Top 11 chains of all time rankings

• Serving chicken sandwiches, char-grilled burgers and more, these are our favorite fast food chains.
• Restaurants selected have a minimum of 140 locations nationwide.

Fast food being “bad for you” has never been enough to keep me away from a good old drive-through.

Fast food tasting bad, however, usually does the trick.

For example: How many times have you visited McDonald’s and been underwhelmed by dry burgers and watery ice cream? Have you received “ham” or “roast beef” at Subway that was texturally identical to turkey? Do you often find your Taco Bell burrito, nachos or soft tacos to be filled with the same bean-beef-red-sauce mixture, no matter what you order?

(And don’t even get me started on Checkers, Roy Rogers or whatever Quiznos became in its dying days).

Every once in a while, though, a quick-serve restaurant chain comes along that — colloquially — doesn’t suck.

Those shining stars are what we celebrate today.

Here are the top 11 fast food chains of all time, ranked.

11. White Castle

Do burgers taste better when you shrink them to an adorable two-bite size and sell them, by groups of ten, in a paper briefcase?

No, but steaming them with onions (and punching holes in their patties to help the meat absorb flavor), sure does.

At White Castle, the latter is done to convince you that the former is true — and the method works seamlessly.

10. Jersey Mike’s

I used to think that living in New Jersey was the reason I’ve always felt surrounded by delis, but, after traveling the country, I realized that sandwich shops truly are a dime a dozen. Even out in Indiana, Oklahoma and Florida, you can grab a sub anywhere.

Competing in the bread, meat and sauce industry, then, is a tough game — especially when your rivals are locally-beloved mom-and-pop shops. One chain, though, does it with ease.

Aptly named Jersey Mike’s (because I guess the Garden State does have more sandwich joints than most), the build-your-own sub franchise impresses with high quality meats on house-baked rolls.

9. Chick-fil-A

Hand-breaded, fried-to-order chicken has customers frequently lining up around the block at the nation’s 3,000(+) Chick-fil-A locations. To many, the chain’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich is the best in the game, and the waffle fries are irresistible.

Like those regulars, I admire the perfect cook on the chicken, as it’s mouthwateringly juicy (and never overdone).

What keeps the franchise from moving higher on this list, though, is the fact that its menu is boring. I wish the sandwiches defaulted to having sauce on them, instead of on the side, and that more artisan sandwiches (like the Honey Pepper Pimento that occasionally runs as a special) were a daily option.

8. Chipotle

When people talk about fast food restaurants that “aren’t that bad for you,” Chipotle is often the first spot they mention. With a focus on “food with integrity,” the powerhouse Mexican grill only serves responsibly raised meats and locally sourced produce.

According to the team, “Chipotle was born of the radical belief that there is a connection between how food is raised and prepared, and how it tastes.”

That dedication to quality keeps its steak burritos, chicken bowls and house-made queso tasting delicious.

7. Sarku Japan

And, on the flip side of Chipotle, I have no idea what’s in the food at Sarku Japan.

But, I do know that — every time I walk into the mall food court — I’m overwhelmed by the savory scent of its saucy lo mein and dark meat teriyaki chicken.

6. In-N-Out

A West Coast cult classic, In-N-Out has been wowing guests with its never-frozen burgers since the 1940s. On the daily menu are staples like cheeseburgers, fries and shakes.

Truly earning the chain a top spot on this list, though, isn’t its menu at all — but rather the “not-so-secret” secret menu.

The Animal Style Burger, which headlines the hush-hush specials, boasts a mustard-cooked beef patty and extra sauce, while a 4×4 features a quadruple stack of patties and cheese. Also amongst the in-the-know offerings are a lettuce-wrapped Protein Style Burger and drippy Animal Style Fries.

5. Cinnabon

If Cinnabon would cut its gooey, buttery rolls in half, load them with eggs and serve them as breakfast sandwiches, it would win this entire competition.

4. Raising Canes

Whereas Chick-fil-A has the juiciest chicken around, Louisiana-founded Raising Canes has the crispiest chicken around, and — when push comes to shove — I’m a crunch over cook person.

Specializing in chicken fingers (and just about nothing else), the Southern chain absolutely nails the breading on each tender.

Dunk one into a side of creamy Cane’s Sauce, and admire the way tangy marinade drips down every textured strip.

3. Bonchon

Then there’s Bonchon, whose bone-in wings and drums have both the crunch of Raising Cane’s chicken and the cook of Chick-fil-A’s chicken.

All smothered, of course, in your choice of Soy Garlic or Spicy sauce.

2. Burger King

When it comes to classic, stereotypical fast food joints, there are none quite like Burger King.

Wendy’s may think it compares, but its fries are soggy and under-salted.

McDonald’s might believe in the superiority of its Big Mac, but there hasn’t been a good thing on the Golden Arches’ menu since the yogurt parfait was discontinued in 2020.

At BK, the burgers are not only cooked well, they showcase a distinct, char-grilled flavor that no other grease joints have been able to replicate. The vegetables on each sandwich are fresh, colorful and crispy, and sauces are always spread in generous smears.

The same goes (besides the char) for its signature Original Chicken Sandwich and flawless Big Fish — both of which taste great with a side of always hot, always salty fries.

1. Pizza Hut

“No one out-pizzas The Hut”?

More like no one out-fast foods The Hut.

From cheesy stuffed crust slices to saucy deep-dish pan pies, this is the stuff your eleven year-old bowling party dreams were made of.

And — admit it or not — the meals your adult palate just can’t get enough of.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can’t find her in Jersey’s best restaurants, she’s probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.