Fast food might come in a paper bag, but the service can still make or break the meal. Based on the 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index, which surveyed U.S. consumers between April 2023 and March 2024, 23 fast food chains were rated on speed, friendliness, and accuracy.
Here are eight fast-food restaurants that actually delivered on customer service.
8. Papa John’s
Score: 79
Papa John’s is hanging on by a crust but still makes the cut as one of the chains that technically excel in customer service. Compared to where it was a decade ago — back when it scored an 83 in 2012 — it’s clear customer satisfaction has gone the way of their garlic sauce: thinner than you’d like and often missing entirely.
7. Domino’s
Score: 79
Sharing the spot with its pizza competitor Papa Johns, Domino’s holds steady in the customer service race — but just barely. Being the largest pizza chain in the world should count for something, but when it comes to customer service, size doesn’t always mean satisfaction. It was more than a decade ago when the chain scored above 80 in the satisfaction department — it’s been a steady downhill slide since 2013.
6. Panera Bread
Score: 80
Panera once let customers decide what to pay and it’s always dabbled in the “let’s believe in the goodness of people” lane. While that experiment flopped, clearly, it stuck with people, because Panera for years ranks among the top chains for customer loyalty and satisfaction.
5. Starbucks
Score: 80
Starbucks serves over 100 million people a week and handles more than 10 million transactions per day. That’s a lot of lattes — and a lot of chances to mess up. Nevertheless, Starbucks manages to keep things mostly smooth, thanks in part to an army of nearly 400,000 employees worldwide who’ve mastered the art of pretending your oat milk frappuccino is totally normal.
4. Culver’s
Score: 80
That Midwest hospitality is not a myth — say the folks walking out of Culver’s with a smile and a ButterBurger. While it wasn’t measured last year, the chain lands right at 80, which is impressive for a brand that still feels like it should have a church bulletin rack near the door.
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3. Arby’s
Score: 80
Arby’s climbed 4% this year in customer satisfaction, securing a spot in the top three — which is not what anyone expected from a place that once served a venison sandwich.
2. KFC
Score: 81
KFC’s customer satisfaction score held steady at 81 in 2024, unchanged from the previous year.
1. Chick-fil-A
Score: 83
Known for having the friendliest staff in fast food, Chick-fil-A still holds the crown — even with a 2% dip this year. The “my pleasure” energy is strong, and the service is so consistently polite it feels scripted (because it kind of is).
