ARA QSR / Q3 2026 / Full Shelf Diagnostic

Chick-fil-A is the brand every model names across most of the QSR questions.

Why these three lead the shelf
1. Chick-fil-Achosen 45× / 13.8% / 4/4 models

Chick-fil-A appears in answers to 13 of the 16 questions, and all four models name it. It reaches first place at its best rank, so the range suggests the models use it as a broad answer for the category.

2. McDonald'schosen 32× / 9.8% / 4/4 models

McDonald's reaches first place at its best rank, and all four models name it. Its range is the narrowest of the three leaders at 11 of the 16 questions, so agreement carries it more than reach.

3. Taco Bellchosen 32× / 9.8% / 4/4 models

Taco Bell takes the same number of choices as McDonald's and covers 12 of the 16 questions, one more. All four models name Taco Bell, and it reaches first place at its best rank.

About the AI Shelf
The AI Shelf is the short list of names an AI assistant gives when someone asks what to buy. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity answer the questions a real buyer asks, and every brand they name lands on the shelf. Your customer sees it before they see yours, and nobody can pay for position on it.
Each time a model chooses a brand over every other brand it could have named, that counts once. 326 choices were made here. Slice size is share of all of them.
58.6%held by the 15 audited brands
68brands chosen in total
13.8%largest holding / Chick-fil-A
The takeaway
The 15 audited brands hold 58.6 percent of the 326 choices. In-N-Out Burger leads the brands outside the audited set with 18 places, ahead of Culver's at 12. The models name Jack in the Box and Sonic in none of the 16 questions, so both brands hold nothing to defend.
ARA Chick-fil-A — chosen 45x (13.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 13 of 16 questions / best rank #1McDonald's — chosen 32x (9.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 11 of 16 questions / best rank #1Taco Bell — chosen 32x (9.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 12 of 16 questions / best rank #1Chipotle — chosen 19x (5.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 8 of 16 questions / best rank #1In-N-Out Burger — chosen 18x (5.5%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 7 of 16 questions / best rank #1Wendy's — chosen 17x (5.2%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 8 of 16 questions / best rank #1Burger King — chosen 12x (3.7%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 9 of 16 questions / best rank #1Culver's — chosen 12x (3.7%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 5 of 16 questions / best rank #2Subway — chosen 10x (3.1%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 5 of 16 questions / best rank #1Jersey Mike's — chosen 9x (2.8%) / 3/4 models (GPT, Gm, Px) / 6 of 16 questions / best rank #1KFC — chosen 9x (2.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 5 of 16 questions / best rank #2Starbucks — chosen 7x (2.1%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Px) / 6 of 16 questions / best rank #2Raising Cane's — chosen 6x (1.8%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm) / 5 of 16 questions / best rank #3Whataburger — chosen 6x (1.8%) / 4/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm, Px) / 4 of 16 questions / best rank #2Five Guys — chosen 5x (1.5%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Px) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #1Panera Bread — chosen 5x (1.5%) / 2/4 models (Cl, GPT) / 5 of 16 questions / best rank #2Shake Shack — chosen 5x (1.5%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm) / 3 of 16 questions / best rank #3Biscuitville — chosen 4x (1.2%) / 3/4 models (GPT, Gm, Px) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #1Domino's — chosen 4x (1.2%) / 2/4 models (GPT, Gm) / 3 of 16 questions / best rank #3Dutch Bros Coffee — chosen 4x (1.2%) / 2/4 models (Cl, Gm) / 3 of 16 questions / best rank #1Jollibee — chosen 4x (1.2%) / 3/4 models (GPT, Gm, Px) / 3 of 16 questions / best rank #3Panda Express — chosen 4x (1.2%) / 2/4 models (GPT, Gm) / 4 of 16 questions / best rank #1CAVA — chosen 3x (0.9%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 3 of 16 questions / best rank #2Little Caesars — chosen 3x (0.9%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Tim Hortons — chosen 3x (0.9%) / 3/4 models (GPT, Gm, Px) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #2White Castle — chosen 3x (0.9%) / 3/4 models (Cl, GPT, Gm) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #1Bojangles — chosen 2x (0.6%) / 2/4 models (Cl, Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6Del Taco — chosen 2x (0.6%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #3Panera — chosen 2x (0.6%) / 2/4 models (Cl, Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Popeyes — chosen 2x (0.6%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #4Sweetgreen — chosen 2x (0.6%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 2 of 16 questions / best rank #37-Eleven — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Arby's — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Baskin-Robbins — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6Burgerville — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #2Chuck E. Cheese — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Cinnabon — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Cook Out — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6Costco — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Dairy Queen — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #7Dunkin' — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #7Firehouse Subs — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Greggs — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #5Habit Burger & Grill — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Hardee's/Carl's Jr. — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #7Jimmy John's — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Krystal — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #2MyPanera — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #5Nando's — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #2Newk's Eatery — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Nothing Bundt Cakes — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Pal's Sudden Service — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #7Papa John's — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #7Pizza Hut — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #5Plant Power Fast Food — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4QuikTrip — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Scooter's Coffee — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6Sheetz — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6SSP — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #6Starbucks Rewards — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #1Steak 'n Shake — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #5Veggie Grill — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Px) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Wawa — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Cl) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #5Wingstop — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Yum! Brands — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (GPT) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #4Zaxby's — chosen 1x (0.3%) / 1/4 models (Gm) / 1 of 16 questions / best rank #3Jack in the Box — never named by any model, on any of the 16 queriesSonic — never named by any model, on any of the 16 queries5 named twice3% of the shelf35 named once11% of the shelfChick-fil-A / 45McDonald's / 32Taco Bell / 32Chipotle / 19In-N-Out Burger / 18Wendy's / 17Panda Express / 4Jollibee / 4Dutch Bros Coffee / 4Domino's / 4Biscuitville / 4Shake Shack / 5Panera Bread / 5Five Guys / 5Whataburger / 6Raising Cane's / 6Starbucks / 7KFC / 9Jersey Mike's / 9Subway / 10Culver's / 12Burger King / 1268BRANDS / CHOSEN 326 TIMESaudited brands hold 58.6%
In the current ARA IndexNot currently in the ARA Index — shaded by rank, darkest = chosen least often
All 68 chosen — the annotated ranking
#NameChosenShareModelsBestΔ
1Chick-fil-A4513.8%4/4#1—
2McDonald's329.8%4/4#1—
3Taco Bell329.8%4/4#1—
4Chipotle195.8%4/4#1—
5In-N-Out Burger185.5%4/4#1—
6Wendy's175.2%4/4#1—
7Burger King123.7%4/4#1—
8Culver's123.7%4/4#2—
9Subway103.1%4/4#1—
10Jersey Mike's92.8%3/4#1—
11KFC92.8%4/4#2—
12Starbucks72.1%3/4#2—
13Raising Cane's61.8%3/4#3—
14Whataburger61.8%4/4#2—
15Five Guys51.5%3/4#1—
16Panera Bread51.5%2/4#2—
17Shake Shack51.5%3/4#3—
18Biscuitville41.2%3/4#1—
19Domino's41.2%2/4#3—
20Dutch Bros Coffee41.2%2/4#1—
21Jollibee41.2%3/4#3—
22Panda Express41.2%2/4#1—
23CAVA30.9%1/4#2—
24Little Caesars30.9%3/4#4—
25Tim Hortons30.9%3/4#2—
26White Castle30.9%3/4#1—
27Bojangles20.6%2/4#6—
28Del Taco20.6%1/4#3—
29Panera20.6%2/4#4—
30Popeyes20.6%1/4#4—
31Sweetgreen20.6%1/4#3—
327-Eleven10.3%1/4#4—
33Arby's10.3%1/4#3—
34Baskin-Robbins10.3%1/4#6—
35Burgerville10.3%1/4#2—
36Chuck E. Cheese10.3%1/4#3—
37Cinnabon10.3%1/4#4—
38Cook Out10.3%1/4#6—
39Costco10.3%1/4#3—
40Dairy Queen10.3%1/4#7—
41Dunkin'10.3%1/4#7—
42Firehouse Subs10.3%1/4#3—
43Greggs10.3%1/4#5—
44Habit Burger & Grill10.3%1/4#4—
45Hardee's/Carl's Jr.10.3%1/4#7—
46Jimmy John's10.3%1/4#3—
47Krystal10.3%1/4#2—
48MyPanera10.3%1/4#5—
49Nando's10.3%1/4#2—
50Newk's Eatery10.3%1/4#4—
51Nothing Bundt Cakes10.3%1/4#4—
52Pal's Sudden Service10.3%1/4#7—
53Papa John's10.3%1/4#7—
54Pizza Hut10.3%1/4#5—
55Plant Power Fast Food10.3%1/4#4—
56QuikTrip10.3%1/4#4—
57Scooter's Coffee10.3%1/4#6—
58Sheetz10.3%1/4#6—
59SSP10.3%1/4#6—
60Starbucks Rewards10.3%1/4#1—
61Steak 'n Shake10.3%1/4#5—
62Veggie Grill10.3%1/4#3—
63Wawa10.3%1/4#5—
64Wingstop10.3%1/4#4—
65Yum! Brands10.3%1/4#4—
66Zaxby's10.3%1/4#3—
67Jack in the Box00.0%0/4——
68Sonic00.0%0/4——
ARA / ALGORITHM READINESS ANALYSIS / ARACO.AI — 4 models x 16 buyer questions, top 7 answers per cell. MEASURING AI TRUST IN BRANDS.
Naming variants merged before counting: none. Query counts for merged brands are upper bounds.