We just published our fast food tier list, and the most common reaction so far is some version of "McDonald’s in B tier? Really?" Here is how we got there.
What we ranked on
Every chain was judged on three things: how good its signature items are, how consistent it is from one location to the next, and whether it is worth the money. A short menu done very well beat a huge menu done unevenly.
Why In-N-Out is at the top
In-N-Out does almost nothing, and does all of it well. Fresh beef, fries cut in the store and prices that still feel fair are rare at this scale. It shares S tier with Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Culver’s and Whataburger, but it edged the rest in our write-ups.