There are people who eat wherever’s convenient, and then there are those whose favorite fast-food chain is basically a personality trait. The kind of fans who will drive an extra 20 minutes, wait hours in line, and argue with strangers online. Nation’s Restaurant News pulled from the year’s Consumer Picks report to reveal which chains have the most loyal fanbases based on a survey of 16,000 consumers.
Here are 9 fast-food chains with the biggest loyal fanbase.
57% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
Texas is big on food. It seems only natural that the state that proudly claims it does everything bigger will take the same approach to its fast food chains. Whataburger delivers on that promise.
The portions are bigger than you would find in your run-of-the-mill burger joint, the menu is also stacked, and the fanbase is more of a cult following. The spicy ketchup alone has its own fanbase, and late-night orders of Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits are some sort of a rite of passage.
57% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
It’s no surprise that Jersey Mike’s outranks a more obvious pick like Subway when it comes to fan loyalty. Jersey Mike’s doesn’t promise the best meal of your life — it promises a solid, fresh, no-nonsense sub every time. And that’s exactly what keeps 57% of customers loyal to the New Jersey-based chain.
58% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
If you’ve ever been to Texas Roadhouse, you know it's an experience in itself. A sizzling experience, to be exact. Whether it's the free peanuts (the shells of which they encourage you to throw on the floor) or the bread slathered with cinnamon butter, the chain has found the secret sauce to a loyal customer base. Fans appreciate everything from the loud, friendly atmosphere to the juicy steaks. The chain makes its food from scratch on-site, and some locations recycle the fryer oil to biofuel.
58% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
While Red Lobster has recently been struggling to keep afloat and going in and out of bankruptcy, it still has a loyal customer base that is big enough to be featured on this list. In fact, when the chain officially announced it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024, it sent fans into a full-on panic mode. Who wouldn’t be? For years, Red Lobster’s been the IT place to get buttery carbs and a borderline irresponsible amount of fried shell food without breaking the bank.
58% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
In-N-Out has done something few chains have managed: grow from a family-owned restaurant into a cult-like icon. The California-based chain’s “Animal Style” fries and Double-Double burger, as well as their not-so-secret menu, have helped build a fanbase willing to wait 14 hours in line for a new location.
Among its loyal fans are people with serious palates, like Gordon Ramsay and the late Anthony Bourdain. Part of the In-N-Out appeal, apart from the high-quality food, is what they don’t do — rapid expansion, franchise deals, or menu overload.
Instead, they’ve built their reputation on doing one thing exceptionally well. The menu is simple, the ingredients fresh, and the execution consistent.
58% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
I might be a bit biased, considering I just visited Culver’s last week, but even as a regional burger chain, it deserves way more love. However, it is huge in the Midwest, where it was founded. Culver’s loyal fans swear by its indulgent butter burgers, mouthwatering cheese curds, and frozen custard that rivals Italian gelato. What makes the chain even more appealing is its customer service, which is incredibly welcoming and helpful. “Culver’s is probably the best all around fast food there is. High-quality ingredients, consistent, always hot and the restaurants are always clean.“ a Redditor says.
59% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
Here is a regional underdog that absolutely punches above its weight in the pizza world. The Michigan-founded Jet’s Pizza has a loyal fan base, with 59% of customers saying they’re likely to return for the Detroit-style deep-dish square pizza with thick, crispy-edged pizzas with a signature caramelized crust. “I would consider it top tier fast food pizza and honestly have a hard time thinking of a better one, “ a Redditor said.
60% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
Chick-fil-A is known for — at times even mocked — its cult following, which is so intense it comes across as borderline creepy — like, “people will fight you over a chicken sandwich” creepy.
For those who don’t get the hype, the unwavering devotion can actually be a turnoff. But for fans, Chick-fil-A stands for everything they want in a fast food restaurant: consistently good food and top-notch customer service.
“It's the only fast food place where you know it will always be clean, cook the food the same way every time, and always have a helpful staff,” says a fan on Reddit.
This loyalty translates to Chick-fil-A’s immense financial success, with its 3,000+ locations worldwide and billions in revenue.
61% of Customers Said They are Loyal Fans
Domino’s may be the largest pizza chain in the world, but when it comes to customer loyalty, Papa Murphy’s — with just over 1,000 locations compared to Domino’s 20,000 — takes the top spot.
According to fans, the Vancouver, Washington-based pizza chain delivers where it matters, even though it technically doesn’t deliver at all. The take-and-bake model lets customers avoid common delivery pitfalls like cold crusts and soggy toppings by baking their pizzas fresh at home.
“It’s like video on demand. You can watch it when you are ready to watch it. Same with the pizza. I can buy it now but throw it in the oven when I am ready.” a Redditor explains the appeal of the chain’s model.
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