McDonald's

A Look at the Most Popular Food at McDonald's in Each State

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Ahead of National McDonald's Day on Saturday, recent research reveals just what menu items are keeping Americans loyal to the Golden Arches in each state.

The data, compiled by Illinoisbet.com, analyzed the number of searches for McDonald's in each state, while also measuring the number of searches per 1,000 people recorded in each state for the last 12 months.

On top of search data relevant to people looking for McDonald's, the research released by Illinoisbet.com also looked into the top 10 meals from each state based on local search data.

It may or not be the high prices for food in Las Vegas, but no state searched for McDonald's quite as much as those in Nevada, where 1,365 searches per 1,000 residents were recorded over the past year.

Illinois joined Nevada as one of the 14 states that recorded more searches than there were residents, with Indiana, Michigan and Ohio also among the Midwestern states with more McDonald's searches than residents.

Across the country, the Big Mac reigned supreme as the top choice in 31 states, including Illinois, where the iconic sandwich topped the Happy Meal and the McChicken to close out the state's top three.

Perhaps another interesting trend was the widespread desire for discontinued or limited-time menu items, with many states searching for "McDonald's Snack Wraps" and the McRib en masse.

The defunct snack wraps were the most-searched menu item in seven states, including Michigan, Ohio and New York.

Below is a full look at the search data and top meals in each state:

StateMcDonald’s Searches (last 12 months)per 1000 people#1 Order#2 Order#3 Order
Alabama3,779,280741Big MacMcRibMcGriddle
Alaska497,760679Big MacMcRibMcChicken
Arizona7,896,3601,059Big MacMcGriddleMcNuggets
Arkansas2,418,600790Big MacHappy MealMcRib
California40,245,9601,034Happy MealBig MacMcGriddle
Colorado6,311,7601,076Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Connecticut3,280,680904McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacHappy Meal
Delaware939,840911McNuggetsBig MacHappy Meal
Florida25,743,1201,136Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Georgia10,635,120964Big MacMcRibMcGriddle
Hawaii1,578,2401,101Happy MealBig MacMcRib
Idaho1,372,560695Big MacHappy MealMcRib
Illinois15,450,1201,238Big MacHappy MealMcChicken
Indiana6,994,2001,021McRibBig MacMcDonalds Snack Wraps
Iowa2,527,680789Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Kansas2,603,040886Big MacMcRibhappy meal
Kentucky3,960,240877McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacHappy Meal
Louisiana3,680,880808Big MacMcRibMcGriddle
Maine969,840696Big MacMcDonalds Snack WrapsHappy meal
Maryland6,715,0801,091Big MacMcRibMcDonalds Snack Wraps
Massachusetts6,730,200965Big MacMcDonalds Snack WrapsHappy meal
Michigan10,582,4401,055McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacHappy Meal
Minnesota5,582,640975Big MacHappy MealMcRib
Mississippi1,807,320617Big MacMcGriddleMcRib
Missouri5,672,400917McRibBig MacHappy Meal
Montana716,520629Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Nebraska888,000450McRibBig Machappy meal
Nevada4,380,0001,365Happy MealMcRibBig Mac
New Hampshire594,000423Big MacMcDonalds Snack WrapsMcNuggets
New Jersey8,015,400866McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacMcNuggets
New Mexico1,086,600515Happy MealMcRibBig Mac
New York20,713,2001,062McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacHappy Meal
North Carolina10,314,360952McRibBig MacMcChicken
North Dakota325,200417Big MacMcRibMcDonalds Snack Wraps
Ohio12,892,4401,097McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacHappy Meal
Oklahoma1,625,760402Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Oregon4,176,600989Big MacHappy MealMcRib
Pennsylvania10,713,600828McRibBig MacMcDonalds Snack Wraps
Rhode Island486,000446Big MacMcDonalds Snack WrapsHappy meal
South Carolina3,362,160626Big MacMcRibhappy meal
South Dakota325,200352Big MacMcNuggetsHappy Meal
Tennessee2,952,000414Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
Texas32,121,8401,053Big MacMcRibMcNuggets
Utah1,620,000473McRibBig MacMcNuggets
Vermont217,200336Big MacMcDonalds Snack WrapsMcNuggets
Virginia8,385,120963McRibBig MacHappy Meal
Washington7,927,3201,012Big MacMcRibHappy Meal
West Virginia594,000337McDonalds Snack WrapsBig MacMcRib
Wisconsin2,952,000950Big MacHappy MealMcRib
Wyoming225,000386Big MacMcRibHappy Meal

Additionally, Illinois ranks among the top 5 states in number of McDonald's restaurants, with the state's 647 locations only trailing New York, Florida, Texas and California.

North Dakota has the fewest McDonald's restaurants of any state, with just 22 locations. Wyoming has only 24 locations, while there are 27 McDonald's restaurants in Alaska.

#StateNumber of McDonalds
1California1,165
2Texas834
3Florida728
4New York655
5Illinois647
6Ohio616
7Michigan545
8Pennsylvania498
9Virginia382
10North Carolina374
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