Frequency of adults dining out at restaurants in the U.S. 2023, by restaurant type

An April 2023 survey asked adults in the United States how frequently they dined out at restaurants compared to six months prior. In all restaurant categories shown, the highest share of respondents stated that they ate out less than they did half a year ago. Full service restaurants saw the lowest share of respondents that said they ate out more, at 13 percent. Meanwhile, fast food chains had the highest share of respondents saying this at 17 percent.

How much do consumers spend on fast food restaurants in the U.S.?

Fast food restaurants, also known as quick service restaurants (QSRs), are characterized by their limited menus, minimal table service and, as their name implies, fast service. In 2022, consumer spending in the QSR sector in the U.S. reached an all-time high of approximately 320 billion U.S. dollars. The sector experienced near year-over-year growth since 2004; however, there was a notable decline in consumer spending in 2020 because of stay-at-home measures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

What is the highest rated fast food chain in the U.S.?

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores on a 0-100 scale at the national level with 100 being the highest and best possible score. The ACSI is an economic indicator based on modeling of customer evaluations of the quality of goods and services purchased in the United States and produced by both domestic and foreign firms with substantial U.S. market shares. In 2023, the fast food chain with the highest ACSI score in the U.S. was Chick-fil-A. The popular chicken sandwich chain scored 85 out of 100 that year.