Dairy Queen Grill & Chill — Restaurant in Edmonton

The food itself was decently hot, fresh, and what you’d expect from a DQ. The staff were friendly and fast — I have no complaints about the service. However, the cleanliness and hygiene standards at this location are seriously lacking, and they completely overshadowed the positives. I’ve been a customer at this location for seven years, but always through the drive-thru — until today.

Inside, the floors were tacky and visibly dirty, and everything had an unpleasant, unclean feel. The table we sat at had a layer of oily residue, and it was obvious nothing had been wiped down properly in a long time. The bathroom was especially concerning — filthy surfaces, heavy grime buildup, a random pair of scissors left on the floor behind the toilet, a red substance on the door bracket, and thick layers of “who knows what.” I’ve included photos of the bathroom vents, which clearly show serious neglect and raise valid concerns about air quality in the building.

Most concerning of all were the bathroom doors and handles, which were extremely unsanitary. Even if staff wash their hands with soap, they would be re-contaminated immediately upon touching these surfaces to exit — and then go on to prepare food with bare hands. That’s a clear and serious food safety issue.

Accessibility is also a major problem. While the location offers wheelchair parking and a ramp, neither of the entrance doors is automatic, making independent access nearly impossible. The so-called accessible washroom stall is poorly designed — barely enough room for a wheelchair, and the grab bars are awkwardly placed, making safe transferring and movement extremely difficult. Anyone with mobility challenges would find this setup inaccessible, exhausting, and undignified.

I don’t leave reviews lightly, but this situation needs immediate attention. Cleanliness, hygiene, and accessibility are not optional — they are baseline standards in any public food establishment. I sincerely hope management, Alberta Health Services (Environmental Public Health), and the Alberta Human Rights Commission take a closer look at this location.

According to AHS inspection reports, this facility was last inspected on March 7, 2025, and only a few minor noncompliance issues were noted as corrected. There was no mention whatsoever of the building or bathroom conditions. What I observed today did not happen overnight — this is the result of long-term neglect and complacency. A meaningful call to action is...

Let me begin by stating: I approached the local Dairy Queen with the innocent anticipation of soft-serve serenity. What I received instead was a slow-churned descent into a vanilla-scented purgatory.

Upon entering the drive-thru — which boasted a mere two vehicles ahead of me — I felt optimistic. “Surely,” I thought, “this will be swift, efficient, and satisfying.” Fifteen minutes later, I was still parked behind a mid-sized SUV, aging like fine cheese in the sun. My hopes melted faster than their so-called ice cream on a summer sidewalk.

When I finally arrived at the window, expecting some semblance of urgency or apology, I instead beheld a scene of medieval absurdity: six employees in the back, engaged in what I can only assume was a casual reenactment of The Breakfast Club. Not one of them appeared to be touching a blender. There was laughter. There was leaning. There might have been an existential crisis occurring in the fry pit. What there wasn’t — was movement.

Then came the final insult: four additional minutes passed before my two Blizzards emerged, triumphantly, as if they had been hand-spun by monks on a mountaintop. A grand total of 19 minutes for two cups of frozen mediocrity.

In summary: this Dairy Queen location has managed to take the concept of fast food and throttle it into an abstract art form. If you’re looking for a Blizzard, bring a tent. You might be there until Christmas.

⭐ 1 out of 5 stars — One star for the Blizzards eventually arriving, and the other four stars are still waiting...

Worst DQ ever. Their ice cream is always at the wrong temperature and a melty disaster immediately, even in the winter. They consistently forget ingredients in their blizzards which sucks because we're usually getting them through the drive-through and they use the wrong lids on them so you don't see they've missed stuff until you get home.

Update: I went back about a week ago and was pleasantly surprised with Josephine who was polite and gave me a good tasting blizzard at the right temperature for once. I thought "maybe they've buckled down finally!" WRONG! I went back today and it was worse than even before. At the drive through the person flipped over one on the counter away from the window, then closed the window and gave me the first and second. The one he didn't flip over was melted. I figured, based on the last positive experience I'd give them another chance though. I went inside and had them remake the blizzard. They did but it was waayyy worse than the first one. Not only was it melted but it also tasted awful. I was so upset I left and tossed it out when I got home. They offer no compensation ever and the stupid thing cost me $7. Save yourself the grief, time, and money and go...