All articles tagged with #fast food
Chipotle is piloting a crispy, breaded chicken protein at select California locations, offering it for burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads. Fans are eager for a nationwide rollout, though some worry the crunch could fade once wrapped or mixed with other ingredients.
Mashed tester Nikelle Murphy ranks nine basic fast-food cheeseburgers from Sonic, Burger King, McDonald’s, Arby’s, Wendy’s, Five Guys, Freddy’s, Shake Shack, and Wayback, with Wayback’s Classic crowned best for its two-patty, double-cheese build and fresh toppings; Shake Shack places a close second, Freddy’s Original Double sits high in the rankings, Sonic ends up last for a bland patty and soggy toppings, and price differences across locations are noted.
Five Guys is permanently closing four California locations (Whittier, City of Industry, Merced, and Hanford), resulting in about 55 layoffs, citing financial hardship and rising operating costs. The closures highlight price pressures and wage hikes in California’s fast-food scene, even as the chain remains active in the state and recently topped a national fast-food burger ranking.
Subway is launching its first value menu, Fresh Value Menu, debuting today, April 28, 2026, with 11 six-inch sandwiches and four protein wraps under $5. It features a rotating Sub of the Day for $4.99 and two new value sandwiches—Ham & Salami and Spicy Pepperoni—plus Protein Pockets wraps, offering protein-packed, lower-calorie options to attract customers back amid fast‑food competition.
In-N-Out Burger operates In-N-Out University near Baldwin Park as a non-degree training center for employees moving into management, focusing on operations, cleanliness, and customer service; the program is not open to the public and supports promoting from within as the chain grows to more than 400 locations.
A YouGov 2026 U.S. restaurant ranking names Five Guys as America’s best fast-food burger, with 15.5% of respondents selecting it first—narrowly ahead of Burger King (15.0%) and In-N-Out (12.1%). Five Guys is also noted as among the most expensive fast-food burgers (about $12.99) and has appeared on lists labeling it unhealthy, while the same survey shows Taco Bell leading tacos, Chick-fil-A for chicken, and McDonald’s for fries.
A YouGov survey (March 2025–February 2026) finds Five Guys is Americans' favorite fast-food burger chain at 15.5%, narrowly ahead of Burger King at 15.0% and In-N-Out at 12.1%. Five Guys is the most expensive among the top five, while In-N-Out's Double-Double is the cheapest, and McDonald’s leads fries with 39.2%. The study also notes that about 70% of Americans eat fast food at least monthly (30% weekly).
A YouGov survey of about 11,600 potential fast-food customers found Chick-fil-A is the perceived highest-quality fast-food brand in the U.S., with Jersey Mike’s, Wendy’s, Firehouse Subs and In‑N‑Out completing the top five. Chick-fil-A also leads the fast-food chicken category, though it ranks lower on value; McDonald’s remains the default choice for most ages, except those 65+ who favor Wendy’s, while Chick-fil-A ranks highly among 18–29 and 30–44-year-olds. McDonald’s fries top the fries category, with Chick-fil-A third.
A YouGov survey names Five Guys as Americans’ best fast-food burger, though its meals are among the most expensive in the sector; 2025 LendingTree data show average fast-food meals around $12, with a Philly Little Hamburger at about $8.25, and other top chains including Burger King, In‑N‑Out, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s. Five Guys’ shift to kraft paper fry bags sparked online backlash but hasn’t dampened its popularity.
UC Santa Cruz researchers studied 100+ fast‑food outlets and found that California’s $20 minimum wage for franchised outlets increased prices, reduced hours and overtime, and boosted automation, with local restaurants feeling the labor-cost pressure; the study frames these as unintended consequences and adds to the debate over wage mandates in policy.
After McDonald's released a video of CEO Chris Kempczinski tasting the Big Arch burger, rival fast-food brands like Burger King and Wendy's posted snarky clips and memes, with others such as Jack in the Box, A&W Canada, Freddy's and KFC joining the chatter. The online sparring touched on everything from biscuit quality to a tongue-in-cheek “Chief Tasting Officer” hiring contest, as McDonald’s tried to steer the narrative with playful posts and rivals kept the roast going across Instagram, X and TikTok.
The piece ranks Chipotle as the worst Mexican-style fast-food chain, citing past health violations that led to a $25 million fine, shrinking portion sizes that sparked online backlash, higher prices for extras like guacamole, and some unhealthy menu options, while noting newer Mexican-style chains are gaining ground.
McDonald’s new Big Arch—its biggest burger yet, weighing nearly a pound and delivering about 1,020 calories—kicks off an industry-wide tilt toward oversized, premium-looking burgers while chains continue to push value meals. Pricing varies by market (average around $8.88, with some outlets above $12.99), as the industry pursues a two-pronged barbell strategy of value plus abundant, indulgent offerings. Online jabs among CEOs accompany steady sales gains as chains vie for burger leadership.
Pete Suerken, Wendy's U.S. President, posted a video eating the Baconator in four bites and tossing shade at McDonald's after viral clips of CEO Chris Kempczinski reacting to the latest burger. Burger King followed with a counter-video, and Wendy's social account joined in, joking about the Frosty dispenser and quipping that their machines are always working. The posts have sparked a wider discussion about a growing feud among fast-food leaders and speculation about who might join next.
Burger King’s CEO takes aim at McDonald’s Big Arch rollout by biting a Whopper on social media and tossing in a napkin gag, reviving a lighthearted corporate feud as McDonald’s led with its new burger.