Fast-food chains continue to compete on value, traffic and menu loyalty in 2026, with fries remaining one of the most closely watched items in the business. The latest widely circulated national fries ranking to keep resonating this year came from a June 17, 2025 report highlighting a data-backed review of major chains. Its most surprising result was In-N-Out finishing at No. 1, ahead of brands more commonly associated with the category.
In-N-Out landed at No. 1 in a 21-chain ranking
The ranking drawing renewed attention in 2026 was published June 17, 2025 by Eat This, Not That, which reported on a nationwide study conducted by Seating Masters. According to that report, the study analyzed more than 40,000 Yelp reviews mentioning fries across 21 major fast-food chains. In-N-Out Burger finished first, followed by Shake Shack at No. 2 and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers at No. 3.
The same ranking placed Bojangles at No. 4 and Chick-fil-A at No. 5. At the bottom end, the report said KFC ranked last, with McDonald’s, Burger King, Church’s Chicken and Popeyes also appearing in the bottom five. That result stood out because McDonald’s fries have long held a dominant reputation in consumer surveys and popular rankings, making the 2025 list an outlier that has continued circulating into 2026.
Eat This, Not That said the result came from review analysis rather than a taste panel or company-sponsored promotion. The publication cited WWLP in describing the underlying study and framed In-N-Out’s win as a surprise upset. That framing is part of why the ranking has kept traction well beyond its original publication date.
The local impact depends on where chains actually operate
The ranking is national, but its real-world relevance varies by region because the top chains are not distributed evenly across the United States. In-N-Out’s No. 1 finish is likely to resonate most in Western markets where the chain has a significant footprint, while readers in many parts of the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast may be more focused on chains such as McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Popeyes or Bojangles that are more widely available.
What is confirmed is the order of the ranking and the scale of the review analysis behind it. What is not publicly detailed in the report is a state-by-state or city-by-city breakdown showing where the reviewed fry mentions were concentrated. The study summary cited by Eat This, Not That did not release a full geographic distribution of the 40,000-plus Yelp reviews.
That means there is no verified public list showing which metro areas most influenced In-N-Out’s first-place finish. It also means there is no confirmed evidence in the published summary that one state carried the result more than another. For local readers, the practical takeaway is that the ranking reflects aggregated national online review sentiment, not a localized survey of fry buyers in any single city or state.
Why fries rankings keep shifting in the fast-food business
Fries remain unusually important because they are a high-volume side item tied closely to value perception, meal attachment and brand identity. The Eat This, Not That report made clear that texture, seasoning, consistency and freshness continue to shape customer opinion, and it noted that even well-known chains face criticism when fries arrive soggy, under-seasoned or inconsistent from visit to visit.
The ranking also landed during a period when chains were making menu and operations changes that can affect customer reaction. In the same report, Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries were described as drawing complaints after a recipe change, showing how even small formulation adjustments can influence perception. That helps explain why a chain such as In-N-Out, whose fries are strongly associated with a simpler preparation style, could outperform legacy competitors in one review-based analysis.
For customers, the ranking does not change menus or prices, but it does show how quickly sentiment can move when diners judge fries on freshness and execution rather than brand reputation alone. As of 2026, the most cited surprise in this ranking remains that In-N-Out, not McDonald’s, held the top spot in a study built from tens of thousands of online reviews.