Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Wendy’s – San Diego
Wendy's - San Diego
Photo from Wendy’s
Wendy's at a glance
San Diego San Carlos
- 🍔 Fast-Food-Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 44 of the guests
#701 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#14 Fast-Food-Restaurant out of 18 in San Diego
Average
4.6 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
222
Reviews
39.2%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Quality burgers
- Value meals
- Fast service
Frequently criticized
- Dirty dining
- Poor service
- Cold food
The fast food restaurant Wendy’s in San Diego’s vibrant San Carlos neighborhood offers you a convenient spot for a quick and satisfying meal. Whether you’re craving a classic burger or a late-night snack, this location is designed for your on-the-go lifestyle.
You’ll appreciate the casual atmosphere and the variety of dining options available throughout the day, making it a reliable choice for any time you need a delicious and speedy bite.
Overview: Introducting Wendy's
Wendy’s offers a somewhat varied experience, where many appreciate the quick and friendly service and the generally enjoyable atmosphere for a fast-food spot. However, some visits are marred by less inviting dining areas and occasional hiccups in the overall experience.
The food often receives praise for its quality, though not every item consistently hits the mark.
Average
4.6
out of 10
222
Reviews
39.2%
Satisfaction
128
negative
7
neutral
87
positive
Looking at the numbers, Wendy’s holds an overall score of 4.6, placing it squarely in the average range. However, customer satisfaction sits at a lower 39.2%, indicating a noticeable gap between general perception and actual customer happiness.
This contrast suggests that while some aspects are well-received, others significantly detract from the overall experience, as evidenced by 87 positive remarks against 128 negative ones across 222 customer comments.
What people like
- Quality, tasty burgers
- Good value meals
- Quick, friendly service
What people don't like
- Unclean dining areas
- Slow, rude service
- Cold food issues
Ultimately, Wendy’s presents a mixed bag. If you’re primarily seeking a quick meal with some reliable food options, particularly their burgers and value deals, it might be worth a stop.
The 4.9 recommendation score suggests it’s a decent choice for some, but not universally acclaimed.
Similar Restaurants in San Diego
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
106
91.5%
- $$
- Old Town
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
8.2
out of 10
out of 10
198
83.8%
- $$
- Otay Mesa West
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
7.1
out of 10
out of 10
148
70.9%
- $$
- Otay Mesa
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
6.6
out of 10
out of 10
238
60.5%
- $$
- Grantville
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
6.1
out of 10
out of 10
100
55%
- $$
- University City
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fast-Food-Restaurant
6.1
out of 10
out of 10
378
51.3%
- $$
- Clairemont
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
Verdict: Our expert take on Wendy's
Food (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 59% of the guests
Many diners rave about the tasty and filling options, from classic burgers and Biggie Bags to delicious chili and amazing pretzel bread pub burgers. The food temperature and quality often hit the mark, with 42 positive remarks among 78 total observations, showing a good number of happy eaters. However, the food experience can be a mixed bag.
Some customers encounter dry food, cold burgers, or melted Frostys, alongside concerns about overall food quality and freshness. With a score of 5.9 and customer satisfaction at 53.8%, the feedback suggests an average experience with definite room for improvement.
Food
78
Reviews
53%
Satisfaction
30
negative
6
neutral
42
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Tasty, filling meals
- Delicious chili
- Amazing pretzel burgers
What people don't like
- Inconsistent food quality
- Cold, dry food
- Melted Frostys
Often praised
- foodMy experience at the restaurant was great. Maria was fantastic, ensuring my son and I received our food nice and hot without a long wait. The service was top-notch, and the food was served promptly and at the perfect temperature.
- burgersquality and size of their burgers. very delicious!
- Biggie BagGot the $8 Biggie Bag. It was tasty and filling.
- French toast sticksusually only get the French toast sticks
- Junior Bacon Cheeseburgera Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and it never disappoints
- beer cheeseit was crazy good. Like... incredible.
- big bagThe big bag is a decent price
- biggie mealsespecially the biggie meals
- burgerenjoy a good burger, now a lot thicker than before
- burgers and friesBurgers and fries, lots of bacon which makes it a good thing.
Frequently criticized
- foodDespite this, the wait time was still too long to receive our order. The food was cold, and the overall service was a horrible experience. We will not be returning.
- FrostysI was so disappointed to go for a few after-school Frostys, especially since one was supposed to be free with my keychain coupon. Unfortunately, both of their machines were down.
- Jr. Bacon burgersaw that they cut the meat into four individual pieces to make a square!
- baconatorOrdered a baconator. It was cold
- breakfast sandwichfood not that good breakfast sandwich
- burgerBurger overcooked dry cold
- burritofood not that good ... Borrito
- cheeseThe cheese wasn't even melted
- cold burgerThey gave me another cold burger
- disgusting fooddisgusting food, nasty it's seems like cow poop in a bun
If youre looking for a quick, satisfying meal with some standout items like their chili or pretzel burgers, you might be pleasantly surprised. However, be prepared for a potentially inconsistent experience, as food quality and temperature can sometimes miss the mark. Its worth a try for those specific favorites, but don't expect perfection every time.
Service (3.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 74% of the guests
When it comes to service, there are definitely some bright spots! Many customers appreciated the quick service and found the staff to be friendly, with some even shouting out specific names for their great customer service. Out of 103 customer remarks, 31 highlighted positive experiences, often mentioning how fast their orders were.
However, the overall picture isn't as rosy, with a score of just 3.8 and customer satisfaction sitting at a low 30.1%. A significant 72 remarks pointed to issues like incredibly slow service, rude staff, and frequent order inaccuracies. Many also faced frustrating wait times and problems with the lobby being closed, making the experience quite challenging.
Service
103
Reviews
30%
Satisfaction
72
negative
0
neutral
31
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Quick service
- Friendly staff
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Rude staff
- Order inaccuracy
Often praised
- serviceThe service is quick and friendly.
- staffNow, everyone else is more expensive for comparable items. The service was fast and the staff were polite. The food was good.
- customer servicegreat customer service from this particular Wendy’s
- Great customer serviceGreat customer service here!
- MargaretMargaret is a gem!
- MariaMaria was great
- Quick responseQuick response too
- experiencepleastly surprised!
- food speedget the food out pretty fast
- manager Jose Luismanager Jose Luis took care of it and handled expertly
Frequently criticized
- serviceMy experience at this Wendy's was incredibly frustrating due to the mind blowingly slow service. After waiting for ten minutes just to have my order taken, I was met with sarcastic remarks and treated as if I were unintelligent.
- customer serviceneeds to get coached by her manager on what customer service is
- orderstill took too long to receive order
- employeescalling one of the three employees for help and they just ignored me
- waiting timeWaited 5 mins, no line, didn’t get served
- drive-thruthe drive-thru is taped off
- receiptThe order taker was senselessly rude, and I was overcharged. To top it off, I received no receipt. This was not how I wanted to start my day.
- staffthe rudest staff I have ever dealt with
- CarmenCarmen Lady at window arguing and slamming drive threw window
- access without carIt is infuriating to me that these people choose to close their lobby permanently. I don't have a car so I guess I just don't get Wendy's. Screw you people.
If youre in a rush, you might get lucky with quick service, but be prepared for potential frustration. With service scoring poorly and low customer satisfaction, theres a real chance of slow service, rude staff, or incorrect orders. Its a gamble, so consider if youre willing to take it.
Ambience (4 out of 10)
mentioned by 21% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, there are some glimmers of hope! Guests have found the overall restaurant experience to be quite positive, with some even calling it the best theyve been to in a long time. The outside cleanliness and usually ample parking are definite pluses, contributing to a pleasant initial impression.
Out of 21 total observations, 7 were positive, suggesting that when things are good, theyre really good. However, the atmosphere is a bit of a mixed bag, reflected in an average score of 4 and a rather poor customer satisfaction of 33.3%. A significant 14 negative comments highlight issues like the dining room often not being open, a persistent sewage smell, and concerns about grime on chairs and dust everywhere.
These drawbacks suggest that while some find the atmosphere enjoyable, many others face considerable challenges.
Ambience
21
Reviews
33%
Satisfaction
14
negative
0
neutral
7
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Ample parking
- Clean exterior
- Enjoyable atmosphere
What people don't like
- Dining room closed
- Persistent sewage smell
- Filthy dining room
Often praised
- atmospherethe atmosphere was enjoyable
- favorite placesone of my favorite places to get fast food
- outside cleanlinessThe outside of the Wendy’s looks pretty clean
- parkingUsually plenty of parking.
- restaurantit's open and functioning
- restaurant experiencethis was the best I've been to in a long time
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereatmosphere is terrible due to this persistent odor
- dine insidecould not dine inside the restaurant
- dining roomthe dining room is so filthy
- dip entering the lotBad dip entering the lot on the upper east side.
- dust everywhereand dust everywhere
- eat in the carMy experience at the restaurant was disappointing because we were unable to dine inside, even though all restaurants were 100% open and California was fully reopened when I visited. Consequently, we had to eat in the car, which was not comfortable at all.
- eat insideI was hoping that you can eat inside. Other than that, the special $5 meal was great.
- grime on chairsThere is so much grime on the chairs
- homelessHomeless hangs out outside the parking lot.
- open to dine inrarely is even open to dine in
If youre looking for a quick bite and dont mind eating in your car or grabbing takeout, you might find the parking and outside appearance acceptable. However, if dining in is a priority or you're sensitive to strong odors and cleanliness issues, you might want to consider other options, as the indoor experience seems quite inconsistent and often disappointing.
Value (4.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 21% of the guests
When it comes to value, some folks really hit the jackpot, finding good value and even great value with specific offers. Many appreciate the Frosty tag for freebies or the Biggie Bag as a solid fix, making certain meals feel like a real steal. These positive experiences come from 7 opinions out of 20 total.
However, the overall picture for value is a bit mixed, with a score of 4.2, landing it squarely in the average range. Customer satisfaction, at a rather low 35%, suggests many feel let down, often by misleading ads or feeling overcharged. With 12 negative opinions, many note that prices are getting higher and some even feel it's way over priced, pointing to a profits over people mentality.
Value
20
Reviews
35%
Satisfaction
12
negative
1
neutral
7
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great value deals
- Frosty tag benefits
- Biggie Bag fix
What people don't like
- Misleading ads
- Unexpected full price
- Rising prices
Often praised
- $5 Biggie Bagthe $5 Biggie Bag is your fix
- Frosty tagif you buy a frosty tag you can get free friaries
- decent priceThe big bag is a decent price
- good valueA good value
- great valueIt’s a great value for the price
- pricesNow everyone else is higher for comparable items
- special $5 mealthe special $5 meal was great
Frequently criticized
- $1 singleget the $1 single and the $2 double like the commercial says
- $2 doubleget the $1 single and the $2 double like the commercial says
- corporate overlordsWendy's corporate overlords will still not pay
- farmersnot pay the farmers of the produce
- free bee swapNo free bee swap for the well deserved kindergartener
- full pricewhen we went to pay it was full price
- misleading adsI hate miss leading adds
- overchargedovercharged me
- priceWay over priced!!!
- pricesprices are getting higher
If youre hunting for specific deals like the Biggie Bag or using a Frosty tag, you might find some decent value. But be wary of general pricing and potential "misleading ads, " as many feel overcharged. Its worth trying if you know exactly what deal you're after, otherwise, you might be disappointed.
How are the prices at Wendy's?
You’re looking at roughly $14 per person – reported by 44 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Fast Food Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what people actually spent, most diners kept it budget-friendly, with the majority of prices falling within the $1–$10 and $11–$20 ranges. There are a few higher spenders, but they’re definitely the exception.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 44 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Fast Food Restaurant. It offers good value for those looking for a quick, affordable bite, with options to spend a little more if you choose.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Wendy's
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
6
Great Value, Poor Service
My experience at this Wendy's offered excellent value, particularly with the biggie meals. However, the service was lacking. I often had to wait for someone to take my order, and on my last visit, the staff member was uncommunicative, offering no greeting or thanks.
They didn't seem to care about customers.
- biggie meals9
- service2
- wait for someone3
- lady didn't say hello2
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
8
Fast food, as expected
My experience at this fast food restaurant was exactly what I expected. We all know what we're getting when we go to a fast food chain. The food was great, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.
It was a good experience overall.
- food9
- atmosphere9
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
- Quiet
7
Great Food, Slow Service
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The food was definitely a highlight, with the burgers and fries being particularly enjoyable. I appreciated the lots of bacon, which made the meal even better.
However, the service was unfortunately very slow. There was only one person working the front counter, and they were clearly overwhelmed. Adding to the delay, the frosty machine needed refilling, and significant time was spent on it, with frequent checks to see if the mix was ready.
This slow service almost made us late for our appointment, which was a concern as we were on a time crunch.
- food9
- burgers and fries9
- lots of bacon9
- service2
- front counter3
- frosty machine3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
1
Terrible Service and Cold Food
My experience at this restaurant was terrible all around. We had a group of 2 people and were unable to get an employee to take our order, forcing us to use the mobile app. Unfortunately, the mobile app did not send our order to the kitchen even after payment.
Despite this, the wait time was still too long to receive our order. The food was cold, and the overall service was a horrible experience. We will not be returning.
- service1
- employee1
- mobile app1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
2
Overpriced and Not Good Breakfast
I got breakfast at this restaurant and found the food, specifically the breakfast sandwich and burrito, to be not that good. It was also way over priced. I will not be going there again.
I suspect anyone who says it's good is friends or related to someone there. This place would make a good spot for a Taco Shop!
- breakfast sandwich2
- burrito2
- price1
What Wendy's offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Late-night food
- Coffee
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Drive-through
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What service options are available at Wendy's in San Carlos, San Diego?
At Wendy’s in San Carlos, you have several convenient service options. You can use the drive-through for quick pick-ups, dine-in for a casual meal, or opt for takeout if you’re on the go. Delivery service is also available, ensuring you can enjoy your favorite fast food wherever you are.
Does Wendy's in San Diego offer accessible facilities and convenient parking?
Yes, this Wendy’s location is designed with accessibility in mind. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, and restroom, ensuring comfort for all guests. For parking, you have access to free street parking and a free parking lot, with usually plenty of space available.
What is the overall customer sentiment for Wendy's?
Wendy’s holds an overall score of **4.6**, with **Food** scoring highest (5.9), followed by **Value** (4.2), **Ambience** (4), and **Service** (3.8). Customer satisfaction is **39.2%**, indicating a mixed to poor reception.
Are there any notable positive aspects of Wendy's?
Many customers appreciate the **quality and size of their burgers** and find the **$5 Biggie Bag** to be a good value. Some also mention **quick and friendly service** from specific staff members.
What are the main drawbacks customers experience at Wendy's?
Frequent complaints include **slow service** and **rude staff**, along with issues regarding the **cleanliness of dining rooms** and the inability to **dine inside**. Some also report receiving **cold food**.