In-N-Out Burger is Gen Z’s favorite chain, according to a leading food and beverage data platform.
The announcement came from a preview of the 2026 Datassential 500 report on top restaurant chains and an accompanying awards list.
The awards are “designed to spotlight the most beloved, innovative, and impactful brands in food service today,” according to its introduction.
In-N-Out has the strongest ratings among twentysomethings “across all major metrics, from food quality to value and experience,” the announcement reads.
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The overall winner was Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A. Taco Bell, In-N-Out’s Irvine-based neighbor, was declared “America’s Value Menu Innovator.”
Winners were picked through data in the 500 report, which analyzed more than 18,000 chains across the United States.
Value innovation is a dominant theme in the awards. A Datassential news report states that “brands cutting through aren’t just dropping prices; they’re innovating smarter, launching limited-time offers (LTOs) that genuinely resonate, and delivering experiences worth returning for.”
Little Caesars had the highest rating in “value for the dollar.”
Restaurants with high ratings for food quality were led by Texas Roadhouse, followed by Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out.
Standout limited-time offers or menu launches include Starbucks’ Chocolate-covered Strawberry Crème Frappacino, Sonic Drive-In’s Bourbon Caramel Iced Coffee, and Shake Shack’s Carolina BBQ Chicken Sandwich with Fried Pickles.
Fastest-growing chains include KPOT, based in Rowland Heights.
Standout Combo & Value Menu Launches include Taco Bell’s Decades Luxe Box, which was a limited-time offer.
Limited-service chicken restaurants showed strong growth. But limited-service pizza restaurants and full-service sports bars dropped.
The preview is preliminary and will be finalized next month, when detailed results will be sold to subscribers, according to Datassential.