Top Fast Food and Fast-Casual Chains to Try

1.Eat at McDonald's

Burger chain

By far the largest US chain by systemwide sales (~$53.5B) and the most ubiquitous fast-food brand in America.

2.Eat at Starbucks

Coffee chain

#1 coffee chain; ~$31B US systemwide sales, second only to McDonald's in the QSR 50.

3.Eat at Chick-fil-A

Chicken chain

#3 in US systemwide sales (~$22.7B) with the highest per-unit volume of any chain; massive popularity despite far fewer stores.

4.Eat at Taco Bell

Mexican-inspired fast food

Largest Mexican QSR; ~$15.5B US sales, consistently a top-5 chain. — ~$16B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~7,500 US.

5.Eat at Dunkin'

Coffee and doughnuts

~$12.5B US systemwide sales; the sixth-largest US restaurant concept per QSR 50.

6.Eat at Wendy's

Burger chain

#3 burger chain by US sales (~$12.3B); top-tier ubiquity. — ~$12B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~6,000 US.

7.Eat at Burger King

Burger chain

#2 burger chain by units; ~$11.5B US sales, just behind Wendy's/Dunkin'. — ~$12B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~6,800 US.

8.Eat at Chipotle Mexican Grill

Mexican fast casual

Largest fast-casual chain; ~$11B US sales, surging AUVs. — ~$11B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~3,400 US.

9.Eat at Subway

Sandwich chain

Most US locations of any chain (~20K) but declining sales (~$10B); ubiquity keeps it high. — ~$10B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~20,000 US.

10.Eat at Domino's

Pizza chain

#1 pizza chain by US systemwide sales (~$9.6B).

11.Eat at Panera Bread

Bakery-cafe

Largest bakery-cafe; ~$7.2B US systemwide sales.

12.Eat at Panda Express

Asian fast casual

Dominant Asian QSR; ~$5.9-6.1B US sales (#12 Technomic). — ~$6.1B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,400 US.

13.Eat at Sonic Drive-In

Drive-in chain

~$5.7B US sales; iconic drive-in ubiquity across the South/Midwest. — ~$5.7B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~3,500 US.

14.Eat at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Chicken chain

~$5.7B US domestic systemwide sales; #2 chicken chain after Chick-fil-A by sales.

15.Eat at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Chicken chain

Explosive growth to ~$5.1B US sales with very high AUVs despite far fewer units. — ~$5.1B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~800 US.

16.Eat at Dairy Queen

Burger and treat chain

~$5.0B US sales; broad nationwide footprint. — ~$5.0B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~4,300 US.

17.Eat at KFC

Chicken chain

~$5.0B US sales; major legacy chicken brand, though US growth has flattened. — ~$5.0B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~3,900 US.

18.Eat at Pizza Hut

Pizza chain

~$5B US systemwide sales; large footprint though trailing Domino's; ranked here on declining domestic trend.

19.Eat at Wingstop

Wing chain

~$4.8B US sales after 30%+ growth, entering the top 25; fast riser. — ~$4.8B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,200 US.

20.Eat at Little Caesars

Pizza chain

#3 pizza chain by US sales (~$4.7B); Hot-N-Ready value ubiquity. — ~$4.7B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~4,200 US.

21.Eat at Arby's

Sandwich chain

~$4.5B US sales; established sandwich chain (sales dipped ~6% in 2024). — ~$4.5B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~3,300 US.

22.Eat at Jack in the Box

Burger chain

~$4.4B US sales; strong West Coast burger presence. — ~$4.4B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,200 US.

23.Eat at Whataburger

Burger chain

~$4.1B US sales (up 9.4%); cult Texas/Southern brand expanding nationally. — ~$4.1B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,000 US.

24.Eat at Jersey Mike's Subs

Sandwich chain

~$4.0B US sales (#30 Technomic); fastest-growing sub chain, +100 units/yr. — ~$4.0B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,800 US.

25.Eat at Culver's

Burger chain

~$3.8B US sales (up 15.5%); high-AUV Midwest burger/custard favorite. — ~$3.8B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~950 US.

26.Eat at Five Guys

Burger chain

~$2.9B US sales (#40 Technomic); premium better-burger leader. — ~$2.9B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,400 US.

27.Eat at Papa John's

Pizza chain

~$2.9B US systemwide sales; #4 pizza chain nationally.

28.Eat at Hardee's

Burger chain

~$2.9B US sales; CKE's Eastern/Midwest burger brand. — ~$2.9B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,700 US.

29.Eat at Zaxby's

Chicken chain

~$2.5B US sales; strong Southeast chicken-finger chain. — ~$2.5B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~900 US.

30.Eat at Jimmy John's

Sandwich chain

~$2.4B US sales (#38 Technomic); large sub-sandwich footprint. — ~$2.4B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,600 US.

31.Eat at In-N-Out Burger

Burger chain

Estimated ~$1.9B US sales on extreme AUVs; cult Western brand, limited footprint caps ubiquity rank. — ~$1.9B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~400 US.

32.Eat at Dutch Bros Coffee

Coffee chain

~$1.8B US sales after ~26% growth; fastest-rising coffee chain behind Starbucks/Dunkin'. — ~$1.8B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~950 US.

33.Eat at Bojangles

Chicken and biscuits

~$1.7B US sales; beloved Southeast chicken-and-biscuits brand. — ~$1.7B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~800 US.

34.Eat at Carl's Jr.

Burger chain

~$1.6B US sales; CKE's Western burger brand (counterpart to Hardee's). — ~$1.6B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,000 US.

35.Eat at Crumbl

Dessert chain

~$1.5B US sales after explosive growth; viral cookie chain with ~$1.35M AUVs. — ~$1.5B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,000 US.

36.Eat at Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Smoothie cafe

~$1.42B US sales (#36 Technomic); fast-growing smoothie/cafe chain. — ~$1.4B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,500 US.

37.Eat at Firehouse Subs

Sandwich chain

~$1.3B US domestic systemwide sales; RBI-owned sub chain.

38.Eat at Shake Shack

Burger chain

~$1.2B US sales; high-AUV premium better-burger brand with strong brand equity. — ~$1.2B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~350 US.

39.Eat at Marco's Pizza

Pizza chain

~$1.1B US sales; #5 pizza chain by sales, steady franchise expansion. — ~$1.1B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,200 US.

40.Eat at McAlister's Deli

Fast casual deli

Surpassed $1B US systemwide sales; leading fast-casual deli.

41.Eat at Del Taco

Mexican-inspired fast food

~$1.0B US sales; #2 Mexican QSR drive-thru behind Taco Bell. — ~$1.0B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~600 US.

42.Eat at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Burger chain

~$1.0B US sales; fast-growing custard/steakburger chain. — ~$1.0B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~550 US.

43.Eat at Qdoba Mexican Eats

Mexican fast casual

~$0.9B US sales; #2 fast-casual burrito chain behind Chipotle. — ~$0.9B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~750 US.

44.Eat at Church's Texas Chicken

Chicken chain

~$0.9B US sales; value fried-chicken chain, smaller than Popeyes/KFC. — ~$0.9B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~900 US.

45.Eat at Moe's Southwest Grill

Mexican fast casual

~$0.75B US sales; established fast-casual Tex-Mex chain. — ~$0.75B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~550 US.

46.Eat at Auntie Anne's

Pretzel chain

~$0.75B US sales; ubiquitous mall pretzel brand, very high unit count for its size. — ~$0.75B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,900 US.

47.Eat at Cook Out

Regional fast food

Estimated ~$0.7B systemwide; high-volume Southeast value burger/BBQ chain (private).

48.Eat at Charleys Cheesesteaks

Sandwich chain

~$0.7B US sales; largest cheesesteak chain, strong mall/strip presence. — ~$0.7B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~700 US.

49.Eat at Jason's Deli

Fast casual deli

Estimated ~$0.7B systemwide; high-AUV fast-casual deli (private).

50.Eat at Sweetgreen

Salad chain

~$680M US revenue (FY24); leading fast-casual salad brand with very high AUVs. — ~$0.68B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~250 US.

51.Eat at Potbelly

Sandwich chain

~$0.6-0.7B US systemwide sales; toasted-sandwich fast-casual chain.

52.Eat at White Castle

Slider chain

~$0.65B US sales; historic slider chain with high name recognition but small, regional footprint. — ~$0.65B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~340 US.

53.Eat at Jet's Pizza

Pizza chain

~$0.6B US sales; Detroit-style pizza chain with high AUVs. — ~$0.62B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~430 US.

54.Eat at Baskin-Robbins

Ice cream chain

~$0.6B US sales but very high unit count; legacy ice-cream brand ubiquity. — ~$0.6B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~2,200 US.

55.Eat at Round Table Pizza

Pizza chain

~$0.55B US sales; established West Coast pizza chain. — ~$0.55B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~400 US.

56.Eat at Noodles & Company

Fast casual

~$0.55B US revenue; national fast-casual noodle concept. — ~$0.55B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~470 US.

57.Eat at Checkers

Burger chain

~$0.55B combined with Rally's; value double-drive-thru burger brand (Eastern half). — ~$0.55B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~520 US.

58.Eat at Cinnabon

Bakery chain

~$0.5B US sales; ubiquitous mall/airport cinnamon-roll brand. — ~$0.5B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~1,000 US.

59.Eat at MOD Pizza

Fast-casual pizza

~$0.5B US sales; fast-casual build-your-own pizza chain (contracted recently). — ~$0.5B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~450 US.

60.Eat at Cold Stone Creamery

Ice cream chain

~$0.5B US systemwide sales; mix-in ice-cream chain, broad footprint.

61.Eat at Jamba

Smoothie chain

~$0.5B US systemwide sales; smoothie chain trailing Tropical Smoothie in scale.

62.Eat at Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store

Burger and treat chain

~$0.44B revenue; vertically integrated burger/ice-cream chain in 5-state radius (private). — ~$0.44B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~300 US.

63.Eat at Torchy's Tacos

Fast casual tacos

~$0.4B US sales on very high AUVs; cult Texas-born taco chain expanding. — ~$0.4B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~130 US.

64.Eat at Blaze Pizza

Fast-casual pizza

~$0.35B US sales; fast-casual personal pizza chain that has contracted from its peak. — ~$0.35B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~300 US.

65.Eat at Sbarro

Pizza chain

~$0.35B US sales; iconic mall/food-court pizza-by-the-slice brand. — ~$0.35B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~600 US.

66.Eat at Rita's Italian Ice

Treat chain

~$0.3B US sales; seasonal Italian-ice chain concentrated in the Northeast. — ~$0.3B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~600 US.

67.Eat at Rally's

Burger chain

Western/Midwest twin of Checkers; counted separately here, lower standalone sales. — ~$0.25B in U.S. systemwide sales across partner of Checkers.

68.Eat at Yogurtland

Frozen yogurt chain

~$0.25B US sales; self-serve frozen-yogurt chain, regional skew. — ~$0.25B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~250 US.

69.Eat at Freebirds World Burrito

Mexican fast casual

~$0.2B US sales; Texas-centric fast-casual burrito chain. — ~$0.2B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~60 US.

70.Eat at Runza

Regional fast food

Smallest here (~$0.15B); tightly regional Nebraska/Midwest chain that deliberately avoids national expansion. — ~$0.15B in U.S. systemwide sales across ~90 US.