They were the top for a long time.

For nearly a decade, Chick-fil-A held the top spot as America’s favorite fast-food restaurant, but this year, Del Taco has taken the lead, according to USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. Del Taco, a California-based chain known for its American-style Mexican cuisine, offers a variety of dishes including burritos, quesadillas, nachos, burgers, and fries, along with dedicated breakfast, vegan, and vegetarian menus.

KFC secured the second position, renowned for its “finger-lickin’ good” chicken. Chick-fil-A, known for its friendly cow mascots and chicken-centric menu, including their popular chicken sandwich, ranked third this year. The awards list highlights that Chick-fil-A’s classic chicken sandwich has been its most-ordered item for the past two years.

Nominees for the awards are selected by a panel of experts and narrowed down by 10Best editors, with readers allowed to vote once per category per day. Despite KFC’s global presence with over 25,000 locations, and Chick-fil-A’s 3,000 restaurants in 48 states, Del Taco has a more modest footprint with around 600 locations in 16 states.

Other fast-food chains in the top ten include In-N-Out Burger, Hardee’s, Captain D’s, Taco Bell, Popeyes, Zaxby’s, and Arby’s. In-N-Out Burger, another Christian-owned chain, is known for its fresh ingredients and hidden “Animal Style” menu. Captain D’s, specializing in seafood, and Zaxby’s, focusing on fried chicken, also made the list, each offering a unique array of menu items.

In summary, the fast-food rankings this year saw a significant change with Del Taco taking the top spot, followed by KFC and Chick-fil-A. The rankings highlight the diverse offerings of these chains and their popularity among consumers. Despite the shake-up at the top, the competition remains fierce among America’s favorite fast-food restaurants.

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