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15 of the Worst-Reviewed Restaurants in the Country

Wilder Shaw is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, specializing in taste tests and fast food. He has over a decade of food-writing experience, and his work has appeared in Thrillist, The Washington Post, L.A. Taco, Time Out, and numerous other publications.

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Not Quite Five Star

One of the hardest things in the world is running a restaurant, and the world is merciless and unforgiving when you make mistakes. Google reviews can be brutal.


So who better to judge restaurants they’ve never been to than a gaming website? Gaming site JeffBet put together a report based on Google reviews of restaurants around the country and rounded up the worst of them; might as well kick a small business while they’re down, right, JeffBet? 


Here’s what the report had to say about the 15 worst-reviewed restaurants in the country.


Editor's note: Since the JeffBet report was published, two restaurants on the list have since reportedly closed, Eat's Italian in Las Vegas and Hawkers in New York.

Sierra J. / Yelp

1. Lucky China 8 Chinese Restaurant

Atlanta


Google Rating: 1.7

Total Reviews:424

Total Low-Star Reviews: 304

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:71.7%

Alan M. / Yelp
Forrest S. / Yelp

3. 24th St. Pizzeria

San Antonio, Texas


Google Rating: 2.1

Total Reviews:708

Total Low-Star Reviews: 442

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:62.43%



Thankfully, there are plenty of better pizza joints across the country.

Steve A. / Yelp

4. Nida’s Sushi

Columbus, Ohio


Google Rating: 2.7

Total Reviews:89

Total Low-Star Reviews: 55

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:61.8%

Anitra C. / Yelp

5. Big John’s Pizza

San Antonio, Texas


Google Rating: 2.3

Total Reviews:832

Total Low-Star Reviews: 509

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:61.18%

Emma D. / Yelp

6. China Pearl

Raleigh, North Carolina


Google Rating: 2.3

Total Reviews:198

Total Low-Star Reviews: 121

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:61.11%

Meri L. / Yelp

7. World Famous N’awlins Cafe & Spice Emporium

New Orleans


Google Rating: 2.4

Total Reviews:354

Total Low-Star Reviews: 214

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:60.45%

Urvashi B. / Yelp

8. Hawkers*

New York


Google Rating: 2.4

Total Reviews:63

Total Low-Star Reviews: 37

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:58.73%


*Reportedly closed

Marissa O. / Yelp

9. Tacos & Ritas (MGM Food Court)

Las Vegas


Google Rating: 2.5

Total Reviews:100

Total Low-Star Reviews: 58

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:58%



In search of better options? Check out the best taco joint in every state.

Ivan O. / Yelp

10. Wok

Seattle


Google Rating: 2.8

Total Reviews:104

Total Low-Star Reviews: 59

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:56.73%

Lisa G. / Yelp

11. Steve’s Greek Cuisine

Boston


Google Rating: 2.6

Total Reviews:80

Total Low-Star Reviews: 45

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:56.25%

Natasha C. / Yelp

12. Careda’s Caribbean Cuisine

Philadelphia


Google Rating: 2.9

Total Reviews:121

Total Low-Star Reviews: 68

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:56.2%

Mama P. / Yelp

13. El Mero Mero Tamalero

Dallas


Google Rating: 2.6

Total Reviews:91

Total Low-Star Reviews: 51

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:56.04%

Taylor T. / Yelp

14. Jen Lai Noodle & Rice Co

Boston


Google Rating: 2.3

Total Reviews:52

Total Low-Star Reviews: 29

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:55.77%

Paul S. / Yelp

15. Herb N’ Kitchen

New York


Google Rating: 2.5

Total Reviews:58

Total Low-Star Reviews: 32

Percentage of Low-Star Reviews:55.17%

MachineHeadz/istockphoto

Even More Terrible Reviews

Based on the same Google review format, JeffBeat also put together a list of the Top 10 cities where low ratings are common.

  1. Seattle
  2. Las Vegas
  3. Raleigh, North Carolina
  4. Atlanta
  5. San Diego
  6. Tucson, Arizona
  7. Washington, D.C.
  8. Kansas City, Missouri
  9. Columbus, Ohio
  10. Philadelphia