What’s the Most Popular Fast Food in Your State?

Fast food restaurants are as busy as ever during the pandemic thanks to conveniences like drive-thrus and relatively inexpensive prices. But which ones are the most popular? TOP Data has compiled information to determine the top five fast food restaurants in each of the lower 48 states. The data was collected from June 12, 2019 to June 12, 2020. Including a few months worth of pandemic quarantine in the study may have contributed to Sonic, a drive-in restaurant, being the most popular in 14 states. That doesn't mean spots like McDonald's or Subway are slacking though, since they both appear in every state's top five.

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1. McDonald's

2. Chick-fil-A

3. Taco Bell

4. Subway

Sonic, headquartered in Oklahoma, dominates most of the Southern United States, including Alabama. Chick-fil-A, often considered a Southern chain, makes a strong showing in Alabama with third place.

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1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Subway

5. Wendy's

Between great year-round weather and COVID-19 social distancing concerns, it makes sense that a drive-in restaurant like Sonic would do well in Arizona.

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1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Subway

5. Chick-fil-A

Sonic is the most popular fast food stop in Arkansas as well, while Chick-fil-A rounds out the top five.

1. McDonald's

2. Taco Bell

3. In-N-Out

4. Subway

5. Panda Express

Perennial favorite McDonald's is tops in California, which was where the company was founded in 1940. The beloved Southwestern U.S. chain In-N-Out, known for its burger and fries served "animal style," makes one of its first appearances on the list here too.

1. Chick-fil-A

2. McDonald's

3. Wendy's

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

Coloradans love their chicken sandwiches, apparently, since Chick-fil-A is tops in their state. Interestingly, Chipotle, which was founded in Colorado, doesn't even make the top five here.

1. Wendy's

2. Taco Bell

3. Burger King

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

Known for its square hamburger patties, chili and Frostys, Wendy's is the most popular fast food in Connecticut. Subway rounds out the top five, something it does in an impressive 30 other states. 

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1. Chick-fil-A

2. Taco Bell

3. Burger King

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

Who knew Delaware enjoyed its fried chicken sandwiches so much? Chick-fil-A heads up the list here, followed by Taco Bell.

1. Chick-fil-A

2. McDonald's

3. Wendy's

4. Burger King

5. Subway

Chick-fil-A is headquartered in neighboring Georgia, so it's not too surprising that those iconic chicken sandwiches are the most popular in Florida.

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1. McDonald's

2. Taco Bell

3. Subway

4. Chick-fil-A

5. Wendy's

It is a little surprising that Chick-fil-A only comes in at fourth in the state where it started and is headquartered, but it's hard to beat the big guys like McDonald's, Taco Bell and Subway.

1. Sonic

2. Burger King

3. Subway

4. Taco Bell

5. McDonald's

Idaho preferring Sonic over all other fast food is a little bit of an anomaly compared to surrounding states. Interestingly, four states that border Idaho choose Wendy's, but it's not even in the top five here.

1. Wendy's

2. Burger King

3. McDonald's

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

Remember the Wendy's SuperBar buffet from the 80s and 90s? I bet a lot of Illinois residents do, where Wendy's is the most popular fast food option. Burger King, the home of the Whopper, comes in second.

1. Chick-fil-A

2. McDonald's

3. Wendy's

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

Fried pork tenderloin sandwiches are an Indiana specialty, so it makes sense that the most popular fast food chain specializes in a similar item, fried chicken sandwiches. 

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1. Taco Bell

2. McDonald's

3. Arby's

4. Subway

5. Burger King

Mexican food is tops in Iowa, where Taco Bell is the most popular fast food choice. The chain was founded in California and is known for its collaborations with brands like Mountain Dew and Doritos, which appeals to young people.

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1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Subway

4. Taco Bell

5. Wendy's

It's no surprise that Sonic takes the top spot in Kansas since it's next to the state where it was founded. Chicken McNuggets are almost as popular, followed by footlong BMTs at sandwich giant Subway.

1. Sonic

2. Taco Bell

3. McDonald's

4. Wendy's

5. Subway

Kentuckians, too, enjoy a good drive-in like Sonic, which is the most popular fast food in the state. I wonder if there's ever been a mint julep slush?

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1. Popeyes

2. Sonic

3. Raising Cane's

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

Fried chicken is king of fast food in Louisiana. Popeyes, with its spicy, crunchy chicken, takes the top spot — which is fitting as the restaurant was founded in New Orleans in 1972 — Raising Cane's, a chicken finger restaurant, takes third. Raising Cane's was founded in the state in 1996, so it makes sense that this is the only state where it's in the top five.

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1. Taco Bell

2. KFC

3. McDonald's

4. Subway

5. Burger King

Taco Bell is the most popular fast food in Maine, with KFC coming in second. This is only one of two states where KFC breaks the top five.

1. Chick-fil-A

2. Taco Bell

3. Burger King

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

There are no crab cakes sold in Maryland's top five fast food restaurants, where Chick-fil-A is the most popular. But, you can get seafood salad at Subway, which comes in fifth place.

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1. Taco Bell

2. Wendy's

3. McDonald's

4. Burger King

5. Subway

Tacos, burritos and Crunchwraps are favorites in Massachusetts where Taco Bell is the most popular fast food. It joins three other states in the Northeast that also can't get enough of the Bell.

1. Taco Bell

2. McDonald's

3. Burger King

4. Wendy's

5. Subway

Michiganders love Taco Bell too. In fact, most of the upper Midwest does, where it appears in the top five in six other states.

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1. Taco Bell

2. Culver's

3. McDonald's

4. Subway

5. Chipotle

Mexican food is popular in Minnesota, where Taco Bell takes the top spot, and Chipotle brings up the rear. This is the only state where Chipotle makes the list, and one of only three where Culver's makes the list. Way to be unique, Minnesota.

1. Sonic

2. Wendy's

3. McDonald's

4. Subway

5. Taco Bell

Cherry limeades and half-price happy hour are tops in Mississippi where Sonic is the most popular option. There are almost 100 locations of the chain in the state.

1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Burger King

5. Subway

The drive-in model is also working well in Missouri where Sonic is the most popular. Only Texas has more locations of the restaurant.

1. Wendy's

2. Arby's

3. Taco Bell

4. McDonald's 

5. Subway

Spicy chicken sandwiches and square burgers at Wendy's take the top spot in big sky country. Montanans also like their meats, because Arby's comes in second, one of only five states where it breaks the top five.

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1. Sonic

2. Arby's

3. McDonald's

4. Subway

5. Burger King

Sonic dominates in Nebraska, but Arby's is also second in popularity here too. Roast beef and deli sandwiches are devoured on the plains.

1. McDonald's

2. Del Taco

3. Subway

4. In-N-Out

5. Panda Express

Good old reliable McDonald's is the most popular in Nevada, but there are some interesting restaurants that made the list. Del Taco comes in second, and this is the only state where it cracks the top five. In-N-Out comes in fourth, and Panda Express, a Chinese-American restaurant that only appears on this list three times, rounds out the top five.

1. Taco Bell

2. Wendy's

3. McDonald's

4. Burger King

5. Subway

New Hampshire is dominated by Taco Bell, just like all three states that border it. Classic burger wars contenders Wendy's, McDonald's and Burger King follow close behind.

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1. Wendy's

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Burger King

5. Subway

Wendy's is the most popular fast food in New Jersey. Along with the top spot in New York and Connecticut, it creates a densely populated triumvirate of red pigtails.

1. Sonic

2. Taco Bell

3. McDonald's

4. Burger King

5. Subway

Maybe the dry, warm weather in New Mexico contributes to drive-in Sonic being the most popular fast food restaurant there. Taco Bell comes in second.

1. Wendy's

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Burger King

5. Subway

The No. 1 fast food restaurant in New York is Wendy's, where people dip their french fries into chocolate Frostys. Sub sandwiches are less popular, but still make the grade, with Subway coming in fifth.

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1. McDonald's

2. Taco Bell

3. Wendy's

4. Chick-fil-A

5. Subway

The golden arches are king in North Carolina, where the Big Mac is preferred over chalupas from number two Taco Bell. Chick-fil-A makes a respectable showing in fourth place.

1. McDonald's

2. Taco Bell

3. Burger King

4. Subway

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

McDonald's comes out on top in North Dakota, but it's the fifth spot that is unusual. Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports bar known for their countless wing sauces, makes its only appearance on this list. 

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1. McDonald's

2. Burger King

3. Subway

Ohioans prefer to make a run for the border at Taco Bell above all other fast food. Wendy's, which was founded and is headquartered in the state, comes in second.

1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Taco Bell

4. Subway

5. Chick-fil-A

Sonic was founded as a drive-in in Oklahoma in 1953, and today it's still the most popular fast food in the state, even if it's a huge corporation now.

1. Taco Bell

2. Burger King

3. McDonald's

4. Panda Express

5. Subway

Taco Bell is most popular in Oregon, followed by Burger King and McDonald's. Two chains that tout healthy options and fresh vegetables take the last two spots: Panda Express and Subway. 

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1. McDonald's

2. Wendy's 

3. Chick-fil-A

4. Burger King

5. Subway

The world's most famous skinny fries at McDonald's are the most popular in Pennsylvania, followed by Wendy's skin-on fries, and Chick-fil-A's waffle fries. 

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1. McDonald's

2. Wendy's

3. Burger King

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

The smallest state prefers McDonald's over the other big burger chains, with Taco Bell and Subway bringing up the rear.

1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Chick-fil-A

4. Wendy's

5. Subway

The drive-in model is a winner in South Carolina where Sonic takes the top spot. Chick-fil-A, which is headquartered in neighboring Georgia, comes in at third.

1. Culver's

2. McDonald's

3. Burger King

4. Subway

5. Taco John's

Wisconsin-based Culver's, known for its butter burgers and frozen custard, is the most popular fast food restaurant in South Dakota. Taco John's and its popular Potato Oles comes in fifth, one of only two states where it makes a list.

1. Sonic

2. McDonald's

3. Wendy's

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

People love to drive into a Sonic stall in Tennessee for a happy-hour shake. On the other end of the list, Subway takes the fifth spot, the same spot it takes in 30 other states.

1. Sonic

2. Whataburger

3. McDonald's

4. Chick-fil-A

5. Subway

Whataburger is a well loved Texas-based chain of burger restaurants, and it comes in second in its home state, the only place it appears on this list. It wasn't able to surpass stalwart Sonic, however.

1. Wendy's

2. Burger King

3. Subway

4. McDonald's

5. Chick-fil-A

The most popular fast food chain in Utah is Wendy's, where a cup of chili poured over a baked potato is a warming meal in winter. Subway beats out McDonald's here, one of only two states where that happens — the other is neighboring Idaho.

1. Taco Bell

2. KFC

3. Burger King

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

Taco Bell comes in first in popularity in Vermont, while KFC is second. This is only the second state on this list to include KFC, and both are the second most favorite. 

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1. McDonald's

2. Taco Bell

3. Chick-fil-A

4. Wendy's

5. Subway

Happy Meals are on the menu for a lot of families in Virginia, where McDonald's is the most popular fast food spot. Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A take the second and third spots in the list.

1. Wendy's

2. Taco Bell

3. McDonald's

4. Burger King

5. Subway

Washingtonians must be big fans of spicy chicken sandwiches in order to push Wendy's to the top of the popularity list there. Like its Pacific Northwest neighbor, Oregon, McDonald's comes in third.

1. Wendy's

2. Taco Bell

3. Arby's

4. McDonald's

5. Subway

Wendy's takes the top spot in West Virginia as well. Arby's is the third most popular fast food chain there, one of only five states where it appears in the top five.

1. Culver's

2. Wendy's

3. McDonald's

4. Taco Bell

5. Subway

It's no surprise that Culver's is the top choice in Wisconsin, where it's headquartered. It has built its brand around using Wisconsin ingredients, and brings the joy of fried cheese curds to the rest of the country.

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1. Wendy's

2. McDonald's

3. Arby's

4. Subway

5. Taco John's

Perhaps residents of Wyoming are fans of the Baconator and that's why Wendy's is the top choice. Taco John's brings up the rear here, one of only two states where it appears here. 

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