Let’s face it, eating out is expensive. A fine-dining dinner for two in a fancy restaurant can easily set you back well over $100. That’s a lot of money to spend if you aren’t even sure if you’ll like the person you’re sharing it with. 

As a result, many singles are choosing to forgo traditional dating constraints and choose instead a more casual affair. Whether shared in the comfort of your home, on a picnic blanket on the beach, or on a park bench, a more relaxed date is not only kinder on the pocket but can also set a more laid-back tone for getting to know someone new.

But when it comes to potentially meeting your partner at a more affordable restaurant, which would you choose? We recently surveyed 3,000 American men to find out where they would take a date in lieu of unaffordable restaurants.

Chik-fil-A Takes the Top Spot

The number one choice was Chick-fil-A, with over 16% of respondents saying the family-owned franchise would be their go-to for first-date meals, hoping a juicy chicken sandwich would steal the heart of any would-be lover. This choice of fast food was particularly popular with the men of Arkansas, Georgia, and Iowa.

The second-place option for a first date? A simple ice cream treat from Dairy Queen, perhaps accompanied by a long walk on the beach or a stroll through the park. Men from states like Kansas, Colorado, and Utah particularly loved this option.

In third place came a tie between Sonic Drive-In and Pizza Hut. Men from Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Oregon chose Sonic Drive-In as one of their top picks due to its fun and funky vibe, cheesy options, and delicious milkshakes. 

On the other hand, those from Washington, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire chose Pizza Hut for its universal appeal. Pepperoni, anyone?

Here are the full results in each state:

StateTop Choice
AlabamaMcDonald’s
AlaskaMcDonald’s
ArizonaChick-fil-A
ArkansasChick-fil-A
CaliforniaChick-fil-A
ColoradoDairy Queen (DQ)
ConnecticutDairy Queen (DQ)
DelawareChick-fil-A
FloridaChick-fil-A
GeorgiaChick-fil-A
HawaiiTaco Bell
IdahoMcDonald’s
IllinoisChick-fil-A
IndianaChick-fil-A
IowaChick-fil-A
KansasDairy Queen (DQ)
KentuckyChick-fil-A
LouisianaPopeyes
MaineSubway
MarylandChick-fil-A
MassachusettsChick-fil-A
MichiganChick-fil-A
MinnesotaMcDonald’s
MississippiChick-fil-A
MissouriChick-fil-A
MontanaChick-fil-A
NebraskaChick-fil-A
NevadaChick-fil-A
New HampshireBurger King
New JerseyChick-fil-A
New MexicoMcDonald’s
New YorkChick-fil-A
North CarolinaChick-fil-A
North DakotaDairy Queen (DQ)
OhioChick-fil-A
OklahomaChick-fil-A
OregonWendy’s
PennsylvaniaChick-fil-A
Rhode IslandChick-fil-A
South CarolinaChick-fil-A
South DakotaWendy’s
TennesseeChick-fil-A
TexasChick-fil-A
UtahDairy Queen (DQ)
VermontSubway
VirginiaChick-fil-A
WashingtonMcDonald’s
West VirginiaChick-fil-A
WisconsinChick-fil-A
WyomingKFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)

“The old-school method of taking a new date out for dinner has been replaced by casual quick-service dates at coffee shops, bars, and even fast-food joints,” said Amber Brooks, Editor-in-Chief at DatingNews.com. “A first date is a risk, and in this economy, modern singles are saving their time and money by opting for a chicken sandwich over a chicken marsala.”

54% of Men and 66% of Women Say Yes to a Fast-Food Date

But just how many American men would look to take their date to one of the above fast food chains? Approximately 54% of our survey respondents said they would be up for the idea, while a remarkable 66% of women said they would say yes if a man asked them out to somewhere like McDonald’s. 

Two in three women said if they were asked out on a first date to a fast food restaurant they would happily go.

Furthermore, the majority (56%) of our survey respondents would be willing to split the bill with their date.

But what would make someone more likely to agree to a budget-friendly first date? Approximately 41% said as long as the place has good vibes and the date is committed to making it fun, they’re in, while 40% said they would be more open to the idea if the person was simply honest about their budget. 

Other budget-friendly date ideas from our survey respondents included:

  • A coffee shop date: 26%
  • A movie marathon at home: 24%
  • A food truck stop and a walk around town: 23%
  • A picnic with items from the dollar menu: 12%

What would your choice be?

Methodology

We carefully selected 3,000 singles from a geographically representative online panel of double-opt-in members. This selection was further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we designed questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the survey’s alignment with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employed an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures such as digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, each response underwent a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extended to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.