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Most Successful Restaurant Chains in America

Most Successful Restaurant Chains in America

It’s hard to tell how America’s most successful restaurant chains will emerge from our year-plus of pandemic restrictions and changed eating habits — but the industry got a good head start in 2019, the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available.

 The 500 largest-grossing chains saw an average growth in U.S. sales that year of 4.2%, the largest gain since 2015. Some operations did even better: Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill, for instance, each enjoyed 7.4% increases.

 The key industry publication Restaurant Business, in collaboration with the food service research and consulting firm Technomic, has recently published its annual ranking of those top 500, encompassing both fast-food outlets like McDonald’s and KFC and sit-down restaurant brands like The Cheesecake Factory and T.G.I. Friday’s.

 24/7 Tempo has singled out the top 50 here. The most successful chains were those specializing in burgers (11 of the 50) and chicken (seven entries on the list). So-called “ethnic” concepts didn’t do so well, with only two categorized as Mexican and one as Chinese. (Chains aren’t the only places serving our favorite kind of poultry. These are the 30 best fried chicken places in America.)

 As a measure of how much Americans spend on chain-restaurant fare, only one operation on the list, cult favorite In-N-Out Burger at No. 50, brought in less than a billion dollars — and not much less. (Fans of In-N-Out know how to get specialties that aren’t advertised to the general public. For more inside information, read about these secret off-the-menu items to order at your favorite chains.) 

Information on U.S. systemwide sales for chain restaurants, and for the number of units each one currently has open, come from “The Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report,” published by Restaurant Business and compiled by the publication in collaboration with the food service research and consulting firm Technomic. Sales figures, which are for the 2019 calendar year, are drawn, says Restaurant Business, from “a combination of public company financial filings, direct operator surveying, franchise disclosure documents and proprietary valuation algorithms.”

The sweet spot was obviously in the $1 to $4 billion range, which accommodated numbers 17 through 49. After that, sales grew in leaps and bounds, reaching all the way to more than $40 billion for the No. 1 chain — McDonald’s. 

Source: GreenPimp / Getty Images

50. In-n-Out Burger
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $957 million
> Number of restaurants in US: 351

Source: dahlstroms / Flickr

49. T.G.I. Friday’s
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.09 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 385

Source: helen89 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

48. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.16 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 208

Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

47. Bojangles’
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.33 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 746

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

46. Jersey Mike’s Subs
> Menu category: Sandwich
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.34 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,667

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

45. Waffle House
> Menu category: Family style
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.34 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,959

Source: jetcityimage / Getty Images

44. Wingstop
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.36 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,231

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

43. Carl’s Jr.
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.42 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,095

Source: bluemaumau / Flickr

42. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.47 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 457

Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

41. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.55 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 556

Source: huddleston / Flickr

40. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.66 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,368

Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

39. Golden Corral
> Menu category: Family casual
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.75 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 483

Source: arndog / Flickr

38. Culver’s
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.78 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 732

Source: jeepersmedia / Flickr

37. Longhorn Steakhouse
> Menu category: Steak
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.87 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 530

Source: J. Michael Jones / Getty Images

36. Zaxby’s
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $1.89 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 910

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

35. Hardee’s
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.02 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,820

Source: hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

34. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
> Menu category: Sandwiches
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.11 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,787

Source: ElsvanderGun / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

33. The Cheesecake Factory
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.18 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 206

Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

32. Cracker Barrel
> Menu category: Family style
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.48 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 660

Source: Laslovarga / Wikimedia Commons

31. Red Lobster
> Menu category: Seafood
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.49 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 679

Source: typhoonski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

30. Whataburger
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.56 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 830

Source: sshepard / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

29. Outback Steakhouse
> Menu category: Steak
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.64 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 724

Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

28. Papa John’s
> Menu category: Pizza
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.64 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 3,142

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

27. Denny’s
> Menu category: Family style
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $2.69 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,558

Source: chapin3 / Getty Images

26. Texas Roadhouse
> Menu category: Steak
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.02 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 553

Source: ivanastar / Getty Images

25. IHOP
> Menu category: Family style
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.27 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,710

Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

24. Jack in the Box
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.50 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,243

Source: sanfel / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

23. Chili’s Grill & Bar
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.56 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,242

Source: jeepersmedia / Flickr

22. Buffalo Wild Wings
> Menu category: Sports bar
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.67 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,206

Source: Wolterk / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

21. Dairy Queen
> Menu category: Frozen desserts
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.76 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 4,381

Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

20. Little Caesars
> Menu category: Pizza
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.81 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 4,327

Source: jetcityimage / Getty Images

19. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.81 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,476

Source: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

18. Arby’s
> Menu category: Sandwiches
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.88 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 3,359

Source: jeepersmedia / Flickr

17. Panda Express
> Menu category: Asian/noodle
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $3.95 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,209

Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

16. Applebee’s
> Menu category: Varied
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $4.09 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 1,665

Source: njpPhoto / Getty Images

15. Olive Garden
> Menu category: Italian/pizza
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $4.23 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 866

Source: jetcityimage / Getty Images

14. KFC
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $4.55 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 4,065

Source: jeepersmedia / Flickr

13. Sonic Drive-In
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $4.67 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 3,526

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86530412@N02/

12. Chipotle Mexican Grill
> Menu category: Mexican
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $5.51 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,584

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dno1967b/

11. Pizza Hut
> Menu category: Pizza
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $5.56billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 7,306

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

10. Panera Bread
> Menu category: Bakery café
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $5.89 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,160

Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

9. Domino’s
> Menu category: Pizza
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $7.04 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 6,126

Source: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

8. Dunkin’
> Menu category: Coffee café
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $9.23 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 9,630

Source: AWSeebaran / Getty Images

7. Wendy’s
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $9.76 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 5,852

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

6. Subway
> Menu category: Sandwiches
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $10.20 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 23,801

Source: David Silverman / Getty Images

5. Burger King
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $10.20 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 7,346

Source: Joshua Blanchard / Getty Images

4. Taco Bell
> Menu category: Mexican
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $11.23 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 6,766

Source: jeepersmedia / Flickr

3. Chick-fil-A
> Menu category: Chicken
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $11.32 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 2,470

Source: DKart / Getty Images

2. Starbucks
> Menu category: Coffee café
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $21.38 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 15,049

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

1. McDonald’s
> Menu category: Burgers
> Total sales in the US in 2019: $40.41 billion
> Number of restaurants in US: 13,846

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