The 10 Best Fast Food Restaurants in the USA#Grummz #Raphinha #Perú #NightChanges #Brazil #Argentina #Physical #Lorenzo #GregAbbottChallenge pic.twitter.com/VsufEJZI60
— facting (@facting182168) March 26, 2025
McDonald’s didn’t even make the list. Let’s break down USA TODAY’s 2024 rankings – where cheap thrills, secret menus, and unapologetic grease reign supreme.
The Unfiltered Top 10 (10Best Readers’ Choice)
- Del Taco: Fries in your burrito? Genius. $1.49 chicken rollers.
- KFC: Original Recipe’s 11 herbs > Colonel’s grave spinning.
- Chick-fil-A: Polite speed. Lemonade so good you’ll forgive homophobia takes.
- In-N-Out: Animal Style isn’t a hack – it’s a lifestyle.
- Hardee’s: 1/3 lb Thickburgers. For when Waffle House is too healthy.
- Captain D’s: $5 fried shrimp baskets. Landlocked states’ cope.
- Taco Bell: Doritos Locos Tacos funded 3 tech bro startups.
- Popeyes: Spicy chicken sandwich wars? They nuked the battlefield.
- Zaxby’s: Southerners’ answer to “What’s a vegetable?” (Answer: Fried pickles)
- Arby’s: Meat curtains. Horsey sauce. No apologies.
Why These Chains Outslop the Competition
- Price matters: Del Taco’s $2 menu vs. McDonald’s $7 “value” meals
- Speed kills: Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru moves faster than Tesla’s assembly line
- No identity crisis: Arby’s embraces meat sweats. No kale here.
Secrets Behind the Rankings
In-N-Out’s Cult Math
300 locations. 3 menu items. $3.5B revenue. Take notes, Chipotle.
KFC’s Comeback
New motto: “F*ck plant-based chicken.” Double downs > woke marketing.
Taco Bell’s Night Shift Hustle
Open till 3am. Targets drunk munchies. Doritos shell patent = Nobel Prize snub.
FAQs
“Where’s McDonald’s?”
Ranked #23. $18 Big Mac meals killed nostalgia. Fries still elite.
“Is Popeyes chicken halal?”
Depends on the franchise. Assume no. Assume spicy regardless.
“How’d Arby’s make top 10?”
Roast beef crack. 3am cravings. Curly fries dipped in jamocha. You’ll see.
Bottom Line
Real fast food doesn’t trend on TikTok – it fuels regret and joy in equal measure. These chains mastered the art.
Pro tip: Google “[Chain] secret menu”. In-N-Out’s “Flying Dutchman” has 2 patties, 2 cheeses, 0 bread. You’re welcome.
