Survey: 73% of Men Say They’d Take a First Date to a Fast-Food Restaurant

When thinking of a traditional first-date spot, most people may picture a fine-dining restaurant or even an upscale bar. But these days, singles are taking a far more casual, affordable approach to first dates, putting a fresh spin on their romantic backdrops. 

According to a recent DatingNews.com survey, 70% of singles say they would be open to having their first date at a fast-food restaurant. Men lead the charge on this shift, with 73% saying they would either ask for or go to a fast-food spot on a first date. 

First dates may be for making first impressions, but singles don’t view fast-food restaurants as a dealbreaker. With rising prices and uncertain economic conditions, it’s not surprising that singles are prioritizing comfort and vibes over costly outings when planning first dates. 

As singles shift away from old-school dating methods, they seem to be turning to more relaxed, casual dates that put less pressure on their wallets and more emphasis on finding a romantic connection.

1 in 5 Singles Choose Chick-fil-A for a First Date

When it comes to fast-food chains daters love, Chick-fil-A remains the clear first-date pick among U.S. singles. In fact, 1 in 5 surveyed singles had Chick-fil-A as their top choice, with the chicken chain outpacing the rest of the competition by at least 9 percentage points. 

Raising Cane’s and In-N-Out Burger tied for second, each taking in 11% of the votes. Rounding out the top five were Culver’s (10%) and Pizza Hut (8%), respectively. 

Chick-fil-A’s general popularity among Americans can help explain why daters have it at the top of their list of date ideas. 

Our study, however, found some gender differences in first-date fast-food choices. While men and women agree that Chick-fil-A is the top choice, the rest of their rankings weren’t as aligned. 

Women aligned more closely with national sentiment, ranking their top choices nearly in the same manner as most singles:

• Chick-fil-A: 18%
• Raising Cane’s: 12%
• In-N-Out Burger: 11%
• Culver’s: 10% 
• Pizza Hut: 9%

Men, on the other hand, broke away from national rankings, listing their top picks in this order: Chick-fil-A (22%), In-N-Out (11%), Raising Cane’s (11%), McDonald’s (9%), and Pizza Hut (8%). McDonald’s made its first appearance, ranking fourth among male singles. 

It’s clear most singles view fast food, like Chick-fil-A, as an acceptable first-date destination. This departure from traditional ideals signals a shift in attitudes among modern singles. Casual spots are no longer taboo and are just as valuable to daters in their search for love and in making first impressions. 

52% of Singles Say “Fun” and “Low-Pressure” Dates Matter More Than Price

First date expectations are shifting, and singles no longer see price as the primary indicator of a good date. A slim majority of singles think a successful date is more about having a good time than being wined and dined.

According to our results, 52% of surveyed singles prioritize vibes over cost when it comes to planning first dates. When asked why they would be willing to go on a budget-friendly date, these singles confessed that low-cost meetups felt low-pressure and casual compared to more traditional romantic outings. 

Women were more likely to cite low pressure as the reason for their support — 27% (women) vs. 24% (men). At the same time, men were more likely to prefer budget-friendly dates because they sound more fun and casual than they do to women — 29% vs 25%. 

Younger singles also expressed interest in low-cost dates because of their laid-back, fun vibe. About 26% of Gen Z and 29% of millennials said they would go on a budget-friendly date because it sounds fun and casual. While Gen X also agreed with that sentiment (25%), they were more likely to consider a more affordable date due to the low pressure (30%). 

Yet fast food restaurants aren’t the only cost-effective date spots singles are eyeing. Coffee spots are also viewed as an acceptable option for dating — the top alternative among women (21%), men (18%), Gen X (25%), and millennials (18%). Gen Z broke from the crowd, choosing ice cream or dessert shops as their top alternative (19%). 

However, our study also found objections to the idea of fast-food first dates. Nearly 4 in 10 (38%) women said fast-food dates appear low effort, compared to only 22% of men who said the same. Yet, over a quarter (26%) of men said fast-food dates seem cheap or uninteresting, with 22% of women agreeing. 

Our results show that objections lean more toward effort than tradition or etiquette, suggesting that dating comes down to perception and expectations. As more singles seek low-cost, low-pressure meetups, fast-food dates may become more the norm in the modern dating landscape. 

Chick-fil-A Wins in 60% of States But Regional Loyalty is Real 

Our study also found key regional differences among first-date fast-food rankings. Chick-fil-A reinforces its dominance, ranking at the top across 60% of U.S. states. 

However, the beloved chicken spot couldn’t beat out homegrown favorites across these five major U.S. regions:

• The West: In-N-Out
• The Rural North (Wyoming, North Dakota): Dairy Queen 
• The South: Raising Cane’s
• The Midwest: Culver’s
• Remote States (Alaska, Hawaii): Pizza Hut

Local darlings, such as In-N-Out and Culver’s, are clear favorites in the states (i.e., California and Wisconsin) where they originated, showing that singles stick to what they know and love.

Here are the full results in each state:

The broader trend of fast-food dating underscores a deeper reality: Singles are reshaping the modern dating landscape in search of familiarity, comfort, and affordability when planning their first dates.

Singles may view casual, quick service dates as a welcome, relaxed alternative to highly pressurized first dates and settings. Going to a familiar place could help singles get to know each other without the pressures of cost and planning while reducing the stress of novelty.

Let’s face it, dates don’t have to be all glitz and glamour to have a lasting impression. Singles are showing that connection and vibes matter more in their hunt for love, and that connections can happen anywhere. 

One thing is true: The perception that price dictates a first date is shrinking among singles. As dining out becomes more expensive, more singles will forgo traditional dating constraints to prioritize connection and comfort, whether that’s at a coffee shop or a fast food restaurant.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted by DatingNews and Prodege and includes responses from 1,500 U.S. adults ages 18 to 61 who reported being single and actively dating.

The sample includes a broad distribution across gender, age, and U.S. regions. Fieldwork was completed in February 2026. The margin of error for a sample of this size is ±2.5% at the 95% confidence level.

For media inquiries, please contact colleen@datingnews.com.