America’s New Favorite Fast Food Joint Has No Locations in IA, IL, or WI

For the first time in nine years, America's new favorite fast food restaurant has changed. Not only has the reining champion been dethroned, it's fallen all the way to third place.

Every year, USA Today's "10Best" series publishes top 10 lists for everything from cars to vacation spots. The lists are generated based on readers' votes, and the selection is picked from the editors of USA Today. One of the most popular lists is always "The 10 Best Fast Food Restaurants in America" despite the fact it's been pretty predictable the last several years with one restaurant consistently coming in first.

For the past nine years, Chick-fil-A — which just launched a new national commercial revolving around a family from Dubuque — has come in first. Praised for its excellent customer service, delectable food, and terrific ad campaigns, Chick-fil-A placed third this year, a precipitous drop given its high ranking in the past years.

Sadly, the new #1 is a restaurant chain that is unavailable to a large portion of the country, Iowans, Illinoisans, and Wisconsinites included. That restaurant is Del Taco, a fast food establishment with approximately 600 locations in 16 states. Del Taco is widely known and regarded for its hard/soft-shell tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican fare. They also sell cheeseburgers and "dinner burritos:"

This popular taco stop, which serves all kinds of satisfying Mexican fare including burritos, quesadillas, and nachos, also offers burgers and fries. In addition, Del Taco has a dedicated breakfast menu, as well as a vegan and vegetarian menu. - per USA Today's 10Best Fast Food Restaurants list

Sadly, the closest Del Taco for Tri-Staters is likely Michigan. It's a real bummer when one of the most highly regarded options of its kind is unavailable to a significant portion of the US, but perhaps its coveted/limited nature makes Del Taco all the more special for those who eat it.

Doubly shocking is the fact that not only did Chick-fil-A fall to third place, but coming in at #2 was another chicken restaurant: KFC of all places!

See the full list of America's 10 favorite fast food restaurants on USA Today's website.