Angry Crab Shack is one of many restaurant concepts from former NFL player Ron Lou. It was founded in Mesa, Ariz., in 2013, bringing seafood boil to the desert, and now has 23 units in six states and the United Kingdom. The casual-dining menu consists of soups, salads, sandwiches, and baskets, primarily centered around seafood, although there is also a chicken sandwich and a cheeseburger. Of course, the star of Angry Crab Shack’s menu is its signature seafood boil. The brand also offers catering. – Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Another Broken Egg Cafe is part of the burgeoning breakfast, lunch, and brunch segment that attracts customers with its relatively affordable checks (and the promise of daytime cocktails) plus employees who don’t have to work in the evening. Its sales grew by just under 20% last year as it opened 15 locations. – Bret Thorn

This tapas bar and restaurant also owns lifestyle brand Conserva Culture and a new small-plates restaurant called Corsica. It opened three Barcelona locations last year and saw sales rise by 17.7%. – BT

Barrio Tacos was established in 2012 in Tremont, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland, and has since grown to 25 units, marking 8.7% growth over 2022. In 2023, the company generated $103 million in sales, a 35% increase over 2022. The company is known for its wide selection of tequila, whiskey, and beer, as well as its unique menu offerings, such as a smashburger tacos and its build-your-own tacos with 15 proteins to choose from. Barrio also offers brunch and a food truck to cater for special events. – Alicia Kelso

Bartaco — the second fastest-growing casual-dining Mexican restaurant by sales in the Top 500 — is best known for its upscale Mexican street food and robust alcohol program. Customers order tapas-sized tacos and craft drinks from QR codes. The brand grew by 25% in 2023, adding six units to its steadily flourishing portfolio under Barteca Restaurant Group. – Joanna Fantozzi

This old-school teppanyaki concept known for its showboating chefs and lively atmosphere grew by three locations last year and sales were up by 3.5%. – BT

Bibibop Asian Grill prides itself on serving “healthy, affordable” Asian food. It was founded in 2013 by Charley Shin, a native of South Korea, in Columbus, Ohio, and Shin remains CEO today. The brand is a fast-casual bowl concept, where consumers can create their own bowls with a base, toppings (including tofu and purple rice), protein, and sauce. The menu also offers items including edamame, kimchi, and miso soup. Bibibop’s locations are primarily in the Midwest but also in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Los Angeles. The parent company, GOSH Enterprises, also owns Charleys Philly Steaks and Lennys Grill and Subs. Bibibop was named a Hot Concept by Nation’s Restaurant News in 2017, when it had just over 20 units. – LAZ

Biscuitville Fresh Southern opened its first location in 1975 in Danville, Va., though the brand’s story begins much earlier, when founder Maurice Jennings opened two Mountainbrook Fresh Bread & Milk locations in North Carolina in 1966, serving his family biscuit recipe. By 1978, there were eight Biscuitville locations, and the brand has since grown to 80 in its first two states as well as South Carolina. The menu, of course, remains focused on biscuits, as well as sandwiches, breakfast platters, sides, and sweets. Biscuitville also offers “authentic Southern cooking” via catering. – LAZ

Blue Bottle Coffee was founded as an homage to Japanese coffee culture, which involves sitting and savoring as opposed to rushing out the door. When it was purchased by Nestle in 2017, the brand was valued at $700 million and has since become a staple in West Coast coffee culture. – JF

Bluestone Lane is a café chain that serves Australian-style coffee to New Yorkers and beyond as the concept continues to climb the ranks of trendy coffee shops with 66 locations and counting. With a menu of healthy all-day breakfast and lunch options, Bluestone stands out by encouraging busy customers to take a breath and stay a while. – JF

Board & Brew is all about the surf-shop vibes, leaning into the beach culture of its primarily Southern California footprint for its décor and menu. That menu is a range of high-quality sandwiches, which can be paired with local craft brews. Board & Brew even offers a Secret Sauce, which the company claims is a “totally classified concoction that basically tastes like lightning in a bottle.” While Board & Brew has been around since 1979, it experienced 16.7% unit growth last year, closing 2023 with 28 locations. – SO

Broken Yolk Cafe was a popular independent breakfast spot with lines out the door for decades until a Broken Yolk regular — and now vice president of franchise development —convinced the owner to begin franchising in 2010. Now the breakfast franchise known for its signature benedicts is at 38 units and counting. – JF

Casual-dining juggernaut Texas Roadhouse launched Bubba’s 33 11 years ago as a sports bar concept focused on pizza, burgers, and beer. In 2023, the brand grew to 45 locations, from 40 in 2022 and 31 in 2020. Sales last year were up 16.8% year-over-year, to $247.2 million. Its parent company is pushing the gas; CEO Jerry Morgan recently told analysts that there are four locations scheduled to open this year and “a growing pipeline for the coming years.” – AK

Buona is Chicago through and through, having launched in the suburb of Berwyn, Ill., in 1981 by the Buonavolanto family and serving a range of Chicago favorites like its Italian beef sandwich, plus hot dogs, pizzas, and more. All 28 locations are located in the Chicago area, and the brand is franchising for further expansion.

Founded in 2004, this Utah-based concept specializes in sandwiches, soups, and salads — plus a range of desserts, like the signature chocolate-covered strawberry served with every meal — in a fast-casual setting. Café Zupas locations are primarily based in Western markets like Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, but with 9% unit growth in 2023, the brand is quickly growing into new parts of the country. – SO  

This fast-casual seafood concept has been around since 1998, serving grilled and fried options like salmon, whitefish, tilapia, sea bass, and catfish in plate, bowl, taco, or sandwich formats. There are also dishes like calamari, ahi poke, clam chowder, and much more. With stores mostly in the Golden State, California Fish Grill is enjoying strong growth according to Technomic, with 6.5% sales growth and 10% unit growth in 2023. – SO

This 26-year-old cannabis-themed sub shop encourages its employees as well as its customers to be themselves, resulting in a strong corporate culture that helped its sales grow by 29% last year as it opened nine new locations. – BT

Chopt Creative Salad Co. has been selling made-to-order salads since long before that was common practice. Founded in 2001 by Tony Shure and Colin McCabe, the New York City-based fast-casual concept has been chopping vegetables, topping them with a wide variety of proteins, and tossing them with dressings for decades.

City Barbeque was established in 1999 in Columbus, Ohio. In 2023, the concept reached 68 units throughout nine states and $202 million in sales, a 13.3% and 13.4% increase, respectively, according to Technomic. The company serves American barbecue across regions and styles, from St. Louis ribs to Carolina pulled pork to Nashville Hot Chicken. There are also whole meats, meats by the pound, breads, sides, and a triple chocolate cake. – AK

Condado Tacos, a Midwestern casual-dining taco chain, prides itself on creating “spaces where all are welcome, and each person brings their own individuality to the table.” The brand was founded in 2014 in Columbus and now boasts more than 40 locations across the Midwest and in surrounding regions. Each unit features a custom mural created by local artists and the company’s own art team, and each mural is unique to its location and city. The menu highlights tacos that can be customized from base to fillings, toppings, and sauces. There is also an extensive tequila and margarita menu, as well as beer, seltzer, and wine, plus non-alcoholic options. Condado was the winner of NRN’s Taco Showdown in May 2023, and the company clearly has big plans, as it recently hired former Portillo’s executive Derrick Pratt as its CEO. – LAZ

Cooper’s Hawk, the experiential restaurant that revolves around its no-fuss wine club, has seen an impressive amount of momentum in 2023, with its sales growth percentage (19.3%) nearly doubling its unit growth percentage (10.7%). Founder Tim McEnery’s brand continues to keep loyal oenophiles coming back for more. – JF

The Crafty Crab casual-dining brand is known for bibs and bags of spicy shrimp. The franchised concept was founded in 2015, starting with a single location in Florida. It has since expanded its presence 16 states. The New Orleans-style low-country boil is a feast for seafood lovers. Crafty Crab makes its own seasoning. – RR

Founder Steele Smiley launched Crisp & Green in 2016 after starting and selling the successful gym franchise Steele Fitness. Crisp & Green is a destination for more nutritious dining, with a menu featuring signature salads and grain bowls, plus the ability for guests to build their own. 2023 was a big year for Crisp & Green, as it expanded its unit count by 58.6%. – SO

Culinary Dropout, the casual-dining gastropub concept from Fox Restaurant Concepts (FRC), appears poised for a faster pace of growth as parent The Cheesecake Factory digs deeper into the FRC portfolio.

Dog Haus is the fast-casual brand with creative spins on hot dogs, sausages, burgers, and sandwiches, and big dreams of opening up hundreds of locations one day. In 2023, with new CEO Michael Montagano and momentum behind its breakfast burrito virtual concept, Dog Haus added seven new restaurants. – JF

East Coast Wings & Grill is a 34-unit casual-dining chain founded by Sam Ballas in North Carolina in 1995; the majority of its restaurants are still in that state. As the restaurant’s name implies, the menu heavily features wings alongside chicken tenders, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. East Coast Wings & Grill’s website boasts it offers “more than 55 wing flavors and 7 heat indexes, to create over 420 combinations of Buffalo-style wings.” The chain also has a smaller, limited-service prototype. – LAZ

This breakfast, lunch, and brunch chain, part of a burgeoning segment whose employees get to clock out before dinnertime, opened 12 restaurants last year and saw a 25.2% increase in sales. – BT

Emmy Squared pizza was arguably at the forefront of the Detroit-style pizza trend, and now is taking its caramelized, focaccia-like crust to new locales, with four new locations that opened in 2023 and a nearly 32% jump in sales. The Brooklyn native is well-known not only for its Detroit ex-pat pizza style, but also for burgers, Italian fare, and craft cocktails. – JF

Eureka! has 28 casual-dining restaurants in six states. In collaboration with parent Grupo Carolo, the company has 35 restaurants, which also include La Popular CDMX and The Amalfi Llama. Eureka! restaurants are known for their scratch kitchens cocktail programs. The most recent opening was Tempe, Ariz. It is the first one in the Arizona, and it opened this year. – RR

North Carolina-based Firebirds Wood Fired Grill was acquired by Garnett Station Partners LLC, a New York-based investment firm, in 2023 and spent much of the year leveraging that partnership for additional growth. The concept, known for its wood-burning grill and firebar, was founded in 2000 and finished 2023 with 60 locations across 20 states. Sales in 2023 grew 14.7% to $338 million, illustrating a demand for its signature hand-cut steaks, seafood, chicken, and ribs. During a recent interview, CEO Steve Kislow said less than half of that sales growth came from pricing, meaning the concept likely gained market share within the segment. – AK

Flower Child is a fast-casual chain from veteran restaurateur Sam Fox and his Cheesecake Factory-owned Fox Restaurant Concepts. The chain, which offers healthful items such as salads, bowls, and wraps, has 32 units, mostly in its home city of Phoenix and Dallas, but also throughout the southern half of the country, from San Diego to Miami. Founded in 2014, Flower Child — which was part of the 2019 Cheesecake Factory acquisition — was recently brought into its parent company’s supply chain and corporate system. The chain was a Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concept in 2017. – LAZ

Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão’s formula of all-you-can-eat premium meats paired with an ever-evolving market table and bottomless portions of pao de queijo seems to be working, as the brand is the best-performing steakhouse chain in the country, based on both sales and unit growth percentages. – JF

Ford’s Garage was founded in 2012 in Fort Myers, Fla., less than a mile from Henry Ford’s winter home. And yes, it is an official licensee of his brainchild, Ford Motor Company, a unique differentiator in a crowded casual-dining space that creates both nostalgia and entertainment. Each restaurant is like a mini museum paying homage to the uniquely American brand, complete with a menu kept intentionally simple to maintain quality. That menu includes its signature burgers and fries, as well as salads, soups, sandwiches, starters, “Roadsters,” comfort foods, and desserts. It is this marriage of “eatertainment” that has driven much of the chain’s growth momentum of late, according to David Ragosa, vice president of franchise sales and development.

Freebirds World Burrito was founded in 1987 and has ebbed and flowed with its growth since. The company intentionally retrenched its footprint leading up to the pandemic to focus more on its core Texas market, its four-wall economics, and its employee proposition. The result has been a return to growth. In 2023, the company added two new units and nearly $10 million in sales to finish at $119.7 million, an 8.4% increase over 2022. – AK

Gen Korean BBQ is one of several Korean barbecue concepts making their way onto Technomic’s Top 500, underscoring a growing consumer demand for the globally-inspired cuisine. The Cerritos, Calif.-based concept, founded in 2011, made its debut on Wall Street last year, offering 3.6 million shares at $12 each, and the move likely fueled even more growth. Gen Korean BBQ finished 2023 with $181 million in sales, a 10.6% increase.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, a casual-dining chain founded more than 100 years ago in Brooklyn, N.Y., is known for its coal-fired pizza baked in signature brick ovens. Styles include traditional, pesto, and white with garlic, coming in 12-inch, 16-inch, and 18-inch versions, while calzones are offered in the same sizes. There is also a 12-inch cauliflower pizza, starters and appetizers, wine and drinks, and the company's own vintage of Italian pinot grigio. Among desserts are cannoli and tiramisu, as well as New York–style cheesescake. Grimaldi’s is in 11 states, and it has one licensed location in the United Arab Emirates. – RR

The idea behind Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken came about over 60 years ago in Mason, Tenn., when Napoleon “Na” Vanderbilt cooked made-to-order, hand-battered, southern spicy fried chicken that united the small community. The company has since grown throughout 14 states, finishing 2023 with 39 locations, an 11.4% jump from its 35 locations in 2022. Sales last year were $71.5 million, a 12.4% increase from 2022. In addition to its chicken, Gus’s has established southern sides made in-house daily, sweet tea, and pies as its signatures. – AK

The Hampton Social, founded in Chicago in 2015, is a casual-dining seafood chain with locations in Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida, with more soon coming to Colorado and Georgia. The cocktail menu offers monthly features (June’s theme was rosé) along with specialty cocktails and zero-proof options. The food, meanwhile, includes shareable appetizers, seafood towers, oysters, pizzas, sandwiches, and more. The chain highlights a club for loyalty members offering exclusive events and secret menus in addition to the typical special offers and discounts. The Hampton Social is part of Parker Hospitality, which also owns Bassment, Costera, and Nisos Prime. – LAZ

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a QSR focused on signature Hawaiian plate lunches. The concept was founded in 2018 in Belton, Mo., by brothers Cameron and Tyler McNie, who spent 15 years working in their family’s Hawaiian grill business and wanted to put their own spin on the cuisine. The company launched a franchise program in late 2022 and grew its footprint by nearly 30% in 2023 accordingly, from 37 units to 48. Sales grew to $111.3 million, from $101 million the year prior. – AK

This fast-casual noodle concept, which focuses on top-quality ingredients and a signature build-your-own dessert called Honeybar, opened nine restaurants last year as sales rose by 31.1%. – BT

This fast-casual burger chain with a heavy focus on sustainability, including the use of regenerative beef and frying oil with a low carbon footprint, grew its unit count by three restaurants last year amid a sales increase of 19.5%. – BT

While the vast majority of Huckleberry’s units are in California, the family-dining brand’s theme both in menu and décor is all Louisiana. That Southern flair comes out in the chain’s benedicts, scramblers, omelets, skillets, and breakfast platters, and especially in shareables like the beignets, fried green tomatoes, and fried okra. The expansive menu extends to crepes, pancakes, waffles, French toasts, and even lunch options like sandwiches, burgers, and fried chicken. The 2007-founded concept grew its units by nearly 30% last year. – SO

Huey Magoo’s was founded 20 years ago with the intention of elevating the chicken tenders space. The company refers to itself as “The Filet Mignon of Chicken” and has leveraged that philosophy as it targets significant growth. According to Technomic, Florida-based Huey Magoo’s added 17 new locations in 2023 — a 40.5% increase — while also generating $94.4 million in sales (up 55% year-over-year). The company now spans 12 states and has hundreds of additional franchises sold in 13 states. – AK

What do oysters, hot wings, and burgers have in common? They’re all highlights on the menu at Jefferson’s, a mostly Southeast-based concept that was founded in 1991. The all-American menu at this casual-dining chain helped its sales grow by about 10% in 2023. – SO

Desserts are quickly becoming one of the most competitive categories in foodservice, and ice cream is the king of all dessert concepts. Jeni’s ice creams stand out for their egg-free formulas and indulgent flavors. Under the helm of CEO Stacy Peterson, Jeni’s scoop shops grew by nearly 20% last year. – JF

This 39-year-old casual-dining barbecue chain is owned by Roark Capital and is devoted to hickory-smoked barbecue and scratch-made sides. It opened six locations last year and grew sales by 13.5%. – BT

In the latter part of the last decade, ramen concepts began exploding in popularity in the U.S., and at the time, Nation’s Restaurant News speculated which new concepts might win the “ramen wars” as Americans continued to slurp up the rich broth with noodles. Several years later, a winner has emerged, as Jinya Ramen Bar has become the second-fastest growing full-service Asian concept in the U.S.

While most of the top 100 restaurants with fewer than 100 locations have grown organically from the emerging brand phase to the mid-sized growth phase, Jollibee is in a unique position. Nicknamed “the McDonald’s of the Philippines,” Jollibee was an international sensation when the company first came over to North America in 1998, so it did not have to grow its U.S. business from scratch.

The Juicy Crab’s big-box, nautical-themed locations are a seafood lover’s paradise, offering a wide range of favorites like shrimp, mussels, oysters, catfish, crawfish, and, of course, crab. The casual-dining concept where “Juicy Never Tasted So Good” enjoyed sales growth of 12.6% last year. – SO

Just Salad is a New York City-based fast-casual salad chain that prides itself on a focus on sustainability. Founded in 2006 by current CEO Nick Kenner and Rob Crespi, the brand is known for its reusable bowls that earn consumers a free topping every time they bring theirs in. Just Salad is a certified B Corp, carbon labels its menu, and offers a variety of plant-based options. The chain had 75 locations at the end of 2023, primarily in New York City but also up and down the East Coast and in Chicago. – LAZ

Keke's Breakfast Cafe midscale locations are open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast is served daily and a lunch menu featuring paninis, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and salads is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. As of March 27, the Keke's brand consisted of 61 restaurants, 50 of which were franchised and 11 of which were company operated. Spartanburg, S.C.-based Denny’s Corp. acquired the Keke’s brand in 2022, giving it a “Lexus-Camry” franchising strategy. – RR

Kona Grill, founded in 1998, is a casual-dining brand now owned by Denver-based The One Group, which also owns the STK concept. In March, The One Group agreed to buy Safflower Holdings Corp., which owns Benihana and RA Sushi. Founded in 2004, the company went public in 2013 by merging with a special purpose acquisition company, commonly referred to as a SPAC deal.

It’s no surprise that the fastest-growing brand by sales growth in 2023, according to the Technomic Top 500, was a coffee chain (7 Brew). But the fact that the second-fastest is a casual concept serving Korean barbecue and hot pot has certainly turned some heads.

Even more impressive is the fact that KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot had only three units open at the end of 2020, but boasted 55 at the end of 2023, with sales of roughly $300 million.

Kura Sushi is a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Japanese restaurant chain Kura Japan and is known for its revolving sushi bars and robots. The company made its debut on the domestic public market in 2019, which has helped fuel much of its growth. According to Technomic, Kura Sushi’s unit count grew to 50 units in 2023, from 40 in 2022. Sales followed, up 32.8% in 2023 to $187.4 million. The company, which has generated 12 straight quarters of positive traffic, is continuing that momentum this year, with 14 new units planned and about 300 planned in the long-term. It’s also testing new efficiencies such as robotic dishwashers, and recently launched a rewards program. – AK

Founded in Dallas in 1983, La Madeleine is a fast-casual restaurant chain serving French cuisine including quiche, sandwiches, and crepes. Each of the brand’s 90 units, located mainly in Dallas and Houston, include a French bakery and sell retail products like vinaigrettes, fruit spreads, coffee, jarred soups, and mugs. Locations also feature fireplaces with cozy seating in addition to traditional tables and patios. La Madeleine is owned by Groupe Le Duff, a French operator with bakery-cafés around the world. – LAZ

Lazy Dog is a casual-dining chain founded in 2003 by Chris Simms as he sought to re-create the “small-town mountain vibe” of the Rocky Mountains, according to the website. With 48 units at the end of 2023, mostly in the Southwest, the menu features a wide variety of fare including burgers, noodles, fish, and meat. True to its name, Lazy Dog encourages customers to bring their dogs and sit on the patio, where they can order burger or chicken bowls for their pups. The brand highlights its take-away frozen TV dinners, served in trays ready to be cooked in the oven, and also has a beer club with a variety of perks for members, including free size upgrades on beer, a monthly beer sampler, and priority seating at the restaurants. – LAZ

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, the casual-dining chain, serves Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Malnati and his wife, Jean, opened the first Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on March 17, 1971. In 1978, Lou Malnati died of cancer, and his oldest son, Marc, joined his mother in the family business. A few years later, Marc's younger brother, Rick, joined the family business as well. Lou Malnati's sold to investment firm Meritage Group in 2021. – RR

Main Event is a Texas-based eatertainment chain with bowling, laser tag, virtual reality, arcade games, and more. Acquired by Dave & Buster’s in 2022, each of Main Event’s 58 units (as of year-end 2023) has a full bar, including food like nachos, wings, and pizza. Locations, which are scattered across the country, also have private party rooms. – LAZ

Maple Street Biscuit Company was wounded by Gus Evans and Scott Moore in 2012 in Jacksonville, Fla., and expanded to Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2014. The company was acquired in 2019 by Cracker Barrel for $36 million when it had 28 company-owned and five franchised locations in seven states. The company now has 63 units. – RR

This sandwich chain focused on premium ingredients and creative menu development burst out with 14 new restaurants last year, contributing to a 22.5% increase in sales. – BT

Hawaiian plate concept Mo’Bettahs grew its sales by over 40% in 2023, while its unit count grew by over 31%. The concept was founded in 2008 by brothers Kimo and Kalani Mack, who moved from Hawaii to Bountiful, Utah, and wanted to introduce their native food in their new home. Backed by an investment from Savory Fund in 2017, the concept has since been on a steep growth spurt, with plans for much more. During a recent interview, CEO Rob Ertmann, who joined in 2021 after a long career in the industry, said he expects to have over 60 locations open by the end of this year, from about 50 locations in 2023. – AK

This health-oriented fast-casual chain that’s a part of Modern Restaurant Concepts, which also includes the Lemonade and Qdoba chains and is majority-owned by private equity firm Butterfly, opened five restaurants last year and saw a sales bump of 10.3%. – BT

Mr. Gatti’s Pizza has been around since 1964 but is now going through a bit of a growth spurt, finishing 2023 with 75 units, an 8.7% from 2022. Sales at the end of the year were $122.6 million, 17.2% up from 2022. The company achieved its biggest spring break sales numbers in its history last year and is riding that momentum toward more growth, with new franchise agreements signed across Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana, and plans to open at least 60 new locations by the end of 2026. Earlier this year, the pizza chain expanded franchise opportunities to include a convenience store option, its first non-traditional opportunity. – AK

This sandwich QSR based in Northern California has several hot and cold sandwich options, including many on its “Not So Secret, Secret Menu.” The franchise has been kicking around since 1995 but now is enjoying rapid growth, according to Technomic, with 27% sales growth and 6.9% unit growth in 2023. – SO

Nick the Greek is a fast-casual concept founded in 2014 in Northern California by three cousins: Big Nick Tsigaris, Little Nick Tsigaris, and Baby Nick Tisigaris. It was started after Baby Nick traveled back to California from a trip to Greece and realized that there was nowhere near home where he could get quality gyros. The second-generation restaurateurs decided to start their own modern restaurant concept. Nick the Greek has more than 50 restaurants in California, with the rest spread across Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. – RR

North Italia, the product of Fox Restaurant Concepts and The Cheesecake Factory, has sped up expansion in the past several years.

Ojos Locos, which translates as “Crazy Eyes,” is a casual-dining concept founded in 2010 by Rich Hicks and Todd Istre, opening its first location in Dallas. It’s a Latin version of a sports cantina, known for its cold beer and Mexican-influenced menu. The large number of televisions are tuned to sports, especially futbol. The concept has 31 locations in five states. – RR

P.J. Whelihan’s Pub & Restaurant is a casual-dining sports bar chain founded by Bob Platzer in 1983 that has been on a gradual growth trajectory lately, opening two to three restaurants annually in recent years, except in 2021.

Kathy and Patrick Terry opened their first P. Terry’s Burger Stand in 2005 in Austin, Texas, inspired by the classic burger stands of the 1950s and ’60s. The chain features all-natural burgers that are made to order. At the end of 2023, there were 32 locations, a 10.3% increase from 2022. Sales during that timeframe grew 23.1% to $81 million. Earlier this year, the chain made headlines when it announced a 25% increase in its chicken burgers without a price increase. – AK

Guests at this Southern California casual-dining concept can an enjoy an array of Mediterranean-tinged favorites, from grilled panini sandwiches to pastas to wraps. But the star of the show, of course, is the kabob entrées, which come in chicken, beef, steak, lamb, salmon, and shrimp varieties. Founded in 1997, Panini Kabob Grill opened three new locations last year and grew sales by 21.6%. – SO

Philz Coffee is a California coffee chain (with six stray Chicago units among its 70 total) with a bit of a cult following. Though it was founded in San Francisco’s Mission District in 2003, Philz founder Phil Jaber spent 25 years learning everything he could about coffee at his convenience store in the same neighborhood. The company roasts its own customized coffee blends at a facility in Oakland, Calif., using what it describes as sustainably sourced green beans from around the world. Philz also offers teas and baked goods, as well as subscriptions. – LAZ

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: An emerging brand pairing global flavors with the fast-casual service model sees opportunity to ride the consumer-trend wave to fast growth across the country.

You’d be forgiven if you thought this statement was from 2010 and not 2024. That’s because, much like a decade-and-a-half ago, the fast-casual category is exploding out of an economic shakeup — in that case the Great Recession, and today the Covid-19 pandemic — by capitalizing on trends toward more adventurous, high-quality foods served conveniently and at a value.

But while a number of brands that rode that first fast-casual wave in 2010 couldn’t maintain the momentum through the proceeding decade, Piada Italian Street Food quickly claimed ownership of the fast-casual Italian sector and held fast year after year.

Pinstripes — the bowling and bocce-themed Italian concept — is on a hot streak lately as the eatertainment category continues to evolve beyond arcades. With 23% unit growth and 41% sales growth, Pinstripes is proving that an elevated Italian menu can pair just as well with an activity-centric meal as classic bar food. – JF

Californians have enjoyed Pizza Guys now for 40 years, with access to its dozen or so specialty pies and the ability to customize their own. The menu is rounded out with calzones, chicken strips, breadsticks, and even cinnamon twists with vanilla icing. – SO

Plaza Azteca has casual-dining Mexican restaurants in 10 states, in the Northeast, with the most being in Pennsylvania with 19 and Virginia with 20. The menu is billed as a “shortcut to Mexico,” featuring such items chimichangas and enchiladas. – RR

Pollo Campero is a fast-casual chicken chain that began with a family recipe in Guatemala in 1971. Its first U.S. location opened in Los Angeles in 2002 and it has since grown to 92 domestic stores, as of the end of 2023, primarily in communities with large Latino populations. Though the menu focuses on fried and grilled chicken with sides, the chain also offers salads, sandwiches, nuggets, empanadas, and bowls. – LAZ

Portillo’s started out life as a concept built for Chicagoans serving mainly Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, but the restaurant chain has grown to 84-plus units in new locales like the Sun Belt. The restaurant famously entered the Texas market in 2023 with lines out the door and $48,000 in sales daily. – JF

Postino WineCafe is part of Lauren Bailey’s Phoenix-based restaurant group Upward Projects, and the casual-dining wine bar boasts 25 units as of the end of 2023. Most are in Arizona, though the chain has recently expanded to Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, and other cities. The menu is most well-known for its bruschetta boards, for which consumers can pick four (out of 12 total) bruschettas, and charcuterie boards, though it also features soup, salad, snacks, and paninis. Postino also has a wine program, called Wine Cult, through which members can get four bottles of wine four times a year, plus other perks, starting at $60. – LAZ

Primanti Bros. is celebrating almost 90 years of topping sandwiches with cole slaw and French fries to the Pittsburgh area and beyond. Now, after nearly a century of service, the sandwich shop is looking to the future, and has been steadily growing to 41 locations, as the brand looks to take its signature full-service sandwich shop to new locales. – JF

Rock N Roll Sushi brings its namesake product and hibachi-grilled items to the masses as it strives to take the perceived pretense out of the category. Its sales grew by 10.1% last year as its dedicated franchisees opened 6 more units. – BT

New Orleans-based Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group marked its 15^th anniversary last year and celebrated with its largest growth forecast yet. The company added four new locations, a 19% increase over 2022, while sales were up over 31%, to $63.2 million. The company, which includes the Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine banners, specializes in unique brunch creations like pig candy bacon bites, seasonal beignets, and berry Chantilly pancakes, as well as a craft cocktail menu. – AK

Runza, a quick-service concept founded in Lincoln, Neb., in 1949, features a yeast-dough pocket bread filled with a combination of beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. It was founded by Sally Everett and it remains a family-owned business with units in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The concept also serves chili and cinnamon rolls. – RR

Houston-based Salata recently launched a multiunit franchising initiative, brought its development services in house, and reduced its buildout by about 25%. These moves helped to propel the brand in 2023 by way of a 6.6% increase in unit count, to 97 locations, and a 13% increase in sales compared to 2022, to just over $119 million. It helps that the concept sits in a very popular category right now with salads and wraps, offering six salad bases, more than 50 toppings and 11 salad dressings. – AK

Saltgrass Steak House is a casual-dining steak concept under the Landry’s banner. The concept ranked No. 111 in the Technomic Top 500 with year-end sales estimated at $456 million at 92 locations nationwide. The menu features Certified Angus Beef steaks with a choice of toppings, including the original seven-spice blend. The name comes from when cattle were driven in the mid-1800s to the Texas Gulf and fattened on salt grass before heading to market. – RR

The family dining breakfast category has been hot as of late, and Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, is one of the fastest growing contenders. In 2023, Snooze updated its loyalty program and continues to roll out unique brunch items like a pancake flight that changes with the season, and breakfast pot pie. – JF

Dallas-based Super Chix started as a test from global giant Yum Brands, which then sold it in 2015 when it opened its second location. The company finished 2023 with 28 locations in 15 states, a 16.7% increase from 2022. Sales increased in that same timespan, finishing 2023 at $63.3 million, or 12.5% higher than 2022. The company offers a variety of chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads, loaded fries, and custard. – AK

This soda chain helped popularize the “dirty soda” trend in which dairy, coconut cream, or other ingredients are added to soft drinks for a customizable, flavorful, and social media-friendly experience. It opened 15 locations last year as sales grew by 39.1%. – BT

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, a fast-casual concept based in Birmingham, Ala., was founded by Keith and Amy Richards in 1998 after a trip to Greece, where they developed a love for the food and culture. Items include watermelon spinach salad and lamb burgers. Taziki’s Mediterranean ranked No. 232 in the Top 500, with U.S. sales of $169 million at the end of the year. The company ended 2023 with 93 units. The company has restaurants in 16 states. – RR

The Halal Guys started as a hot dog cart in 1990 and then pivoted to halal food to cater to Muslim taxi drivers in New York City. With its signature chicken and gyros over rice, falafel sandwiches, and sauces, the company has since grown well beyond New York and into California, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., and even international markets like Canada and the U.K., and South Korea. In 2023, the chain’s unit count increased 5.5% to 96 locations compared to 2022, while sales jumped by 11.3% to $115.5 million.  – AK

Thirsty Lion Gastropub is a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based pub with 12 locations in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas. Most locations have more than one bar, televisions, and a patio. The menu features traditional pub fare, including burgers, fish and chips, tacos, and more. The chain was founded and is owned by CEG Hospitality, which also owns eatertainment brand Grand Central Bowling & Arcade in Portland, Ore. – LAZ

This booming breakfast, lunch, and brunch chain opened nine locations last year and saw sales rise by 32% as the appeal for midday meetings and day drinking continues to grow. – BT

Dallas-based Topgolf was founded in 2000 in the UK and came to the U.S. about five years later, offering a driving-range-inspired venue featuring Toptracer technology and a robust menu featuring sandwiches, pizzas, injectable doughnut holes, craft cocktails, and more. Riding an increased consumer demand for eatertainment, Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. company finished 2023 with 89 locations around the world, a 15.6% increase over 2022, while sales followed, increasing by 22% year-over-year to $466.5 million. – AK

Phoenix-based True Food Kitchen was founded in 2008 by Dr. Andrew Weil, who was driven by the idea that food should be as healthy as possible. He created the menu based on the anti-inflammatory food pyramid, with a variety of options curated by chefs, such as salads and bowls, pizzas, burgers, and entrées. In 2023, the company grew its footprint by 4.7% to 45 locations. Sales also grew, from $261.7 million to $298.8 million, or 14.2%. – AK

Tupelo Honey is a casual-dining chain serving scratch-made Southern food and is based in Asheville, N.C. At the end of 2023, the brand had 22 locations primarily across the South and Midwest. The company, founded in 2000, prides itself on “responsibly sourced” protein and Southern hospitality, according to the website. Menu highlights include chicken and waffles, po’boys, and salads, as well as spirit-free cocktails in addition to the bar. The website also offers merch including cookbooks and clothing. – LAZ

Urban Plates is a fast-casual chain focused on healthful, scratch-made lunch and dinner options. Based in Solana Beach, Calif., Urban Plates had 19 units as of the end of 2023, all in California. Guests order at a counter and servers bring meals to the table, a shift from the chain's previous cafeteria-style format. The menu features plates, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more, including a full vegan section and an “everyday value” section. Urban Plates was founded in 2011. – LAZ

Velvet Taco prides itself on being an “ode to the liberated taco,” where tortillas fillings aren’t just limited to the classics but include scratch-made chicken tikka, spicy tofu, chicken and waffles, and more. Now blazing past 40 locations, this Texan taco joint is ready for national and international expansion. – JF

This casual-dining sports bar chain with a Cajun accent was founded by actual walk-on basketball players at Louisiana State University and has grown to 80 locations, of which it opened seven last year, when systemwide sales grew by 12%. – BT

The “WNB” in WNB Factory stands for “wings and burgers,” and indeed this QSR chain boasts plenty of both on its menu, alongside chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, fried rice, and salads. More than half of WNB Factory’s locations are in the Atlanta area, but it’s expanding across the Southeast and into the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. – SO

Ziggi’s Coffee may have started out as a small, local Colorado coffee shop, but it has soon grown to be one of the top performing coffee concepts in the nation. The company reported a whopping 28% sales growth in 2023 — double that of Starbucks and behind only Scooter’s and 7 Brew.