Marco Julian Serrano The Austin Located Torchy’s Tacos stood out as one of the top fast casual eateries nationwide, clinching the second place on USA Today’s 10 Best Fast Casual Eateries for 2024. This marks a significant progress from its fourth place standing in 2023.
Having started as a food truck in 2006, Torchy’s now boasts 125 outlets across 14 states. It is famous for its unique TexMex tacos. Crowd favourites include the Mofaux, Beyond Beef taco cowboy style with grilled corn, green chiles, peppadew peppers, avocado, and Diablo sauce. Their green chile queso has also received high praise.
“We are grateful to all our loyal customers who voted us #2 Best Fast Casual Restaurant,” shared Mike Rypka, Torchy’s founder and CEO. “This was achievable only through our devoted staff members who deliver great tacos and exemplary hospitality to our guests daily.”
Even with its growth over the years, Torchy’s successfully maintains its charm and food quality standing tall against major brands like Chipotle which has its presence across most of the U.S.
Del Taco Lands at Top Spot Amongst Fast Food Restaurants
In an unexpected twist this year, Mexican chain Del Taco was declared the year’s best quick service chain. It replaced Atlanta Based ChickfilA which had been at number one for nine straight years. Falling from first place to third this time around, ChickfilA sits behind KFC now holding second position.
- The array of Mexican Inspired quickserve options helped Del Taco score top points.
- ChickfilA still gets love for its chicken sandwiches and top tier customer service.
- KFC remains a goto for many due to its tasty fried chicken and varied menu.
Each year, USA Today’s choice of best fast food restaurants is guided by nominations from an expert panel and votes from readers. The rankings this year indicate a shift in customer likes and growing demand for diverse food choices at quick service places.
The Best Fast Casual Restaurants of 2024
USA Today’s readers voted the following as the top 10 fast casual eateries,
- Qdoba Mexican Eats
- Torchy’s Tacos
- BurgerFi
- The Halal Guys
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Mendocino Farms
- Culver’s
- Five Guys
- Portillo’s
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
The above are distinguished by their effortless availability of quality food. As per the list, Qdoba Mexican Eats holds its number one rank while Torchy’s climbed to number two leading MOD Pizza and BurgerFi behind.
The Top FastFood Restaurants for 2024
This is how USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice Awards rated these fast food spots,
- Del Taco
- KFC
- ChickfilA
- InNOut Burger
- Raising Cane’s
- Shake Shack
- Whataburger
- McDonald’s
- Wendy’sTaco Bell
Del Taco’s top place position demonstrates the rising fondness for Mexican quickserve food. While ChickfilA slipped to third spot, it remains a favourite thanks to its chicken specialty menu and great customer service. KFC’s rank at number two shows continued love for this brand.
Effects on the QuickServe Industry
The rankings by USA Today carry weight in how customers perceive and choose restaurants. Eateries that appear on the list often see a surge in patronage and recognition. Case in point is Torchy’s Tacos whose reputation has grown due to them climbing up the ranks.
This list also influences future strategies for fastservice and casual dining chains, encouraging them to enhance menu offerings, service quality or broaden their reach.
In Summary
The best quickserve and casual dining restaurants as per USA Today’s 2024 rankings reveal changes in consumer interests and industry competition levels. With Del Taco’s as well as Torchy’s Tacos’ upward climb, it is clear that eateries offering diverse quality food have an edge over others.
As these places continue to innovate and expand their footprint, they are redefining expectations of what fastservice and casual dining should offer. Whether you’re a fan of TexMex tacos, chicken sandwiches or a speedy smoothie fix, there is something for every preference in this annual list.
