Jersey Mike’s franchise brand has claimed the top spot in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index, posting a score of 84 and ending Chick-fil-A’s unbroken 11-year run as America’s favorite quick-service restaurant. The result marks a milestone for the sandwich franchise concept, which now operates more than 3,200 franchised locations nationwide and is preparing for a potential IPO.
The annual ACSI restaurant report, based on 16,464 surveys conducted between April 2025 and March 2026, placed the overall QSR category at a stable score of 79, unchanged for the third consecutive year. Jersey Mike’s edged ahead of Chick-fil-A by a single point (84 vs. 83), with Jimmy John’s and Panda Express tied at 81, ranking third. Survey respondents credited Jersey Mike’s with strong performance in freshness, food variety, and perceived value.
A One-Point Lead That Ends an 11-Year Streak
Jersey Mike’s finished the 2026 ACSI rankings with a score of 84, compared to Chick-fil-A‘s 83. Chick-fil-A had held the top position in the ACSI QSR category for 11 consecutive years, a run that began in 2015. The ACSI noted that Chick-fil-A “is still the clear leader for chicken” despite ceding the overall crown. Respondents cited freshness and food variety as primary drivers of Jersey Mike’s satisfaction lead.
Jersey Mike’s (84) edged Chick-fil-A (83) in the 2026 ACSI QSR rankings, against an industry average of 79. (Source: ACSI, 2026)
A Franchise System at Full Speed
With 3,227 total locations, 3,201 of which are franchised, Jersey Mike’s added a net 238 restaurants in the prior year alone. The brand reports an average unit volume of approximately $1.4 million for locations open more than 12 months, a solid figure for the sandwich category. Alongside this operational momentum, Jersey Mike’s confidentially filed documents with the SEC in April 2026 for a potential initial public offering, with reports citing a target valuation of $12 billion.
What the Rankings Signal for the QSR Sector
Customer satisfaction benchmarks across the QSR sector have held flat at 79 for three consecutive years, a pattern the ACSI links to ongoing cost pressures and menu price adjustments. Brands that maintain strong scores in freshness and food quality tend to outperform in this environment, according to ACSI methodology notes. Both Jersey Mike’s and Chick-fil-A sit well above the category average, indicating that the top tier of the market remains highly competitive. The 2026 results are drawn from 16,464 completed surveys conducted via email between April 2025 and March 2026.
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