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Whataburger Named Texas' Top Fast-Food Chain in National Study
Whataburger is Texas' favorite fast-food chain according to a national study by FinanceBuzz that analyzed Google search data and restaurant density.
Published February 21, 2026 at 7:00pm by Julianna Duennes Russ
Texans' loyalty to Whataburger runs deep, and new national data suggests Austin diners are no exception.
A recent analysis by personal finance website FinanceBuzz ranked Whataburger as Texas' favorite fast-food chain. The study compared nearly 70 major chains nationwide using Google search popularity combined with restaurant locations per capita to determine each state’s top pick. The study pulled data from March 2024.
Americans are divided nationally, with chains like Wendy’s and Sonic topping five states each, but Texas stood firmly behind its homegrown orange-and-white institution. Eleven restaurants took the top spot in multiple states.
Across the country, 30 different chains earned the No. 1 spot in at least one state, and many states favored brands founded locally — 17 restaurants were named the favorite in the state where the chain started.