customer complaint phone number. Another explained, “If I could give this location no stars, I would!”

Of the 745 reviews this store has received, 82% gave it just one star. And it scored an average 0.42 stars lower than the next worst McDonald’s in the country, located in Goshen, Indiana.

So, where’s the best place to stop by for McNuggets and a crispy Coca-Cola? According to the study, the top-rated McDonald’s in Arizona is in Nogales. The best location in the Valley sits at the northeast corner of Bell Road and Tatum Boulevard in Scottsdale.

The 10 worst-rated McDonald’s in Arizona

1. 23512 N. 163rd Ave., Surprise, AZ: 1.55 (745 reviews)
2. 4555 S. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ: 2.67 (662 reviews)
3. 2751 S. Signal Butte Road, Mesa, AZ: 2.76 (883 reviews)
4. 13018 W. Indian School Road, Litchfield Park, AZ: 2.77 (1,430 reviews)
5. 7450 W. Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ: 2.79 (581 reviews)
6. 17640 W. Elliot Road, Goodyear, AZ: 2.80 (1,287 reviews)
7. 7138 US-60, Gold Canyon, AZ: 2.88 (825 reviews)
8. 632 N. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear, AZ: 2.89 (3,022 reviews)
9. 145 S. Higley Road, Gilbert, AZ: 2.93 (521 reviews)
10. 305 E. Hunt Hwy, Queen Creek, AZ: 2.97 (2,519 reviews)

The 10 best-rated McDonald’s in Arizona

1. 252 W. Crawford St., Nogales, AZ: 4.05 (3,658 reviews)
2. 566 Main St., San Luis, AZ: 3.94 (1,706 reviews)
3. 470 W. Mariposa Rd, Nogales, AZ: 3.91 (2,701 reviews)
4. 104 Fifth St., Douglas, AZ: 3.88 (931 reviews)
5. 4830 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ: 3.79 (1,957 reviews)
6. 1195 E. 16th St., Yuma, AZ: 3.76 (2,356 reviews)
7. 1401 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff, AZ: 3.74 (2,675 reviews)
8. 10040 W. Bell Road, Sun City, AZ: 3.74 (1,748 reviews)
9. 1650 W. Valencia Road Walmart, Tucson, AZ: 3.73 (685 reviews)
10. 13934 N. Sandario Road, Marana, AZ: 3.73 (3,270 reviews)

Do you agree with the study or have another favorite? Let us know in the comments or at editorial@newtimes.com.