Survey: Chick-fil-A scores high, other chains need work

By Jeremiah McWilliams

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chick-fil-A ranks as the nation’s top chicken chain for both food and service, according to a survey of fast food diners by Consumer Reports.

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AJC file Chick-fil-A got high marks for food and service in national survey of fast food diners.

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But the survey revealed dissatisfaction with some of the country’s biggest fast food brands. McDonald’s joined Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell at or near the bottom of the rankings for burgers, chicken and Mexican food, respectively. All were dinged for for uninspiring food and mediocre service. No more than 11 percent of patrons rated the food at those chains “excellent.”

Other major chains with relatively low scores included Arby’s, Quiznos, Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut. Many restaurants posted better scores for speed and politeness than for food in the online survey of nearly 37,000 subscribers.

In-N-Out Burger was No. 1 among all 53 fast-food chains and in the burger category. Chipotle Mexican Grill topped the Mexican category, Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza led pizza chains and Jason’s Deli ranked best in the sandwich/sub category.

Low prices allowed fast-food restaurants to push through the recession with less damage than full-service restaurants. More than half of survey respondents said they picked a particular fast-food restaurant because of low prices. But fewer than one in five said they got excellent value.

“Chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don’t necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck,” said Tod Marks, senior projects editor for Consumer Reports.

College Park-based Chick-fil-A topped seven other chicken chains, posting “outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service,” Consumer Reports said.

The rankings were released the same day a major trade group said the restaurant industry’s outlook deteriorated in May. The National Restaurant Association reported slower traffic, softer sales at established restaurants and an erosion of optimism among operators.

Fast food companies have added low-calorie options, but the survey showed diners are reluctant to try them. Only 13 percent said they had eaten a healthful meal during their most recent visit. At pizza establishments, the figure dropped to 4 percent.