CM
Cassandra Macias
Sep 2, 2026
I am writing to bring a concerning experience to your attention regarding my recent visit to the Castroville Whataburger location. With limited dining options in our area, our family often relies on your store, but my latest order fell far below basic quality, hygiene, and customer service standards. Following a 12-hour shift, I picked up a meal for my father and my daughter. Upon inspecting the order, I discovered that the chicken tender box was completely unsealed and open, with various condiment packets (ketchup, spicy ketchup, and barbecue sauce) thrown directly on top of the bare, exposed food. The order was also missing two large fries. When I raised the food safety issue to the employee, identified as Emery, her response was simply, "Oh, I thought the box was closed," accompanied by a smile, showing no concern for cross-contamination. I also had to explicitly request the missing fries before she handed them over. When I asked if another employee standing nearby was the manager, the two staff members simply looked at each other without answering or offering assistance. At no point did anyone offer to remake the exposed, contaminated food. When I requested her name, Emery responded, "My name's Emery. How can I help you?"As a hospitality professional at a five-star restaurant, my primary focus is guest satisfaction and quality control. Food packaged in this manner should never be served, and exposed items subject to cross-contamination should be remade immediately. I strongly encourage local leadership to address food handling protocols, accountability, and customer service standards with this team.