50 Most Popular Fast-Food Restaurants in America — Eat This Not That
Fancy McDonald’s for its world-famous fries and Wendy’s for the never-frozen cheeseburgers? While many fast-food-frequenting folks swear by their favorite drive-thru joint, have you ever wondered which restaurant continues to steal the heart of the majority and bridges the gap between our polarized population? YouGov, a firm that specializes in online research, has been keeping track of the most popular dining brands in America based on more than 1,500 interviews across multiple demographics taken between October 2021 and December 2021.
According to YouGov, popularity is “calculated by taking the proportion of people who view something positively and showing it as a percentage of all of the people who have given any opinion about that thing, including ‘have heard of.'”
To help make YouGov’s data of dining brands more digestible, we combed through the list and isolated just the fast-food chains. We ranked these fast-food joints from least to most popular.
And for more, check out The Oldest Fast-Food Chains in America—Revealed!
50
Nội Dung Chính
Checkers & Rally’s
Looking for a classic burger? Look no further—it’s dare we say, a checkmate ordering from here.
49
Jamba Juice
There really is something for everyone at this smoothie shop—besides frozen drinks you can sip on, there are smoothie bowls and plenty of bites.
48
Einstein Bros. Bagels
When you can’t get to a local bagel shop, Einstein Bros. will do the trick.
47
Carvel
This classic ice cream shop has lots of flavors and special days for BOGO-free sundaes. What more could you ask for?
46
Sbarro
Sbarro is best known for its large pizza slices that happen to be in every mall court. Classic.
45
Shake Shack
Shake Shack has become an international megachain, so it’s no surprise it made the list of the top 50 most popular fast-food spots.
44
Wingstop
You can’t beat Wingstop’s lunch special, with boneless wings, fries, and a drink for under $10.
43
Whataburger
What is Whataburger, you may ask? This regional joint is known for its menu’s oversized meaty masterpieces and waiters’ Southern hospitality.
42
Firehouse Subs
Yes, Firehouse Subs was actually started by two brothers who happened to be firefighters before getting into the sandwich business.
41
Church’s Chicken
Say a little prayer: This fried chicken fast-food chain made the cut.
40
Jersey Mike’s
Subway may have many more locations than Jersey Mike’s, but this sandwich shop still made its way into the top 50.
39
Jimmy John’s
Jimmy John’s slogan is “Freaky Fast, Freaky Fresh,” and it looks like customers find this to be true!
38
Long John Silver’s
Ahoy, matey! This seafood-based fast-food chain comes in around the middle of the pack when it comes to the best fast-food spots in the U.S.
37
Carl’s Jr.
Are a charbroiled burger and decadent milkshake in your future? A visit to Carl’s Jr. might be where you end up!
36
Jack in the Box
Nuggets, milkshakes, and even tacos are on the menu at Jack in the Box. Another fast-food spot that has something for everyone! Here’s The Top Swap at Jack in the Box.
35
Orange Julius
Whether you visit this smoothie chain on a trip to the mall or after a workout, nothing hits the spot like a drink from Orange Julius.
34
Nathan’s Famous
You can never go wrong with a hot dog and French fries combo, and what better place to order that than at Nathan’s?
33
In-N-Out Burger
It’s a California classic, but perhaps its exclusivity is what prevented In-N-Out from ranking higher in the minds of all Americans. For those who happen to live by one, customers have plenty of options to dig into, from the outrageous animal-style fries to the celeb-favorite protein-style burgers.
32
Auntie Anne’s
Another mall court and airport staple, Auntie Anne’s pretzels are unmatched.
31
Hardee’s
The sister brand to Carl’s Jr. is cherished a bit more by their customers!
30
Panda Express
With thousands of locations across America, Panda Express is the top-ranking Asian dining brand in the country, according to the 2018 QSR 50 Ethnic Segment Report, which gathers the best restaurant brands in the country and segments them into categories.
29
Chipotle
True fans know that guacamole is extra—and they’ll happily fork over the extra cash. Here’s What to Order at Chipotle.
28
White Castle
Harold and Kumar aren’t the only loyal customers who keep coming back to White Castle for some of those iconic sliders, and now, there is even an Impossible Slider on the menu.
27
Boston Market
From the rotisserie chickens to the delectable mac and cheese, Boston Market is always a great stop for a hearty meal. Here are The Best & Worst Menu Items at Boston Market.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
26
Papa John’s
Papa John’s is always boasting about its better ingredients, and it seems like there are plenty of customers who continue to order these pizzas.
25
Little Caesars
“Pizza, pizza” has plenty of loyal fans, thanks to the “cheap and fast” vibe of the food. Speaking of pizza, do you know what the most popular pizza topping is in your state?
24
Starbucks
Starbucks has gathered a reputation for being the go-to place when you’re in the mood for a pumpkin coffee drink once fall rolls around. And with their decadent Frappuccinos, there are plenty of sweet treats for non-coffee drinkers, too.
23
Quizno’s
Quizno’s offers up classic sandwiches, and who can resist the fresh pepper bar?
22
Five Guys
While Five Guys has some top-notch burgers and fries, this is a spot for peanut lovers, too. You can munch on peanuts that are available all over the restaurants while you order your meal.
21
Cold Stone Creamery
This ice cream shop serves up cold customized treats for whatever your heart desires, so it’s basically a dream come true, right?
20
Sonic
Sometimes, you just want one of Sonic’s frozen drinks and a burger to go along with it. Yum!
19
Burger King
While it may not be the most popular dining brand in the country, the King is still a top choice for many. Those Whoppers are still as tasty as ever, especially if you go for the Impossible Whopper.
Want to chow down on more juicy hamburgers? Here’s where you can get The Absolute Best Burger in Every State.
18
KFC
The Colonel is still going strong! Who doesn’t want to eat their chicken right out of a bucket?
17
A&W Restaurants
Yes, the root beer chain sells food! Here are The Best & Worst Menu Items at A&W.
16
Mrs. Fields
Those giant chocolate chip cookies that just call your name as you’re walking by? They are a staple of all Mrs. Fields locations, so we don’t blame you for having one now and then.
15
Subway
People surveyed described this sandwich shop as a “good value for money.” If you’re a Subway fan, you’re not alone! Headed to Subway? Here’s Every Subway Sandwich—Ranked for Nutrition!
14
McDonald’s
Are you still McLovin’ it? You might’ve expected Mickey D’s to claim a spot closer to the top, but those golden fries and Big Macs seem to have some more competition.
13
Domino’s
Domino’s is hailed by fans for being well-made and a good value. With wings and yummy chocolate lava cakes to go alongside a pizza, Domino’s is simply beloved.
12
Popeyes
Plenty of loyal Popeyes fans eat there on the reg, and we know the chicken sandwich was truly worth all the hype.
11
Panera
From its house-made lemonade to that tasty mac and cheese to those fresh-baked bagels, Panera has it all. No wonder it ranked so highly on YouGov’s list!
10
Taco Bell
This taco joint rings its loyal customers’ bells for being “everywhere and good quality.” By the way, You’ll Never Guess What Taco Bell Uses to Season Its Beef.
9
Chick-fil-A
Although loyal customers can’t satisfy their fried chicken cravings on Sunday, Chick-fil-A still is a top spot to go when you’re in the mood for a chicken sandwich and some waffle fries.
8
Pizza Hut
With a plethora of crusts, cheesy toppings, and grilled veggies to choose from, it’s no surprise pizza lovers keep coming back to the Hut.
7
Arby’s
For all the meat-lovers out there, Arby’s is your place, especially if you’re a fan of their staple, roast beef sandwiches.
6
Dunkin’
America actually does run on Dunkin’, doesn’t it? Those Munchkins are rather irresistible.
5
Cinnabon
No mall trip is ever done without a pit stop at Cinnabon for a warm, gooey, perfectly sticky cinnamon bun.
4
Wendy’s
Ranking higher than McDonald’s and Burger King is the beloved redhead! The real question is, which flavor Frosty do you get: chocolate or vanilla?
3
Krispy Kreme
From the affordably priced cups of caffeine to the hot-out-the-oven classic glazed doughnuts, it’s easy to see why Krispy Kreme has such a devoted following.
2
Baskin-Robbins
Craving ice cream? Baskin Robbins comes in the first-place spot. And they have so many delicious scoop flavors!
1
Dairy Queen
Majority rules! Customers raved that the fast-food chain is “good quality,” “never gets old,” and is a “good value for money.” That sounds like a winning combo to us! DQ even sold more than 175 million Blizzards the first year they introduced them in 1985—who knew?
For more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked by how toxic they are.
