We Ranked Australia’s Major Restaurant Chains From Worst to Best – Based on Real Customer Data
We Ranked Australia’s Major Restaurant Chains From Worst to Best (Based on Real Customer Data)
Australians spent $37 billion at fast food chains last year.
But something else has been happening at the same time:
portions getting smaller, prices getting higher, and customer experiences becoming wildly inconsistent depending on the store.
So instead of guessing, we looked at real customer data.
In this report, we ranked Australia’s major restaurant chains using verified information from Canstar Blue, Roy Morgan, YouGov, ProductReview, and national consumer surveys covering more than 2,600 Australians.
And the result might surprise you.
The chain that finished #1 has fewer than 300 locations — yet it beat McDonald’s and KFC across every single satisfaction category.
Along the way we break down the patterns customers keep reporting again and again:
⚠️ inconsistent food quality between locations
⚠️ shrinkflation affecting portion sizes
⚠️ rising fast-food prices across Australia
⚠️ customer satisfaction gaps between major chains
⚠️ and the one factor that predicts whether a chain keeps loyal customers
We also explain what most people miss when looking at fast food brands:
✅ why store consistency matters more than menu size
✅ how customer satisfaction data reveals hidden weaknesses
✅ why the biggest chains aren’t always the best rated
✅ and which brands are quietly outperforming the giants
By the end of the video, you’ll see the complete ranking from worst to best, based on the same data researchers and consumer analysts use to measure brand performance.
If you enjoy breakdowns like this — Australian brands, supermarket products, and the data behind what people actually buy — subscribe to @cw.au-25
New reports every week.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Australia’s $37B Fast Food Market
00:25 – Number 10
01:53 – Number 9
03:21 – Number 8
05:05 – Number 7
06:36 – Number 6
08:34 – Number 5
10:24 – Number 4
12:10 – Number 3
13:48 – Number 2
15:41 – Number 1
17:53 – Full Ranking Recap
19:31 – Final Thoughts
Sources & References (Public Data)
• Roy Morgan – Australia’s favourite quick-service restaurants
https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/mcdonalds-kfc-hungry-jacks-dominos-pizza-are-australias-favorite-restaurants
• YouGov Brand Index – QSR brand scores
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1410147/australia-leading-quick-service-restaurants-by-index-score/
• Australian fast food market report
https://www.expertmarketresearch.com.au/reports/australia-fast-food-market
• Store counts – Australian restaurant chains
https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/10-largest-food-chains-in-australia/
• Domino’s employee class action
• Fair Work investigation into Domino’s underpayment
https://www.hcamag.com/au/specialisation/employment-law/dominos-faces-trial-over-alleged-underpayment-of-workers/426339
Consumer reviews (opinions)
• ProductReview Australia – https://www.productreview.com.au
Disclaimer
This video is for general informational and consumer awareness purposes only.
All commentary is based on publicly available reports, surveys, and customer reviews (opinions). Restaurant experiences may vary by location and over time. Always verify current menu information and pricing with the official brand.
Disclosure
This video is not sponsored by any brand mentioned.
All analysis is based on independent consumer data, public research reports, and aggregated customer reviews.
#fastfood #australia #restaurants #consumerwatch #fastfoodreview #aussiefood #restaurantreview #customersatisfaction #foodranking #aussieshopping #consumerawareness
19 Comments
Honestly…. I’m surprised Red Rooster are getting that much from every dollar. My brother used to really like it for some reason. As a chicken fan I don’t mind Red Rooster – but literally 30 seconds down the street in a small little thing that opened – is now El Janah. Rock solid. If I travel east – I have a charcoal chicken – best roast/bbq chicken I’ve ever had. Yeah the red rooster here won’t last
Yeah Subway the prices overall seem to have gone up more than other places. To be fair – I used to find them the cheapest – that is not the case at all.
I’m gonna sound like a fast food expert 😂 hungry jacks – I tell ya the hungry jacks near me is rock solid. Their chips are so good – even when I don’t get the freshest batch they are still good. Yeah I quite like hungry jacks.
When Dominos rebranded a while back I felt they really upped their game – but yeah I just find it trash now.
My closest McDonald’s is dead set dog shit. The worst maccas by a country mile
I still prefer Hungry Jacks over MacDonalds any day
Did you say footlong and chips? Subway doesn't sell chips.
Hungry Jack's is better than McVomit.
Australian take-away stores? Then why are you using clips from USA and UK stores? The Red Rooster store at Lithgow NSW is very inconsistent, one week the meal is shite, the next visit it's great, same applies to KFC at Lithgow NSW. KFC are overpriced for what you receive, what irritates me is when they have "cheap" specials that they are only available if you order "on-line". "Henny Penny" used to have the best chicken and chips, they are gone now. Eagle Boys pizza used to be the best, but they are gone, Domino's is "so-so" more often crap than not. Pizza Hut is utter rubbish, has been since day one.
All shit.
McDonalds is CRAP FOOD !
they all taste like garbage to me, if i want a burger i will go to a fish and chip shop ang get a real one
They F*cked Red rooster when they changed the chicken strips on the ripper and flayva
Subway is definitely better than the rest in Adelaide
I thought the Whooper came from Burger King 😮
No, Pizza Hut? lol
oporto is the worst
This isn’t about Australian foods. It shows UK, US ans Zimbabwe commercials. We don’t have most of those products shown.
How is Grill'd number 2. "Grill'd is facing a class action lawsuit filed by Gordon Legal and the SDA union, alleging it underpaid over 15,000 workers for mandatory 10-minute rest breaks between December 2019 and 2025. This follows long-standing accusations regarding low pay, including the use of traineeships to pay youth workers below award rates."
Why would anyone want to give their $$ to them. Might as well head to Harvey Norman after too!
To be honest, all of it doesn't qualify as food.
Maccas was good but due to price rises & product shrinkage it’s now not worth buying.
Oporto is overpriced chicken & not worth it in my opinion.
I like hungry jacks & red rooster.
Subway is still ok but again expensive for what you get.
Love my local dominos.
KFC has always been Ho hum often more bone than chicken.
Tried GYG once & would never do so again. My burrito was reheated in a microwave & still cold in the middle.
How the hell did Nandos get the #2 spot it’s so good my local stores closed.
Grilled = overpriced American rubbish.
Zambrero closest store is a half hour drive so not happening.
There is no number one there all shit!!
Hungry Jacks is better than McDonalds. Best Mexican I know of is Burrito Bar (mostly a QLD thing though) although GyG still has good food (crap prices though). Never had any problems at my local Red Rooster (which I visit a lot since the next closest fast food joint is about twice as far of a walk). I wish El Jannah and Chicken Treat were in QLD, both are really good (last time I was in Perth, I probably ate the equivalent of 2-3 full chickens worth of 1/4 chicken packs at Chicken Treat because of how good their chicken is). Subway food is good but the value proposition isn't what it used to be (which is why I tend not to go there that much and will pick better value options like KFC instead). Nando's used to be good but again the value is not there compared to alternatives (if I want a fix of spicy chicken I will go to Red Rooster or hit up Burrito Bar or Pizza Hut on Wings Wednesday). Both Grill'd and Zambrero on the other hand suck.