{"id":32273,"date":"2026-06-24T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=32273"},"modified":"2026-06-24T09:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:30:57","slug":"popular-sandwich-chain-dethrones-chick-fil-a-as-americas-favorite-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2026\/06\/popular-sandwich-chain-dethrones-chick-fil-a-as-americas-favorite-restaurant","title":{"rendered":"Popular Sandwich Chain Dethrones Chick-fil-A as America\u2019s Favorite Restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PJ McDonnell \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For years, Chick-fil-A has been the undisputed king of customer satisfaction in the fast-food industry. But a new national study shows there is a new favorite among American diners.<\/p>\n

Jersey Mike\u2019s has claimed the top spot in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rankings, ending Chick-fil-A\u2019s long reign at the top of the quick-service restaurant category.<\/p>\n

The annual study, released Tuesday, surveyed 16,464 customers between April 2025 and March 2026. Jersey Mike\u2019s earned a score of 84 out of 100, narrowly beating Chick-fil-A, which received a score of 83.<\/p>\n

The ACSI called Jersey Mike\u2019s \u201ca new leader among QSRs,\u201d noting that this is the first time in more than a decade that a different restaurant chain has topped the quick-service rankings.<\/p>\n

The achievement is particularly notable given Jersey Mike\u2019s rapid growth in recent years. Founded in 1956 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, the sandwich chain now operates more than 4,000 locations throughout the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n

According to the ACSI report, the company has managed to maintain strong customer satisfaction even while significantly expanding its footprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cJersey Mike\u2019s ACSI success is consistent with their business performance, including rapid unit growth, strong customer demand, and a model designed around throughput and off-premise convenience from high digital pickup usage,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n

The study also pointed to the chain\u2019s focused business approach as a contributing factor. The ACSI noted that Jersey Mike\u2019s menu is \u201cfairly narrow, and they have a model conducive to franchisee success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Known for its made-to-order submarine sandwiches and its signature \u201cMike\u2019s Way\u201d preparation\u2014with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, and spices\u2014the chain has built a loyal customer base that appears to be growing.<\/p>\n

While Chick-fil-A was dethroned from the top position, the report made clear that the popular Atlanta-based restaurant remains a dominant force in the industry.<\/p>\n

The ACSI described Chick-fil-A as \u201cstill the clear leader for chicken,\u201d highlighting the chain\u2019s continued strength despite slipping one point behind Jersey Mike\u2019s.<\/p>\n

For many Christians, Chick-fil-A has long enjoyed a unique place in American culture because of its faith-inspired business practices, including remaining closed on Sundays to honor a principle established by founder S. Truett Cathy. The company\u2019s commitment to customer service has also made it a consistent favorite among diners.<\/p>\n

Several other major chains rounded out the rankings. Jimmy John\u2019s and Panda Express tied for third place with scores of 81. KFC, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut each earned scores of 80, while Domino\u2019s, Raising Cane\u2019s, Starbucks, and Subway followed with scores of 79.<\/p>\n

Near the bottom of the list were Burger King, Culver\u2019s, Dunkin\u2019, Little Caesars, and Panera Bread, each receiving scores of 78. Dairy Queen and McDonald\u2019s tied for last place among major quick-service chains with scores of 72.<\/p>\n

The latest rankings show that customer loyalty can shift even in a competitive industry dominated by established brands. For now, Jersey Mike\u2019s has earned the title of America\u2019s most satisfying fast-food experience\u2014at least according to the customers who participated in this year\u2019s survey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For years, Chick-fil-A has been the undisputed king of customer satisfaction in the fast-food industry. But a new national study shows there is a new favorite among American diners. Jersey Mike\u2019s has claimed the top spot in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rankings, ending Chick-fil-A\u2019s long reign at the top of the quick-service…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":32276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nPopular Sandwich Chain Dethrones Chick-fil-A as America\u2019s Favorite Restaurant<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Jersey Mike\u2019s ends Chick-fil-A\u2019s decade-long run atop the ACSI customer satisfaction rankings, earning America\u2019s top spot.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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