Chick-fil-A has always been the restaurant spot that captivated diners, which is why they have always placed on top for nine consecutive years at USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
It is no wonder why Chick-fil-A has always been at the top of the list as their menu offerings, such as chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and waffle potato fries, have developed a cult following in America. The fast-food restaurant has also shown a positive, family-friendly image to make the place feel welcoming.
But despite all of these excellent customer service, we bear bad news for Chick-fil-A fans as your favorite fast food restaurant has been dethroned based on the recent rankings.
Chick-fil-A was placed third in the rankings, but who took their place? This year, the Mexican chain Del Taco claimed the top spot.
While the second place goes to KFC.
How did this happen to the chicken restaurant? According to the Chick-fil-A entry, it says that the fast-food chain has been loved by many, including their friendly cow mascots that says “Eat Mor Chikin.” However, their Classic Chicken Sandwich has been the most-ordered menu item for two years despite offering a variety of chicken-centric dishes.
This news may be a bummer to some fans and Chick-fil-A restaurants themselves, but at least they still have a good high ranking.
Check Out USA Today’s Best Fast Food Restaurant Rankings
It’s no wonder why Americans love fast-food restaurants. Aside from their delicious on-the-go offerings, their affordability and deals pull more guests to dine. With this, fast-food restaurants compete with each other by releasing new menu items that are unique and perfectly suit the tastebuds of consumers.
USA Today, a multimedia platform news and broadcasting company, releases the annual ranking of the most popular fast food chains full list called “10 Best Fast Food Restaurants in the United States”, where editors get to pick the restaurants and allow the readers become fast-food experts by voting in the poll called “Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
This 2024, USA Today released the following fast-food restaurants voted by their readers:
Did your picks make it to the list?
RELATED: 13 New Chick-fil-A Menu Hacks You Must Try
What’s The Buzz Around Chick-fil-A?
These past two years have been eventful for Chick-fil-A, as they’ve included new menu releases and new technology in their services and menu.
For instance, in 2023, they did a test run on drones to use for food delivery services in select cities. Customers must order in the Chick-fil-A app, and then an employee will load the order inside the white box to be carried and sent to the location. Imagine a drone delivering your food order to your doorstep. How cool is that? This proved that Chick-fil-A is adapting to the times by offering a faster way to deliver food.
Overlooked Chick-fil-A menu gems were also made viral early this month. The Cobb Salad, Spicy Southwest Salad, and Market Salad went viral on TikTok after different users shared how you can customize each salad with fresh toppings such as Grilled Nuggets and Spicy Fillet to salad dressing like Zesty Buffalo Sauce and Avocado Lime Ranch.
This August, the chicken sandwich chain is set to return the fan-favorite Honey Pepper Pimiento Chicken Sandwich and Banana Pudding Milkshake. Now fans have something to look forward to despite their favorite restaurant ranking down to the Top 3.
Del Taco Takes The Crown
In a different turn of events, Del Taco, a Mexican food restaurant, took the crown from Chick-fil-A when they were announced as the top food chain in the country. This shift proves that over the years, customer’s preferences may change and that fast food restaurants must learn how to keep up with it.
After the news broke, some netizens commented that they were unfamiliar with Del Taco, while some said they knew it from the hit American sitcom Big Bang Theory. Despite that, many were delighted by the news given the rise in their popularity. Their top food items include Tacos, Nachos, Wrapped Burritos, Tostadas, and Quesadillas.
Del Taco prides themselves on their fresh homecooked meals, which have become their selling point as more people prioritize their health nowadays. Most of the ingredients they add to their food are made from scratch. Imagine getting a homecooked meal at an affordable price. That’s definitely a win for most consumers.
RELATED: Del Taco Welcomes Back Popular Treats for Summer
From The Club
I think the news of Chick-fil-A getting dethroned won’t really affect them as they still got a pretty high rating of third rank. Along with time, consumer preferences change; as long as they keep up in the fast-paced market, they’re good. Nine straight years is a long time already! As for Del Taco, I’m excited about what’s in store for them in the following months. I guess it’s safe to expect that they will be unveiling another line of new menu releases or perhaps a deal. This is your sign to eat at Del Taco!