It looks like America’s favorite fast food burger chain has been decided, and surprisingly, quality seems to be winning out over lower prices.
According to new findings from YouGov Research, around 70% of Americans dine at fast food joints at least once a month, and 30% indulge in a snack weekly.
The study showed that Five Guys, which was established by Janie and Jerry Murrell in Alexandria, Virginia in 1986, emerged as the top burger chain.
Five Guys (15.5%) just edged out Burger King (15.0%) for first place, with In-N-Out from Irvine, California taking third at 12.1%.
Notably, big names like Wendy’s and McDonald’s were also among the top five, suggesting a shift away from cheaper options.
The research tracked consumer preferences from March 2025 to February 2026. Interestingly, Five Guys has been labeled the priciest fast food chain, with their cheeseburger alone costing over $12, while a Whopper at Burger King is priced between $7.50 and $8.
For instance, Wendy’s Dave’s Singles range from $6.10 to $8.20, and McDonald’s Big Macs fall between $5.80 and $6.00.
On the more affordable side, In-N-Out’s Double-Double is priced at a reasonable $4.45 to $5.00.
Five Guys, which started in the D.C. area without freezers and focused on fresh ingredients, has exploded in popularity, now boasting about 2,000 locations across 29 countries since beginning to franchise in 2003.
While Five Guys may have taken the top spot for burgers, it didn’t fare as well when it comes to fries, where McDonald’s ruled supreme with 39.2% of votes. In-N-Out was second at just 9%, followed by Chick-Fil-A (7.1%), Wendy’s (6.9%), and Burger King (6.5%).
