America’s Favorite Restaurant Chain Might Surprise You
But it's one of our favorites.
No matter if you’re a Grammy Award-winning singer, star NFL player, or simply a home cook, chances are you have a favorite chain restaurant. There’s no shame in enjoying a trip to Applebee’s or Olive Garden—we get it, even our favorite celebrity chefs don’t make every meal at home.
Of course, the restaurant chain you choose to frequent can vary based on what you’re in the mood for—or what’s in your neighborhood. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have your top list of go-tos. And you’re not the only one.
Every year, Technomic releases its “America’s Favorite Chains” study to announce the top 10 franchise brands according to customers. The 2024 report is in—and the winner might just shock you.
The No. 1 Chain Restaurant in America Revealed
Nothing Bundt Cakes has been named America’s number one favorite restaurant chain, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
The bakery franchise specializes in Bundt cakes in multiple flavors and sizes. The chain is known for its moist cakes topped with icing in flavors like Red Velvet, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Carrot, Confetti, and White Chocolate Raspberry. Additionally, Nothing Bundt Cakes releases special featured flavors monthly—as well as pop-up flavors available for limited runs.
Nothing Bundt Cakes originated in Dallas, Texas, and has been serving customers since 1997. Today, the brand is the nation’s largest specialty cake retailer, with more than 660 franchises across 40 states—and continued plans to expand.
In the 2024 survey, Nothing Bundt Cakes received the highest overall score, thanks to combined data across Service & Hospitality, Unit Appearance & Ambiance, Food & Beverage, Convenience & Takeout, and Value categories.
Nothing Bundt Cakes topped the list this year, dethroning 2023’s favorite restaurant chain, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which came in second place in 2024. The remaining favorite chains include Dutch Bros Coffee in third, Seasons 52 in fourth, Tropical Smoothie Cafe in fifth, The Capital Grille in sixth, Fogo de Chão in seventh, Smoothie King in eighth, Bahama Breeze Island Grille in ninth, and Texas Roadhouse in tenth.
Despite the rise of Crumbl Cookies, Nothing Bundt Cakes is the only bakery chain to break the top 10, which the company is not taking lightly.
“We will do our best to remain the nation's premier destination for group celebrations and individual treats. With every new flavor we introduce and every new bakery we open, we are dedicated to spreading more joy among families and friends in their most special moments together,” said Nothing Bundt Cakes CEO Dolf Berle in response to the news.
While we didn’t foresee a bakery chain topping the list of restaurants, we can understand why it did—customers have loved the Bundt cakes for years.
“The BEST!! The icing isn't too sweet and the cake is always MOIST,” one Instagram user commented on a Nothing Bundt Cake post.
And, if you’ve never tried the iced Bundt cakes, maybe this push from America will get you to your local Nothing Bundt Cakes.
Read the original article on ALLRECIPES