Zagat Announces 2012 Fast-Food Survey Results

Five Guys Has Best Burger; Starbucks Takes Top Coffee; McDonald's Wins Best Fries, Breakfast and Value; Wendy's and Subway Take Top Spots in "Mega Chain" Category; In-N-Out Burger and Fazoli's Win "Large Chain" Category

News provided by

Zagat

Sep 27, 2012, 11:55 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zagat announced the results of its annual Fast-Food Survey of 274 national restaurant chains. 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.

The 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. Below are this year's Most Popular and top-rated chains:

MOST POPULAR

Mega Chains

1. Subway

2. Wendy's

3. McDonald's

4. Taco Bell

5. Burger King

 

Large Chains

1. In-N-Out Burger

2. Panera Bread

3. Chipotle

4. Five Guys

5. Chick-fil-A

Quick-Refreshment

1. Starbucks

2. Dunkin' Donuts

3. Ben & Jerry's

4. Peet's Coffee/Tea

5. Auntie Anne's Pretzels



TOP FOOD

Mega Chains

1. Wendy's

2. Subway

3. Pizza Hut

4. Taco Bell

5. Burger King

 

Large Chains

1. In-N-Out Burger

2. Papa Murphy's

3. Chipotle

4. Panera Bread

5. Bojangles'

 

Quick-Refreshment

1. Rita's Italian Ice

2. Ben & Jerry's

3. Haagen-Dazs

4. Peet's Coffee/Tea

5. Culver's



TOP DECOR

Mega Chains

1. Wendy's

2. McDonald's

3. Pizza Hut

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

 

Large Chains

1. Fazoli's

2. Panera Bread

3. On The Border Mex. Grill

4. Corner Bakery Cafe

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

 

Quick-Refreshment

1. Caribou Coffee

2. Peet's Coffee/Tea

3. Starbucks

4. Culver's

5. Tim Hortons



TOP SERVICE

Mega Chains

1. Subway      

2. Wendy's

3. Taco Bell

4. Pizza Hut

5. McDonald's

 

Large Chains

1. In-N-Out Burger

2. Papa Murphy's

3. Jimmy John's

4. Fazoli's

5. Panera Bread

 

Quick-Refreshment

1. Caribou Coffee

2. Rita's Italian Ice     

3. Culver's      

4. Peet's Coffee/Tea   

5. Tim Hortons           




TOP OVERALL

Mega Chains

1. Wendy's     

2. Subway

3. Pizza Hut

4. Taco Bell

5. McDonald's

 

Large Chains

1. In-N-Out Burger

2. Fazoli's

3. Panera Bread          

4. Papa Murphy's

5. Chipotle

 

Quick-Refreshment

1. Caribou Coffee      

2. Rita's Italian Ice     

3. Peet's Coffee/Tea   

4. Culver's      

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

For more information, visit the Zagat blog: http://blog.zagat.com/2012/09/2012-fast-food-survey-results-are-live.html

About Zagat

Known as the "burgundy bible," Zagat is the world's most trusted source for consumer-generated survey information. With a worldwide network of surveyors, Zagat rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories and is lauded as the "most up-to-date," "comprehensive" and "reliable" guide. Zagat content is integrated throughout Google, including Maps, Search Google+ and mobile. Guidebooks are also available at all major retailers. In September 2011, Zagat was acquired by Google Inc.

About Google Inc.

Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.

Google is a trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

SOURCE Zagat

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