Love it or hate it, Chick-fil-a named No. 1 again
For the fourth year, Chick-fil-a has been named the nation’s top fast-food restaurant.
The site of toddler birthday parties, kid play dates and easy meals-to-go, beat out every burger chain, according to the American Customer Service Index.
The ACSI surveyed 23,000 consumers and scored restaurants using a 100point scale. Chick-fil-a scored the highest with an 86, one point lower than in 2018. Panera Bread was second with an 81. Papa John’s, Arby’s, Chipotle and Pizza Hut, all tied for fourth with an 80.
The lowest-ranked restaurant on the list was Mcdonald’s with a score of 69.
Customers ranked the fast-food eatery’s accuracy, food quality, menu variety, cleanliness, staff behavior and website satisfaction above the 17 other restaurants listed and the two other categories, which included “all others” and “limited-service restaurants.”
People seem to really dig the waffle fries.
A special place in parents’ hearts
Like many fast-food chains, most Chick-fil-a restaurants have a kids’ play area, but their glass-walled site can be viewed from anywhere in the restaurant and they have free Wi-fi. The chain is constantly hosting free kids’ events like stuffed animal sleepover nights, giveaways and freebies.
You can even request at select locations a Mom’s Valet. A staff member takes the order and sets the table with condiments, filled drinks, high chairs and booster seats. When Mom or Dad arrives with their children, it’s time to eat.
Not universally loved
What people don’t love, judging from the announcement made on social media, is the Georgia-based chain’s reported donations to ANTI-LGBTQ groups.
The company said in a previous statement that an inaccurate narrative is being spread about its brand, saying, “We embrace all people, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.” Some people remain unmoved. The restaurant known for its iconic “Eat mor Chikin” signs with the rebel cows may be beloved “except for the people who refuse to go there because of their homophobic bigotry,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another tweeted that her opinion would not be among the majority: “Chick fil A is the most overrated fast food on the planet.”
Mad respect for employees
Many people couldn’t say enough, however, about Chick-fil-a’s outstanding customer service.
“I once saw a drive through cashier literally chase a car down in open traffic to correct someone’s order,” Twitter user Jim Watkins said.
Twitter user William Mcclellan said there are “tastier options,” but Chickfil-a wins in “employee friendliness.”
“The person taking your order doesn’t act like they hate you and their job,” he wrote.