Millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996 — earned their name because they began to come of age shortly after the turn of the millennium in 2000. As a generation, they have been accused of being selfish, lazy, hard to work with, entitled, and a lot of other unattractive things that have ultimately proven to be nonsense for the most part.
What is true about millennials is that they’re the first generation to grow up with the internet in general and especially with social media, and their exposure to omniscient search engines and constant communication with their peers — as well as their ability (or perhaps ”compulsion” is a better word) to record everything they experience with their smartphones — have substantially influenced their food preferences and restaurant selections, among other things.
There are hundreds of restaurant chain operations in America today, and while millennials are great champions of independent restaurants representing scores of styles and cuisines, they also, like the rest of the nation, patronize restaurant chains — both limited-service ones, specializing in takeout or casual counter-service meals, and full-service places with conventional table service (and sometimes tablecloths as well).
Which chains do millennials prefer? To assemble a list of restaurant chains millennials like best, 24/7 Tempo reviewed “Millennials’ Favorite Restaurant,” published by Nation’s Restaurant News. NRN drew on a study conducted by the food industry research and consulting company Technomic’s Ignite Consumer data resource. (Compare this list with our roster of what are, regardless of generation, America’s favorite restaurant chains.)
“What do millennials love in a restaurant?” asks NRN. “For one thing, they are big fans of beverages and snacks, more so than full meals. They also love smoothies, possibly for the convenience, perception of health, and consistency.” Ignite Consumer polled a representative example of the generation, assigning scores as percentages that represent, according to NRN, “a composite top-box rating, indicating the share of recent guests who gave the brand the highest possible overall score.”
Scroll down to see the restaurant chains millennials like best.
NRN breaks down the chains into limited and full service, but we have combined the two, interweaving the rankings according to percentage score.
20. (tie) Cinnabon
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 56.80%
19. (tie) Newk’s Eatery
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 56.80%
18. Cooper’s Hawk
- Type: Full service
- Score: 56.90%
17. Cold Stone Creamery
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 57.20%
16. (tie) Chick-fil-A
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 57.30%
15. (tie) Saltgrass Steak House
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.30%
14. Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 57.40%
13. (tie) First Watch
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.50%
12. (tie) Bahama Breeze
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.50%
11. Chuy’s Tex-Mex
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.60%
10. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.70%
9. (tie) Zaxby’s
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 57.90%
8: (tie) Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
- Type: Full service
- Score: 57.90%
7. Sweetgreen
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 58.40%
6. Jollibee
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 59.40%
5. The Brass Tap
- Type: Full service
- Score: 59.80%
4. Dutch Bros Coffee
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 59.90%
3. Longhorn Steakhouse
- Type: Full service
- Score: 60.40%
2. Smoothie King
- Type: Limited service
- Score: 60.80%
1. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Type: Full service
- Score: 63.80%