America's New Favorite Fast Food Chain in 2026

After nearly a decade of dominance, Chick-fil-A has been dethroned in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index quick-service restaurant rankings. America's new favorite might surprise you.

We have a lot of great fast food options across the United States and here in Indiana. Burgers, tacos, pizza, and other sandwiches at these fast food chains in the state are the perfect meal when you're in a rush. That being said, not all fast-food chains are created equal, right? Some are definitely better than others, and there are quite a few that you downright avoid. Likewise, there are those chains that you know you are always going to get quality food and service anytime you go there.

The latest American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant and Food Delivery Study, released Tuesday, considered the performance of quick-service and full-service restaurant chains in the U.S. The study found that for the first time in nearly a decade, America's favorite fast-food chicken chain has been knocked from the top spot by a newcomer to the rankings. How does the ACSI determine the rankings? According to WGN9:

Scores, on a 0 to 100-point scale, were doled out based on various factors focused on customer satisfaction. Both industries maintained their satisfaction scores of 79 for quick-service chains and 82 for full-service. Food delivery, also considered in the report, increased by one point to 75.

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America's New Favorite Fast Food Chain

So, if Chick-fil-A isn't America's favorite fast food chain, what is? Jersey Mike's claimed first place, with an ACSI score of 84 out of 100, edging Chick-fil-A's second-place score of 83. Here's the cool thing: this is actually Jersey Mike's first time ever on this list. According to the press release, Jersey Mike's is "recognized for freshness, food variety, and value. The chain, which added 238 net new locations in 2025 and reached $4.2 billion in systemwide sales, has maintained quality while scaling rapidly."

Personally, I know that Jersey Mike's was all my wife wanted after giving birth to our two daughters, and to this day, she can't get enough of the sandwich chain. It is surprising to me, though, that it beat out the giant that is Chick-fil-A. Indiana has only 39 Jersey Mike's locations, but they are constantly expanding. Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A has nearly 70 locations across the Hoosier State. But this ranking isn't about Indiana; it's about the United States as a whole, and the numbers show that Jersey Mike's is the top dog in the fast food world, at least in terms of customer satisfaction. Would you agree?

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Indiana

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Indiana using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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