Over this side of the world we know Nando’s for peri-peri chicken and tearing our politicians a new one, something they do rather well.

Over in the U.K. they love Nando’s just as much, although the chain has just had their title of ‘Britain’s favourite fast food joint’ nicked away from them.

They have Five Guys to thank, an American fast food restaurant that didn’t even exist in Britain until just over two years ago.

Their rapid ascent to the top began with a single restaurant in Covent Gardens in late 2013, with the second popping up months later in Reading. BusinessInsider chronicles their ascension to the fast food throne below:

The chain now has 27 locations in the UK as it continues an aggressive expansion across Europe.

Five Guys’ unique selling points include an uncommonly large choice of toppings for a fast food restaurant, as well as drinks machines with hundreds of beverages.

Nando’s will have to settle for second place this year, while the slightly more upmarket Gourmet Burger Kitchen is in third place. KFC and Burger King round off the top five most popular fast food restaurants in the UK.

The report noted that Nando’s was top for “speed and value,” but Five Guys won out on “food quality and friendliness.”

It added that customers who gave top marks were “5.7 times more likely to recommend than those who gave a score of four out of five,” which bodes well for Five Guys’ word of mouth.

Here’s hoping Chesa Nyama can do in America what Five Guys have done in Britain – we all know the Yanks could do with easing up on the McDonald’s.

[source:businessinsider]