McDonald's

Normally when you go to mcdonalds you don't really expect a great atmosphere and fresh food. However, this mcdonalds was super clean, inviting, and peaceful. The food came out pretty quickly and it tasted warm and fresh. By far the best mcdonalds food I've ever had. You could also tell the workers care and work hard.

Daniel Shipps

Very nice McDonald's, food is always super hot and staff is very nice.

Claire DuBoise

Normally when you go to mcdonalds you don't really expect a great atmosphere and fresh food. However, this mcdonalds was super clean, inviting, and peaceful. The food came out pretty quickly and it tasted warm and fresh. By far the best mcdonalds food I've ever had. You could also tell the workers care and work hard.

Over the years this place has impressed me with how it has been able to turn itself around. The food is fresh, the dining area is very clean and the staff usually table touches at least once a visit. My only complaint is it, at times, the wait for food can be prolonged. I once waited in the drive thru for 20 minutes (no exaggeration) with only 2 cars in front of me.

The drive thru takes awhile. They always ask you to pull to the next windows or waiting area to wait for your food. But the food is pretty good. The fries do get cold fast.

Nice clean dining area. The workers were friendly and the food came quickly. The spicy chicken sandwich was delicious, and the big macs are always a go!

Decent McDonald's, considering it's McDonald's. The girl who helped me was friendly and had a pretty accent. I ordered to go, and the girl brought me my food at the table I was sitting at while waiting for it to be ready. It has good parking for a McDonald's, too. Usually, I hate McDonald's drive thru, so I walked in. But walking in and out, looking towards the drive-thru, it didn't look busy. I saw some of the bad reviews, and it kinda seemed like some people were expecting a 5 star sit-down full service restaurant.

donny blaze

Nice clean dining area. The workers were friendly and the food came quickly. The spicy chicken sandwich was delicious, and the big macs are always a go!

Christopher Hazlett

Decent McDonald's, considering it's McDonald's. The girl who helped me was friendly and had a pretty accent. I ordered to go, and the girl brought me my food at the table I was sitting at while waiting for it to be ready. It has good parking for a McDonald's, too. Usually, I hate McDonald's drive thru, so I walked in. But walking in and out, looking towards the drive-thru, it didn't look busy. I saw some of the bad reviews, and it kinda seemed like some people were expecting a 5 star sit-down full service restaurant.

The workers here are really nice but sometimes they get our order wrong but I've noticed less mistakes lately which is nice! Waiting to get your fixed can be an ordeal because they can't see customers waiting at the registers due to the way the counter is set up. Also, get rid of the double drive thru lane! I can't tell you how many times someone who orders AFTER me in the other lane cuts me off to go ahead of me in the merge. It throws off the orders and it's so frustrating when you've already been waiting for a long time and then someone cuts in front of you without a care! They know they're doing it too!

Stefanie Rees

The workers here are really nice but sometimes they get our order wrong but I've noticed less mistakes lately which is nice! Waiting to get your fixed can be an ordeal because they can't see customers waiting at the registers due to the way the counter is set up. Also, get rid of the double drive thru lane! I can't tell you how many times someone who orders AFTER me in the other lane cuts me off to go ahead of me in the merge. It throws off the orders and it's so frustrating when you've already been waiting for a long time and then someone cuts in front of you without a care! They know they're doing it too!

Update July 2024- I have started going back here and while it is still a little slow, it's much, much better than it was. Summary: took 18 minutes to get chicken mcnuggets and french fries; black spot on chicken mcnugget I knew this McDonald's was slow, (on my last visit I watched as 3 workers stood around talking for several minutes while my food was just sitting there, until one of them finally got around to handing it to me) but I won't be back for awhile after today. After ordering my food in the drive thru, I looked at my clock: 4:20 p.m. and there were two cars ahead of me waiting for food. I ordered: twenty chicken mcnuggets with sweet and sour sauce, a medium fry and a TINY caramel sundae (they don't fill those up like they used to) and the total was $15.91. Now, the whole pay beforehand business model is set up so that you get your food immediately, but instead, I was handed my sundae (shouldn't this be the LAST thing given to a customer.... not the first???) And asked to park in an unshaded parking spot (the drive thru is shaded and I had my dogs with me). So now I was essentially trapped. I couldn't go inside because my dogs were with me, I couldn't drive away because I had already paid, and I couldn't go back through the drive thru line because it was getting longer and longer. Finally, Christopher, who was extremely apologetic and the one plus side to this experience, brought out my food at 4:37 p.m. Unfortunately, after all that time, they didn't put the sauce in the bag, so he had to run back inside for it. I finally drove away with all of my items at 4:38 p.m. (except the sundae which I had no choice but to eat while I was sitting in the sun and it was melting). Also, their food is not always the best quality...a couple times the chicken mcnuggets have been soggy, and today I found a black spot on one of my mcnuggets?!? What IS that?!? After waiting 18 minutes?!? Really, McDonald's?!??

Very nice inside. No computer games though for the kids. I think mcd also needs to bring back the playplaces. There’s only 1 we know if that is still open in oceanside and my son loves playing there. Get them kids off the video games and give them a place to play. Think of all the parents who work from home and their kids have nowhere to play but be on their devices. I work 45 hours a week on the computer , would be great to go sit somewhere where my son can play with other kids / climb around. Food took forever and mcd is know for super speed food. They are prob still in training??? But after a year??

Becky

Update July 2024- I have started going back here and while it is still a little slow, it's much, much better than it was. Summary: took 18 minutes to get chicken mcnuggets and french fries; black spot on chicken mcnugget I knew this McDonald's was slow, (on my last visit I watched as 3 workers stood around talking for several minutes while my food was just sitting there, until one of them finally got around to handing it to me) but I won't be back for awhile after today. After ordering my food in the drive thru, I looked at my clock: 4:20 p.m. and there were two cars ahead of me waiting for food. I ordered: twenty chicken mcnuggets with sweet and sour sauce, a medium fry and a TINY caramel sundae (they don't fill those up like they used to) and the total was $15.91. Now, the whole pay beforehand business model is set up so that you get your food immediately, but instead, I was handed my sundae (shouldn't this be the LAST thing given to a customer.... not the first???) And asked to park in an unshaded parking spot (the drive thru is shaded and I had my dogs with me). So now I was essentially trapped. I couldn't go inside because my dogs were with me, I couldn't drive away because I had already paid, and I couldn't go back through the drive thru line because it was getting longer and longer. Finally, Christopher, who was extremely apologetic and the one plus side to this experience, brought out my food at 4:37 p.m. Unfortunately, after all that time, they didn't put the sauce in the bag, so he had to run back inside for it. I finally drove away with all of my items at 4:38 p.m. (except the sundae which I had no choice but to eat while I was sitting in the sun and it was melting). Also, their food is not always the best quality...a couple times the chicken mcnuggets have been soggy, and today I found a black spot on one of my mcnuggets?!? What IS that?!? After waiting 18 minutes?!? Really, McDonald's?!??

This location used to be amazing from the day it opened and the most polite and welcoming McDonald's I have ever visited in 40 years. Only recently have there been huge changes. It is so slow to the point all cars were parked in the drive through a good 10 minutes without moving and it took about 20-25 minutes to get our food, and the order was off. Also, noone to be found at the front counter. They might be intentionally understaffing stores to increase profits. The reviews for other McDonald's have the same complaints about slow service. Must be stressful for the staff. Hope McDonald's comes up with a better plan because it used to be a great place.

The drive thru is so slow. The two lane ordering system is kind of defeated if you are only making and bagging one order at a time which is what I witnessed. Ordered on the app and checked in at the drive thru and it took 25 minutes when there were only 4 cars ahead of us. They definitely need to work on a better order fulfillment lineup for the amount of staff they have because they way the are doing it now is not working. Highly recommend checking out how efficient downtown SD location is with an even smaller restaurant. It shouldn’t take 25 minutes in a drive thru for 2 combos and 4 other cars each with a similar size order. I can say they got the order correct at least.

Ted

This location used to be amazing from the day it opened and the most polite and welcoming McDonald's I have ever visited in 40 years. Only recently have there been huge changes. It is so slow to the point all cars were parked in the drive through a good 10 minutes without moving and it took about 20-25 minutes to get our food, and the order was off. Also, noone to be found at the front counter. They might be intentionally understaffing stores to increase profits. The reviews for other McDonald's have the same complaints about slow service. Must be stressful for the staff. Hope McDonald's comes up with a better plan because it used to be a great place.

Stacy Miller

The drive thru is so slow. The two lane ordering system is kind of defeated if you are only making and bagging one order at a time which is what I witnessed. Ordered on the app and checked in at the drive thru and it took 25 minutes when there were only 4 cars ahead of us. They definitely need to work on a better order fulfillment lineup for the amount of staff they have because they way the are doing it now is not working. Highly recommend checking out how efficient downtown SD location is with an even smaller restaurant. It shouldn’t take 25 minutes in a drive thru for 2 combos and 4 other cars each with a similar size order. I can say they got the order correct at least.

Two different trips, same problem. They really screw you in the drive through.

We have visited this establishment several times for lunch and have consistently encountered issues: no soap for hand washing and the inability to adjust the water temperature. This creates discomfort, especially in hot weather. We hope these problems will be resolved to enhance the visitor experience. Thank you.

Okay WOW. So bad. I ordered on the app 20 minutes in advance because I was on a tight schedule. When I get there I'm waiting and waiting. I look over at a guy that was there before me and he goes inside and comes back out. I sit for a while longer then decide to go in. There's a line of people with food that they are wanting fixed. So unfortunately my practice is fading since I had ordered far in advance. This was a bad look for McDonald's everyone there had an issue.

While in the drive thru a coworker came and put a cone in front of my car cutting me off from the drive thru line. Didn't say anything just walked away. The only way to join the other drive thru line was to reverse out of the line I was in. I ended up going inside. It was obvious that they were shorthanded (seems like they very rarely have enough staff). I wanted to complain about what happened in the drive thru. Turns out it was the manager that had been the one who did it. Terrible customer service especially coming from a manager. I understand been shorthanded and being busy but the manager's attitude was terrible.

11am on a Monday, we're the only ones here and it's taken over 15 minutes for 2 cheeseburgers, fries, drink. After all that they didn't even bring or offer ketchup. After taking one bite, the burgers are awful, cold. The owner should be alarmed and ashamed. I need a refund of my money and my time.

Waited such a long time for cold food. Don't you hate it when you get down the road and realize your food is crap you just paid hard earned $$ for?? Please get your stuff together people!!! Does anyone care amymore??????

Brian Rayburn

11am on a Monday, we're the only ones here and it's taken over 15 minutes for 2 cheeseburgers, fries, drink. After all that they didn't even bring or offer ketchup. After taking one bite, the burgers are awful, cold. The owner should be alarmed and ashamed. I need a refund of my money and my time.

Julie The Grape!

Waited such a long time for cold food. Don't you hate it when you get down the road and realize your food is crap you just paid hard earned $$ for?? Please get your stuff together people!!! Does anyone care amymore??????

The food is same as any other mcdonald's But the servers Need to learn policy like to give receipts and not try to double charge.then haveing to drive back cause they couldnt even rember the sauage...

My grandchildren were sad with their Haapy Meal orders. "Where are our Mario toys?" Bad! Sad!

Always making you park or taking 30+min to take a order lmao

Worst experience ever. My husband took my kids inside the location because the drive-thru line was long. I sat in our truck outside since we had things in our truck bed (this is important later). After 20min of waiting on our order, and multiple other customers coming in and leaving with their food, as well the drive-thru line emptying, my husband asked about our food. The order number was on the board as "now serving", but wasn't coming up. The only response he got was, "we're working on it, it's right there". At the 30min mark, still with no sign of the order, he requested a manager. It took another 10min for Raul to come to the front at which point he tried to say they had a long line outside. I was outside and there wasn't even a car at the menu ordering (and I messaged my husband as much). So 40min and no food and a manager lying to justify their mistake. We left with a refund, 2 hungry kids, and a lesson learned- DON'T PATRONIZE THIS PLACE. We'll stick to tried and true local spots from now on.

I’m pretty tech savvy and it’s just too difficult to use your self-serve automated board specially when you have coupons to redeem and you blew up your value menu no longer enticing. Go back to the way it was had to walk out. Got frustrated.

This is the worst McDonald’s I have ever been to. The service is so slow. I don’t think the employees know how to multitask. Every time I go there I wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for an order. My orders aren’t crazy. I order for two people. Yesterday I waited 30 minutes for an order and while I was waiting there was a couple that had ordered chicken nuggets 20 minutes after I ordered my food and they asked for sweet and sour sauce. They were out of sweet and sour sauce so they asked for ranch. They were still waiting for the ranch after I finally got my order. They ignore you and no one is in the front of the store the majority of the time. You have to try to get their attention for any service. It sucks because it’s the only fast food in VC and they treat their paying customers this way. Not OK!

This McDonald's has been nothing less than a very poor business since opening. Super slow, very little attention to customer, very noisy when eating inside. Bells and whistles going off constantly. Just a joke. Why anyone would come bck is a mystery. Been sitting here, inside, for some time, waiting on my order. Think I'll just ask for a refund and leave.

When you first arrive to order, there is absolutely no one at the counter to help you and nobody comes out while you are waiting there. We tried to order on the touchscreens but it said that they were out of practically everything. After about twenty minutes of struggling, someone finally came out to the counter and took our order. We were told that we had to buy the combos for the items that we wanted because she was not allowed to sell us just the burgers and fries which to my knowledge has never been the case but I chose not to argue since she was adamant about not being able to sell items individually. The restaurant itself was dirty, the tables were all dirty, and the trash cans were overflowing. It was not a good experience at all.

Takes way too long to get cheese burgers and fries. It should not take 15-20minutes after being told to pass up on the window and wait in the parking lot. Come on! It’s cheese burger and fries. And the food wasn’t even hot when they handed it off. Seems like it was ready and sat for a while before they brought it out. It’s a bummer.

I’ve been standing in here for 30 minutes waiting on my coffee. These people are basically hiding in the back just doing the absolute most to ignore the fact that I’ve been standing here for this long . Terrible customer service, awful multi tasking. Disorganized. How the hell did these people get hired? I’m absolutely amazed they are being paid as much as they do and have 0 fast food industry skills. You’d think for $20+ a hour y’all could fry some fries & brew some coffee. Did you receive no training or something? Never seen anything like this before .

If you want to get your order wrong nine out of 10 times this is the McDonald’s to go to and seriously ridiculous every time we order our kids a meal we have to go back into the restaurant and have them fix it

I was served a burger with a bite in it. I sent them an email from the address on the receipt and they never responded. Obviously, my family will never eat at a McDonald's again.

Really disappointed, use the McDonald’s app, but still had to wait in line after six cars. Was told that I’d have to go into the living room of the restaurant to pick up my order if I wanted it faster. There is no incentive to use the app when you have to still waiting in line. Thumbs down.

Don’t go here unless you have 5 years time to wait for an order they’re going to get wrong or forget entirely. This McDonald’s specifically is a disgrace to the term ‘FAST-food’

Person at the drive thru had a horrible condescending attitude and an insufferable voice.

This place is the slowest McDonald's in history. Order on the app 15 min before we get there then have to wait 45 min to get our food. Cleaned out the drive through 3 time before I had to go in and ask for my order. They really need to get it together.

Didn't add a bottom bun to a burger lmao how can you even mess that up .

Ohhhh my gosh What’s going on in this place They’re just chitchatting and making everyone in drive thru sit and wait 45 minutes for nuggets and a Big Mac Somebody needs to step it up Is it that hard to cook a frozen burger and nuggets 🤣🤣🤣 What a joke!! DO NOT STOP FOR A QUICK BITE!!!

Jarrod garritson

Didn't add a bottom bun to a burger lmao how can you even mess that up .

marissa Anne

Ohhhh my gosh What’s going on in this place They’re just chitchatting and making everyone in drive thru sit and wait 45 minutes for nuggets and a Big Mac Somebody needs to step it up Is it that hard to cook a frozen burger and nuggets 🤣🤣🤣 What a joke!! DO NOT STOP FOR A QUICK BITE!!!

Remember when McDonalds was supposed to be fast food? This feels more like one of those sit down restaurants you wait a long time at. It takes them at least 10 minutes to get you a simple drink made. Longest being up to 40 minutes. Mind you just for a drink. As for staff, there are a few here that have actually been nice and attempt to be helpful but as for the majority, horrible service. Being it the only “fast food” place in Valley Center at the moment, it’s really the only option here. Once VC gas more Fast food areas built, I at least will likely no longer find myself ordering here and would urge others to follow.

I did a order this morning and I had my receipt and everything and when I went to go pick it up, they wouldn’t give me my order because they said they needed the number for when I went to go get it. They canceled my order without even telling me it wouldn’t even give me my food. I paid 50 bucks and I showed the lady all three of my receipts even in my bank account she was very rude and I told her that’s not how you run a business or act like a manager. You’re always got to serve your guest specially if they show you the proof They purposely cancel my order. It’s always been very slow there. Bad management.

I honestly hate this McDonald's, even Escondido location (which is busier) does better at getting ur order out. Here they take so long I sat waiting for my food (fries, chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, nuggets 6pc) for 20 minutes in the spot they said to wait. No one ever came out and I parked, went inside and turns out they forgot my order and got it ready once I told them I was waiting for a long time in the spot they told me to wait in. My kids always want to go and this is exactly why I tell them no! In the VC location you wait for your food the same amount of time as if you were eating at a fancy restaurant. This is fast food, shouldn't take this long. My time is worth more than a sad one item coupon they gave me. I threw it directly into the trash.

Customer service was so nice!! But for $12, a big mac that slides apart, is not it. Mcdonalds CEO doesn't even want to eat this.

I can't believe the awful service I got here. Came stand waiting to order and they never took care of me. After waiting 5 minutes I had to walk out without even ordering. Not a good experience!

Been in the drive through for 30 minutes. The drive through is clean and the building is new, but the service is extremely slow. Do better.

**Regarding the response from McDonalds referring to my review below, I don't want a link to discuss anything further with you "owner", I've said what I've chose to say. Its now up to McDonalds to take action in rectifying all the WRONG thats going on at this stores location. Shame on you McDonalds, Ray Kroc would shut you people down if he were alive today. If you don't know who he is, LOOK HIM UP!** HORRIBLE!!!! No staff to be found, you can hear staff mouthing off and goofing around in back. Building a wall between the front counter and back only ENABLES your staff to IGNORE whats MOST IMPORTANT, your guests!!!!! What a BRAINLESS IDEA that was! 3rd time, and each time I was completely IGNORED!!!!! BETTER mgnt and oversight is NEEDED for this store, and for the fine people of Valley Center. LASTLY, the floor in the back work station area, from my vantage point, FILTHY with fries, wrappers, etc. HONESTLY, you people don't deserve one star! I won't be back!!!!!

Kenton Jordan

**Regarding the response from McDonalds referring to my review below, I don't want a link to discuss anything further with you "owner", I've said what I've chose to say. Its now up to McDonalds to take action in rectifying all the WRONG thats going on at this stores location. Shame on you McDonalds, Ray Kroc would shut you people down if he were alive today. If you don't know who he is, LOOK HIM UP!** HORRIBLE!!!! No staff to be found, you can hear staff mouthing off and goofing around in back. Building a wall between the front counter and back only ENABLES your staff to IGNORE whats MOST IMPORTANT, your guests!!!!! What a BRAINLESS IDEA that was! 3rd time, and each time I was completely IGNORED!!!!! BETTER mgnt and oversight is NEEDED for this store, and for the fine people of Valley Center. LASTLY, the floor in the back work station area, from my vantage point, FILTHY with fries, wrappers, etc. HONESTLY, you people don't deserve one star! I won't be back!!!!!

Efrain Cotto

I can't believe the awful service I got here. Came stand waiting to order and they never took care of me. After waiting 5 minutes I had to walk out without even ordering. Not a good experience!

Mercy Martinez

I honestly hate this McDonald's, even Escondido location (which is busier) does better at getting ur order out. Here they take so long I sat waiting for my food (fries, chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, nuggets 6pc) for 20 minutes in the spot they said to wait. No one ever came out and I parked, went inside and turns out they forgot my order and got it ready once I told them I was waiting for a long time in the spot they told me to wait in. My kids always want to go and this is exactly why I tell them no! In the VC location you wait for your food the same amount of time as if you were eating at a fancy restaurant. This is fast food, shouldn't take this long. My time is worth more than a sad one item coupon they gave me. I threw it directly into the trash.

Jared S

Been in the drive through for 30 minutes. The drive through is clean and the building is new, but the service is extremely slow. Do better.

Andrea Contreras

I did a order this morning and I had my receipt and everything and when I went to go pick it up, they wouldn’t give me my order because they said they needed the number for when I went to go get it. They canceled my order without even telling me it wouldn’t even give me my food. I paid 50 bucks and I showed the lady all three of my receipts even in my bank account she was very rude and I told her that’s not how you run a business or act like a manager. You’re always got to serve your guest specially if they show you the proof They purposely cancel my order. It’s always been very slow there. Bad management.

Noah Fledderman

Remember when McDonalds was supposed to be fast food? This feels more like one of those sit down restaurants you wait a long time at. It takes them at least 10 minutes to get you a simple drink made. Longest being up to 40 minutes. Mind you just for a drink. As for staff, there are a few here that have actually been nice and attempt to be helpful but as for the majority, horrible service. Being it the only “fast food” place in Valley Center at the moment, it’s really the only option here. Once VC gas more Fast food areas built, I at least will likely no longer find myself ordering here and would urge others to follow.

Nicole Whisenant

This is the worst McDonald’s I have ever been to. The service is so slow. I don’t think the employees know how to multitask. Every time I go there I wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for an order. My orders aren’t crazy. I order for two people. Yesterday I waited 30 minutes for an order and while I was waiting there was a couple that had ordered chicken nuggets 20 minutes after I ordered my food and they asked for sweet and sour sauce. They were out of sweet and sour sauce so they asked for ranch. They were still waiting for the ranch after I finally got my order. They ignore you and no one is in the front of the store the majority of the time. You have to try to get their attention for any service. It sucks because it’s the only fast food in VC and they treat their paying customers this way. Not OK!