Wendy’s chili, a popular choice for wintertime drive-thru visits, has earned national recognition. According to a recent survey by USA TODAY, Wendy’s chili ranks sixth among the nation’s favorite fast-food side dishes. It is the sole Wendy’s item to make the list in the newspaper’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
White Castle’s 1921 slider, a seared patty topped with steamed onions, secured the 10th spot in the rankings for favorite fast-food burgers.
In the overall fast-food category, Del Taco emerged as the top restaurant, with its sole central Ohio location in Whitehall, 4720 E. Main St. The Habit Burger Grill, known for its presence mainly on the East and West coasts, was voted the favorite for burgers. Del Taco’s fries were also a favorite among readers.
Notable mentions include QDOBA Mexican Eats as the best fast-casual restaurant, Biscuitville of North Carolina for the best fast-food breakfast, Jollibee from the Philippines for the best fast-food fried chicken, and the Habit Burger Grill’s tempura green beans as the best fast-food side. El Pollo Loco from California was recognized for the best quick, healthy food, while PrimoHoagies of Philadelphia was named the best sandwich or sub shop.
Wendy’s chili has been a staple on the menu since the chain’s inception in 1969. Notably, Cincinnati-based Skyline Chili was recognized as the top regional fast-food restaurant. Skyline was serving chili two decades prior, in 1969, when Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s in downtown Columbus. Wendy’s initially introduced chili to utilize extra ground beef, staying true to its promise of never freezing its beef.
Wendy’s currently ranks as the fifth largest fast-food chain in the U.S. based on 2023 sales and was the third favorite among Americans in a recent YouGov survey.