The Best (and Worst) Chain Restaurants in America

There are so many chain restaurants in this country that most of us haven’t even heard of them all. They vary from region to region, flavor to flavor, and when they do their job, they give our nation a dose of consistency.

But which ones are best? Which ones do people hate? Thanks to a study from CouponBirds, we can see our country’s top and bottom-rated chain restaurants. Here’s what they had to say. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.95/5 

Maybe it’s that one day a week you can’t get it that makes it all the tastier to the people of this country, who hit Chick-fil-A with the highest rating of any of the large chains. Controversial history be damned. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.85/5 

It’s surprising to see a burger joint as the #2 fast food spot in the U.S., but I guess this is a chicken sandwich country more than a burger country. Five Guys did well for itself with CouponBirds’ hard-to-understand point system, landing only 0.10 underneath Chick-fil-A. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.76/5 

As one of my favorite sandwich chains, I’m happy to see Jersey Mike’s up this high. Fresh-sliced meats and cheeses forever. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.72/5 

I don’t get this. Going to Waffle House is a lot like going to an underground cage match. You don’t know what’s going to happen that night. You may get waffles, but you also might get a metal chair thrown at your head. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.71/5

I would have guessed that Starbucks would be higher, especially since many people cannot get out of bed without this place. Bucks still has one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the game, too. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.68/5 

People love those swirls. It was only the other day I received an angry Instagram DM over my placement of Dairy Queen in my fast-food soft serve ranking. This lines up. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.57/5 

Arby’s is another one of those places with a wildly loyal fanbase that’s never fully made sense. It’s a fine-enough restaurant, but I don’t agree with this placement. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.55/5 

This oughta be top three, if you ask me. Panera swims circles around places like Five Guys and Chick-fil-A, with a fuller menu of fresher items. There must be some nasty Paneras out there dragging their image down. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.49/5 

As one of the least reliable places on this list, I don’t really understand what people are thinking. Then again IHOPs are often 24-hours., so I guess at 2 a.m., people really aren’t thinking at all. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.46/5 

I’d give this place 3.45 points for the long-lost jalapeño turkey burger, and 0.01 for the rest. But I guess the country seems to be more fond of this place than I am. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.61/5 

I’ve never heard of Taco John’s, but as the lowest-ranked large chain restaurant in the country, I’m pretty sure I never want to go. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.75/5 

McDonald’s at second worst is not something I saw coming. Then again, it’s been a long time since I went inside a McDonald’s location that I wouldn’t describe as “absolutely disgusting.” Time to get it together, Ronald. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.84/5 

Damn, really Bobby? The man who built himself a coliseum? The man who can’t seem to lose? Tough stuff on that 2.84 ranking, bud. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.85/5 

Having never been to a Wahlburgers nor a Hy-Vee, it’s hard for me to understand what it’s like to eat at a Wahlburger inside a Hy-Vee. That said, Mark Walhburg is one of our finest doofuses, so it’s easy for me to understand that this place might suck. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.90/5 

So sorry, so sorry. WHAT? No. No way. Not on my watch. I won’t stand for this. Popeyes is a perfect restaurant, and I won’t watch its name be dragged. CouponBirds’ data is obviously corrupt. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.93/5 

As much as I love the frozen treats at Sonic, I’m usually let down by the food. But come on, the soft serve alone should launch them up into the 3s. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.93/5 

No disagreement here. In my opinion, B-Dubs is a poor man’s Wingstop, and I don’t care who knows it. 

CouponBirds Rating: 2.97 / 5 

This is also a place I’ve never heard of. There are only six locations so I have no idea how it ended up on the list, but I don’t make the rules. 

CouponBirds Rating: 3.00 / 5 

Boy, are we getting loosy-goosy with this data or what? I, much like anybody outside of Wisconsin and Illinois, did not know of the Bucciferro family’s prolific run of McDonald’s franchises. They’ve got 32 locations in two states, and it’s basically just McDonald’s again, but based on the 0.25-point boost, the Bucciferro family is better at running McDonald’s than everybody else.  

CouponBirds Rating: 3.02 / 5 

To call Wetzel’s the 10th “worst”’ chain when the 10th “best” chain is less than a point away in difference feels odd. But this is CouponBirds’ world; we’re just living in it. 

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