Stephanie Heath
It is called fast food because it is supposed to be a grab-and-go scenario; however, that is not always the case. While some drive-thrus are efficient and quick, others should definitely not hold the title of “fast” food. Here are the top drive-thrus in the US ranked by speed.
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The Details: A report from Intouch Insights and QSR Magazine conducted a study on the top drive-thrus in the US.
- They looked at 13 different fast food chains
- They analyzed various aspects of the drive-thru experience.
- Wait time: from entering the drive-thru to reaching the speaker to order
- Service time: time from placing the order to receiving said order
- Total time: time passed from entering the drive-thru to receiving the order.
The Top Drive-Thrus In The US?
According to the data from the 2025 Drive Thru Report, Taco Bell ranked as the fastest drive-thru in the US for the fifth consecutive year. As a Taco Bell lover myself, I was thrilled with this news. From the time they enter the drive-thru, customers spend about four minutes and 17 seconds before they are given their order.
Taco Bell’s chief digital and technology officer, Dane Mathews, spoke with QSR about their fantastic ranking.
- “Speed, accuracy, and friendliness remain foundational to success,” he told the outlet. “But at Taco Bell, we see them as part of a broader ambition: delivering exceptional hospitality.”
Additionally, Matthews spoke about how drive-thru success is about more than solely speed.
- “Drive-thru success isn’t just about how fast or precise the drive-thru is,” he stated, “it’s about how the experience makes you feel.”
Data Doesn’t Lie
If we focus solely on speed, there are some clear front-runners among the top drive-thrus in the US. The top five with the shortest total times, from the time customers entered the drive-thru to the time they received their food, are the following.
- Taco Bell
- KFC
- Tim Holtons
- Arby’s
- Wendy’s
The five with the highest total time, in order from longest to shortest, are as follows.
- Chick-Fil-A
- Popeyes
- Raising Cane’s
- Dutch Bros
- Starbucks
About More Than Speed: Although there were clear front-runners with speed, a quality fast food chain focuses on more than just speed. RMS CEO John Oakes had this to say about successful fast food companies
- “The brands that act now to improve the value equation—with smart pricing, reduced wait times, thoughtful AI, and seamless digital-to-physical experience—will be best equipped to grow when consumer confidence returns.”
While speed is important, the data also showed other categories that mattered to clients, such as warm and friendly staff, or getting the order right. Here are some stats about how the different franchises ranked.
- “Classic brands” were the fastest of the restaurants measured across all metrics except window time.
- When it came to accuracy, “beverage brands” topped, scoring 8 percent higher than chicken.
- For friendliness and overall satisfaction, classic brands were the lowest, chicken the highest.
