Jersey Mike’s tops customer satisfaction rankings, ending Chick-fil-A’s 11-year streak
Jersey Mike’s Subs has claimed the top spot among quick-service restaurants in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, ending Chick-fil-A’s 11-year run as the highest-rated fast-food chain.
According to the ACSI Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2026, Jersey Mike’s debuted atop the quick-service restaurant rankings with a customer satisfaction score of 84 out of 100. Chick-fil-A followed closely with a score of 83.
The study found overall customer satisfaction remained stable across the restaurant industry despite ongoing economic pressures, rising menu prices and increased competition.
“Restaurant industry-level scores are stable, but there’s real movement underneath,” said Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI. “New brands are entering our rankings and immediately competing at the top, which tells you something about where consumer expectations are headed. Price still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own. Consistency across the full experience is what separates the leaders right now, and that’s showing up clearly in the data. The challenge going forward is sustaining that as costs continue to rise and competition intensifies from outside the traditional restaurant space.”
Researchers said consumers are becoming more selective about where they spend their money, placing a greater emphasis on consistency, reliability and value rather than price alone.
Jersey Mike’s was recognized for its freshness, food variety and value. The company added 238 net new locations in 2025 and reached $4.2 billion in systemwide sales while maintaining high customer satisfaction, according to the report.
Among chicken-focused chains, Chick-fil-A remained the category leader, while KFC improved 4% to a score of 80. Raising Cane’s entered the rankings with a score of 79, followed by Wingstop at 77. Popeyes dropped 3% to 73.
In the burger category, Culver’s and Burger King shared the top position with scores of 78. Sonic posted one of the largest gains, rising 5% to 77.
The study also found improvements in order accuracy and many in-store customer experience measures, while satisfaction with restaurant mobile apps declined slightly.
Among full-service restaurants, LongHorn Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse tied for the highest score at 82, followed by Olive Garden at 81. Chili’s improved to 79 amid increased customer traffic.
Food delivery services also saw gains. Uber Eats led the category with a score of 76, followed by Grubhub at 75 and DoorDash at 74.
The ACSI Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2026 is based on 16,464 completed customer surveys and measures satisfaction across the nation’s leading restaurant and food delivery brands.
