Chains that landed a top spot consistently deliver on all aspects of the dining experience—from providing a welcoming environment to offering time-saving takeout.
About the research
Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics program is a comprehensive, ongoing study that tracks the performance of leading limited- and full-service chains by measuring the consumer experience. This report includes the top 100 restaurant chains operating within the U.S. in terms of sales, plus additional chains to round out certain categories or capture regional data. The data represents responses from approximately 87,000 consumers, with data collection occurring between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014. Scores represent the percentage of respondents who strongly agree with the statements, ranked on a scale of 1 to 5.
Top Bakery Cafe/Sandwich Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| McAlister’s Deli | 59.5% | 73% | 55% | 58% | 61% | 50% |
| Firehouse Subs | 58.8% | 73% | 55% | 57% | 63% | 46% |
| Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches | 58.5% | 73% | 51% | 49% | 71% | 48% |
Top Beverage/Snack Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Pinkberry | 55.5% | 68% | 54% | 53% | 58% | 44% |
| Ben & Jerry's | 54.9% | 67% | 49% | 53% | 60% | 46% |
| Caribou Coffee | 54.6% | 71% | 51% | 43% | 64% | 4% |
Top Burger Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| In-N-Out Burger | 60.5% | 76% | 54% | 53% | 63% | 57% |
| Culver’s | 56.6% | 73% | 53% | 53% | 61% | 44% |
| Five Guys | 53.7% | 73% | 48% | 48% | 59% | % |
Top Chicken Chain
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Chick-fil-A | 60.3% | 75% | 57% | 56% | 65% | 49% |
| Zaxby’s | 56.0% | 66% | 52% | 54% | 62% | 46% |
| El Pollo Loco | 51.2% | 61% | 43% | 50% | 59% | 44% |
Top Family Dining Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Cracker Barrel Old Country Store | 60.7% | 70% | 61% | 61% | 58% | 55% |
| Bob Evans | 54.6% | 63% | 53% | 53% | 57% | 46% |
| Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | 50.7% | 62% | 46% | 50% | 55% | 41% |
Top Mexican Chains
Overall | Service and | Unit appearance | Food and | Convenience | Value | |
Moe’s Southwest Grill | 54.1% | 70% | 46% | 51% | 61% | 43% |
Rubio's | 52.3% | 67% | 47% | 50% | 56% | 42% |
Qdoba Mexican Grill | 51.7% | 65% | 43% | 49% | 59% | 43% |
Top Pizza/Italian Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Papa Murphy’s | 63.5% | 80% | 49% | 56% | 74% | 58% |
| Maggiano’s Little Italy | 58.6% | 68% | 60% | 57% | 57% | 51% |
| Carrabba’s Italian Grill | 55.2% | 66% | 56% | 53% | 54% | 47% |
Top Seafood Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Bonefish Grill | 55.9% | 67% | 57% | 55% | 55% | 46% |
| Red Lobster | 53.7% | 65% | 52% | 56% | 53% | 43% |
| Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen | 52.0% | 63% | 45% | 50% | 57% | 45% |
Top Steak Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| The Capital Grille | 56.8% | 72% | 60% | 54% | 54% | 44% |
| Texas Roadhouse | 55.6% | 68% | 52% | 55% | 54% | 48% |
| Outback Steakhouse | 55.2% | 66% | 53% | 55% | 56% | 47% |
Top Varied Menu Chains
| Overall score | Service and hospitality | Unit appearance and ambiance | Food and beverage | Convenience and takeout | Value | |
| Seasons 52 | 59.7% | 71% | 62% | 60% | 55% | 50% |
| Cheddar’s Casual Cafe | 54.2% | 60% | 53% | 54% | 53% | 51% |
| The Cheesecake Factory | 53.9% | 63% | 54% | 57% | 52% | 43% |
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