2012 Zagat Annual Fast Food Survey Results
MOST POPULAR |
||
Mega Chains |
Large Chains |
Quick-Refreshment |
| 1. Subway | 1. In-N-Out Burger | 1. Starbucks |
| 2. Wendy's | 2. Panera Bread | 2. Dunkin' Donuts |
| 3. McDonald's | 3. Chipotle | 3. Ben & Jerry's |
| 4. Taco Bell | 4. Five Guys | 4. Peet's Coffee/Tea |
| 5. Burger King | 5. Chick-fil-A | 5. Auntie Anne's Pretzels |
TOP FOOD |
||
Mega Chains |
Large Chains |
Quick-Refreshment |
| 1. Wendy's | 1. In-N-Out Burger | 1. Rita's Italian Ice |
| 2. Subway | 2. Papa Murphy's | 2. Ben & Jerry's |
| 3. Pizza Hut | 3. Chipotle | 3. Haagen-Dazs |
| 4. Taco Bell | 4. Panera Bread | 4. Peet's Coffee/Tea |
| 5. Burger King | 5. Bojangles' | 5. Culver's |
TOP DECOR |
||
Mega Chains |
Large Chains |
Quick-Refreshment |
| 1. Wendy's | 1. Fazoli's | 1. Caribou Coffee |
| 2. McDonald's | 2. Panera Bread | 2. Peet's Coffee/Tea |
| 3. Pizza Hut | 3. On The Border Mex. Grill | 3. Starbucks |
| 4. Taco Bell | 4. Corner Bakery Cafe | 4. Culver's |
| 5. Subway | 5. Buffalo Wild Wings | 5. Tim Hortons |
TOP SERVICE |
||
Mega Chains |
Large Chains |
Quick-Refreshment |
| 1. Subway | 1. In-N-Out Burger | 1. Caribou Coffee |
| 2. Wendy's | 2. Papa Murphy's | 2. Rita's Italian Ice |
| 3. Taco Bell | 3. Jimmy John's | 3. Culver's |
| 4. Pizza Hut | 4. Fazoli's | 4. Peet's Coffee/Tea |
| 5. McDonald's | 5. Panera Bread | 5. Tim Hortons |
TOP OVERALL |
||
Mega Chains |
Large Chains |
Quick-Refreshment |
| 1. Wendy's | 1. In-N-Out Burger | 1. Caribou Coffee |
| 2. Subway | 2. Fazoli's | 2. Rita's Italian Ice |
| 3. Pizza Hut | 3. Panera Bread | 3. Peet's Coffee/Tea |
| 4. Taco Bell | 4. Papa Murphy's | 4. Culver's |
| 5. McDonald's | 5. Chipotle |
5. Tim Hortons |
In the Full-Service category, Cheesecake Factory wins for Most Popular while neighborhood restaurant Cheddar's sweeps Top Food, Top Decor and Top Overall. When it comes to Top Service, O'Charley's rises to the top.
Zagat surveyors also shared their opinions on the best fast-food items in a variety of categories:
- Burger: Five Guys
- Fried Chicken: KFC
- Grilled Chicken: Chick-fil-A
- Fish: Long John Silver's
- French Fries: McDonald's
- Coffee: Starbucks Coffee
- Milkshakes: Steak 'n Shake
- Ice Cream/Custard: Rita's Italian Ice
- Breakfast Sandwiches: McDonald's
- Salads: Wendy's
- Value Menu: McDonald's
- Overall Value: McDonald's
- Child-Friendly: McDonald's
- Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings
- Healthy Options: Panera Bread
Zagat announced the results today of its annual Fast-Food Survey of 274 national restaurant chains on September 27, 2012. More than 10,500 diners voted on everything from Salads and Sandwiches to Pasta and Pizza. These avid consumers – who report eating at a chain restaurant 9.4 times a month – separately rated the chains on Food, Decor and Service on Zagat's signature 30-point scale, and selected their favorites in a number of sub-categories.
As shown above, survey divided restaurants into four categories: Mega Chains (more than 5,000 U.S. locations), Large Chains (up to 5,000 U.S. locations) and Quick-Refreshment (beverages, ice cream, etc.). The survey also covered 117 Full-Service chains – those with table service.
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