Used to work @ Ihop. It’s the marinade. Almost everything there from the dinner menu is pre packaged frozen then microwaved upon order. Wouldn’t ever order the “fresh” fruit either. Comes out of a bucket and is basically like a giant bucket of fruit cocktail.
If you want a steak 10x better than mostly any restaurant go to Costco and get choice ribeyes and reverse sear them at 225 degrees then pan fry them in your oil of choice on a hot cast iron. Only season with salt and pepper and let rest on a rack for 20 minutes before cutting
You aren’t overthinking. Pretty much anything you buy at a restaurant or anything that comes in a wrapper is drenched in rancid soybean oil, canola oil, and sunflower seed oil, and also additional sugar.
Just eat homecooked. Eating at fast food restaurants should really be an occasional treat for events and socialization and not as a dietary staple, ever.