A New Report Just Named The Fastest Drive-Thru In America

Fast food is changing fast. Upgraded loyalty programs, AI integration, and trendy menu items are redefining the drive-thru experience — but at its core, speed and accuracy still reign supreme.

According to new data from QSR Intouch Insight, Taco Bell officially holds the title of the fastest drive-thru in the industry. The annual reportnow in its 25th year, evaluates diners’ experiences at major chains through a network of secret shoppers across the United States. As technology reshapes the industry, QSR also measures innovations such as voice-recognition ordering to capture a more complete picture of the modern drive-thru.

This year’s study offers the most comprehensive view yet, analyzing ordering trends across 13 popular food and beverage chains — including Starbucks, Popeyes, Dutch Bros, and Tim Hortons, all newly added in 2025.

To gather the data, QSR conducted 165 secret shopper visits between June and July, spanning different times of day and regions across the country. Another 120 trips focused specifically on AI-assisted ordering, giving researchers insight into how automation affects accuracy and service.

Speed of service

Once again, Taco Bell tops the list as the fastest drive-thru chain. This marks the fifth consecutive year it’s held that distinction, with customers spending an average of 257 seconds (about 4.3 minutes) in line. KFC and Tim Hortons follow closely behind, with times of 261 and 266 seconds, respectively.

QSR notes that “classic” fast-food brands often dominate in terms of speed. Chicken-focused restaurants such as Popeyes, Raising Cane’s, and Chick-fil-A tend to run slower, while beverage-centric chains fall in the middle.

Chick-fil-A recorded the longest total time — 427 seconds, or roughly seven minutes — but continues to win on charm. Secret shoppers ranked it highest for friendliness, followed by Dutch Bros and Raising Cane’s. Despite its slower pace, Chick-fil-A’s performance remains strong: Nearly half (49%) of the surveyed locations outperformed the national average of $9.317 million in drive-thru sales in 2024.

Taco Bell’s satisfaction score, at 88%, trails behind Chick-fil-A and Dutch Bros, suggesting that speed alone doesn’t define customer happiness. As Taco Bell’s chief digital and technology officer, Dane Mathews, puts it, “Today’s drive-thru success isn’t just about how fast or precise the drive-thru is — it’s about how the experience makes you feel. That’s why we’re focused on metrics that reflect both operational excellence and customer experience. Technology is helping us elevate all of these, but it’s the feeling you leave with that defines a truly great drive-thru.”

Order accuracy

When it comes to getting the order right, Dutch Bros, Tim Hortons, and Dunkin’ lead the pack. Popeyes and KFC, meanwhile, rank lowest, with accuracies of 81% and 79%, respectively.

AI-assisted orders also show mixed results. QSR found that locations using voice-AI systems achieved 83% accuracy, compared with 87% at standard drive-thrus. The report highlights a 21% employee intervention rate during AI-assisted transactions, underscoring that the technology still needs refining before it can fully replace human interaction.

Fastest drive-thru chains in America 2025
RANK	FAST FOOD CHAIN	NO. OF SECONDS
1	Taco Bell	257
2	KFC	262
3	Tim Hortons	266
4	Arby’s	272
5	Wendy’s	293
6	Dunkin’	310
7	Burger King	361
8	McDonald’s	364
9	Starbucks	373
10	Dutch Bros	382
11	Raising Cane’s	383
12	Popeyes	411
13	Chick-fil-A	427

What’s ahead for fast food

Fast-food chains are embracing technology to keep up with shifting consumer expectations. Artificial intelligence now plays a growing role both at the speaker box and behind the scenes, streamlining employee workflows and helping brands personalize service.

Taco Bell is testing its Voice AI system in about 500 drive-thrus, designed to improve order-taking and free employees to focus on what the company calls “meaningful moments” with customers. The chain also leverages back-of-house tools to manage inventory and support staff. As Mathews explains, “AI will be at the center of orchestrating Taco Bell’s drive-thru transformation.”

Innovation extends beyond software, too. Chick-fil-A has rolled out an “elevated” concept, while Taco Bell’s “Defy” location in Minnesota uses a futuristic elevator-like system to deliver food.

While there are inevitable growing pains with new tech, one thing is clear: fast food is evolving rapidly to meet the demands of today’s diners — who want their meals served quickly, accurately, and maybe with a friendly smile along the way.