Southern breakfast chain in just 3 states beats McDonald's, Chick-fil-A for best in America

For the fourth year in a row, Biscuitville has claimed the title of America's best fast-food breakfast , beating out national chains despite a footprint that remains concentrated in just three states.

The Southern breakfast chain earned the top spot in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, beating out larger chains like McDonald's (No.

4), Chick-fil-A (No.

5), Burger King (No.

6) and Wendy's (No.

7).

Kristie Mitchell, Biscuitville's chief marketing officer, said the recognition is particularly meaningful because of the competition in the fast-food breakfast category.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE FAST-FOOD CHAIN NAMED: MCDONALD'S WINS HEARTS BUT NOT BEST BURGER, SURVEY SAYS "We have earned it, but we don't want to live in a space where we come to expect it," Mitchell said.

Biscuitville recently opened its 90th restaurant and currently operates in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Mitchell said Biscuitville eventually hopes to expand into states such as Tennessee and Georgia, though the family-owned company plans to focus on growing within its existing markets for the next several years.

Biscuitville's calling card remains its scratch-made biscuits, prepared fresh every 15 minutes from a three-ingredient family recipe that Mitchell said was passed down to the company's founder by his grandmother.

FAST-FOOD GIANT DETHRONED AS CUSTOMER STUDY CROWNS AMERICA'S NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT CHAIN But Biscuitville's appeal, Mitchell argues, goes beyond the biscuit.

"We have no microwaves," she said.

"There's no instant anything in our kitchens." Eggs are hand-cracked, and Mitchell said nothing arrives at the restaurants partially cooked simply to be finished there.