McDonalds tops the fast food rankings despite losing the title of best burger
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A new report that examines how restaurants operate in the United States and what types of American diners prefer has found that McDonald’s comes to mind first when most consumers think of eating fast food – or other chains ranked high in the quality of burgers.
In its study, “Best Bites 2026: US Restaurant Brand Rankings,” the international market research group YouGov sought to find out: “Which restaurant brands are the most popular among American adults?”
The group surveyed US adults about restaurant considerations, food quality and dining options.
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“One of the most interesting findings is that McDonald’s leads all types of fast food when Americans decide where to buy fast food, despite ranking behind several competitors in the best-tasting burgers,” Ashley Brown, executive director of Georgia-based YouGov, told Fox News Digital.
“At the same time, McDonald’s is the number one when consumers are asked which restaurant has the best fries,” he added.
McDonald’s ranks as the fast food restaurant that most Americans think of when they want fast food, even though it’s not the best burger, according to a recent survey. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
“Taken together, the findings suggest that consumers evaluate fast food brands across multiple menu items and features, not just burgers alone, when deciding where to eat.”
The YouGov survey asked respondents, “If you’re in a nearby market to buy food or drink, which of the following would you consider buying from?”
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McDonald’s tops the list with 39.6% of the vote.
Chick-fil-A came in second with 35.5%, followed by Wendy’s with 33.2%.
McDonald’s was the “most considered” restaurant for both men and women and among the 18-29, 30-44 and 45-64 age groups. People age 65 and older say they are more likely to consider Wendy’s as a fast-casual dining option.
McDonald’s is the most watched fast food brand in America among three different age groups, according to a new YouGov survey. (Stock)
The survey also ranked America’s top burgers, sandwiches and taco spots.
Five Guys was America’s favorite burger joint (15.5%), followed closely by Burger King (15%) and In-N-Out Burger (12.1%). Wendy’s took fourth place (10.2%), while McDonald’s came in fifth (8.7%).
Subway was voted best deli sandwich (22.9%) and Taco Bell best taco/burrito (30.3%).
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McDonald’s blew away the competition in the French fries category, receiving 39.2% of the vote – followed by Five Guys, which received just 9% of the vote.
Chick-fil-A was most people’s favorite chicken place (25.3%), while Pizza Hut earned people’s first choice pizza place (19.1%).
Chick-fil-A is a top-rated fast food brand based on quality and was also named people’s favorite place to eat chicken. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
Chick-fil-A is the top fast food brand based on quality, while McDonald’s did not make the top 10.
Wendy’s (21.6%) ranked number 1 in terms of value, while McDonald’s came in at number 8 (12.5%).
In addition to fast food tastes and trends, the YouGov report analyzed consumer opinions on casual and specialty restaurants and provided a weekly fast food restaurant profile.
About two-thirds of Americans buy food or drinks from fast food restaurants at least once a month, and 30% eat fast food at least once a week, according to the report.
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Of the people who eat fast food every week, 55% are men and 45% are women; 49% are middle-income (earning 75%-200% of the median income); and 51% are under 45 years of age, the study found.
“Price and discount are the top weekly fast food trends, followed by clean dining,” the report said.
“Customizing menu items is more appealing to women, while men are more attracted to 24-hour service and self-serve beverage stations.”
About 40% of respondents to a recent survey named McDonald’s french fries as their favorite from a fast food restaurant. (Mike Kemp/Getty Images)
McDonald’s credits its popularity to its tradition of putting quality first with real beef, 100% white chicken and fresh-cracked eggs, among other real ingredients, according to its website.
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The Illinois-based fast-food chain said it is also listening to its patrons and “changing our menu to match the latest customer preferences.”
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Fox News has reached out to McDonald’s for comment on the survey.
