Fried chicken chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Chick-fil-A was the most searched fried chicken chain in the United States, accounting for 45.4% of all searches among the ten chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and Raising Cane’s showed up in every answer. Popeyes was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three responses.
Chick-fil-AShare of searches 45.4%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
WingstopShare of searches 16.6%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
KFCShare of searches 11.1%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Dave's Hot ChickenShare of searches 7.5%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
PopeyesShare of searches 6.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
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Top fried chicken chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and Raising Cane’s appeared every time. Popeyes was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three answers. Chick-fil-A was second, and Raising Cane’s was third. Church's Texas Chicken, which ranked tenth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Popeyes1st
- Chick-fil-A2nd
Raising Cane’s3rd- KFC4th
- Dave's Hot Chicken5th
Zaxby's6th- Wingstop7th
- Jollibee8th
Bojangles9th
Church's Texas Chicken–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Chick-fil-A3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Popeyes3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Raising Cane’s3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Wingstop2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- KFC2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Dave's Hot Chicken2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Jollibee2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Zaxby's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Bojangles1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Church's Texas Chicken0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about fried chicken chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which fast food chain has the best fried chicken in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best chicken chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Where can I get the best chicken tenders from a fast food chain in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best fried chicken”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“chicken places”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which fried chicken chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each fried chicken chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten fried chicken chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Chick-fil-A, Wingstop, KFC, Dave's Hot Chicken, Popeyes, Bojangles, Raising Cane’s, Jollibee, Zaxby's. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Chick-fil-A | Wingstop | KFC | Dave's Hot Chicken | Popeyes | Bojangles | Raising Cane’s | Jollibee | Zaxby's | Church's Texas Chicken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 42.4% | 15.6% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 41.7% | 15.3% | 10.2% | 8.4% | 10.2% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.9% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.4% | 15.5% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.9% | 16.5% | 9% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 3.3% | 4% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.3% | 15.5% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.1% | 15.8% | 10.6% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 42.8% | 15.7% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.4% | 15.9% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 48% | 14.4% | 9.6% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 48.1% | 14.5% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.4% | 16.6% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.2% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 45.4% | 20.4M | -18.1% | -2.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 16.6% | 7.5M | 0% | +2.2 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.1% | 5M | 0% | +1.5 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 7.5% | 3.4M | -18.1% | -0.5 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 6.1% | 2.7M | -18.2% | -0.4 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 3.3% | 1.5M | -18% | -0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 3.3% | 1.5M | -18% | -0.2 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 2.7% | 1.2M | -18.7% | -0.2 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 2.7% | 1.2M | 0% | +0.4 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 1.2% | 550K | 0% | +0.2 points |
45.4%
Held 1st. 20.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.
2.
Wingstop16.6%
Held 2nd. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.
3.
KFC11.1%
Held 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.
7.5%
Held 4th. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
5.
Popeyes6.1%
Held 5th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
3.3%
Held 6th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
3.3%
Held 7th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
8.Jollibee
2.7%
Held 8th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
9.
Zaxby's2.7%
Held 9th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
1.2%
Held 10th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among fried chicken chains in the United States?
10 brands
In September 2026, Chick-fil-A was the most searched among fried chicken chains in the United States, with an estimated 20.4M branded searches, 45.4% of all searches for the ten we track. Wingstop is in 2nd place, 28.7 percentage points behind at 16.6%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | 42.4% → 45.4% | 48.1%Aug 2026 | 41.7%Nov 2025 | 1st |
| Wingstop | 15.6% → 16.6% | 16.6%Sep 2026 | 14.4%Jul 2026 | 2nd |
| KFC | 10.4% → 11.1% | 11.1%Sep 2026 | 9%Feb 2026 | 3rd |
| Dave's Hot Chicken | 8.5% → 7.5% | 10.4%Mar 2026 | 7.4%Feb 2026 | 4th |
| Popeyes | 8.5% → 6.1% | 10.2%Nov 2025 | 6.1%Sep 2026 | 5th |
| Bojangles | 3.8% → 3.3% | 3.9%Jun 2026 | 3.3%Feb 2026 | 6th |
| Raising Cane’s | 3.1% → 3.3% | 4%Feb 2026 | 2.9%Jul 2026 | 8th → 7th |
| Jollibee | 3.1% → 2.7% | 3.2%Apr 2026 | 2.5%Mar 2026 | 7th → 8th |
| Zaxby's | 3.1% → 2.7% | 3.8%Dec 2025 | 2.4%Aug 2026 | 9th |
| Church's Texas Chicken | 1.4% → 1.2% | 1.5%Feb 2026 | 1.1%Aug 2026 | 10th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chick-fil-A’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States increased from 42.4% to 45.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wingstop’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States increased from 15.6% to 16.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KFC’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States increased from 10.4% to 11.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States decreased from 8.5% to 7.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Popeyes’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States decreased from 8.5% to 6.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chick-fil-A’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 48.1% in August 2026 and was lowest at 41.7% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wingstop’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 16.6% in September 2026 and was lowest at 14.4% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KFC’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 11.1% in September 2026 and was lowest at 9% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 10.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 7.4% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Popeyes’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 10.2% in November 2025 and was lowest at 6.1% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Raising Cane’s’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 4% in February 2026 and was lowest at 2.9% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zaxby's’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 3.8% in December 2025 and was lowest at 2.4% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Raising Cane’s rose from 8th to 7th among fried chicken chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Jollibee fell from 7th to 8th among fried chicken chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bojangles, Zaxby's and Church's Texas Chicken held steady: their share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States fried chicken chains in September 2026?
8 changes
In September 2026, Wingstop gained share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 14.5% to 16.6%.
In September 2026, KFC gained share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 9.7% to 11.1%.
In September 2026, Chick-fil-A lost share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 48.1% to 45.4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Popeyes in the United States fell 33% over 12 measured months, from 4.1M to 2.7M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Jollibee in the United States fell 18.7% over 12 measured months, from 1.5M to 1.2M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Zaxby's in the United States fell 18.7% over 12 measured months, from 1.5M to 1.2M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Church's Texas Chicken in the United States fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 673K to 550K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Dave's Hot Chicken in the United States fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.1M to 3.4M in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Chick-fil-A vs Wingstop: compare popularity
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- Wingstop vs KFC: compare popularity
- Wingstop vs Dave's Hot Chicken: compare popularity
- Wingstop vs Popeyes: compare popularity
- KFC vs Dave's Hot Chicken: compare popularity
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