Markets 
A new survey has revealed America’s ideal fast food plate: a Burger King burger or Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, paired with McDonald’s fries and nuggets, washed down with a soda or Dairy Queen milkshake.
A poll of 2,000 U.S. adults took an a la carte look at their favorite items from fast food joints, aiming to uncover their ideal spread.
Results revealed that the average American polled says these items have been their solidified favorite for 16 years now.
Burger King lives up to its namesake, ranking at the No. 1 best hamburger across the board (39%), with Wendy’s coming in second (32%). However, in the Western region of the country, In-N-Out outranked both (45% vs both 32%).
If opting for a chicken sandwich, respondents prefer to head to Chick-fil-A (51%) or Popeyes (27%), though two in five Gen Z and those in the Southwest region (21%) say that Raising Cane’s is best.
When it comes to chicken nuggets, McDonald’s beat out Chick-fil-A for first place (45% vs 37%), though Chick-fil-A has a slight edge on Micky D’s with baby boomers (37% vs 35%).
For a side of fries, McDonald’s is the clear favorite, with more than double the amount of respondents as second place Wendy’s (51% vs 24%). For Gen Z specifically, Chick-fil-A’s fries come in second (37%), while many millennials opt for Checkers and Rally’s (23%).
One in five of those in the Midwest (21%) prefer Arby’s fries, more than any other region.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of KaTom Restaurant Supply, results revealed that French fry preferences don’t just vary by restaurant, but also by type and generation.
Millennials (45%) and Gen X (36%) prefer curly fries over any other type. Gen Z, on the other hand, prefers waffle fries (47%), and baby boomers prefer standard cut (40%).
For Gen Z and baby boomers, their favorite fast food fries have just the right amount of salt (41% and 46%), whereas Gen X made their choice based on the fact that those fries are always the right temperature (42%).
To wash down their ideal fast food meal, most respondents (55%) opt for a soda or iced tea (36%) from either McDonald’s (38%) or Sonic (26%). But if the sweet tooth must be satisfied, 39% are heading to Dairy Queen for the best milkshake.
For a coffee pick-me-up, Starbucks (38%) and Dunkin (34%) were neck and neck, though if food is involved, McCafe snags the No. 1 spot (34%), followed by Dunkin (25%) and Wendy’s and Starbucks (both 24%).
“Fast food has long been an American staple, offering a wide range of options that fit different tastes, routines, and moments,” said Patricia Bible, KaTom Restaurant Supply Founder, President, and CEO. “People may debate their favorite fries or sauces, but there’s a shared appreciation for food that’s hot, fresh, and satisfying from the first bite to the last.”
The survey also aimed to settle some hot debates, such as whether fast food is even fast or cheap anymore.
According to the results, 31% of those polled prefer to order fast food online for delivery, either by a third party or the restaurant itself. These respondents believe it should take an average of less than 30 minutes (27.9 minutes) for their food to arrive, though 55% find that it takes longer.
Two in five of these respondents (42%) have had an order take so long to be delivered that they could have just gotten it themselves in that timeframe. Almost one-third (32%) even admit they’ve ordered fast food when they could have just walked there.
On the flip side, 38% of all respondents prefer to actually drive to the restaurant, park, and go inside to order. These respondents say it takes an average of 22 minutes from start to finish, though they believe it should take under 20 (17.5 minutes).
Currently, the average respondent spends about $12 on a meal for themselves from a fast food restaurant, though only 10% of those polled believe that price is acceptable.
On average, respondents believe a meal should cost about $4 ($4.30) less, or 33% less than it does.
“Rising costs are something many industries are navigating right now, and fast food is no exception,” said Bible. “Even so, it continues to offer a convenient, familiar option for busy schedules, and many brands are finding creative ways to deliver value while maintaining the experiences customers enjoy.”
Favorite Fast Food Hamburger:
- Burger King – 39%
- Wendy’s – 32%
- McDonald’s – 29%
- Five Guys – 29%
- Sonic -18%
- In-N-Out – 16%
- Checkers and Rally’s -13%
- Dairy Queen – 13%
- Cook Out – 9%
- Arby’s – 7%
Favorite Fast Food Chicken Sandwich:
- Chick-fil-A – 51%
- Popeyes – 27%
- McDonald’s – 23%
- Wendy’s – 22%
- Burger King – 18%
- Raising Cane’s – 14%
- Dairy Queen – 8%
- Arby’s – 7%
- Checkers and Rally’s – 7%
- Cook Out – 5%
Favorite Fast Food Chicken Nuggets:
- McDonald’s – 45%
- Chick-fil-A – 37%
- Wendy’s – 30%
- Burger King – 20%
- Popeyes – 15%
- Raising Cane’s – 12%
- Checkers and Rally’s – 7%
- Arby’s – 6%
- Cook Out – 5%
- Wawa – 3%
Favorite Fast Food French Fries:
- McDonald’s – 51%
- Wendy’s – 24%
- Burger King – 23%
- Chick-fil-A – 22%
- Five Guys – 18%
- Checkers and Rally’s – 16%
- Arby’s – 14%
- Popeyes – 11%
- Dairy Queen – 9%
- In-N-Out – 9%
Research methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by KaTom and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9, 2026.
Read the full article here
