Pizza Hut Tops America’s Favorite Pizza Chains, Surpassing Domino’s

Pizza Hut has emerged as America’s favorite pizza chain, according to a recent YouGov survey. This survey involved over 44,000 diners nationwide, and the results show Pizza Hut narrowly surpassing Domino’s in a ranking of national pizza brands.

The survey was conducted from March 2025 to February 2026 as part of YouGov’s annual restaurant rankings report. Pizza Hut garnered 19.1% of votes for best-tasting fast-food pizza, while Domino’s secured 17.1%. Other notable mentions in the top five included Papa Johns with 11.4%, Little Caesars with 5.3%, and Marco’s Pizza with 4.7%.

“Pizza Hut’s lead over Domino’s in our best-tasting pizza rankings suggests the brand continues to benefit from strong long-term affinity among consumers, particularly older Americans who maintain a positive impression of the chain,”

said Kenton Barello, a senior vice president at YouGov, to Fox News Digital.

Barello also noted a nostalgia factor, as Pizza Hut has been a fixture in the American dining scene for decades.

The survey results emphasize how established pizza chains still hold sway with consumers, despite evolving dining habits. Diners are increasingly seeking value, convenience, and familiar brands in a climate of rising food costs and economic concerns.

Amidst this, pizza chains face growing competition from frozen pizza brands and independent pizzerias. In 2024, frozen pizza sales reached about $7 billion, indicating a reduction in takeout spending, as reported by Food & Wine.

Ultimately, the survey reveals that while national chains have significant brand recognition, many Americans perceive the best pizza to originate from local or regional sources. More than 20% of respondents preferred local or regional pizza brands over national chains.

“One of the more interesting findings is that the single largest share of Americans selected an ‘other local or regional brand’ over the national chains we tested, highlighting the enduring strength of independent pizzerias,”

Barello explained.

YouGov’s study collected opinions from over 44,000 U.S. consumers about restaurant quality and dining preferences. For the pizza category, respondents were asked which chains they believed served the best pizza among major national brands. While Pizza Hut ranked highest with 19.1% of the vote, many Americans still favor their local pizzerias.

Pizza Hut began in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958 and started franchising in 1959. Now, headquartered in Plano, Texas, Pizza Hut operates nearly 20,000 locations across more than 100 countries. Domino’s first restaurant opened in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1960. Originally called DomiNick’s Pizza, it was renamed Domino’s in 1965, with its first franchise location debuting in 1967. Domino’s now boasts over 22,300 locations worldwide.