Chick-Fil-A Has America’s Most Satisfied Customers

Ordering from a fast food restaurant can often be a frustrating experience, but one major chain has a glowing reputation among its patrons. The restaurant just received a special honor for its commitment to a pleasant customer experience.

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant and Food Delivery Study, Chick-Fil-A received the highest score among "quick service" restaurants with an 83 out of 100. It's the 11th year that Chick-Fil-A has been at the top of the category.

The full-service crown went to Texas Roadhouse, scoring an 84 out of 100. Last year, Texas Roadhouse tied for the top spot with another steakhouse chain in Longhorn.

The restaurants were graded on several categories, which show areas of excellence and improvement. 

Chick-Fil-A earned the award with a dominant year over its direct competitors in terms of sales. KFC, which saw the largest drop among fast-food chains in the study, also had sales fall 5.2% year over year. Five Guys and Sonic were also among the restaurants with the steepest decline.

Only two other fast-food chains received a score of 80 or above in the study. Panda Express jumped four points from last year's rating to earn an 80, and Starbucks stayed consistent with the same 80 rating as last year.

Regional breakdowns showed an unsurprising advantage for Chick-Fil-A in the south, as the Georgia-based company earned an 84 rating in its home region. 

Despite its Seattle origins, Starbucks was a strong performer around the country. It had the highest rating among chains in the northeast and was tied for second in the south and west.

Olive Garden was third among full-service establishments, with Cracker Barrel, Outback and Red Lobster also near the top. Chili's has experienced a resurgence in sales and revenue, but it has yet to translate into customer satisfaction.

The chain actually lost four ratings points in this year's study, joining other restaurants that declined like Buffalo Wild Wings and Denny's.

We'll see what the future holds for other companies looking to emulate the holder of the top spot. Chick-Fil-A appears committed to its strategy of serving customers quickly and efficiently.