— Michael Hussey Blog

Last updated: March 3, 2017

Inspired by The Ringer’sTop 50 Fast Food Items in America,” I decided to create my own ranking and see how my tastes compare with the Ringer’s staff.

A few notes:

-I listen to a lot of Bill Simmon’s Ringer podcasts. Bill and his friend Joe House recently spent 30 minutes going over and most ripping apart The Ringer’s own top-50 list. Specifically, they were most upset with the high ranking Chick-fil-a’s waffle fries earned on this list. Well, those same waffle fries come in at my #2 on my list. They mean more to me than the chicken sandwiches, by quite a margin. Bill and Joe, you are wrong.

-Those who know me, know I love the Filet-o-Fish.

-My top-rated item not on The Ringer’s list: The Shack-Cago Dog at Shack Shack, which is by far my favorite thing on their menu.

My Ranking My Rating Fast Food Item Restaurant The Ringer's Ranking
1 9.9 Filet-O-Fish McDonald's 44
2 9.8 Waffle Fries Chick-fil-a 1
4 9.6 Egg McMuffin McDonald's 32
3 9.6 French Fries McDonald's 3
5 9.6 Shack-Cago Dog Shake Shack n/a
8 9.5 Chicken Sandwich Chick-fil-a 5
7 9.5 Curly Fries Arby's 6
9 9.5 French Fries Nathan's n/a
6 9.5 Root Beer A&W
10 9.3 Chick-N-Pickle Bareburger n/a
11 9.3 French Fries Five Guys 10
16 9.2 French Fries Steak 'n Shake 31
12 9.2 Hard Tacos (Steak) Chipotle n/a
15 9.2 Hash Browns McDonald's 29
14 9.2 Little Cheeseburger Five Guys 10
18 9.1 Cheeseburger In-n-out 35
19 9.1 Sausage McMuffin with Egg McDonald's n/a
17 9.1 Soft Tacos Chipotle 23
20 9.1 Steakburger Steak 'n Shake 31
22 9 Baked Apple Pie McDonald's 28
21 9 Double-Double In-n-out 2
23 9 Hot Dogs Nathan's n/a
24 9 Shack Burger Shake Shack 18
25 8.9 Bacon Cheeseburger Five Guys 10
26 8.8 Classic Grilled Hot Dog (Loaded) Burger King n/a
28 8.7 Blizzard Dairy Queen 7
27 8.7 Checkerburger Checkers n/a
30 8.6 Crunchwrap Supreme Taco Bell n/a
31 8.6 Frosty Wendy's 8
29 8.6 Quarter Pounder McDonald's 49
33 8.5 Dave's Single Cheeseburger Wendy's n/a
32 8.5 Whopper Jr. Burger King n/a
35 8.4 Apple Pie McDonald's n/a
36 8.4 Biscuits Popeyes 22
34 8.4 Glazed Doughnut Krispy Kreme 40
37 8.4 Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Wendy's n/a
40 8.3 Chicken Tenders Popeyes 21
41 8.3 Double ShackBurger Shake Shack 27
42 8.3 Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe Wendy's n/a
39 8.3 Mashed Potatos and Gravy KFC 47
38 8.3 Roast Beef Sandwich Arby's 33
44 8.2 7 Layer Burrito Taco Bell n/a
43 8.2 McNuggets McDonald's 14
46 8.1 Chicken KFC 47
47 8.1 Chicken Popeyes 4
48 8.1 Mashed Potatos and Cajun Gravy Popeyes 45
45 8.1 Origin Chicken Sandwich Burger King 43
50 8 Big Mac McDonald's 16
49 8 Whopper Burger King 46
51 7.9 Crunch Shell Tacos Taco Bell 25
53 7.8 Cheeseburger McDonald's n/a
52 7.8 French Fries Burger King 43
54 7.8 Sour Cream and Chive Baked Potato Wendy's
55 7.5 McGriddle McDonald's 42
56 7.3 McFlurry McDonald's 9
57 6.1 Soft Cookies Subway 39
58 6 French Fries Shake Shack 18
n/a n/a Animal Style Burger In-n-out 11
n/a n/a Animal Style Fries In-n-out 24
n/a n/a Cajun Fries Five Guys 26
n/a n/a Cheese Curds Culver's 48
n/a n/a Cheesy Gordita Crunch Taco Bell 15
n/a n/a Cherry Limeade Sonic 38
n/a n/a Chicken Biscuit Chick-fil-a 30
n/a n/a Chicken Fingers Raising Canes 34
n/a n/a Chicken Nuggets Chick-fil-a 13
n/a n/a Chicken Quesadilla Taco Bell 36
n/a n/a Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich Whataburger 37
n/a n/a Pretzel Auntie Anne's 17
n/a n/a Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich Chick-fil-a 41
n/a n/a Spicy Chicken Sandwich Chick-fil-a 12
n/a n/a Spicy Chicken Sandwich Wendy's 20
n/a n/a Two Tacos for 99¢ Jack In The Box 19

Filet-o-fish, the best fast food in America