A recent USA Today poll dropped its rankings for the best fast food restaurants in America, and honestly? Some of these results are going to make you question everything you thought you knew about your fellow Americans’ taste buds. USA Today 10BEST teamed up with experts and let readers vote, because apparently we’re a democracy even when it comes to chicken nuggets.
Here’s the thing about drive-thrus in 2025: they’re not just about grabbing a quick burger anymore. These places are serving up everything from Korean-Mexican fusion to vegan options that don’t taste like cardboard soaked in regret. And with one-third of American adults hitting up fast food daily (according to a 2025 National Center for Health Statistics report), these rankings actually matter.
So buckle up, because this list is going to take you on a journey from “obviously” to “wait, what?” faster than you can say “would you like to make that a combo?”
10. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is like that reliable friend who’s always there but never the most exciting option. The Golden Arches practically invented the modern drive-thru experience, but innovation stopped somewhere around the McFlurry machine (which, let’s be honest, is probably broken right now).
But here’s why they’re still relevant: that Coke really does hit different. Science backs this up — McDonald’s has a special deal with Coca-Cola and uses a precise syrup-to-carbonation ratio that makes their Coke scientifically superior. Plus, their breakfast game is virtually unmatched when you need a McGriddle at 6 AM to function like a human being.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Fast, predictable, and everywhere. Sometimes mediocrity wins through sheer convenience.
9. Zaxby’s
If you’ve never had Zaxby’s, you’re missing out on life. This Georgia-born chain built its empire on fried chicken that actually tastes like someone cared about it. Their Fried White Cheddar Bites are basically fried perfection that should come with a warning label, and don’t even get us started on their sauce prowess. Zax Sauce is what happens when mayo and honey mustard have a baby and raise it right.
The problem? Zaxby’s is still primarily a Southern thing, which means close to half the country is being deprived of proper chicken fingers — a regional gap we hope they close soon.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Premium chicken, creative sides, and sauces that make you question why you ever settled for anything else.
8. Raising Cane’s
Raising Cane’s is what happens when someone looks at the endless fast food menus and says, “You know what? Let’s just nail chicken fingers.” Their menu is so simple it’s revolutionary: it mostly consists of chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and that magical Cane’s Sauce that people literally buy by the bottle.
Founded by Todd Graves (who worked as a fisherman in Alaska to fund his dream), Cane’s proves that sometimes less really is more. Their commitment to quality over variety is the kind of focus that some tech startups pretend to have but rarely achieve.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Perfect simplicity. If you want variety, go to a buffet. If you want one of the best chicken fingers on the planet, go to Cane’s.
7. Taco Bell
Here’s what Taco Bell understands that most chains don’t: sometimes you want your food to be an adventure. Where else can you get a taco wrapped in Doritos or a burrito that’s been grilled into submission? Their menu reads like it was designed by stoned college students, and honestly, that’s exactly what we need.
The Crunchwrap Supreme is a marvel of food engineering — it’s portable, it doesn’t fall apart, and it somehow makes lettuce taste like it matters. Plus, their value menu lineup is rivalled by few. You can feed yourself for under $5 and still have money left over for gas to get home.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Innovative, affordable, and open late. The perfect combination of accessibility and “why not?”
6. KFC
Colonel Sanders might be gone, but his legacy lives on in the chicken that comes out of KFC’s pressure fryers. Yes, the service can be inconsistent, and yes, sometimes they run out of chicken, but when KFC hits, it hits harder than your mom’s guilt trips.
Their recent menu innovations show they’re not just coasting on nostalgia. Nashville Hot everything, loaded fries that are basically a meal, and breakfast sandwiches that make you question why folks bother with eggs Benedict.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Classic comfort food with modern twists. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways, just with better marketing.
5. Wendy’s
Wendy’s social media game is so strong that they could probably charge other brands for lessons, but their food backs up the attitude. Square patties aren’t just a gimmick — they hang over the bun edges, giving you more meat per bite. It’s simple geometry applied to happiness.
And let’s talk about Frostys. They occupy that perfect space between a milkshake and soft-serve ice cream, ideal for dipping fries. Their chili is also surprisingly good for fast food — actual vegetables and everything.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Quality ingredients, personality for days, and innovations that actually make sense. This is how you stay relevant without selling out.
4. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A’s success despite being closed one-seventh of the week is like Tesla succeeding despite Elon’s Twitter habit — it shouldn’t work, but the product is just that good. Their chicken is brined, hand-breaded, and pressure-cooked to perfection. It’s fast food that doesn’t taste like fast food.
Their sauce selection is legendary (Polynesian sauce is basically a liquid vacation), and their customer service is so good it’s almost unsettling. When’s the last time someone at a drive-thru said “my pleasure” and actually meant it?
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Premium quality, exceptional service, and the kind of consistency that many chains can only dream about. For some of us, it’s worth the wait, even when there are 20 cars ahead of you.
3. A&W
A&W is what happens when a brand refuses to compromise on quality just to chase trends. Their bacon cheeseburgers are thick, juicy, and taste like they were made by someone who actually eats food instead of quarterly reports. And yes, that root beer really is made fresh in-store.
Their cheese curds alone are worth the trip — squeaky, golden, and the kind of indulgent side that makes you forget about your fitness goals. This is comfort food that doesn’t apologize for being comfort food.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Old-school quality in a modern world. Sometimes the best innovation is refusing to innovate away from what works.
2. Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box’s menu reads like it was assembled by throwing darts at a board covered in food categories, and somehow it works. Their most popular item is a taco that costs 99 cents or $1.29 (depending on your location) and tastes like it was made by aliens who learned about Mexican food from a Wikipedia article. And most people love it.
This is the chain that puts mozzarella sticks on burgers and serves breakfast all day without making a big deal about it. They’re the friend who suggests the weird restaurant that ends up being amazing.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Chaotic menu, generally consistent quality, and prices that won’t require a second mortgage. Sometimes, embracing the weird is exactly what the world needs.
1. Del Taco
Del Taco winning the top spot for the second year running in USA Today’s annual reader poll is like your indie band friend’s recommendation actually being incredible. Based in California, Del Taco serves Mexican food that’s fast, cheap, and surprisingly good, plus they threw in burgers and fries because why not cover all the bases?
Here’s what sets them apart: they’re not trying to be authentic Mexican cuisine, and they’re not pretending to be gourmet. They’re just making good food at great prices with options for everyone — meat-eaters, vegans, vegetarians, and people who want breakfast at 3 PM.
Their success over Chick-fil-A (which dominated for nine straight years) proves that sometimes David really can beat Goliath, especially when David serves fresh guacamole and doesn’t close on Sundays.
Drive-Thru Reality Check: Value, variety, and the kind of consistency that builds empires. Sometimes the best-kept secret becomes the best period.
Sources: USA Today, All Recipes