McDonald’s tops fast-food rankings preference despite losing best burger title

A new report investigating how restaurants are performing in the United States and which brands American customers prefer has found that McDonald’s comes to mind first when most consumers think of fast food, although other chains rank higher for burger quality.

In its “Best Bites 2026: U.S. Restaurant Brand Rankings” survey, international market research group YouGov sought to discover: “Which restaurant brands rank first among American adults?”

The group surveyed U.S. adults about restaurant considerations, food quality and dining preferences.

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“One of the most interesting findings is that McDonald’s considers all fast food brands when Americans decide where to buy fast food, yet it lags behind many competitors when it comes to the best-tasting burgers,” Ashley Brown, YouGov’s Georgia-based senior director, told Fox News Digital.

“At the same time, when consumers are asked which restaurant has the best fries, McDonald’s is the clear leader,” he added.

“Taken together, the findings suggest that consumers evaluate fast food brands by considering multiple menu items and features, not just burgers, when deciding where to eat.”

The YouGov survey asked respondents: “When you go to the market to buy food or drink, which of the following would you consider purchasing?”

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McDonald’s topped the list with 39.6 percent of the votes.

Chick-fil-A came in second with 35.5%, followed by Wendy’s with 33.2%.

McDonald’s was the No. 1 “most preferred” restaurant among both men and women, as well as among the 18-29, 30-44 and 45-64 age groups. People 65 and older said they mostly see Wendy’s as a fast-food dining option.

According to YouGov’s new survey, McDonald’s is the most preferred fast food brand among three different age groups in America. (iStock)

The survey also ranked America’s best burger, sandwich and taco places.

Five Guys was America’s favorite burger (15.5%), followed by Burger King (15%) and In-N-Out Burger (12.1%). Wendy’s ranked fourth (10.2%) and McDonald’s ranked fifth (8.7%).

Subway was voted as having the best deli sandwich (22.9%) and Taco Bell as having the best taco/burrito (30.3%).

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McDonald’s outpaced the competition in the french fries category with 39.2% of the vote; It was followed by Five Guys, which received just 9% of the votes.

Chick-fil-A was most people’s favorite chicken place (25.3%), while Pizza Hut took the top spot for people’s preferred pizza (19.1%).

Chick-fil-A was the top-ranked fast food brand for quality and was also voted people’s favorite place to eat chicken. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

While Chick-fil-A was the top-ranked fast food brand in terms of quality, McDonald’s did not make the top 10.

Wendy’s ranked #1 by value (21.6%), while McDonald’s ranked #8 (12.5%).

In addition to fast-food tastes and trends, the YouGov report analyzed consumers’ views on casual dining and specialty dining and offered a profile of weekly fast-food eaters.

According to the report, nearly two-thirds of Americans buy food or drinks from fast food restaurants at least once a month, while 30% eat fast food at least once a week.

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Of those who eat fast food weekly, 55% are men and 45% are women; 49% are middle-income (earning 75%-200% of median income); According to the research, 51% of these people are under the age of 45.

“Value and discounts are the biggest drivers for weekly fast-food eaters, followed by a clean dining area,” the report said.

“Customization of menu items tops the index for women, while men are more attracted by 24-hour service and self-serve beverage stations.”

Nearly 40% of respondents to a recent survey said McDonald’s fries were their favorite at a fast-food restaurant. (Mike Kemp/Getty Images)

According to its website, McDonald’s owes its popularity to its practice of prioritizing quality with real beef patties, 100% white-meat chicken and freshly cracked eggs, among other real ingredients.

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The Illinois-based fast food chain said it also listens to its customers and “evolves our menu to keep up with the latest customer preferences.”

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Fox News has reached out to McDonald’s for comment on the study.