Singles are flocking to this fast-food joint.
Even though first dates can be totally anxiety-inducing, I love them. It’s a chance to meet a brand-new person and see if you click. Of course, not all first dates are created equal.
My best one lasted almost eight hours and included drinks, pizza and a stop at a bowling alley just so we could keep the night going. On the other side of the spectrum, my worst first date lasted about 45 minutes and felt like an awkward, stilted job interview. I couldn’t wait to get home and debrief how weird it was with my roommate!
I think most first dates (hopefully) clear that very low bar. That’s why I was so excited to see a survey on DatingNews.com about which fast-food restaurants singles prefer for a first date. The results were surprising, but really fun to see. Whenever I dine in now, I’m going to look around to see who’s getting a crush over a basket of fries and chicken tenders.
What is the top fast-food restaurant for singles in America?
I tried to give you a hint in the sub-header of this story, where I said singles are “flocking” to this place. It’s Chick-fil-A!
According to the DatingNews survey, about 70% of singles are open to hitting up a fast-food restaurant for a first date. And across the country, Chick-fil-A was the most popular location, with 25 states picking the chicken joint as their go-to option. It’s easy to see why; those chicken sandwiches are one of our favorites for a reason!
Fast-food restaurants are both budget-friendly and casual, so it takes some of the pressure off a first date. It makes a ton of sense, and it’s honestly pragmatic. Instead of dropping a few hundred dollars on an initial meetup with a new person, why not kick the tires a bit over a burger and fries?
If you think that this is an “unromantic” option for a first date, I think that maybe you are forgetting the purpose of a first date. With so many singles meeting on dating apps, this is the first time you get to meet a literal stranger. It makes sense to keep it low-key, so you can see if you actually vibe in person. If there’s a spark, then I think dates two and three can lean into the romance. Plus, how cute would it be to serve Chick-fil-A at your wedding if you really hit it off?
What is the top fast-food restaurant in each state?
While Chick-fil-A took the top spot in half of the states, there is some decent variety in other places. When glancing at this list, there is definitely a regional bias for a lot of them. Here’s how your state stacks up:
Arby’s: Delaware
Chick-fil-A: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
Culver’s: Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin
Dairy Queen: New Hampshire, South Dakota, Wyoming
In-N-Out: California, Nevada, Rhode Island, Utah
McDonald’s: Kentucky, New Mexico
Pizza Hut: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana
Raising Cane’s: Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas
I am very proud that my home state of Illinois chose the restaurant with the best fast-food burger. If you disagree with me, well, take me on a date to Culver’s and try one yourself!
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