More couples opting for Valentine’s Day at fast-food joints, survey says. Here are GA top picks

Money is tight for a lot of Georgians, even on Valentine’s Day, and recent data reveals that couples are looking to spend the day on a budget.

A new MarketBeat poll surveyed thousands of couples to see how they plan to celebrate Valentine’s, and the “standout trend” is fast-food restaurants instead of fancier sit-down spots.

Chick-fil-A is GA top pick

Turns out Georgia’s love language might just be waffle fries. The pick comes as no surprise, given the first Chick-fil-A restaurant was opened in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall in 1967.

Special Valentine’s Day items

Chick-fil-A offers heart-shaped nuggets trays through Feb. 14 while supplies last. Check your local store before ordering because they go pretty fast.

According to Southern Living, these are the most frequently ordered items on V-day and beyond:

• Chicken Sandwich Meal with extra pickles (otherwise known as the #1)
• Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich
• Grilled Nuggets
• Waffle Fries
• Mac and Cheese
• Sunjoy (the special name for “half tea, half lemonade”)
• Market Salad
• Honey Pepper Pimento Sandwich
• Peach Milkshake .

Because Southerners can’t live without it, mayonnaise also tops the list of most requested items.

Georgia’s runners-up

• Zaxby’s
• Waffle House - The franchise even offers candlelit Valentine’s dinners at select locations.

Why fast food?

For many couples, a fast-food stop feels simpler, and more importantly, more affordable while still feeling like a treat.

Matt Paulson, MarketBeat’s founder, explained, “We are seeing a broader trend where couples are prioritizing affordability, comfort and shared experiences over formality.”

He said it is a direct reaction to higher prices and tighter disposable incomes, and the research suggests that over half of the couples surveyed said inflation changed their plans.

What our neighbors want for Valentine’s Day

Chick-fil-A is the clear winner across the South. The franchise was voted number one in Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida. MarketBeat suggests that’s because “it is affordable, but not perceived as cheap.”

How the rankings were determined

The poll used responses from 3,004 couples using a combination of online search data and restaurant foot traffic for the week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

• Data analyzed from Google Trends, location analytics firm Placer.ai, and Yelp mentions of “Valentine’s” and “date night.”
• The top fast-food chain for each state was determined by popularity index (based on searches, visits and mentions).
• In Georgia, Chick-fil-A stood out particularly for its heart tray promotions and high dine-in traffic.

​The findings suggest consumer caution, not a financial crisis. People are still going out; we’re just choosing places that feel affordable and low-stress.

This story was originally published February 7, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "More couples opting for Valentine’s Day at fast-food joints, survey says. Here are GA top picks."