Texas McDonald’s Named America’s Best in Nationwide Google Reviews Study

Key Points

• A McDonald’s restaurant on East Main Street in Eagle Pass, Texas, has been ranked the highest-rated McDonald’s in the United States in a study by SEO Backlinks.
• The study analysed more than 20 million Google reviews covering nearly 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide.
• The Eagle Pass restaurant recorded an average rating of 4.25 stars from 2,159 reviews.
• A McDonald’s in Calexico, California, ranked second with 4.23 stars, followed by the historic restaurant on Lakewood Boulevard in Downey, California, with 4.22 stars.
• Two other Texas restaurants entered the top 10: one in Brownsville ranked fifth, while a second Eagle Pass location ranked tenth.
• A McDonald’s in Surprise, Arizona, received the lowest rating in the nationwide comparison, at 1.55 stars.
• Complaints about the lowest-rated restaurant included long drive-through queues, incorrect orders and poor customer service.
• USA TODAY Network reporting by Natassia Paloma highlighted the contrast between the highest- and lowest-rated locations, illustrating differences in customer experiences across the same restaurant chain.

The report follows the inverted pyramid structure, placing the principal finding and the most significant ranking details first, followed by customer feedback and relevant background.

Texas 24 News (T24N) October 10, 2026 – A McDonald’s restaurant on East Main Street in Eagle Pass has been identified as the highest-rated outlet in the United States, according to a nationwide study conducted by SEO Backlinks. The restaurant achieved an average Google rating of 4.25 stars from 2,159 customer reviews. The study examined more than 20 million Google reviews associated with nearly 13,000 McDonald’s locations across the country, placing the Texas restaurant ahead of competitors in California and other states. The findings also identified a restaurant in Surprise, Arizona, as the lowest-rated location in the comparison, with an average score of 1.55 stars.

The findings were reported by Natassia Paloma for USA TODAY Network and USA TODAY, with the article subsequently distributed through Reuters Connect and published by The State. The analysis offers a nationwide comparison of customer ratings for one of the United States’ most recognisable fast-food chains, using publicly available Google reviews as the basis for its rankings.

Which McDonald’s Restaurant Was Ranked the Best in America?

The highest-rated restaurant in the study is located on East Main Street in Eagle Pass, a city in south-west Texas near the United States–Mexico border.

According to the findings attributed to SEO Backlinks, the restaurant recorded an average rating of 4.25 out of five stars. Its score was calculated from 2,159 Google reviews, providing a substantial body of customer feedback behind its position at the top of the ranking.

The result placed the Eagle Pass outlet ahead of thousands of other McDonald’s restaurants included in the nationwide comparison. The study’s scale is notable because it considered more than 20 million reviews rather than relying on a small selection of restaurants or isolated customer experiences.

However, the ranking should be understood within the limits of its methodology. A high average Google rating indicates favourable customer feedback on that platform, but it does not necessarily establish that the restaurant is objectively superior in every aspect of food preparation, service, cleanliness or operational performance.

The findings instead identify the Eagle Pass restaurant as the strongest performer according to the particular review-based measure used in the study.

For customers deciding where to eat, the result provides a useful starting point. For restaurant operators, it illustrates how local customer experiences can distinguish individual branches within a national chain.

How Did Texas Restaurants Perform in the National Rankings?

Texas featured prominently in the results, with three restaurants securing places among the ten highest-rated McDonald’s locations in the United States.

The East Main Street restaurant in Eagle Pass took first place, while another Texas outlet, located at 101 South Expressway in Brownsville, ranked fifth. A second Eagle Pass restaurant, situated at 2401 Del Rio Boulevard, occupied tenth place.

The results indicate that the state was represented at several positions near the top of the nationwide ranking, rather than relying on a single highly rated branch.

The two Eagle Pass restaurants are particularly notable because they are separate locations in the same city. Their inclusion suggests that more than one outlet in the area received sufficiently strong customer ratings to enter the study’s top ten.

Nevertheless, the figures supplied in the report do not establish why the restaurants achieved their positions. No detailed breakdown of staffing, management practices, menu performance, cleanliness inspections or customer-service procedures was provided in the supplied findings.

It would therefore be premature to attribute the rankings to a particular business strategy or operational practice.

The Brownsville result adds another Texas location to the leading group, reinforcing the state’s presence in the study. For customers, these locations may be worth considering when comparing restaurants using public review scores, although individual experiences can vary.

Which Restaurants Ranked Second and Third?

California secured the second- and third-place positions, with both restaurants recording average ratings close to the leading Texas outlet.

The McDonald’s in Calexico, California, ranked second with an average rating of 4.23 stars. Its score was just 0.02 stars below the Eagle Pass restaurant’s 4.25-star average.

Third place went to the McDonald’s on Lakewood Boulevard in Downey, California, which received an average rating of 4.22 stars.

The Downey location has an additional distinction: it is described in the report as the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s restaurant.

Its inclusion among the country’s highest-rated outlets connects the chain’s historical significance with its contemporary customer reputation. However, the study’s results do not establish that the restaurant’s history contributed to its rating.

The narrow differences between the top three restaurants also deserve attention. A gap of just 0.03 stars separated the first- and third-ranked outlets, suggesting that their average ratings were closely grouped.

Such small differences should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a substantial difference in the quality of the dining experience. Average ratings can be influenced by the number and nature of reviews, individual expectations and the experiences of customers visiting at different times.

The reported figures establish the order of the ranking, but further information would be needed to determine whether the differences are statistically or practically significant.

How Was the Best McDonald’s in America Identified?

According to the findings attributed to SEO Backlinks, the study examined more than 20 million Google reviews covering nearly 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the United States.

The research used customer ratings to compare locations and identify those with the highest and lowest average scores.

Google reviews provide a publicly accessible way for customers to evaluate businesses. For restaurant customers, these ratings can offer an overview of other diners’ experiences before deciding where to visit.

For businesses, the same feedback can influence perceptions of reliability, service and overall customer satisfaction.

The number of reviews considered in the study provides a broad basis for comparing locations. However, the supplied report does not include the full methodology, the precise date on which the data was collected, the minimum review threshold used for individual restaurants or the procedures applied to verify review authenticity.

It also does not provide a complete list of all the restaurants included in the analysis.

Those details matter when interpreting a national ranking. For example, a restaurant with thousands of reviews may have a different rating profile from a location with a much smaller review history. Ratings may also change over time as customers submit new feedback.

Consequently, the study should be treated as a comparison based on the Google review data and methodology used by its authors, rather than as a definitive assessment of every operational aspect of each McDonald’s restaurant.

Why Did a McDonald’s in Arizona Receive the Lowest Rating?

At the opposite end of the ranking, a McDonald’s restaurant in Surprise, Arizona, recorded the lowest average rating in the nationwide study, receiving 1.55 stars.

The result placed the outlet substantially below the three leading restaurants in Texas and California.

According to the report, recent Google reviews identified several recurring concerns about the Surprise restaurant, including long drive-through waiting times, incorrect orders and poor customer service.

These complaints relate to practical elements of the fast-food experience. Customers using drive-through services generally expect orders to be processed efficiently and delivered accurately. Delays or mistakes can undermine that experience, particularly when customers are visiting during a limited break or travelling.

The article included direct comments from reviewers to illustrate the criticism.

One reviewer, writing in late September 2026, stated: “By far the worst service of any McDonald’s”.

Another customer complained: “Drive thru times are horrendous here, even when there’s low traffic”.

These comments reflect the experiences and opinions of the individuals who posted them. They do not independently establish how frequently the reported problems occurred or whether they affected every customer.

Nevertheless, the comments help explain the nature of the dissatisfaction highlighted in the study. A low average rating combined with complaints about waiting times, order accuracy and customer service suggests that the customer experience was a significant concern among at least some reviewers.

The report did not provide a response from the restaurant, its management or McDonald’s corporate representatives addressing the complaints.

Without that additional information, the specific causes of the low rating cannot be established conclusively.

Which Other McDonald’s Restaurant Faced Negative Customer Reviews?

The report also highlighted criticism of a McDonald’s on West Magnolia Avenue in Auburn.

One reviewer described the restaurant in strongly negative terms, writing: “This place seriously deserves an award for being the worst McDonald’s in America.”

The comment was included as an example of the dissatisfaction expressed by some customers in online reviews.

However, the supplied report does not provide an average rating for the Auburn location or establish its precise position in the nationwide ranking. It should therefore not be confused with the Surprise, Arizona, restaurant, which was explicitly identified as the lowest-rated location in the study.

The distinction is important because an individual negative comment does not necessarily represent the overall rating of a restaurant. A branch may receive occasional severe criticism while maintaining a higher average score across a larger collection of reviews.

Equally, repeated complaints about similar issues may indicate areas in which customers believe a business needs to improve.

In this case, the available information supports the conclusion that the Auburn restaurant received harsh criticism from at least one reviewer. It does not support a definitive claim that the branch was among the country’s lowest-rated locations.

The findings illustrate the difference between individual customer testimony and a ranking based on aggregated data.

What Do the Findings Reveal About Customer Reviews and Fast-Food Restaurants?

The study demonstrates how online reviews can be used to compare individual outlets belonging to the same national restaurant chain.

Although McDonald’s operates under a common brand, customers visit separate locations with different teams, operating conditions and local circumstances. The experience at one restaurant may therefore differ from the experience at another.

A national chain’s reputation can be influenced by its overall brand recognition, but customers also make decisions based on the specific outlet they intend to visit.

The contrast between Eagle Pass and Surprise illustrates this distinction. One restaurant achieved an average rating of 4.25 stars, while the other recorded 1.55 stars in the study.

These figures represent different customer-rating outcomes within the same brand. They do not, by themselves, identify the reasons for the difference.

The reported complaints in Arizona point to waiting times, order accuracy and customer service as areas that reviewers considered important. Those concerns are directly relevant to fast-food operations, where customers often prioritise speed, convenience and receiving the correct order.

For restaurant managers, customer feedback can help identify recurring concerns that may warrant further investigation. However, online comments are most useful when assessed alongside other information, including operational records, customer-service reports and direct feedback collected by the business.

For customers, review averages can provide an initial indication of how others have assessed a restaurant. They should not be treated as a guarantee of the experience a particular person will receive.

A branch’s performance can also change after reviews are submitted. Staffing, demand, management decisions and other operational circumstances may influence subsequent visits, meaning that historical ratings do not necessarily describe current conditions.

The study’s findings are therefore best understood as a snapshot of customer sentiment captured through Google reviews, rather than a permanent verdict on the restaurants concerned.

What Did USA TODAY Report About the Nationwide Study?

The original article was written by Natassia Paloma and appeared through USA TODAY Network and USA TODAY. The report was subsequently distributed through Reuters Connect and published by The State.

The article, titled “I’m lovin’ it! Texas is home to America’s best McDonald’s”, identified the East Main Street restaurant in Eagle Pass as the highest-rated location in the study and highlighted the contrasting result in Surprise, Arizona.

Paloma’s reporting included the principal ratings, the number of reviews attributed to the leading Texas location, the positions of the California restaurants and the presence of two additional Texas outlets in the top ten.

It also included customer comments concerning the Arizona restaurant and criticism directed at the Auburn location.

The supplied article lists Paloma’s professional contact details as npaloma@gannett.com and identifies her social-media accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook.

Attribution is important when reporting the findings because the ranking originates from a study by SEO Backlinks, while the news coverage and selected customer quotations were reported by USA TODAY Network.

The distinction between the research organisation and the reporting outlet helps readers understand where the figures originated and which organisation published the news account.

The available material does not include additional statements from McDonald’s, independent restaurant-quality assessors or representatives of the individual outlets. No response from those parties should therefore be inferred.

Background: How Do Google Reviews Influence Restaurant Rankings?

Google reviews allow customers to assign ratings to businesses and describe their experiences. For restaurants, the resulting feedback can provide prospective customers with information about service, food, waiting times and other aspects of a visit.

Average ratings are commonly used as a quick comparison tool, particularly when customers are choosing between multiple outlets in an unfamiliar area.

However, a review-based ranking has limitations. Ratings reflect the experiences of people who choose to submit feedback and may not represent every customer who visits a restaurant. The number of reviews, the period during which they were collected and the method used to calculate an average can all affect how a result should be interpreted.

The SEO Backlinks study examined more than 20 million reviews across nearly 13,000 McDonald’s locations, according to the supplied report. Its findings identified the leading and lowest-rated outlets according to the analysis conducted.

The available information does not establish that Google ratings are a formal measure of McDonald’s corporate performance or that the company endorses the ranking. Nor does it establish that the highest-rated location has been independently verified as the best-performing restaurant across all possible measures.

The ranking instead provides a comparison of customer ratings collected through one online platform.

For customers, this information can help narrow down choices. For businesses, it highlights the public visibility of customer feedback and the importance of understanding the issues people raise in their reviews.

Prediction: How Could the Rankings Affect Customers and Restaurant Operators?

For customers, the identification of the Eagle Pass restaurant as the highest-rated McDonald’s in America may increase interest in the location among people who use Google reviews when choosing where to eat. Travellers passing through the area may also consider its rating when comparing nearby options.

However, the study does not establish whether the ranking will lead to increased visits, higher sales or sustained changes in customer demand. Those outcomes would depend on factors that were not examined in the supplied report.

For McDonald’s customers more broadly, the findings may encourage greater attention to individual branch ratings rather than assumptions based solely on the company’s national reputation. Checking recent reviews alongside the overall average can provide a more current picture of customers’ experiences.

For restaurant operators, the comparison reinforces the potential importance of service speed, order accuracy and customer satisfaction. The complaints reported about the Surprise, Arizona, location identify issues that may warrant operational attention, although the precise causes of the problems have not been independently established.

Managers at highly rated restaurants may also find it useful to monitor feedback to understand which aspects of the customer experience are being positively received. The study, however, does not reveal which practices enabled the Eagle Pass location to achieve its position.

In the longer term, the rankings could serve as a reference point for customers and businesses interested in restaurant reputation. Their continuing relevance will depend on how ratings change, how new reviews affect averages and whether future studies use comparable methods.