Study Ranks America’s Best and Worst Fast Food Restaurants – Who Wins?

America is known all over the world for its fast food. No, it’s probably not something to be proud of, but boy do we eat a lot of that stuff.

That’s presumably what prompted researchers at CouponBirds to determine the best and worst ranked fast food chains in the country – and some of the most controversial chains actually rank at the top.

At a glance:

  • Chick-fil-A was ranked as the best fast-food super-chain, with a rating of 3.95 out of 5.
  • Taco John’s ranked as the worst fast-food chain with a 2.61 rating, followed closely by McDonald’s at 2.75.
  • Smaller chains such as In-N-Out and Acai Republic topped the medium and small-chain rankings.

Chick-fil-A, known for its devout Southern Baptist roots and its controversial stance on social issues, has secured the top spot in a recent survey ranking the best fast-food chains in the U.S. The survey, conducted by CouponBirds, analyzed reviews of more than 160,000 fast-food locations across the country using a weighted average score system. Chick-fil-A emerged as the best super-chain, earning a score of 3.95 out of 5, despite being closed on Sundays and serving fish during Lent.

Following Chick-fil-A in the rankings, Five Guys Burgers and Fries claimed second place with a 3.85 score, and Jersey Mike’s Subs rounded out the top three with 3.76. Notably, Five Guys also holds the title for the “unhealthiest fast food cheeseburger.”

The rankings weren’t just for the big players. In-N-Out Burger, popular on the West Coast, was rated the top medium-sized chain with a stellar 4.21 score, while Acai Republic, a healthy food store, ranked as the best small chain with an impressive 4.44.

However, not all chains fared well. Taco John’s, known as the Midwest’s answer to Taco Bell, was named the worst fast-food chain with a rating of just 2.61. McDonald’s, despite being the largest fast-food chain, also placed near the bottom with a score of 2.75.

The survey shows that customer reviews on Google Maps can highlight surprising discrepancies between a restaurant chain’s size and its quality, with smaller chains often outperforming some of the biggest names in the industry.