New report says major fast food chain is California’s favorite beating out In-N-Out Burger

CALIFORNIA – BetCalifornia, a source for California online sports betting, published a report, November 12, analyzing the top fast-food restaurants in California.

The report says McDonald’s took the top spot beating out In-N-Out Burger for 2024.

BetCalifornia analyzed the most popular fast food chains by looking at the search results of each one from November 7, 2023 to November 07, 2024.

McDonald’s had the highest search interest in the state during the measured period, scoring three points. Taco Bell, In-N-Out Burger and Jack in the Box each scored two points.

According to BetCalifornia, this suggests that McDonald’s is California’s favorite fast-food chain.

Other reports say In-N-Out is California’s favorite

Both the World Population Review and Data Pandas reported that In-N-Out is California’s top fast food eatery for 2024.

BetCalifornia analyzed search results, however, industry experts say the best way to measure the popularity of a fast-food restaurant involves tracking several key performance indicators (KPIs).

These metrics include sales, customer traffic, online engagement, average transaction value, inventory and menu performance.

A 2019 Forbes article reported that an In-N-Out store outsells a typical McDonald’s nearly twice over, bringing in an estimated $4.5 million in gross annual sales versus McDonald’s $2.6 million.

1,233 McDonald’s vs. 276 In-N-Out Burgers in California

There are several reasons why more people might search for McDonald’s compared to In-N-Out in California, despite In-N-Out’s regional popularity.

McDonald’s has a larger number of locations across California. As of 2024, there are over 1,233 McDonald’s locations in California compared to around 276 In-N-Out Burger locations.

This means people are more likely to search for a nearby McDonald’s, especially when traveling or in areas where In-N-Out is not present.

In addition, California is a top tourist destination, and tourists may be more likely to search for McDonald’s because it’s a brand they recognize. In-N-Out might not be as well-known worldwide.

In California, both In-N-Out Burger and McDonald’s can be popular but in different ways. In-N-Out Burger may have a stronger fanbase, while McDonald’s has broader reach and recognition.