Introduction
In 2025, the fast food sector in the USA is expanding rapidly due to shifting consumer demands, new advancements, and the popularity of fast meals. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are quickly adjusting to new ways of living and eating by offering more online ordering, better delivery systems, and serving diverse items that are good for you and based on varied cultures. Expansion into franchising is crucial, helping brands reach communities both in towns and rural areas and still be present everywhere in the country.
Many American states host both Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Dairy Queen locations, though what brings people to these brands varies greatly, since Hungry Howie’s is popular for its pizzas with different crusts and Dairy Queen for its ice cream and enlarging grill selections. Reviews from users on Yelp, Google Reviews, Trustpilot, and Comparably have helped us pinpoint major advantages, common problems, and differences in how customers are pleased in different regions. With these insights, we can see how customers view each brand regarding its food, service, value, and the experience they have there in 2025.
Overview of Hungry Howies Restaurant
Hungry Howie’s Pizza is a popular American pizza franchise that began in Taylor, Michigan, in 1973. Founded by Jim Hearn and Steve Jackson, Pizza Inn began as just one carryout spot and was soon admired for its new way of making pizza— mainly its flavored crusts, which became well-known. In 1983, Pizza Hut started to franchise and grew quickly across the country. Based in Madison Heights, Michigan, the company is well known as “Home of the Flavored Crust®,” offering tasty choices such as butter cheese, garlic herb, and ranch crusts that please many.
The brand has set itself between the low prices of fast food and the custom options of higher-quality dining. Menu selections include pizzas, subs, mouthwatering Howie Rolls®, salads, wings, and many different desserts for takeaway or eating in. With the passage of years, the company has used technology by providing Howie Rewards®, a mobile app for ordering, and adding a “Secret Menu” through QR codes. Inspite of facing lots of competition, the brand keeps its customers loyal by showing their love and support for important issues via the “Love, Hope & Pizza” campaign.
Overview of Dairy Queen Restaurants
In 1940, Sherb Noble brought Dairy Queen to Joliet, Illinois, and served the soft-serve ice cream invented by J.F. McCullough and his son. People immediately took to soft-serve, a new creation. The first DQ store was a huge success, starting a brand that would soon be known by millions as a major QSR player.
Franchising, introducing new items, and using technology for changes are important parts of their growth strategy. Because of the “Grill & Chill” model, the brand grew from only selling sweets to providing both desserts and hot fare. The brand improves its stores and focuses on enhancing what customers experience, but it also highlights classic elements to grab the interest of returning customers. Partnering with other delivery apps and a simple mobile app has boosted both ease of access and customer involvement. In addition, DQ’s presence in Asia and the Middle East is boosting its brand around the world, as well as community involvement through different charitable programs.
Quick Analysis of Feedback of Hungry Howies in USA
Hungry Howie’s Pizza ranks as the 11th largest pizza chain in the United States. There are 518 locations of Hungry Howie’s pizza restaurants in the United States. In 2025, Hungry Howie’s Pizza is regarded in two ways—it draws attention with its distinctive flavored crusts, affordable prices, and loyalty from customers, mainly in urban places where businesses are well-managed. On Yelp and Google, high-performing franchises get average reviews between 3.7 and 4.2 stars, but smaller or rural locations don’t meet these standards, resulting in lower ratings. According to Comparably data, the brand has over a 40% Net Promoter Score and 100% Customer Satisfaction, which is well above average for pizza chains. Some Trustpilot reviews are limited, and split and repeated operations issues are found across platforms, suggesting that standardizing across branches and upskilling employees are big challenges ahead. Hungry Howie’s is capable of standing out in the industry if it addresses its service issues inside the franchise network.
Customers at Hungry Howie’s Pizza in Beverly Hills, Florida, have given both positive and negative reviews. The positive feedback often emphasizes the available crust choices, including butter and garlic herb, and says that the pizzas are always reliable. Many customers like trying new toppings and being served quickly, as well as enjoying the benefits of specials and coupons. Providing hot and fresh pizza has been acknowledged by the establishment, which is why people like to keep coming back.
There is also a range of reviews highlighting what needs improvement. Many complaints are about the food, such as dough that is not fully cooked and a lack of sufficient toppings, along with noticing that the dining area is messy and not maintained well. Many people have noticed that the customer service staff does not give proper attention to them and reacts in a critical way during complaints. As well, a number of people say the rising prices don’t make sense when considering the quality. While Hungry Howie’s Pizza does well with flavor and convenience, boosting its consistency and customer service should help make customers happier.
In 2025, customers across many review websites report an average opinion that Hungry Howie’s Pizza is mainly positive. Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Yelp, has got 4 out of 5 stars out of 135 reviews, thanks to its fresh ingredients and special crusts. Meanwhile, the St. Clair, Michigan outlet gets only 1.8 stars out of 5 after 6 reviews and so seems to have wide variability in customers’ experiences. From this, we can conclude that all of the franchises provide high-quality service and food, though some face difficulties in smooth operations.
Review Analysis of Hungry Howie’s Pizza in the USA as of 2025
Trustpilot has very little coverage of Hungry Howie’s, with few reviewers contributing, so it’s hard to get a clear idea of what Hungry Howie’s customers feel about the business there. However, the brand’s survey results on Comparably give it an NPS of 40, proving that most customers are satisfied and loyal. The company’s Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) score is 100, as 33% of customers report they are very satisfied and 67% are satisfied. According to these numbers, the brand performs well in quality products and strong customer support, although their performances vary at different locations.
Category-wise Rating and Review Analysis
1. Quality of Products & Menu Changes
The unique, flavored crusts, such as garlic herb, butter, ranch, and Cajun, are what make Hungry Howie’s different from other pizza businesses. Evaluating reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp, we find that customers who enjoy customized choices tend to return. Franchise.org reports that the “Secret Menu” that came out in 2023 and was updated in 2025 includes fun choices inspired by the past and voted for by customers, and these options have been a hit with daring eaters (Franchise.org).
Yet, people often find that the results do not consistently match their expectations. Many people have reported that some Pizza Huts have problems with unevenly cooked pizzas, too little topping, or using old toppings. Many times, this variation is caused by each franchise’s independence and differences in quality standards. It points out that all franchises must function the same way to preserve the same quality brand image.
2. Support for Customers
People like that ordering through the mobile app or website is simple and that deliveries are always reliable. Alternatively, some reviews on Indeed and Google Reviews report examples of unprofessional handling, late order fulfillment, and unsuitable answers to complaints. Certainly, not everything is always right about cleanliness and order at the store in question. Service excellence can be found in some areas, but poor training and supervision lead to service breakdowns in many others.
3. Technology and Programs
Recently, Hungry Howie’s spent a lot on technology. More and more people are using Howie Rewards® to get points for shopping and exchange those points for incentives. People report that the system is user-friendly and motivates them to order again. The company updated its app in 2025 so that people could do checkout faster, live-track their orders, and benefit from deals specific to their locations.
Also, QR codes found on Aladdin packaging and menus give customers access to a unique digital secret menu. Most of these upgrades are accepted positively and demonstrate that the brand is keeping up with the digital era.
4. Pricing and the Level of Value
They present themselves as a brand that delivers tasty pizza at reasonable prices, and many people agree with this. Many people and families are drawn to fast food by ongoing promotions, combo offers and using coupons. Based on Finmodelslab.com, such a strategy is important for retaining a company’s market share.
A number of patrons believe the new prices are not justified by the food or how much they receive. Since the whole industry is feeling the impact of higher food prices and higher inflation, Hungry Howie’s must seek ways to keep food inexpensive while still making a profit.
5. Employee Experience and the Culture in the Workplace
Studies of employee reviews on Indeed say that the environment at Hungry Howie’s happens to be mixed around its franchises. For some individuals at the chain, the many breaks and good camaraderie stand out; but for others, they dislike the shortage of breaks, hostile managers, and little chance to advance.
Another issue is that high employee turnover makes it harder to maintain quality service and keeps customers dissatisfied. Lacking the right training and help can lead new employees to commit errors that slow things down and cause problems with customers. This points out that companies should support their staff’s training and have strong leaders to achieve long-term stability and please their customers.
Quick Analysis of Customer Feedback – Dairy Queen Restaurants
The United States has 4,155 Dairy Queen restaurants as of April 17, 2025. There are more Dairy Queen locations in Texas than in any other state, and the total of these restaurants represents almost 13% of Dairy Queen’s United States network. Review and rating analysis for Dairy Queen restaurants in America proves that the desserts, mainly Blizzards and the soft-serve, are a top-rated choice thanks to their sweetness and reliable quality. Yet, how happy customers are with their burgers and chicken at McDonald’s depends on the location, because service and the quality of food are not always consistent. Most urban franchises earn better scores for service, cleanliness, and dependable delivery, although rural or old franchises usually are rated lower.
As the industry grows, Dairy Queen (DQ) remains a key player in the U.S. restaurant market, famous for its desserts and the Blizzard menu. Customers express a range of opinions about Air Canada on different online forums, and these differ by region. Reviews on Yelp change a lot by location; for instance, the El Paso restaurant gets normal ratings, whereas the one in Riverside has higher praise. ConsumerAffairs and Trustindex.io have noticed reports of slow service and mistakes in certain orders.
Comparably reports that DQ’s Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) is 55% and individuals aged 18–25 are the most satisfied. Most young people think the product quality is higher than older people do. DQ’s Signature All Occasion Cake was voted the best ice cream cake in a taste test organized in 2025, earning praise for its delectable creaminess and sweetness. The return of the S’mores Blizzard has excited fans, showing that DQ understands and uses popular tastes.
Category-wise Review Analysis
1. Quality of Products and Customer Satisfaction
Ratings Summary:
- Ice Cream Products (including Blizzard, cones, and sundaes): 4.3/5 (Rating average).
- Burgers and Chicken Strips (in the Grill & Food section): a score of 3.5/5 on average
Key Insights:
Many customers often note how faithful, numerous, and delicious the frozen desserts are. The reintroduced S’mores Blizzard in 2025 was embraced by customers so much that it pushed more people into the stores and increased buzz online. In a nationwide test by Allrecipes, the Signature All Occasion Cake from Carvel was named the best because of its smooth texture and perfectly layered flavors.
However, the grill section of DQ’s menu includes burgers, chicken tenders, and hot dogs, which get a variety of reactions. In some cases, locations get points for healthy ingredients and large servings, yet many people complain about the food being lifeless and overcooked or even cold. This difference is often caused by differences in training and food preparation at each location which points to the need for consistency across the chain.
2. Service Quality
Ratings Summary:
- Order Accuracy & Speed: 3.2 out of 5 stars (average)
- Friendliness of the Staff: 3.8 stars (out of 5)
Key Insights:
According to reviews from Yelp and ConsumerAffairs, how good the service is can really depend on the area you visit. At good and organized locations in the city, all customers can expect friendly, committed, and efficient service. Although, in smaller or individually owned franchises, customers are often upset because the food comes late, is prepared poorly, and sometimes contains wrong or few items. Busy times mean many workers are needed, and places that are understaffed cause even longer service and poorer experiences for customers.
They are reported most often on websites such as Yelp and ConsumerAffairs. Many customers say it’s better to come at non-peak times or only order dessert to be ensured of reliable service.
3. Store Hygiene and Atmosphere
Ratings Summary:
- Interior cleanliness is rated at 3.4/5 stars.
- How Well the Store Is Kept and the Comfort of Customers: 3.5/5 average
Key Insights:
Depending on your location, Dairy Queen stores may be very different from each other. Such locations are generally fresh and spotless, with enough lighting for everyone’s comfort and usually nice for both sitting to eat and waiting for pickup. In contrast, feedback from people often includes comments about places with dirty floors, messed-up counters, and unclean restrooms.
From this data, we can see that the way a store looks and feels is due to how the local franchise operators follow the maintenance and cleanliness rules.
4. Quality for the Price
Ratings Summary:
- Desserts cost an average of 4.2 stars out of 5.
- Meal Combo Pricing: 3 stars out of 5
Key Insights:
Comparatively, Dairy Queen has predefined prices for dessert items. Most people feel they receive good value because of promotional deals, combo offers, and earning rewards with the app. People feel that the servings for desserts are a good value, and the Blizzard is frequently voted as the most attractive item on the menu.
At the same time, people’s views on grilled food are a little more negative. A lot of people believe the food doesn’t live up to the price you pay, especially since McDonald’s and Burger King usually cost less. The price of combo meals is often thought to be too high for the food you receive.
Summing Up
Hungry Howie’s Pizza in 2025 operates as a mid-tier chain focused on offering new ideas and low prices. Although customers are happy in core areas, the brand needs to improve training and support for franchises to reach its potential everywhere. Tackling these points could help the company score better in ratings and improve its brand recognition against top competitors in the quick-service food industry. On the other hand, Dairy Queen aims to grow by expanding with more franchises, diversifying its menu, and focusing on new technology. As a result of the “Grill & Chill” approach, the brand now offers both hot meals and its well-known ice cream. They add modern features to their stores, enhance shopping for customers, and use happy memories from the past to attract their original shoppers. Thanks to partnerships with third-party apps and a good mobile app, more customers are able to access the service. Growth in Asia and the Middle East and ongoing charitable activities are both helping the Dairy Queen brand become more prominent around the world.
