Carl’s Jr. — Restaurant in Ellensburg

Not a review but a WARNING: This was without a doubt the most disappointing meal I have had in a long time. I chose this venue because it had a play area and my daughter really wanted to play on the toys.

First, in general this store is not very clean. It wasn’t something I noticed initially but as you sit down and touch the table and seats it’s all streaked and tacky. The kind of tacky you get when you repeatedly clean a surface(s) with dirty water and a lack of appropriate amounts of soap. I find this to be most common in places with high levels of apathy and low levels of motivation, encouragement, training, etcetera on behalf of the management.

Secondly and probably more importantly the food. The burger I was given, which costs more than probably about any burger on the fast food strip in Ellensburg , was a sloppy disgusting mess all tidily wrapped in their additional wrapper. Clearly the most thought out and skill based aspect of this burger WAS the wrapping. Two weak pieces of lettuce, two tiny little tomatoes that didn’t make up a third of the space with enough sauce for 5 more burgers ANd it was barely warm.

Now I bring my own bun as I have trouble with flour so I can just transfer over to the new bun and excess sauce is generally left behind. I have done this many times at many burger joints and rarely is it a problem. Hardly the case today. You couldn’t hold this burger even IN its additional wrap without getting excess sauce and juice all over yourself and the table and so on.

After wrestling with it for a couple minutes I managed to extract the meat and the pickles. The lettuce, onion, and tomatoes were abandoned due to the incredible quantities of sauce covering them on all sides. It appeared as if sauce was added again after every item was placed on the burger. Sauce, lettuce, then more sauce, then pickle, then more sauce, then onion and so on.

I can’t think of anyone that would look at this burger and think yum. (Despite the pretty little wrap job). There was nothing satisfying about the burger at this point and I probably should have complained. I didn't because 1 They are min wage workers and 2 because they clearly wouldn’t care anyway.

Next, the fries. They were hot. That’s the best I can say for them. For one it was a large fry but the box was laid down and flattened. Hardly filling around half the box once stood up and straightened. I’d say about the equivalent of a lightly filled medium fry at McDonalds. Also, these fries were just terrible. Now I don’t much care for McDonald’s fries either as they are pretty fake but for fast food fries these were exceptionally worse. Tasteless, over salted, clearly over valued, and under filled fries.

Now factor in the price of this burger meal (I got the big fancy one) @ $18… There is a mom and pops in town that is quite popular (for good reason) that I love and that is also considered “expensive” and I can get a full basket there for less… Even after adding a drink to their basket which is not included in their price would it be this expensive. Also just to rip into the price a little longer a standard burger here (Famous Star I believe) is 6.99 but the meal is 12.99. They are literally charging $6 more for soda (mere cents) and a (flat) box of fries (potato, cheap vegetable). I was just at the fair the day before and paid a better price ratio for fries and a drink there than I did here.

I will never go to this chain of restaurants again and am actively actually taking the time to strongly encourage others to do the same. This place is awful, overpriced, dirty, and full of apathetic individuals who clearly don’t give any care at all to what they are doing. This reflects most poorly on the management and the corporation as a whole.

I should also add that I have tried them a few times over the last ~6 months. Mainly because of my daughter wanting a place to play. It has always disappointed me. Today however was so disappointing that it warranted not a “review” per se but a WARNING to all others to not waste your time and money on this...

I wish I could say " I stopped in too try the New Carls Jr Beyond Beef Classic Star Veggie Burger and I loved it!!" Sadly, my experience was anything but Amazing. Let iT be noted.... I was fine with having too go get Cash when I arrived and was told promptly that all credit/debit/Virtual Pay Services were unavailable My Girl and I were so excited too try this Burger we went and got cash, AND returned promptly. but after waiting 30 minutes för our order the smile on my girlfriends face, turned too disappointment, especially considering we dropped 25.00 för 2 Meals. When I asked the employee what happened he was clearly löst. I had too demand the items be re-made, which was a struggle Ending in a request för a total refund. It seems one of our Bürgers was given Away too a couple who came in after us, AND the remainder of the order was Never Made. while the Manager was giving me my refund the couple Returns screaming about being given a Raw burger.... this part was actually quite funny because the manager could only put his head in his hands turn around and look at its 2 employees and asked if they were trying to kill him what they didn't realize is that they hadn't provided this customer with a raw Burger but that the beyond meat veggie burgers do not actually Brown so they always remain pink in the middle I did inform these guys before I left that was the case and that they have not tried to kill anybody but that was actually pretty funny after that the manager promptly refunded us give us full meals and extra veggie burger and believe it or not they actually tasted really good I was quite proud of his response to my request without any argument he did what was necessary and I would actually compliment him on his service but due to the fact that we had so many problems after being so excited to go try this meal at an establishment that we formally could not eat at I just can't find it within myself to give them a 5-star review due to the service and the apologetic nature of the individuals working behind the counter that afternoon I felt that I couldn't give them a completely bad review and instead would suggest a pat on the back Good job...

I'll be completely honest with everyone, they almost got 1 star from me.

I walked in and was followed by what I can only assume were grandparents watching their grandkids. Having never been to a Carl's Jr I spoke with the gentleman and asked which burger was his favorite, he recommended the original so I figured I'd give it a shot.

While ordering the lady behind the counter was clearly a nervous person, she was very kind but spoke quietly. I got my burger and was very excited, it's Carl's Jr, it carries a brand reputation of high quality and I was starving! I unwrapped my burger and was full of dread. Covered in condiments, stringy old red onions, and a tiny thin old tomato. Beyond my better judgement I took a bite, it was TERRIBLE. All I could taste was mayonnaise. I almost just threw it away and gave them 1 star but the service before was good so I went back.

I showed them the burger and the looks were fantastic, absolute horror lol. They told me there isn't usually so much sauce and asked if I wanted a refund, I told them I wanted a good burger! He smiled and said it wasn't a problem and went back to correct the staff. It wasn't 2 minutes later he came with a second. I was concerned at how quick it was but took it and sat down.

When I opened the box the difference was night and day, fresh lettuce, fresh onion, fresh tomatoes, an appropriate amount of sauce, thinking back on it my mouth is watering and I just finished it! I took one bite and it was everything I wanted without making it myself or forking out $12. I had to go back in and let them know how good it was!

Your polite and friendly staff saved you Jr lol ;) overall it was a great experience for the price, just make sure to maintain that perfect consistency, don't feel rushed to send garbage, it is food...