Out of all the burger chains, Burger King and McDonald’s have had the longest-standing rivalry. With more of their former diners working from home and skipping lunch out, the fast food chains are having to try new strategies. We analyzed foot traffic at Burger King and McDonald’s to see which one is doing a better job of bringing diners back to their restaurants.

While both fast-food chains are recovering foot traffic, McDonald’s is recovering faster than Burger King. Foot traffic began to decline in mid-March and reached its lowest point in mid-April. In late April, foot traffic began to recover again, and started to level off in June, with the exception of a slight high point for both fast food chains in mid-July.

While both fast-food chains are recovering foot traffic, McDonald’s is recovering faster than Burger King. Foot traffic began to decline in mid-March and reached its lowest point in mid-April. In late April, foot traffic began to recover again, and started to level off in June, with the exception of a slight high point for both fast food chains in mid-July.

At the beginning of April, McDonald’s introduced a slimmed-down menu, which removed breakfast items to focus on staples such as the Big Mac. For the week of April 12, foot traffic to McDonald’s was 67% lower, compared to the week of February 2, while BK’s foot traffic was 72% lower for that same week. The cost-cutting paired with a streamlined customer experience might have helped McDonald’s retain a bit more of its foot traffic during the week of April 12. McDonald’s then launched the Little Mac and the Double Big Mac on March 11. Compared to the previous week of February 2, foot traffic to McDonald’s restaurants for the week of March 15 was 42% lower while Burger King saw 43% less foot traffic. Due to COVID-19, consumers might have been less likely to notice the menu change.

Instead of reducing its menu, Burger King  added new items and new discounts. The restaurant chain added Jalapeno Cheddar Bites to its menu on April 2—in the midst of a precipitous foot traffic decline due to COVID-19—and launched Spicy Chicken Nuggets on May 14. Neither menu change resulted in a material change to foot traffic, although it’s possible Burger King got a slight lift from its Spicy Nuggets menu item. On July 23, BK launched its 2 For $5 Mix n’ Match promotion. For the week of the launch, July 19, Burger King and McDonald’s foot traffic was 5.7% and 5.6% higher, respectively, compared to the previous week. It is possible that BK slightly outperformed McDonald’s due to its Mix n’ Match deal.

Will McDonald’s foot traffic return to what it was before COVID-19 faster than Burger King? Or will Burger King’s discounts help push performance past its Golden Arches rival? McDonald’s recently launched its Travis Scott Meal campaign and will soon release its Spicy Chicken McNuggets to the world. Time will tell whether or not this campaign and menu change will help boost foot traffic to McDonald’s restaurants.

For the latest consumer trends related to Burger King and McDonald’s, check out our economic activity dashboard.