Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Chick-fil-A Beats Out Chipotle in Customer Satisfaction A new reports reveals that, as a whole, customers' appreciation for fast food is dwindling.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Chick-fil-A is on top of the fast-food world right now.

In a new report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), the chicken chain is the No. 1 restaurant in the fast-food industry for customer satisfaction with a score of 86 out of 100. Fast-casual favorite Chipotle came in second place, with a score of 83.

ACSI's data is based on 5,023 surveys of fast-food customers, collected in the first quarter of 2015.

"The fast casual segment of quick service restaurants is nicely situated for the confluence of changing consumer tastes and a rebounding economy," ACSI director David VanAmburg said in a statement. "Consumers have a bit more money in their pockets, but are still pressed for time. Fast casual outlets offer higher-quality ingredients, freshness and fast service – all at a reasonable price."

Related: The 12 Most Ridiculous Foods From State Fairs Across America

Chipotle is one of the most well-known names in fast casual, while Chick-fil-A has emphasized more fast-casual aspects of its brand while expanding in recent years. Panera Bread, another fast-casual brand, came in at No. 3 in ACSI's rankings.

Other brands that reportedly satisfied customers include Dunkin' Donuts (No. 4) and Pizza Hut (No. 5).

Meanwhile, customers had less love for established fast-food chains, reporting lower satisfaction levels than in years past. McDonald's came in last place of the brands examined by ACSI for customer satisfaction, falling 6 percentage points from the previous year. Burger King, KFC and Wendy's also dropped percentage points and ranked low in customer satisfaction.

Satisfaction with fast food as a whole is also dwindling. Customer satisfaction with the fast-food industry fell 3.8 percent from last year, the lowest score the ACSI has charted in the last five years.

Related: 10 Franchises Reveal What They Look for in a Franchisee

Here's the top ten from ACSI's report:

  1. Chick-fil-A

  2. Chipotle

  3. Panera

  4. Dunkin' Donuts

  5. Pizza Hut

  6. Papa John's

  7. Subway

  8. Domino's

  9. Little Caesar's

  10. Starbucks

Related: 7 Chain Restaurants Where You Can Find Fourth of July Deals

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice? 5 Critical Lessons for Entrepreneurs in The AI Era

Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice? OpenAI has since paused the "Sky" voice feature, but Johansson argues that this is no coincidence. In response, Johansson delivers a masterclass for entrepreneurs on navigating the AI era successfully.

Business News

Apple iPhone 7 Users May Be Owed a Slice of a $35 Million Settlement — Here's How to Claim Your Share

Previous (and current, no judgment) iPhone 7 users may be entitled to up to $349. The deadline to file a claim is June 3.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Innovation

How Corporate Investment Helps Startups Deploy Technology Faster Than Ever

Financial resources, strategic alignment, access to expertise, market validation and operational support make this deployment possible.