Chick-fil-A Tops List as America’s Favorite Restaurant for the 7th Straight Year, Survey Finds
For the seventh straight year, Chick-fil-A is America’s favorite fast-food restaurant in a leading customer satisfaction survey.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) restaurant survey of 19,423 customers found that Chick-fil-A led among fast-food restaurants with a score of 83, followed by Domino’s (80), KFC and Starbucks (tied at 79). Three restaurants tied for fifth with a score of 78: Five Guys, Panera Bread and Pizza Hut. McDonald’s finished last with a score of 70.
An ACSI analysis of the survey noted that Chick-fil-A’s score, 83, was the highest not just among fast-food (limited-service) restaurants but also among full-service restaurants. Three restaurants tied for the lead among full-service restaurants with a score of 80: LongHorn, Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse. Cracker Barrel, Outback and Red Robin followed with a score of 78.
“Chick-fil-A tops the industry – and all restaurants – for the seventh consecutive year,” the analysis said.
Chick-fil-A led despite falling one point from its 2020 score of 84.
The pandemic, the analysis said, “forced restaurants to rethink the way they do business or risk being shuttered.” The changes restaurants made “have paid off for customers.”
“People are slowly starting to enjoy sitting down at restaurants again, but don’t discount the value of convenience,” said David VanAmburg, managing director at ACSI. “During the pandemic, folks got a taste for what it’s like to have food from their favorite restaurants delivered right to their door. And now that they’ve gotten used to this service, there’s no going back. Restaurants need to continue to give customers all the options they’ve become accustomed to over the last year and a half. If not, they might grab a bite somewhere else.”
Chick-fil-A was founded by Truett Cathy, a Christian businessman who incorporated his faith into the company’s practices. Cathy closed the restaurant on Sundays – a pattern the company still follows.
“Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose – a practice we uphold today,” the company’s website says.
The company’s official corporate purpose is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Scott Olson/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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