Every Chain Restaurant In America—Ranked By Popularity

Backtrack to yesterday's lunch: Did you choose to grab a salad at your favorite chain restaurant based on its convenience or because you liked the brand itself? In October, Nation's Restaurant News partnered with Datassential, a consumer research brand, to release its annual Consumer Picks survey, which shows us how popular restaurants stack up against each other based solely on customer loyalty.

Here are the 25 chain restaurants that Nation's Restaurant News proclaims to have "the most loyal fans," with #1 being the most loyal. Is your favorite on the list?

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Customers love the family-style dinners at this Italian chain. (Although it's not clear how family-style eating will fare in the age of the coronavirus.)

And for more food news, here's Every Fast-Food Chain in America—Ranked by Popularity.

Fans can't get enough of this fast-casual sandwich chain. Try the flatbread pizza!

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Maggiano's isn't the only Italian restaurant that made the list! Who doesn't want to wind down with a glass of Carrabba's sangria? To recreate the experience at home, try our Copycat Carrabba's Blackberry Sangria Recipe.

If you're craving Mediterranean food, you can't go wrong with a plate from Zoës Kitchen. We love the spinach and feta rollup!

Would it be a list of the most popular chains in the country without Starbucks? The coffee chain has countless fans.

And for more on the coffee chain, don't miss these 30 Secrets From Starbucks Employees.

No, we're not talking about the train station in New York City! Fans of Penn Station know it's home to some seriously tasty subs.

Whether you love their bagels or that classic you-pick-two lunch combo, Panera is a popular choice.

Freebirds is only in Utah and Texas, but that didn't stop it from making the list! If you're lucky enough to live near this chain, let us know how it is.

We're not surprised that The Fastest Growing Chicken Chain in the nation made the list!

This rice bowl chain has locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas, and fans in these six states are quite vocal! Try the Angus beef with vegetables over rice.

And for more popular orders, don't miss the 100 Most Popular Fast Food Items.

Who wouldn't want a steak and a dinner roll with the chain's delicious honey butter?

When you're in the mood for a fancy steak, nothing beats Ruth's Chris.

If your favorite pizza is Detroit-style square pizza, you'll love Jet's.

With baby back ribs and pulled pork, Shane's is a must-visit when you're craving Southern food.

If you've had a frozen custard from Culver's, you'll understand the hype.

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Move over, Chipotle! Cafe Rio is here with burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and more.

Nothing beats a fresh, hot donut straight off the conveyer belt.

Who can resist the seafood—and the cheddar bay biscuits—at Red Lobster?

With Southern classics like chicken and dumplings and country-fried steak, Cracker Barrel delights fans of Southern food across the country.

This bakery-cafe prides itself on serving authentic French food. Why have a regular sandwich when you can have a chicken salad croissant?

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With its extra-large buns and jumbo burgers to match, Whataburger has a special place in fans' hearts.

Thin-crust, square pizza is the name of the game at this joint.

Celebrities and commoners alike flock to this California chain for its burgers and that not-so-secret menu.

Chick-fil-A's fans are so loyal they'll dress up like cows to get free chicken, so are you really surprised to see the chain on this list?

For those who prefer to eat at home, Papa Murphy's take-and-bake pizza takes the prize.

And the next time you're grocery shopping, don't miss these 30 Cheap Costco Buys That Make the Membership Worth It.