Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald’s, finds himself under fire again for eating on camera. Viewers criticized his recent on-air chicken nugget consumption, finding it worse than a previous burger incident. Fox & Friends hosts reminisced about Brian Kilmeade’s choice not to eat on camera.
Despite the criticism, a new report shows McDonald’s remains top of mind for fast-food consumers in the United States. YouGov’s study, “Best Bites 2026: U.S. Restaurant Brand Rankings,” examined which restaurants Americans favor. The survey found McDonald’s to be the most considered brand when consumers think of fast food, despite other chains outperforming it in burger quality.
Ashley Brown, a senior director at YouGov, noted to Fox News Digital that while McDonald’s leads in consumer consideration, it ranks behind in the taste of burgers. However, McDonald’s is the leader in terms of favorite fries among fast-food brands.
The YouGov survey asked participants, “Which restaurants would you consider purchasing from for food or drink?” McDonald’s led with 39.6% of the vote. Chick-fil-A followed at 35.5%, and Wendy’s at 33.2%.
Demographically, McDonald’s ranked as the most-considered fast-food restaurant across age groups of 18-29, 30-44, and 45-64. However, individuals 65 and older preferred Wendy’s.
In burger rankings, Five Guys topped the list with 15.5%, trailed by Burger King with 15%, In-N-Out Burger with 12.1%, and Wendy’s with 10.2%. McDonald’s ranked fifth with 8.7%.
For deli sandwiches, Subway came out on top with 22.9%. Taco Bell secured the best taco or burrito spot with 30.3%.
McDonald’s excelled in fries, gaining 39.2% in this category. Five Guys received only 9% of the vote in comparison.
Chick-fil-A held the title for favorite chicken spot at 25.3%, and Pizza Hut led for favored pizza at 19.1%.
Chick-fil-A was ranked highest in quality, while McDonald’s did not enter the top 10 in this regard. Wendy’s led on value at 21.6%, and McDonald’s placed eighth at 12.5%.
The YouGov report also assessed casual-dining and specialty-dining views, alongside a profile of weekly fast-food patrons. The findings revealed that about two-thirds of Americans buy from fast-food chains monthly, with 30% doing so weekly.
Weekly fast-food diners are 55% male and 45% female; 49% are middle-income, and 51% are under 45. The study highlighted that value and discounts motivate frequent diners, followed by cleanliness. Menu customization appeals more to women, while men prefer 24-hour service and self-serve drink stations.
McDonald’s attributes its popularity to its focus on quality, offering real beef, 100% white meat chicken, and freshly cracked eggs. The company claims to adapt its menu based on consumer preferences.