Chick-fil-A rated top chicken chain

Fast-food survey cites customer service, food, value, speed

6/1/2011

ATLANTA -- A leading consumer research organization ranks Chick-fil-A the top chicken chain in the United States for customer service and food.

Consumer Reports released the results of the massive fast-food survey Thursday.

Chick-fil-A topped other chicken establishments "hands down," with "outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service," Consumer Reports said in a press release. Respondents rated the company higher than seven other leading poultry stops.

The survey of 36,733 subscribers (who accounted for more than 98,000 visits to 53 fast-food chains) held bad news for some of the country's biggest fast-food chains.

McDonald's was joined by Burger King, KFC, and Taco Bell among the lower-ranked chains in Consumer Reports' first-ever major fast-food rating. Readers responding to the survey generally ranked the chains as offering uninspiring food and mediocre service. Other major chains with relatively low scores included Arby's, Quiznos, Domino's Pizza, and Pizza Hut.

"Chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don't necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck," said Tod Marks, senior projects editor for Consumer Reports.

In-N-Out Burger, a chain that operates in the western United States,rated No. 1 among all 53 fast-food chains, with high scores for food, service, value, and speed. Chipotle Mexican Grill was among the best of eight leading Mexican food chains, earning praise for food, politeness of staff, and speed, the survey showed.