New consumer data shows Chick-fil-A is no longer the highest-rated fast-service restaurant (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
After more than a decade as the highest-rated quick-service restaurant in the nation, Chick-fil-A drops down to number two.
Each year, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) conducts a Restaurant and Food Delivery Study to determine consumer approval ratings across different dining categories. The 2026 study showed that quick-service restaurants (QSRs) maintained an ACSI score of 79 (on a scale of 0-100) for the third year in a row.
Findings were based on 16,464 customer surveys completed between April 2025 and March 2026. Respondents were chosen at random. The full study can be found here.
For the last eleven years, Chick-fil-A has reigned supreme at the top of this list with a satisfaction score of 83. They remain the leader in the chicken category, followed by KFC at 80, Raising Cane’s at 79, and Wingstop at 77.
However, they are no longer the overall leader for QSR’s.
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A New Leader In Fast-Service Restaurants Is Named, Besting Chick-fil-A
After the latest poll, Jersey Mike’s Subs obtained a score of 84, slightly edging out Chick-fil-A as the top-rated QSR! The sandwich chain opened 238 new locations in 2025 and is recognized for freshness, food variety, and value, despite the rapid scaling. Businesswire reports the restaurant’s annual sales to be $4.2 billion.
Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI, shared:
“New brands are entering our rankings and immediately competing at the top, which tells you something about where consumer expectations are headed. Price still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own.”
So what sets Jersey Mike’s Subs apart? According to the data, quality and consistency are key factors. The report shows that many QSRs are experiencing a decline in traffic due to the current economic climate. As such, consumers are being more selective about where and when they spend their money. Morgeson adds:
“Consistency across the full experience is what separates the leaders right now, and that’s showing up clearly in the data. The challenge going forward is sustaining that as costs continue to rise and competition intensifies from outside the traditional restaurant space.”
Who gets your vote? Chick-fil-A or Jersey Mike’s Subs?
