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Pizza Hut remains America’s favorite pizza chain, according to a new YouGov survey of more than 44,000 diners across the country, edging out Domino’s as the most-watched national pizza brand.
The survey, conducted between March 2025 and February 2026 as part of the annual restaurant ratings report, found that Pizza Hut received 19.1% of the votes for best-tasting pizza, compared to Domino’s at 17.1%.
Papa Johns (11.4%), Little Caesars (5.3%) and Marco’s Pizza (4.7%) rounded out the top five.
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“Pizza Hut’s lead over Domino’s in our best-tasting pizza ratings suggests that the brand continues to benefit from strong long-term relationships among consumers, especially older Americans with a more positive outlook,” Kenton Barello, senior vice president of YouGov, Chicago, told Fox News Digital.
“There may also be something at play, as Pizza Hut has been a regular part of American restaurants for decades.”
Pizza Hut – one of whose pies is pictured above – topped Domino’s in a new survey of the tastiest pizza chains. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Pizza Hut and the American Pizza community for comment.
The results underscore how premium pizza chains continue to influence consumers, as dining habits change and diners increasingly seek value, convenience and familiarity amid high food costs and economic uncertainty.
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Pizza chains also face increasing competition from frozen pizza brands and independent pizzas, making brand loyalty even more important.
Frozen pizza sales will reach nearly $7 billion by 2024 as consumers cut back on purchases, Food & Wine reported recently.
“Pizza Hut has been a staple of American restaurants for decades,” a YouGov executive told Fox News Digital. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The results also show that while national chains continue to gain brand recognition, many Americans still believe that the best pizza can come from a place closer to home.
More than one in five respondents said local or regional pizza brands beat national chains outright.
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“One of the most interesting findings is that one-third of Americans chose ‘some local or regional brand’ over the national chains we surveyed, highlighting the enduring power of independent pizzerias,” Barello said.
“The broad takeaway from the pizza industry is that while marketing visibility is important, familiarity, emotional connection and consistency continue to play a major role in shaping consumer preferences in a highly competitive segment.”
YouGov’s findings analyzed responses from more than 44,000 US consumers about restaurant quality, price and dining preferences. The comprehensive report examined consumer attitudes toward fast food, casual dining and specialty restaurant brands.
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In the pizza category specifically, respondents were asked which chains they believed offered the best pizza among the major national brands.
Although Pizza Hut received 19.1% of the vote, most Americans say they prefer regional or local pizzerias. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
“The broader takeaway from the pizza industry is that while marketing visibility is important, familiarity, emotional connection and consistency continue to play a major role in shaping consumer preferences in a highly competitive segment,” Barello said.
Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958 and started making money the following year. Now headquartered in Plano, Texas, Pizza Hut has nearly 20,000 locations in more than 100 countries, according to its website.
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Domino’s opened its first restaurant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, two years after Pizza Hut.
Originally called DomiNick’s Pizza, it was renamed Domino’s in 1965 and opened its first franchise location in 1967.
Domino’s now has more than 22,300 locations worldwide, according to its website.
