McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski is once again facing criticism for eating on camera. This recent incident brought back memories for Fox & Friends hosts of Brian Kilmeade’s refusal to eat in a similar setting. Viewers were particularly unimpressed with Kempczinski’s on-camera consumption of a chicken nugget, finding it worse than his previous burger video.
In a new report, the performance of restaurants in the United States was examined, highlighting consumer preferences. McDonald’s emerged as the first brand most consumers think of when considering fast food, despite being outperformed by other chains in terms of burger quality.
The survey, “Best Bites 2026: U.S. Restaurant Brand Rankings,” conducted by the international market research group YouGov, aimed to identify the top restaurant brands among American adults. This involved questioning U.S. adults about factors such as restaurant choices, food quality, and dining preferences.
**Survey Findings**
“One interesting finding is that McDonald’s is the leading choice among fast-food brands when Americans decide where to buy fast food,” Ashley Brown, a senior director at YouGov, stated. Yet, McDonald’s lags behind several of its competitors in terms of burger taste. Still, McDonald’s leads significantly in the category of best fries, she added.
According to the survey, McDonald’s was the top choice for consumers looking for a quick meal, although it did not rank as the top burger provider. Respondents were asked which restaurant they would consider purchasing food or drinks from when next in the market.
- McDonald’s led with 39.6% of the vote.
- Chick-fil-A followed at 35.5%.
- Wendy’s came in third at 33.2%.
McDonald’s was the most-considered fast-food restaurant among both males and females, as well as age groups 18-29, 30-44, and 45-64. In contrast, individuals aged 65 or older preferred Wendy’s.
The survey further evaluated America’s top spots for burgers, sandwiches, and tacos:
- Five Guys topped the list for favorite burgers (15.5%), with Burger King close behind (15%) and In-N-Out Burger (12.1%).
- Wendy’s came fourth in the burger category (10.2%), while McDonald’s placed fifth (8.7%).
- Subway was recognized for the best deli sandwich (22.9%).
- Taco Bell was ranked highest for tacos/burritos (30.3%).
McDonald’s dominated the french fry category, securing 39.2% of the vote, with Five Guys trailing at 9%.
**Rankings for Other Food Categories**
- Chick-fil-A was the preferred chicken spot (25.3%).
- Pizza Hut was the top choice for pizza lovers (19.1%).
Chick-fil-A was rated highest for quality among fast-food brands, while McDonald’s did not feature in the top ten. Wendy’s led in terms of value (21.6%), whereas McDonald’s ranked eighth (12.5%).
The YouGov report also delved into consumer opinions on casual and specialty dining establishments, profiling weekly fast-food diners. It found that roughly two-thirds of Americans frequent fast-food restaurants at least monthly, and 30% do so weekly.
Among weekly fast-food consumers:
- 55% are male
- 45% are female
- 49% have middle incomes (75%-200% of the median income)
- 51% are younger than 45 years
The report noted, “Value and discounts are the primary motivators for weekly fast-food diners, followed by cleanliness.” Women favored menu customization, whereas men prioritized 24-hour service and self-serve drink stations.
McDonald’s attributes its widespread popularity to its commitment to using quality ingredients, such as real beef patties, 100% white meat chicken, and freshly cracked eggs. The chain is also attentive to customer feedback, evolving its menu to align with current preferences.