Wendy's and Panera pronounced favorites in fast food faceoff
Friday, October 19, 2007
Wendy's boasts the best beef, but McDonald's rules the world of French fries, according to a national survey by Zagat that also had some kind words for Panera Bread Co., Outback Steakhouse and Cracker Barrel.
New York City-based Zagat Survey gathered input from 5,535 surveyors nationwide for its Zagat/Today Show Fast Food Survey, which reported "Best of" designations in three categories: Fast-food "mega-chains" (more than 5,000 outlets), overall fast-food chains (big and small together), and full-service restaurant chains (separate from fast-food chains).
Extras
Wendy's, the Dublin, Ohio-based "old-fashioned hamburgers" chain that once used a "Where's the beef?" ad campaign to boost popularity, swept three of the top four awards for mega-chains, scoring higher than competitors such as Subway, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut and McDonald's in the categories of Most Popular, Top Food and Top Facilities.
But when lumped together with all fast-food chains, including those with fewer than 5,000 outlets, Wendy's trailed Panera Bread Co., which scored highest in Most Popular, Top Food and Top Facilities.
Chick-fil-A won the "service" category for all chains, and tied for second in food and facilities with Chipotle. Chipotle also tied for second for best service.
Among chain restaurants that are considered "full service," Outback Steakhouse won "most popular" and "best food," while Cracker Barrel was ranked at the top for facilities and service. In overall scores, Outback and Cracker Barrel tied for first with Red Robin.
Wendy's collected 30 percent of the "best burger" votes to beat Burger King (22 percent) and McDonald's (13 percent). But in the face-off for best French fry, McDonald's overwhelmed the competition with 63 percent of the vote, compared to just 10 percent for Burger King and Wendy's, the Zagat folks said.
How important is that burger/fries dominance? Well, when surveyors were asked to list their favorite fast food, burgers and fries ranked first with 39 percent followed by subs/sandwiches (19 percent), Mexican (15 percent) and pizza (13 percent).
The survey shed some light on some interesting, perhaps contradictory, customer attitudes. It showed, for example, that 93 percent of surveyors report they are somewhat or very concerned with the fat and calorie content of fast food. But despite those nutritional concerns, 79 percent of surveyors say taste is the most important factor in choosing a fast-food restaurant.
Surveyors also reported their fast-food dining pet peeves, which the Zagat folks called "irritants." Cleanliness was the main irritant, cited by 49 percent of surveyors, while nutrition consequences was cited by 47 percent, followed by food quality (38 percent), service (37 percent) and noise (16 percent).
The lowest overall ranking in the survey belonged to a chain that, well, isn't exactly all about the food anyway, really: Chuck E. Cheese's. For more information about Zagat, go to www.zagat.com
Overall Scores, All Fast-Food Chains
(1) Panera Bread Co.
(2) Chick-fil-A (tie)
(2) Chipotle (tie)
(4) Quizno's Sub
(4) Sonic Drive-In
Overall Scores, Fast Food
"Mega-Chains" only
(1) Wendy's
(2) Subway
(3) Pizza Hut
(4) Dairy Queen (tie)
(4) McDonald's (tie)
Overall Scores, Full-Service Chains
(1) Outback Steakhouse (tie)
(1) Cracker Barrel (tie)
(1) Red Robin (tie)
(4) Olive Garden (tie)
(4) Chili's Grill & Bar (tie)
Source: Zagat Fast Food Chains 2007, Zagat Full-Service Chains 2007
Comments
By Eddie
October 25, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
In-N-Out Burger is the cleanest, freshest, best quality burger chain you will ever come across. Cholesterol free oil since 1948?… 7% Ground Beef patties that are never frozen?… Fresh kenabeck potatoes peeled and diced daily?… If you have a complaint against their fries, than maybe you should ask for fries that are cooked less or more until you find the perfect match.
By Bill in SF
October 25, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Taco Bell’s the best imitation-Mexican; Chipotle’s ok but UnaMas or Baja Fresh are a lot better, and any local taco truck has more variety than Chipotle. For vegetarians, Burger King is the best of the burger joints - not only do they have a veggie burger, but thei r onion rings aren’t fried in animal fat (which is what makes McD’s fries so good.)
For breakfast, McD’s rocks, or Waffle House for sit-down.
By yourmom
October 25, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
What about White Castle?!?!?!?!?!?!
By Wimpy
October 25, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
Mmmmmm… In-N-Out Burger… The only place where the food actually looks like the menu picture.
By Mary
October 25, 2007 3:05 AM | Link to this
I miss Panera Bread so much! There is nothing like it here in Okinawa.. :(
By Dave
October 25, 2007 2:42 AM | Link to this
Chick-Fil-A is run by a bunch of religious fanatics…almost like a cult at their headquarters. Not even allowed to talk about Halloween and their interview process is based on your religion, not your qualifications. Plus they have some of the fattiest food on the market. They are not so innocent. Every year at their weekly out of town meeting, it turns into a big swingers convention once everyone goes back to their hotle rooms and they are out of sight of manangement.
By Jim
October 25, 2007 2:22 AM | Link to this
In-N-Out way over rated. Can’t understand why LA-ers like it so much.
By Michael
October 25, 2007 12:34 AM | Link to this
Chipotle isn’t that great. McDonald’s owns it, so that’s why.
In-N-Out has the best burgers IMO, but Wendy’s are a lot more widespread.
In-N-Out is a privately-held company whose locations are concentrated around Southern California. They have locations throughout the rest of CA, as well as some in Nevada and Arizona, as far as I understand.
I recommend people traveling or living in that area check it out; I first had it during winter break in 2005 when i went to LA to see the Rose Bowl.
By NekoNeko
October 25, 2007 12:05 AM | Link to this
I love Panera & eat there often, so I’m glad to see that it was the top restaraunt in the fast food division. Mmmm… now I’ve got a craving to go eat there again…
By Emily
October 24, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
gotta stay faithful to my job dairy queen all the way
By Brian
October 24, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
I am both saddened and distraught to see that Outback topped the full service chains. I feel that their are plenty of other steakhouse chains that blow it out of the water. Namely, Texas Roadhouse has better food and service. I have to give some props to Cracker Barrel. Tennessee style southern cooking can rule the sit-down world!
By Dave Barnes
October 24, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
Smashburger is the best! A chain of one http://mysmashburger.com/, but soon to expand.
By Cedric Wilson
October 24, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
Who cares if California is the most populated state when the majority are mexicans. To quote Tool- Learn to swim.
By Cedric Wilson
October 24, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this
Who cares if California is the most populated state when the majority are mexicans. To quote Tool- Learn to swim.
By tom
October 24, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
never heard of in-and-out burger…. if it wants to be in the list, it should expand.
By Sean
October 24, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
In N Out does have really good burgers, but their fries are awful!
By Rob
October 24, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
I’m from the East Coast and I would put In-N-Out Burger as number one on my list. Unfortunately, I only get to visit an In-N-Out once every couple of years, but it’s always great when I do.
By Burt Likko
October 24, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this
Californians and Michiganders: Chick-fil-A is really, really good. Chicken breast deep-fried in peanut oil, with enough garlic and black pepper to keep it interesting, served with two pickles. Yum!
East coasters and southerners: You NEED to try an In-N-Out burger, it is seriously good stuff. I suggest the double-double, and take a moment to learn about the “secret menu” on the internet before going. If you don’t want to go to California, there’s a big In-N-Out just off the Strip in Las Vegas.
By fark sucks cack
October 24, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this
California is nothing but a giant heap of ashes, better off if it fell into the see.
In & Out is total garbage and people who like it are nazi swine.
By Kristy
October 24, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
What is Chick-fil-A? Also what is In-N-Out? I’m from Michigan and we don’t have either of them…
PS Chipotle is he way to go!!!
By david b
October 24, 2007 8:11 PM | Link to this
Typical for east coasters to add in Chick-fil-A (I have never heard of this) but to leave out in-n-out. An absolute outrage. Probably never even been to California before… It’s only the most populated state in the union. Why would our opinions matter?
By gmartinz
October 24, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
That is so funny. Of course it’s a New York based survey company conducting the poll. Because if it was a California based company, there wouldn’t even be a poll. Someone would suggest the idea, and someone else would say “In-N-Out,” and the first person would say, “Oh, right.” and that would be the end of the survey.
By adam
October 24, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
seriously, how could In & Out Burger be left off?!? i am morally outraged!
By Heidi Ziegler-Voll
October 24, 2007 7:06 PM | Link to this
Chipotle all the way!