Chick-fil-A has been crowned the best super-chain fast food restaurant in the US, according to a recent survey conducted by CouponBirds. Despite being closed on Sundays and serving fish during Lent, the fast food giant received a rating of 3.95 out of 5, placing it above other popular chains. The company’s owners, who are devout Southern Baptists, have faced criticism for their stance on gay marriage, but this did not detract from Chick-fil-A’s high rating.
Following closely behind Chick-fil-A in the survey was Five Guys Burgers and Fries, with a rating of 3.85, and Jersey Mike’s Subs in third place with a rating of 3.76. CouponBirds used an objective system to rank the fast food chains, analyzing Google Maps reviews of over 161,000 establishments and grading each business out of five using a fair, weighted average. The chains were categorized based on size, with super-chains (1,000+ locations), medium-sized chains (100-1,000 locations), and small chains (4-100 locations).
Other super-chains that made the top five list included Waffle House, Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Arby’s, Panera Bread, Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, IHOP, and Carl’s Jr. In-N-Out Burger was rated as the best medium-sized chain, while Acai Republic was the best small chain. On the other end of the spectrum, Taco John’s was rated the worst chain overall, followed by McDonald’s, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay, Wahlburgers @ Hy-Vee, and Popeye’s.
In an interesting turn of events, McDonald’s, despite being one of the largest fast food chains in the US, received a low rating of 2.75, indicating that bigger does not always mean better in the fast food industry. The introduction of the Chicken Big Mac was part of McDonald’s efforts to boost sales amid declining revenue due to customers spending less on eating out. The top three fast food restaurants in New York were Taqueria El Dorado, Cozy Corner Cafe, and The Bucket, while other chains like Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings ‘GO’, South Philly Cheesesteaks & Fries, Buciferro Family McDonald’s, and Wetzel’s Pretzels were among the worst rated by CouponBirds.
Overall, it seems that Chick-fil-A has solidified its position as the top super-chain fast food restaurant in the US, despite controversies surrounding its ownership’s beliefs. The survey results provide insight into consumer preferences and perceptions of various fast food establishments, highlighting the importance of quality, taste, and customer experience in the industry. As the fast food landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how chains adapt to meet changing consumer demands and expectations.
