Survey: People Think This Is The Best Fast Food Restaurant Mascot

The debate over which fast food chain serves the best fries is an ongoing one — and don't even ask about the best burger! Although there are a myriad of options in the fast food world, the best chains are known for their successful flavor combinations. And yet, debates continue to arise over which of these various options is the best, depending on what you're looking for, of course, and how much you're willing to pay. But how often do we think of the faces behind these iconic brands, unless maybe we have a kid with us?

While comedy group Improv Everywhere once satirically protested the Wendy's logo (via YouTube), how much did they really know about Wendy herself? Do people really pay that much attention to fast food mascots to begin with? We're on a mission to find out. Mashed surveyed 656 people across the United States and asked them who their favorite fast food restaurant mascot is. So, which fried food haven can stake its rightful claim as the mascot master? 

Mashed's results found that McDonald's own Ronald McDonald reigned supreme as the favorite mascot, garnering 27 percent of the votes. Closely behind Mickey D's came the more shocking Jack from Jack in the Box — mostly because the chain is less familiar to the general public. Yahoo! Sports pointed out Jack in the Box is typically seen as the "lesser known fast casual company," but apparently their mascot is iconic enough to have raced to second place. The rest of the winners included Wendy from Wendy's with 20 percent and Burger King's Burger King with 15 percent of the votes. Four percent of respondents chose the "other" option.

It's interesting that Ronald McDonald is still somehow the most well-received fast food mascot. In 2016, the NY Daily News pointed out that a series of "real and fake reports of violence by people in clown costumes" caused a decrease in Ronald McDonald's public appearances. Although, as Nick Davies notes on Medium, he's likely the most well-known mascot. "When you hear the phrase 'fast food mascot', there's a good chance that the first thing to come to mind is the only clown that doesn't scare us half to death," Davies writes. Here's to one more notch in McDonald's belt. Mama McDonald should be proud!