- Using data from Google Trends, Visual Capitalist determined the most popular fast food chain in every state.
- Wendy’s was the most popular in the most states, followed closely by Sonic.
- Many of the most popular chains come as a surprise, although some make a lot of sense.
Food preferences vary wildly from person to person. For example, I can’t stomach cilantro (it’s not my fault, it’s genetic!), while others pile it high on every dish. The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza runs deep. Not only do food preferences vary person to person, but they also vary by location. New Yorkers swear by the tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder, while New Englanders go hard for their own version of creamy clam chowder. The same can be said for fast food preferences. Each state has its own fan favorite chain, and the results are honestly surprising.
Visual Capitalist used data from FinanceBuzz, which tracked Google Trends scores and normalized them to the number of restaurant locations per 100,000 people to determine the most popular fast-food chain in each state. And sadly, there wasn’t a Micky D’s in sight! While not every state had a surprising winner—Chick-fil-A in Georgia and Popeyes in Louisiana were shoe-ins—some were downright eye-opening.
Overall, Wendy’s was the favorite chain in the most states, claiming six, and was closely followed by Sonic, which took five states. Some chains on the map I had never even heard of—Pollo Tropical (which won Florida), Papa Murphy’s (which won Oregon and Idaho), Taco John’s (took the crown in Wyoming and South Dakota), and Captain D’s (which won Alabama) are all new to me. And as someone who grew up in Connecticut, I was surprised to find that Jersey Mike’s is the state’s favorite chain, as I’ve never even set foot in one.
Which state do you think has the most surprising favorite?