The USA is home to swathes of chain restaurants, cafés and fast food joints but there are some which people return to time and again for comforting favourites, from burgers and fried chicken to steaks and pizza. Restaurant Business has analysed the sales data and recorded the highest-grossing chains in the five years up to 2019. With a few surprises and some predictable top dogs, here are the nation’s top 50 chains. Click through to find out which is number one...
Known for its skin-on fries and (sort of) secret menu, this California-founded chain is a familiar site for anyone who’s driven around America’s southwest. The first branch of In-N-Out Burger opened in Baldwin Park in 1948 and now there are around 350 locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
There are around 385 branches of TGI Fridays across the US, achieving estimated sales of around $1 billion (£800m) in 2019. The casual dining chain debuted in New York City in 1965 and became known for its good-time vibes, loaded potato skins, cocktails and the red-and-white stripes of its branding.
Overtaking TGI Fridays in 2020 to become the tenth most successful casual-dining chain, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse achieved its huge growth by investing in delivery, takeout and catering sales. The chain's headquarters are in California’s surfing hub, Huntington Beach, with more than 200 locations serving craft beer, burgers and pizza across the US.
Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits is, erm, famous for chicken and biscuits. The comfort food favourite was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1977 and now has nearly 750 units, most in the southeastern states. The menu remains rooted in Cajun spices and tender, marinated meat served with fluffy biscuits.
Known for long, stuffed-full submarine roll sandwiches, Jersey Mike’s Subs is headquartered in Manasquan, New Jersey but has spilled far beyond the state with around 1,670 locations. So people can find a loaded northwestern-style sub in pretty much every state.
With nearly 2,000 locations across the US and annual sales of $1.3 billion (£991m) in 2019, this breakfast and dessert favourite is waffling all over the place. Waffle House has actually been around since 1955, when it opened in Decatur, Georgia. The original has been preserved as a retro diner/museum and sometimes offers tours by appointment. Facts served up at the museum include that if you stacked all the sausage patties served by the chain on any given day, they’d form a tower twice the height of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
Wingstop is known for two types of wings: the chicken wings it serves, marinated in hot sauces or rubs, and the type attached to a plane. The restaurant chain, founded in Garland, Texas, has more than 1,200 locations across the US, each of them aviation-themed in the most delightfully retro style.
Burger chain Carl’s Jr. is a familiar roadside sight, and often a welcome one for motorists craving a juicy beef patty and maybe some waffle fries. The first restaurant opened in Los Angeles, California in 1941 and there are now nearly 1,100 units, plus locations in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Chicken is, of course, the main menu item at Raising Cane’s, a fast-casual chain founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There are now more than 450 locations across the US, serving a crowd-pleasing menu of tender chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, dips and Texas toast (bread brushed with butter and garlic and then grilled).
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Casual dining chain Red Robin had (like many others) a tricky 2020, surviving attempts by investors to force a sale and seeing in a new CEO. But it ended the year with just a 0.3% drop in sales compared to 2019, and still has more than 550 units across the US. Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1969, it’s known for juicy burgers with a variety of toppings.
The other cult burger joint (along with In-N-Out Burger), Five Guys was founded in Arlington, Virginia and has long been an East Coast favourite, though now it’s California that boasts the largest number of locations. There are close to 1,400 US outposts in total, as well as a number in the UK, Australia and several other countries.
Family restaurant chain Golden Corral achieved $1.7 billion (£1.2bn) worth of sales across its 483 units in 2019, which adds up to a lot of chicken, mac 'n' cheese, burgers and bread rolls. The company, known for its “endless” buffets offered at breakfast, lunch and dinner, faced bankruptcy in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, with its future still uncertain.
Culver’s was one of America’s fastest-growing chains over the five years to 2020, and increased its sales by 13.9% year-on-year in 2019. Most of its profits came from takeout, although the burger chain has been working on upgrading its drive-thru offering. The first restaurant opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin in 1984 and now has around 730 units, mostly in the Midwest.
This casual steakhouse chain has around 530 locations across the US, with more units globally. Founded in Atlanta, Georgia and now headquartered in Orlando, Florida, LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants are known for high-quality steaks, grilled chicken and a variety of sauces and sides.
Fast-casual chicken chain Zaxby’s is known for its made-to-order chicken fingers, sticky wings, sandwiches and salads. Its 900-odd units, mostly franchises, are spread across the Southern states, with the first location opened in Statesboro, Georgia in 1990.
Fast food restaurant Hardee’s has 1,820 locations in the US, mostly scattered across the Southern and Midwestern states. So anyone living or travelling through those areas won’t have to travel far before spying the familiar smiley star logo and grabbing a burger or breakfast burrito. The company was founded in 1960 in Greenville, North Carolina and is now owned by the same company as Carl’s Jr.
Founded in Charleston, Illinois in 1983, Jimmy John’s huge, loaded sandwiches have won over the US. The chain's 2,787 units achieved mega sales of around $2 billion (£1.5bn) in 2019. So their subs, wraps and farmhouse-style sandwiches are obviously pretty popular.
It’s perhaps surprising that there are only 200-odd Cheesecake Factory locations in the US – it feels so ubiquitous. But those relatively few spots achieved 2019 sales of more than $2.1 billion (£1.6bn). Contrary to what the name might suggest, the restaurants serve much more than just cheesecake. The California-founded chain has a long menu of pizzas, gourmet hamburgers, sandwiches, pastas and salads.
This homely chain of family-friendly restaurants and general store-style gift shops started out in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1969 and has grown to around 660 locations across the US. The menu at Cracker Barrel focuses on Southern-style cooking, with all-day breakfast dishes like pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, and a range of comforting dinnertime favourites.
Red Lobster was founded in Lakeland, Florida in 1968 and now there are around 680 of the seafood restaurants across the US with 2019 sales of nearly $2.5 billion (£1.8bn). People come for reliably well-prepared fishy feasts like grilled salmon with prawns, seafood pastas, chowder, sharing platters and healthy bowls.
The first Whataburger opened in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950 and the chain remains a favourite for most Texans, who tend to loyally declare it the best place for a burger anywhere. Like In-N-Out Burger, there’s even a secret menu for those in the know, although the patty melts – beef patties cooked between two slices of bread with cheese and onions – are among fan favourites. The majority of the 830 locations are in Texas, with others in Arizona and New Mexico.
Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, Florida, yet its theme is decidedly antipodean. As the name hints, this is a chain of steakhouses inspired by the Australian landscape, serving juicy rib-eye, New York strip and sirloin steaks plus seafood, chicken and a range of sides. The company has more than 700 locations in the US and has also expanded overseas with restaurants in Australia (of course) and Asia, as well as Canada and South America.
Papa John’s red, white and green logo is a familiar sight for many people all over the world, whether emblazoned on a bricks-and-mortar location or across a takeaway menu. The pizza empire, now in around 45 countries, started out in a broom closet in Jefferson, Indiana in 1984. The majority of its locations are across the US, with around 3,150 outposts.
Whether for a family meal or refuelling while on the road, Denny’s is another quintessential American diner. All-day service, long menus with everything from big breakfasts to juicy burgers, and cosy booths are the norm across the longstanding chain’s 1,500-plus venues, found in all but six states. The first UK Denny’s opened in Swansea, Wales in 2017.
Texas Roadhouse had a great 2019 with sales increasing by 11% year-on-year to a whopping $3 billion (£2.2bn). It’s partly because a few more locations opened, taking the total up to 553. Despite the name, the chain of steak restaurants, which also serves a range of made-from-scratch burgers and sides, actually started out in Clarksville, Indiana in 1993.
IHOP (International House of Pancakes) straddles different worlds, being both a popular spot for a family breakfast or treat dinner and, for some, a regular post-night out haunt. The multinational company started in Los Angeles, California in 1958 and there are now more than 1,700 locations in the US alone. Pancakes are obviously the main event but IHOP also serves typical diner fare like burgers and breakfasts.
Burgers are the main thing on the menu at Jack in the Box, a longstanding fast food chain that also serves breakfast, tacos, salads and sides. The first restaurant opened in San Diego, California in 1951 and it’s become a ubiquitous sight across the country. Nowadays you don’t have to try very hard to find one: there are more than 2,200 restaurants in the US.
Texas-founded Chili’s Grill & Bar primarily serves Tex-Mex favourites like tacos, fajitas and quesadillas, although the varied menu also encompasses burgers, fried chicken, grilled seafood and pasta dishes. There are more than 1,200 outposts in the US, easily spotted thanks to the giant red chilli logo.
No prizes for guessing what’s on the menu at Buffalo Wild Wings, which has around 1,200 locations in the US. The casual dining spot and sports bar chain was founded in Columbus, Ohio. Now there are also restaurants in Canada, South America and Asia, all serving buffalo (well, chicken) wings in a variety of sauces, along with chicken tenders and a variety of appetisers and bar snacks.
The first Dairy Queen opened in Joliet, Illinois in 1940 and it’s safe to say the brand has done pretty well since. There are locations in almost every state (aside from Vermont and District of Columbia), with close to 4,400 of the quick-service restaurants in total. Frozen desserts, and especially soft serve ice cream, are the main draw, although it offers hot food like burgers and hot dogs too.
Little Caesars followed a buoyant 2019 with a decent 2020, staying afloat thanks to heated self-service “Pizza Portals” that gave a boost to its carryout sales. The third most popular pizza chain on the list with 4,237 locations, Little Caesars serves a range of pizza toppings and stuffed crust options, as well as a “secret” menu that includes a Double Decker crust.
The first Popeyes opened in New Orleans, Louisiana (hence the name) in 1970 and now there are nearly 2,500 locations in the US. This quick-service chicken chain is all about the crunchy, peppery-spiced coating wrapped around nuggets, burgers, tenders and chicken pieces.
One of America’s biggest sandwich chains, Arby’s is the place for rolls stuffed to bursting with slow-roasted meats like beef and turkey, as well as wraps, sliders (like buffalo chicken) and a range of sides. The fast food chain opened in Boardman, Ohio in 1964 and there are now more than 3,350 locations to grab one of their sandwiches across the US.
Sales at Panda Express grew by a significant 12% in 2019, when the casual Chinese restaurant chain increased its number of units by nearly 5%. The 2,200-plus locations across the US, often found roadside and in shopping malls, serve noodles, crispy chicken and a variety of other Chinese-style dishes.
Another family favourite and familiar roadside restaurant that seems to have been around forever, Applebee’s offers a varied, diner-style menu. The chain, with around 1,660 US restaurants, first opened in Decatur, Georgia in 1980 and serves comfort food favourites like chicken, pasta, burgers, buffalo wings, grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream desserts.
Orlando, Florida-founded Olive Garden has become synonymous with family get-togethers and reliable date nights. Known for its bottomless breadsticks and salad, the Italian restaurant chain became the country’s largest fast-casual chain in 2019. Sales across its 866 restaurants hit nearly $4.3 billion (£3.2bn), a 5% boost on the previous year.
Family buckets, secret spices, the Colonel: KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken is well-known pretty much all over the world. The first location opened in 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah and now there are more than 4,000 outposts in the US alone. The chicken chain still achieves huge sales in its home country too, with more than $4.5 billion (£3.3bn) in 2019.
Burger chain Sonic Drive-In was taken over by Inspire Brands in 2018 and has achieved sales increases every year since. In 2019 it hit around $4.7 billion (£3.5bn), a 4.6% year-on-year boost despite having fewer stores. There are currently more than 3,500 locations in the US serving burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs.
Fast-casual restaurant chain Chipotle serves Mexican-style favourites at more than 2,500 locations across the US, with 2019 sales of more than $5.5 billion (£4bn). Menus focus on tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salads, all made to order.
A global favourite, Pizza Hut still draws in customers with its cheesy slices, salad bar and ice cream. Founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1958, the chain holds its own against relative newcomers with a whopping 7,300 units in the US and many more worldwide. Much of its recent success is attributed to replacing some of its dine-in restaurants with takeout and delivery-only units.
Panera Bread does serve salads, although it’s far better known for its carb-heavy delights like bagels, sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps. There's even been a mac 'n' cheese sandwich on the menu. The chain of bakery-cafés extends across the US with around 2,160 units.
The number one pizza chain in the US is Domino’s, which has more than 6,100 locations in the country and many others globally. It’s come a long way since it was founded as DomiNick’s in 1960, in the city of Ypsilanti, Michigan. A takeout and delivery staple, the chain’s best-selling pizza topping is pepperoni, followed by sausage, bacon, mushrooms and pineapple.
The chain formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts had long become well-known for coffee before it finally dropped the second half of its name in 2018. Sales in 2019 were up by 5% year-on-year at $9.2 billion (£6.8bn). Its 9,630 locations do still serve doughnuts, though, in case anyone fancies dunking one in their hot beverage.
With 2019 sales of nearly $9.8 billion (£7.2bn) – a 4.2% rise on the previous year – it’s fair to say longstanding burger chain Wendy’s still holds its own. Known for its freshly grilled, square burgers and familiar logo featuring a freckle-faced red head with pigtails, Wendy’s started out in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio and now has around 5,850 restaurants in the US.
The number one sandwich chain on the list, Subway has become synonymous with the submarine-style buns that inspired its name and is known for its made-to-order, production line style. Sales dropped a little in 2019 but still hit $10.2 billion (£7.5bn). The only question is: six-inch or foot-long? Oh, and do you want jalapeños?
Distinguished by its flame-grilled flavours, Burger King is pretty ubiquitous with 7,346 locations in the US as of 2019, as well as locations worldwide. The fast food chain – known for its double-decker Whopper burger – achieved estimated sales of $10.2 billion (£7.5bn) in 2019 too. That makes it one of America's biggest burger chains, although it isn’t quite enough to knock a certain pair of golden arches off their throne...
The first Taco Bell opened in 1962 in Downey, California, and the Tex-Mex chain has since gone on to take over the US and parts of the rest of the world too. The vast majority of the locations are still in America, which had 6,766 outposts in 2019. Burritos, crisp-shell tacos and quesadillas are among menu mainstays.
Ruling the roost when it comes to chicken joints, Chick-fil-A achieved a whopping 13% increase in sales in 2019 compared to the previous year, hitting $11.3 billion (£8.3bn). That helped it to leapfrog Taco Bell to become the nation’s third-largest chain. It’s known for its chicken sandwich, served with two pickles on a toasted butter bun.
Achieving 2019 sales of nearly $21.4 billion (£15.7bn) – almost double that of Chick-fil-A, the next biggest chain on the list – Starbucks seems to have no real competition. It’s a common joke that there’s a Starbucks on every corner but, with more than 15,000 locations across the US (and cafés around the world), it’s not far from the truth. The first store opened in 1971 in Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, and is now something of a tourist attraction.
No surprises here: McDonald’s is the biggest chain in the US by a huge margin, with 2019 sales of nearly $40.4 billion (£30bn). Sales jumped by nearly 5% year-on-year, with no signs of slowing down. The chain’s well-known menu includes chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, super-thick milkshakes, hot apple pies and, of course, Big Macs.