When we think of fast-food we think of McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell and other traditional chains that dominate our television commercials and strip malls. But according to Consumer Reports' latest survey, Americans are not too pleased with the old-school titans of fast-food.
At $680 billion per year, American diners are spending more than ever on dining out. But compared with results from a Consumer Reports survey in 2011, they seem to want more for their money. Convenience takes a backseat to quality, especially for millennials who seem more likely to go out of their way for a meal of higher caliber.
Chains that are offering premium ingredients such as hormone-free meat and more vegetarian options fared better when it came to ratings. Chipotle, which has devoted sections of its website to talking about the quality of ingredients and sustainably, topped the burrito list.
McDonald's, on the other hand, was ranked worse than 20 of its competitors. And similarly, Taco Bell's burritos also were at the bottom of the list. This is unsurprising, seeing that neither chain is known for having fresh and premium ingredients.
For the survey, subscribers were asked their opinion on 65 fast-food and fast-casual restaurants. The chains were divided into four categories: burgers, sandwiches & subs, burritos, and chickens. Subscribers were asked the question: "On a scale of 1 to 10, from least delicious to most delicious you've ever eaten, how would you rate the taste?" In general, regional fast food chains seemed to fare better, with California's Habit Burger Grill topping the list in the burger category and the Midwest's Portillo's Hot Dogs taking first in the sandwiches & subs category. For the 3 best and worst chains, look at the list below. For the complete list of rankings head over to Consumer Reports.
Top 3 Burger Chains
1. Habitat Burger Grill (8.1)
2. In-N-Out Burger (8.0)
3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries (7.9)
Bottom 3 Burger Chains
1. Burger King (6.6)
2. Jack in the Box (6.6)
3. McDonald's (5.8)
Top 3 Chicken Chains
1. Chick-fil-A (8.1)
2. El Pollo Loco (7.7)
3. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (7.7)
Bottom 3 Chicken Chains
1. Zaxby's (7.3)
2. Church's Chicken (7.3)
3. KFC (7.1)
Top 3 Sandwiches & Subs Chains
1. Portillo's Hot Dogs (8.5)
2. Firehouse Subs (8.2)
3. Schlotzsky's (8.2)
Bottom 3 Sandwiches & Subs Chains
1. Arby's (7.3)
2. Subway (7.2)
3. Au Bon Pain (7.0)
Top 3 Buritos Chains
1. Chipotle Mexican Grill (7.8)
2. Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill (7.7)
3. Qdoba Mexican Grill (7.6)
Bottom 3 Burritos Chains
1. Taco John's (7.2)
2. Del Taco (6.9)
3. Taco Bell (6.3)
