The Louisiana-born brand, which rose from fourth place among sales growth chains in the Preceding Year, proved once again that a simple menu punctuated with Cane’s Sauce and Texas toast could continue to fuel sales, which grew 25.9 percent in the Latest Year.

Slipping to No. 2 from its top spot the past three years, Manasquan, N.J.-based Jersey Mike’s Subs maintained sales strength and increased U.S. systemwide sales by 22.2 percent in the Latest Year.

Founded in 1956, the sandwich brand passed 1,000 units in October 2015, expanding the footprint for its subs topped with a signature “juice” of red wine vinegar and olive oil. The sandwich chain ranked fourth in unit growth in the Latest Year, recording a 13.5-percent increase in U.S. restaurants, to 1,187 units.

Toledo, Ohio-based Marco’s Pizza made a second appearance in the Latest Year, at No. 3 in the fastest-growing chains, after debuting at No. 2 the Preceding Year. The first Marco’s restaurant opened in 1978, and the chain has expanded to more than 30 states, as well as internationally.

U.S. systemwide sales growth of 17.1 percent in the Latest Year was fueled by 15.4-percent growth in domestic units, putting the brand at No. 3 in terms of unit growth.

A focused menu and a variety of flavors helped Dallas-based Wingstop spread its wings into new locations in the Latest Year. The chain added 136 U.S. restaurants, for a 17.3-percent unit-count increase over the Preceding Year.

The chain ranked second among Top 100 brands in U.S. unit growth behind fellow Chicken chain Raising Cane’s. Along with tech innovations like automated ordering on social platforms and voice orders via Amazon Alexa, Wingstop increased sales 16.9 percent in the Latest Year.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, a legacy chain, still grew sales 16.9 percent in the Latest Year. Menu changes, like replacing coleslaw with a Superfood Salad of broccolini and kale helped the chain increase Estimated Sales Per Unit about 10.7 percent, to an average $3.9 million.

Chick-fil-A also expanded into new markets and increased unit count 6 percent, passing the 2,000-unit mark in the Latest Year.

With Estimated Sales Per Unit of $11.7 million — the highest in the Top 100 — Dallas-based Dave & Buster’s continued to hit the jackpot with its big-box entertainment and dining destinations.

The chain pushed a “New Is What We Do” theme by introducing new arcade versions of Nintendo games and movies like “Ghostbusters,” as well as new food offerings. At mid-year, the company said 35 percent of menu items sold had debuted in the past four years. Unit growth also drove a sales increase of 15.8 percent in the Latest Year.

Rosemead, Calif.-based Panda Express booked sales growth of 13.8 percent in the Latest Year. The chain increased U.S. unit count by 5.8 percent and added 8.1 percent to its Estimated Sales Per Unit of $1.6 million.

The brand touted its Specialty positioning in Limited Service by highlighting classic dishes such as General Tso’s chicken in a marketing campaign and flirting with hybrid utensils like the fork-chopstick chork. The positioning moved the brand up from No. 14 in sales growth in the Preceding Year.

Athens, Ga.-based Zaxby’s punctuated its menu of chicken tenders, wings and sandwiches with features like the return of the Zensation Salad, a limited-time offer highlighting Asian and Southern flavors.

Zaxby’s rose to No. 8 among Top 10 growth chains, from No. 10 the Preceding Year, booking an estimated sales increase of 13.3 percent in the Latest Year. The chain expanded its regional footprint with 10.6-percent unit growth, ending the Latest Year with 803 units in 16 Southern and Midwestern states.

Even the biggest players can display nimble growth. Leaning in heavily on technology and smartphone ordering, Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee increased U.S. systemwide sales 12.4 percent in the Latest Year.

The coffee behemoth moved up from the No. 13 fastest-growing chain in the Preceding Year by growing unit count 5.2 percent, to 13,172 U.S. units, and boosting Estimated Sales Per Unit to $1.4 million. Starbucks’ strategy entailed filling in dayparts like breakfast and afternoon coffee with a menu that also catered to snack occasions.

Domino’s continued to grow sales in the Latest Year, booking a 10.9-percent increase. J. Patrick Doyle, CEO of the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based chain, called sales “remarkable” in a fourth-quarter earnings call, and said he was “starting to run out of adjectives” to describe Domino’s performance.

Technology, remodeling and marketing made the chain a powerhouse, but tech is at the forefront. At the end of 2016, 60 percent of Domino’s orders came through digital channels. A loyalty program also contributed significantly to sales growth