We've all got our favorite burger place. For some, it's a national chain they can find on just about any street corner. For others, it's a regional quick-serve or fast-casual restaurant that is big enough to have a decent brand - but is only found in a handful of select locations.

Then, there's the mom-and-pop, single-location restaurant that may (or may not) be a dive, or a hole-in-the-wall, but you just can't get enough of it, and so you keep going back for more - no matter where it’s located.

But, is one of these really better than the other two? Let’s take a quick look.

Chik-fil-A Tops List of USA QSR Brands for Customer Service.

Customer service in a quick-serve or fast-casual restaurant is almost as important (some say it's as important) as the food you serve customers. So it's no wonder that, like food, customer service is ranked by various agencies to tell us what brands are doing it right - and what brands are getting it horribly wrong.   

If you've ever been to the USA, you may be familiar with the Chik-fil-A brand. It's a veritable leader in customer service and it's no wonder that it placed in the top spot of a recent customer service standards rating in the 2017 version of the Temkin Experience Ratings.   

Fresh Beef Quarter Pounders at McDonald's Strikes a New Cord With Fans  

It seems that everything about the McDonald's brand has revolved around change as of late. In recent memory, they have introduced mobile ordering to increase delivery demand and as even released its coveted sauces to supermarkets in North American.   

A few weeks ago, the global leader made another announcement that will come as a surprise to many: By the middle of 2018, all McDonald's Quarter Pounders will be made with fresh beef, prepared to order.   

It’s always an exciting time in the QSR/limited-service restaurant industry. It seems like every day, a new and inspiring brand pops up and takes hold in one area and seems to outdo the competition, or create a whole new niche that they grow into.

The problems tend to start when these local success stories spread their wings and grow into other markets. Here are three tips to help for smoother and more profitable expansion:

The QSR Brand’s Not-So-Secret Weapon: Mobile Phones

People use their phones for just about everything. Whether it’s to find a date, text a mate or remind them of an important task, cell phones are the new lifeblood of our personal lives and productivity. And that productivity is converting to profit for savvy QSR brands as they are turning to mobile to make customer interaction easier - and more effective.

For the cost of implementing a mobile app or similar rewards program, there is a significant return on investment. And that’s why you’ll see more and more brands turning to mobile platforms to attract, retain and re-engage with their customer base.