Escoffier School of Culinary Arts analyzed some data on the number of fast-food restaurants in each state, as well as general fast-food consumption across the country, and gave each state a score (for the full, complicated methodology, check here).
Want to see if your state ended up in the Top 10? Here they are, according to Escoffier.
1. Maryland
Escoffier Score: 100.00
Maryland nailed a perfect score, eh? According to the report, “in Maryland, nearly half of restaurants are fast food restaurants.” That’s a tough break for the Maryland independent restaurant scene.
2. Nevada
Escoffier Score: 97.24
Nevada has all the usual suspects when it comes to major fast-food chains, like your KFCs and your Taco Bells and your Burger Kings, but it’s also got one thing the rest of the mainland doesn’t: Zippy’s, a chain that, outside of Vegas, exists only in Hawaii. The singular location definitely doesn’t add much to Nevada’s overall score, but a pretty fun fact, no?
3. Illinois
Escoffier Score: 95.70
Even in ketchup-less Illinois, fast food is huge. McDonald’s is actually headquartered here, and the regional chain Portillo’s helps put a dent in the numbers, too. Here’s another fun fact: I love Portillo’s more than I love my own friends.
4. New York
Escoffier Score: 95.68
This one is actually kind of a bummer to see, considering New York is famously one of the most commuter and street food-friendly cities in the country. Hot dogs and Halal carts and slice shops every 10 feet aren’t enough to keep you out of a Pizza Hut?
5. Hawaii
Escoffier Score: 94.85
There’s a pretty severe class separation in Hawaii, and fast food has long been the lifeblood of low-income communities. All the classics are down here, including, of course, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. And remember Zippy’s, from earlier?
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6. California
Escoffier Score: 84.62
I’d safely attribute 82 points of California’s 84.62 score to the amount of In-N-Out burgers that I have consumed personally.
7. Ohio
Escoffier Score: 79.33
Wendy’s headquarters are here in Dublin, Ohio, so you better believe the Wendy’s sales are popping off. Plus, if you’ve ever been within five feet of somebody from Cincinnati, they’ve told you about Skyline Chili, the famous chili chain that’s based here.
8. Massachusetts
Escoffier Score: 74.99
You already know that Dunkin’ HQ is in Massachusetts. If you don’t, Ben Affleck will remind you about it soon enough.
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9. New Mexico
Escoffier Score: 73.39
Green chilies reign supreme in New Mexico, and Blake’s Lotaburger, the local chain, is known for smothering them on cheeseburgers. All the other major national chains exist here too, but with about 75 locations in New Mexico, you can’t say Blake’s isn’t helping.
10. Oklahoma
Escoffier Score: 69.76
Really? In the state where the Oklahoma onion burger was invented? How could McDonald’s even come close?
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