This Sandwich Chain Just Ended Chick-fil-A's 11-Year Reign as America's Favorite
After more than a decade at the top, Chick-fil-A is no longer America's favorite quick-service restaurant.
According to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Restaurant and Food Delivery Study, Jersey Mike's claimed the top spot this year with a score of 84 out of 100, edging out Chick-fil-A, which scored an 83.
The report called the result historic, declaring: "For the first time in over a decade, there is a new leader among QSRs."
The annual study surveyed more than 16,000 consumers between April 2025 and March 2026, measuring satisfaction across factors like food quality, service, convenience and value.
Jersey Mike's Rises to the Top
Jersey Mike's is a newcomer to the ACSI rankings, which makes its debut at number one even more notable.
The report described the sandwich chain as "a new leader among QSRs" and pointed to its strong business performance, growing customer demand and convenient ordering options.
"Jersey Mike's ACSI success is consistent with their business performance, including rapid unit growth, strong customer demand, and a model designed around throughput and off-premise convenience from high digital pickup usage," the study noted.
Founded in New Jersey in 1956, Jersey Mike's has grown to more than 4,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The chain is known for its made-to-order subs and its signature "Mike's Way" style, which tops sandwiches with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil blend, red wine vinegar and spices.
Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A remains one of the country's most beloved restaurant brands. Although it lost the top overall ranking, the ACSI noted that the chain "is still the clear leader for chicken."
Jimmy John's and Panda Express tied for third place with scores of 81, while KFC, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut followed closely behind with scores of 80.
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Why America Loves Jersey Mike's
According to the ACSI report, higher satisfaction often comes down to consistency and perceived freshness. Jersey Mike's stands out for slicing meats and cheeses to order right in front of customers, which gives it a made-fresh feel that many competitors don't offer.
Part of what makes Jersey Mike's so popular is how customizable the menu is. Fans regularly build off-menu combinations and viral variations that circulate on social media. Some of the most talked-about orders include loaded Italian subs made "Mike's Way" with added hot cherry pepper relish, turkey and provolone upgraded with bacon and pickles, and heavier cheesesteak-style mashups with chipotle mayo and peppers.
My order? I thought you'd never ask. When I'm at Jersey Mike's, I order the turkey and provolone sandwich on rosemary parmesan bread, made Mike's Way, with pepper relish added. It may be basic, but it always hits.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 10:25 PM.