The American Customer Satisfaction Index released its list of the best fast food restaurants and Chick-fil-A took the top title for the seventh year in a row.
Among fast-food restaurants, also known as limited-service restaurants, Chick-fil-A came in first with a score of 83 out of 100. The chain beat out all the full-service restaurants included in the study, including LongHorn Steakhouse, which was at the top there. category with a score of 80.
Despite Chick-fil-a being the top-rated fast food restaurant, its score dropped from 84 in 2020. Here are the top five rankings:
- Chick-fil-A: 83
- Domino's: 80
- KFC: 79
- Starbucks: 79
- Five boys: 78
Among the worst-rated fast food chains, McDonald's claimed the lowest spot with a score of 70. Jack in the Box, Popeyes, Sonic and Wendy's scored 73. The average score for limited-service restaurants was 78. Subway saw the biggest drop in the rankings this year, from 79 to 75.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many restaurants, both sit-down and fast-food, to adapt their services, such as offering takeout and delivery options.
Checking facts:Chick-fil-A does not release a steak filet sandwich.
LongHorn Steakhouse and Chick-fil-A top 2020 list:America's Favorite Dinner and Fast Food Restaurants
Even as states begin to allow dining rooms, ACSI Director David VanAmburg says the value of convenience shouldn't go away. Full-service restaurants had an overall score of 80, the second-highest score of all industries, behind breweries.
“During the pandemic, people got a taste of what it's like to have food from their favorite restaurants delivered straight to their homes. And now that they've gotten used to this service, there's no turning back. Restaurants must continue to offer their customers everything. They have become accustomed to these options over the past year and a half. If not, they might go somewhere else for a bite to eat.”VanAmburg said this in a statement.
Chick-fil-A's top position doesn't mean the chain hasn't faced controversy: Chick-fil-A has been criticized fordonations from companiesto anti-LGBTQ organizations.
CEO Dan Cathy was identified in Junefrom The Daily Beastas a donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which has a history of funding opposition to the Equality Act.Burger King repliedby announcing that for every chicken sandwich sold in June (Pride month), it would donate up to $250,000 (or 625,000 sandwiches) to the Human Rights Campaign.
To determine the rankings, ACSI interviewed nearly 20,000 random customers via email from April 1, 2020 to March 29, 2021. The rankings take into account factors such as cleanliness, accuracy, employee helpfulness and mobile app reliability.
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FAQs
When it comes to customer satisfaction, Chick-fil-A ranked No. 1, following closely by Jimmy John's. Chick-fil-A with an 85 satisfaction score, up 2% from last year. Jimmy John's at 84, up 6% from 2022.
What is the highest rated fast food restaurant in America? ›
Which is more popular, McDonald's or Chick-fil-A? ›
McDonald's, which is the largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, has a clear size advantage over Chick-fil-A, with roughly 14,000 U.S. locations, and plans to build 900 more by 2027. But McDonald's hasn't been able to match Chick-fil-A's massive annual unit volumes or its reputation for customer service.
Is Chick-fil-A officially America's favorite fast food restaurant? ›
The research organization's 2022-2023 restaurant study found that customers were most satisfied with the controversial chicken chain, according to interviews with 16,250 customers. This is Chick-fil-A's ninth consecutive year of topping the ACSI's fast food list.
Is Chick-fil-A the highest quality fast-food? ›
Well, according to USA Today, Chick-fil-A ranked supreme when it came down to the "10 Best" fast food restaurants as part of the publication's 2023 Reader's Choice Awards. According to the study, Chick-fil-A's classic chicken sandwich was voted most-ordered menu item at the restaurant for the past two years in a row.
Is Chick-fil-A healthy? ›
As a lean-meat protein, Chick-Fil-A's nutrition profile can offer great choices for a healthy meal-all depending on the cooking method. Breading and deep frying both add unnecessary fats and calories to the meal, taking away from some of its nutritional value.
What is the #1 fast-food restaurant in the world? ›
What fast-food is the most eaten? ›
Most popular fast food companies
McDonald's is by far the most popular fast food chain in the United States. It has about 13,500 locations in the U.S., 40,000 worldwide, and it operates in 118 countries. McDonald's serves 69 million people every day, more than the population of Thailand and the United Kingdom.
What's healthier, Chick-fil-A or McDonald's? ›
Is Chick-Fil-A healthier than McDonald's? Since “healthy” is a subjective term, picking the healthiest option can be tough. But, in general, since Chick-Fil-A focuses on chicken, which is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than beef, we'll give the “healthier” title to Chick-Fil-A over McDonald's.
Who is Chick-fil-A's biggest competitor? ›
Indeed, Kalinowski Equity Research noted all the way back in 2018 that Chick-fil-A's biggest competitor is McDonald's and it's no wonder why the Golden Arches and seemingly every other QSR concept (and beyond) have since ignited a chicken sandwich war replicating the Atlanta-based chain's signature product.
While many fast food chains offer many dishes, Chick-fil-A's is focused on selling chicken sandwiches. The name's capital A is intended to indicate that their chicken is "grade A top quality". The company's emphasis on customer service is reported to have contributed to its success and growth in the United States.
Where does Chick-fil-A rank in the US? ›
Here's the full ranking of most revenue earned by fast food brands in 2022. Carl's Jr. *Figures estimated by QSR and Circana. Starbucks holds on to the second spot, but Chick-fil-A shoots up 18 positions to third place by revenue, despite being closed on Sundays.
Do most people like Chick-fil-A? ›
How popular is Chick-fil-A in the United States? In total, 48% of U.S. restaurant chain customers say they like Chick-fil-A. However, in actuality, among the 92% of U.S. respondents who know Chick-fil-A, 52% of people like the brand.
What is the highest status of Chick-fil-A? ›
Chick-fil-A One® has four membership tiers: Chick-fil-A One Member, Chick-fil-A One Silver Member, Chick-fil-A One Red Member, and Chick-fil-A One Signature Member.
Is Chick-fil-A ranked No 1 for customer satisfaction for the 9th straight year? ›
The popular chicken chain has been ranked No. 1 in the ACSI survey 9 years in a row. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Restaurant Study 2022-2023, customer satisfaction with full-service restaurants is up 1% to a score of 81 (on a scale of 0 to 100).
Is Chick-fil-A or Starbucks more popular? ›
Most popular fast food companies
| Brand | Systemwide sales, 2021 | Number of locations |
|---|
| Starbucks | $24.3 billion | 15,450 locations |
| Chick-fil-A | $16.7 billion | 2,732 locations |
| Taco Bell | $12.6 billion | 7,002 locations |
| Wendy's | $11.1 billion | 5,938 locations |
46 more rowsOct 8, 2022
Chick-fil-A again ranked No. 1 for customer satisfaction | Nation's Restaurant News. Chick-fil-A, the perennial favorite for nine years running, scored an 85 on the index, up 2% from last year's ranking and higher than every other quick-service and full-service brand on the list.
