When it comes to fast food, it seems we’re all in our chicken era. Restaurants like Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King all poured big bucks into their chicken menus to stay ahead of the competition. Taste, quality, and price all remain significant factors for families trying to budget, but who still like an occasional meal they don’t have to cook themselves. Yelp put together its 2025 Most Loved Brands list, and chicken pecked its way to the top. But if you’re thinking Chick-fil-A or KFC, you’re not even close. Foodbeast reports Dave’s Hot Chicken is America’s favorite. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DavesHotChicken (@daveshotchicken) Dave’s Hot Chicken is a Relatively New Brand With locations all across America, Dave’s Hot Chicken is truly a fan favorite. The brand began in California in 2017 and specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. Not only is Dave’s America’s favorite brand, but it also ranked second on Yelp’s 2025 Top Chicken Sandwich Chains list and number 28 on its 2025 Fastest Growing Brands. “In a year defined by price sensitivity, earning customer loyalty is more important than ever. Customers count on businesses to deliver their favorite menu items as expected or to complete services reliably every time. This dedication to quality sets the Most Loved Brands apart, driving great reviews and, most importantly, repeat visits. Every day, we see purchase-ready Yelp users reward outstanding experiences with positive feedback, and ongoing business. With millions of buying decisions made on our platform daily, Yelp’s data offers unique insight into the brands that keep customers coming back,” Sarah Chang, Yelp’s vice president and head of enterprise sales, shared in a release. According to the company website, three friends in their twenties “scraped together $900 to sell Dave’s Hot Chicken in a Los Angeles parking lot. “But thanks to Instagram, people came. And tasted. And came back with their friends. Then, the buzz brought a reporter from EATER/LA. He took a bite of his first Dave’s Hot Chicken tender, and our world changed. The next day he posted, ‘East Hollywood’s New Late Night Hot Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind,’” the website boasts. This story’s featured image is by Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images