Jersey Mike's has surpassed Chick-fil-A as the most preferred fast-food chain in the U.S. according to a national customer-satisfaction ranking [1].
This shift represents a significant change in consumer sentiment within the competitive quick-service restaurant industry. Chick-fil-A has long held a dominant position in customer loyalty rankings, making the ascent of a sandwich-focused competitor a notable market disruption.
The rankings come from the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Restaurant and Food Delivery Study [2]. According to the study, Jersey Mike's earned a satisfaction score of 84 out of 100 [3]. This score placed the chain one point higher than Chick-fil-A [3].
The rise in preference follows a period of aggressive expansion for the company. Jersey Mike's added 238 net new locations in 2025 [4]. This growth has helped the brand scale its operations while maintaining the service quality required to top the ACSI index.
Financial data further illustrates the scale of the chain's current operations. The company reported systemwide sales of $4.2 billion [4]. The combination of physical growth and high customer satisfaction scores suggests a successful scaling strategy, one that has allowed it to edge out the previous industry leader.
The ACSI study measures customer satisfaction across various metrics to determine the overall preference of the U.S. public. By securing the top spot, Jersey Mike's has shifted the landscape of fast-food rankings, signaling that consumers may be prioritizing different value propositions than in previous years.
“Jersey Mike's earned a satisfaction score of 84 out of 100”
The shift in the ACSI rankings suggests a diversification in consumer preferences within the U.S. fast-food market. While Chick-fil-A previously dominated through a specific service model, Jersey Mike's ability to maintain a high satisfaction score while adding 238 locations in a single year indicates that the brand's growth is not compromising its customer experience. This creates a new benchmark for how sandwich chains can compete with established fast-food giants on a national scale.
