Jersey Mike’s has ended Chick-fil-A’s 11-year reign as the top-rated quick-service restaurant in America, according to the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index, marking the first time in more than a decade that Chick-fil-A has lost the coveted number one spot.
The sandwich chain secured an ACSI score of 84 out of 100, edging Chick-fil-A by just one point in the latest ranking released June 16. The results came from 16,464 customer survey responses measuring satisfaction with major fast-food chains across the United States.
Chick-fil-A’s 11-year run at the top ended as customers increasingly prioritized consistency, reliability, and perceived value, according to the ACSI report. Jersey Mike’s was specifically commended for its freshness, food variety, and value proposition, factors that resonated strongly with respondents in a market where consumers are trading off between price and experience quality.
Jersey Mike’s explosive expansion fueled its ascent to the top. The chain added 238 net new locations in 2025 and cleared $4.2 billion in systemwide sales, demonstrating rapid growth that outpaced competitors. The sandwich chain’s aggressive expansion strategy, combined with customer satisfaction metrics, positioned it to overtake the long-reigning chicken giant.
The ACSI report noted that the U.S. restaurant industry faced difficulties in 2025, with total sales struggling to keep pace with inflation. In this challenging environment, brands that deliver consistently enjoyable experiences gained ground. Chick-fil-A, despite dropping to second place overall, remained the top-rated chain specifically in the chicken category, according to the rankings.
The top five quick-service restaurants in the 2026 ACSI rankings were Jersey Mike’s (84), Chick-fil-A (83), Jimmy John’s (81), Panda Express (81), and KFC (80). Within sandwich-specific rankings, Jersey Mike’s maintained its crown, while Chick-fil-A continued to dominate the chicken segment ahead of KFC, Raising Cane’s, Wingstop, and Popeyes.
Sources
- USA Today — Confirmed Jersey Mike’s score of 84, Chick-fil-A score of 83, the 11-year streak, 238 net new locations added in 2025, $4.2 billion in sales, 16,464 survey respondents, and the ACSI’s emphasis on consistency, reliability, and perceived value.
- Atlanta News First — Verified the top four rankings (Jersey Mike’s 84, Chick-fil-A 83, Jimmy John’s 81, Panda Express 81) and confirmed the 11-year streak ended.
- Fox News — Confirmed Jersey Mike’s claimed the top spot in the 2026 ACSI, dethroning Chick-fil-A as the top quick-service restaurant.
- Florida Today — Verified Jersey Mike’s score of 84 edging Chick-fil-A by one point and the 238 net new locations added in 2025.
- WSLS — Confirmed Chick-fil-A is no longer ranked number one among quick-service restaurants for the first time in more than a decade.
