Survey: Consumers' favorite QSR chains include...
Restaurant giants including McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A and Starbucks are among Americans’ most preferred eating destinations.
According to a new report from YouGov America, two-thirds of Americans eat fast food at least once a month, with nearly six-in-10 (58%) consumers purchasing fast food at least a few times a month. Thirty percent of Americans are weekly fast food diners, skewing male (55%) and under 45 (51%). Value/discount menus (66%) and clean dining environments (53%) are the top drivers among frequent fast food diners.
McDonald’s ranks as the most considered fast food brand (39.6%), followed by Chick-fil-A (35.5%) and Wendy’s (33.2%). Despite trailing McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A leads on quality (net score: 37.3), significantly ahead of competitors. Wendy’s ranks highest for value (21.6 net score), followed by Taco Bell (18.4).
When it comes to each category, Five Guys leads for best burgers (15.5%), according to those surveyed, while Subway dominates deli sandwiches (22.9%). Taco Bell is the leader for tacos/burritos (30.3%), while Chick-fil-A tops chicken (25.3%) and McDonald’s is the favorite for fries (39.2%).
Olive Garden is the most considered casual-dining brand (30.7%), while also leading on value (24.8 net score). The Italian chain is followed by Texas Roadhouse (28.2%) and Applebee’s (23.4%) when it comes to consideration, while Texas Roadhouse ranks highest on quality (35.0 net score).
Starbucks (31.3%) and Dunkin’ (31.1%) are nearly tied as the most considered specialty brands. Krispy Kreme leads specialty dining in quality (30.7 net score), and Dunkin’ ranks highest for value (24.2 net score).
“Restaurant brands that succeed today are those that consistently deliver on the fundamentals – value, quality, and a reliable customer experience – while also adapting to evolving consumer expectations,” said Ashley Brown, senior director at YouGov America. “What this data makes clear is that brand strength isn’t just about awareness or scale; it’s about relevance. Whether it’s McDonald’s maintaining broad appeal, Chick-fil-A excelling on quality, or Starbucks and Dunkin’ competing closely in specialty dining, the brands that win are those that understand exactly what matters most to their customers and deliver on it every day.”
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YouGov’s report, Best Bites 2026: U.S. Restaurant Brand Rankings, is based on data from YouGov CategoryView, BrandIndex, and BrandIndex Voices collected between March 1, 2025 and Feb. 28, 2026, using nationally representative samples of U.S. adults. The full report can be found here.
