Cafe Rio ranks as top fast-food restaurant for 2nd straight year

Cafe Rio, a Utah-based chain of Tex-Mex eateries, tops this year’s survey of U.S. fast-food excellence.

The annual survey, conducted in 80 U.S. markets by research firm Sandelman & Associates, ranks chains based on 16 attributes such as food, service, cleanliness, convenience, and value.

Cafe Rio, which won for the second year in a row, has one Arizona location: On the southwest corner of Baseline and Gilbert roads in Gilbert.

Overall, Arizona seems to be a mecca for fast food, with 8 of the top 10 chains having locations here. (Los Angeles, by comparison, only has 6 of 10.)

This year’s top 10:

• 1. Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
• 2. (tie) Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
• (tie) Chick-fil-A
• (tie) In-N-Out Burger
• 5. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
• 6. Pei Wei
• 7. (tie) Lenny’s Sub Shop
• (tie) Panera Bread
• 9. (tie) Firehouse Subs
• (tie) Chipotle Mexican Grill

The only two of these chains you won’t find in the Valley are Lenny’s and Panera (although Panera owns the Phoenix-based chain Paradise Bakery).