For more than a decade, Chick-fil-A held the title of America’s highest-rated fast-food chain for customer satisfaction. Now, that streak has come to an end.
According to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s has overtaken Chick-fil-A to claim the No. 1 spot among quick-service restaurants. Jersey Mike’s earned a score of 84 out of 100, narrowly edging Chick-fil-A, which received a score of 83 after leading the rankings for 11 consecutive years.
Jersey Mike’s takes the lead
The annual ACSI study surveyed more than 16,000 consumers between April 2025 and March 2026, evaluating fast-food chains on factors including food quality, order accuracy, staff courtesy, cleanliness, mobile app performance, speed, and overall value. Jersey Mike’s made an impressive debut in the rankings, with customers giving high marks for the chain’s food freshness, menu variety, consistency, and value.
Forrest Morgeson, director of research emeritus at ACSI, said today’s consumers are looking beyond low prices, placing greater emphasis on a reliable and convenient dining experience that delivers consistent quality.
Chick-fil-A remains an industry leader
Although it no longer holds the top overall ranking, Chick-fil-A remains one of the nation’s best-performing restaurant chains. Its score of 83 still places it among the highest-rated quick-service brands and keeps it at the top of the chicken restaurant category.
Other brands also posted strong results in the 2026 survey. Jimmy John’s and Panda Express tied for third place with scores of 81, while KFC, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut each earned scores of 80. Sonic recorded one of the biggest year-over-year improvements, while Popeyes saw the largest decline among major chicken chains.
While Chick-fil-A’s long-running reign has ended, the latest rankings suggest competition among fast-food chains is becoming increasingly tight as consumers place greater importance on quality, consistency, convenience, and overall value when deciding where to dine.
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