Chick-fil-A no longer sits atop the fast-food world in terms of customer satisfaction, a new American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) found.
Jersey Mike’s debuted at the top of the quick-service restaurant category with a customer satisfaction score of 84 out of 100 in the ACSI Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2026, ending Chick-fil-A’s 11-year run as the leader, according to a press release. Chick-fil-A held steady at 83 and slipped to second. Customers rated Jersey Mike’s well for fresh ingredients, menu range, and value. The company’s Franchise Finance Document (FDD) showed it added 238 net new locations last year, QSR Magazine reported.
“Quick-service restaurants remain steady for the third straight year at an ACSI score of 79, but the industry’s story this year is change at the top,” the study reads. (RELATED: Most American Company McDonald’s Bringing Back Most American Offering)
After a decade-long run, fast food chain Chick-fil-A has officially been dethroned, per the American Customer Satisfaction Index. https://t.co/ojo5gf1A2y
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 17, 2026
Jersey Mike’s built its rise on speed and convenience, with a business model leaning on order throughput, off-premise convenience, and heavy digital use, according to the ACSI. The New Jersey sub chain runs a “fairly narrow” menu, and the index credited the brand’s model as friendly to franchisee success.
Chick-fil-A remains the highest-scoring chicken chain even after losing the overall lead, according to the ACSI. It topped the list in 2025. At the bottom of the field for 2026, Dairy Queen and McDonald’s tied for last among major chains at 72. Last year, Dairy Queen had an ACSI score of 72 while McDonald’s had a score of 70.
Beef costs hammered the burger category through the year, climbing between 11% and 25% depending on the cut between November 2024 and November 2025, NewsNation reported, citing federal data. Culver’s and Burger King shared the top burger spot on the 2026 ACSI list at 78.