New data crunching from market analysis titan YouGov places Five Guys at the top of America's preferred burger joints. With a recent survey questioning 44,300 diners on their favorable fast-food destinations, a noteworthy 15.5% crowned Five Guys as their preferred eatery.

Five Guys' victory highlights a variety in consumer tastes, with the tastes comprising of lower-cost and upscale fast-food chains alike. Nipping at Five Guys' heels with 15% of respondents favoring its burgers, Burger King seizes the second position. This scale hints that customer preferences may shift according to the circumstance.

Though the data from YouGov is a fair representation of national preferences, coastal chain, In-N-Out Burger, secured third place in the burger battle with a 12.1% following. Other popular picks include Wendy's with 10.2% and McDonald’s claiming the final spot in the top five with 8.7%.

Ashley Brown, the Senior Account Director of YouGov, told Food & Wine that fast-casual and traditional fast-food chains continue to thrive because customers' desires are shaped by taste perceptions and practical needs. She explained that top-ranked brands like Five Guys, In-N-Out, and Wendy’s have successfully marked their territory in the consumer's mind as they deliver premium taste, reliability, convenience, or value.

Attributing Five Guy's success to its handcrafted patties and crispy edges, Brown also suggested that customers chose Burger King for its flavorful product at an unbeatable price.

As the public embraces the nuances of burgers, with small chains championing gourmet items like the Shake Shack’s smashed patties or In-N-Out's mustard-griddled animal-style burgers, major fast-food brands are dredging up new strategies to stay competitive.

Earlier this year, McDonald’s rolled out its grand half-pound Big Arch Burger, loaded with white cheddar cheese, crispy onions, and a bun sprinkled with sesame and poppy seeds. In the burger brawl, Sonic has been defending its corner since 2024, with its premium Sonic Smasher, bragging two succulent Angus beef patties.

These fast food menu adjustments mirror evolving consumer preferences. As cited in our report from last year, Yelp awarded In-N-Out Burger as the most popular burger chain according to customer reviews in 2025. In that same year, McDonald's was far behind at the 17th spot. While the wide discrepancy between the Yelp survey and YouGov's recent data can't be attributed solely to the introduction of the Big Arch Burger, it is evident that McDonald's is dialing into its customers' changing tastes.