@writersroom.boardwalkFinanceBuzz put out a 2026 breakdown of which fast-food spot wins in each of the 50 states, built from Google Trends interest plus how many locations exist per 100,000 people. The whole map is a mess of regional loyalty. Alabama belongs to Captain D's. Alaska runs on Domino's Pizza. Arizona goes Jack in the Box, and Arkansas goes Sonic. California is In-N-Out Burger territory. Colorado picks Qdoba. Connecticut claims Jersey Mike's. Delaware and Georgia both land on Chick-fil-A. Florida shows up for Pollo Tropical. Hawaii goes Panda Express. Idaho is Papa Murphy's. Illinois and Iowa share Jimmy John's, while Minnesota also joins that Jimmy John's group. Indiana takes Arby's, and Nebraska circles back to Arby's too. Kansas and Mississippi and Oklahoma and New Mexico all fall under Sonic, with Arkansas already there. Kentucky picks Papa John's. Louisiana rides with Popeyes. Maine, North Dakota and Vermont each go Subway. Maryland is Chipotle. Massachusetts is Panera Bread. Michigan is Little Caesars. Missouri is Taco Bell. Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia all sit with Wendy's. Nevada doubles up with Arizona on Jack in the Box. New Hampshire is Five Guys. New Jersey lines up with Connecticut on Jersey Mike's. New York is Shake Shack. North Carolina and South Carolina both go Bojangles. Oregon matches Idaho on Papa Murphy's. Rhode Island is Burger King. South Dakota and Wyoming both pick Taco John's. Tennessee and Virginia both go Hardee's. Texas is Whataburger. Washington is MOD Pizza. Wisconsin is Culver's.

@writersroom.boardwalkFinanceBuzz put out a 2026 breakdown of which fast-food spot wins in each of the 50 states, built from Google Trends interest plus how many locations exist per 100,000 people. The whole map is a mess of regional loyalty. Alabama belongs to Captain D's. Alaska runs on Domino's Pizza. Arizona goes Jack in the Box, and Arkansas goes Sonic. California is In-N-Out Burger territory. Colorado picks Qdoba. Connecticut claims Jersey Mike's. Delaware and Georgia both land on Chick-fil-A. Florida shows up for Pollo Tropical. Hawaii goes Panda Express. Idaho is Papa Murphy's. Illinois and Iowa share Jimmy John's, while Minnesota also joins that Jimmy John's group. Indiana takes Arby's, and Nebraska circles back to Arby's too. Kansas and Mississippi and Oklahoma and New Mexico all fall under Sonic, with Arkansas already there. Kentucky picks Papa John's. Louisiana rides with Popeyes. Maine, North Dakota and Vermont each go Subway. Maryland is Chipotle. Massachusetts is Panera Bread. Michigan is Little Caesars. Missouri is Taco Bell. Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia all sit with Wendy's. Nevada doubles up with Arizona on Jack in the Box. New Hampshire is Five Guys. New Jersey lines up with Connecticut on Jersey Mike's. New York is Shake Shack. North Carolina and South Carolina both go Bojangles. Oregon matches Idaho on Papa Murphy's. Rhode Island is Burger King. South Dakota and Wyoming both pick Taco John's. Tennessee and Virginia both go Hardee's. Texas is Whataburger. Washington is MOD Pizza. Wisconsin is Culver's.