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The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. systemwide sales growth

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The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. systemwide sales growth

The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. systemwide sales growth

The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. systemwide sales growth

NRN’s annual Top 200 report tracks the performance of the country’s largest restaurant chains. Here, the group is ranked by growth in Latest-Year U.S. systemwide sales.

The average systemwide sales growth rate of Top 200 chains was 1.4% in the Latest Year, down from a growth rate of 3.2% a year earlier. 

The majority of brands, or 120, saw sales increase in the Latest Year, while the remaining 80 saw declines. Topping the list this year was Shake Shack, which had 34.5% Latest Year sales gain, following a 27.3% increase a year earlier. At the other end of the spectrum, Latest-Year sales were down 26.6% at Ruby Tuesday, following a 5.2% decrease a year earlier.

Among the fastest-growing chains by sales, chicken chains were standouts. In fact, four of the top 10 — Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Chick-fil-A, Wingstop and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — have chicken as a core menu item. 

For more on how results are calculated, see the Top 200 methodology

Get the full results below.

Read more:

Top 200 posts sales growth as coronavirus’ full impact looms

Meet the 10 fastest-growing restaurant chains in America

Convenience and community are the new key to growing restaurant sales

The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. systemwide sales

The methodology behind the Nation's Restaurant News Top 200

RANK

PRECEDING YEAR RANK

CHAIN

FISCAL YEAR

% CHANGE, LATEST VS. PRECEDING

% CHANGE, PRECEDING VS. PRIOR

1

3

Shake Shack

Dec. '19

34.52%

27.31%

2

2

First Watch

Dec. '19

30.44%

33.04%

3

1

MOD Pizza

Dec. '19

26.21%

44.70%

4

6

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Dec. '19

23.89%

22.46%

5

8

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Dec. '19

22.05%

20.25%

6

4

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

Dec. '19

21.19%

27.08%

7

12

Chick-fil-A

Dec. '19

21.14%

16.68%

8

14

Wingstop

Dec. '19

20.24%

15.71%

9

11

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Dec. '19

19.94%

16.75%

10

63

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Dec. '19

18.35%

5.12%

11

5

The Habit Burger Grill

Dec. '19

16.91%

22.86%

12

9

Jersey Mike's Subs

Dec. '19

16.67%

17.82%

13

13

Black Bear Diner

Dec. '19

15.36%

16.18%

14

35

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Dec. '19

14.95%

8.95%

15

31

Culver's

Dec. '19

13.89%

10.52%

16

7

True Food Kitchen

Dec. '19

13.77%

22.17%

17

20

Saltgrass Steak House

Dec. '19

12.99%

12.85%

18

16

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Dec. '19

12.89%

15.50%

19

80

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House

Dec. '19

12.79%

3.57%

20

10

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza

Dec. '19

12.37%

17.06%

21

19

Panda Express

Dec. '19

12.08%

13.04%

22

37

Mountain Mike's Pizza

Dec. '19

11.60%

8.45%

23

54

Wawa

Dec. '19

11.51%

6.08%

24

32

Smoothie King

Dec. '19

11.04%

10.41%

25

33

Texas Roadhouse

Dec. '19

10.94%

9.55%

26

43

Jack's

Dec. '19

10.92%

7.67%

27

36

Miller's Ale House

Dec. '19

10.32%

8.87%

28

26

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Dec. '19

10.20%

11.22%

29

49

Costco

Aug. '19

10.11%

6.71%

30

24

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Dec. '19

9.14%

11.48%

31

57

Taco Bell

Dec. '19

9.00%

5.83%

32

41

Starbucks Coffee

Sept. '19

8.76%

7.85%

33

30

Golden Chick

Dec. '19

8.20%

10.62%

34

27

Charleys Philly Steaks

Dec. '19

8.10%

10.97%

35

51

Zaxby's

Dec. '19

8.00%

6.56%

36

47

Pizza Ranch

Dec. '19

7.88%

6.79%

37

69

Panera Bread

Dec. '19

7.73%

4.45%

38

55

Sheetz

Sept. '19

7.50%

6.06%

39

106

Hungry Howie's Pizza

Dec. '19

7.27%

1.69%

40

29

Dave & Buster's

Jan. '20

7.26%

10.70%

41

73

In-N-Out Burger

Dec. '19

7.14%

4.18%

42

42

Chuy's

Dec. '19

7.08%

7.74%

43

25

Domino's

Dec. '19

6.87%

11.25%

44

91

Peet's Coffee & Tea

Dec. '19

6.59%

2.85%

45

23

Fogo de ChÜo

Dec. '19

5.96%

11.74%

46

58

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Dec. '19

5.94%

5.72%

47

68

Cinnabon

Dec. '19

5.93%

4.67%

47

84

McAlister's Deli

Dec. '19

5.93%

3.29%

49

75

Qdoba Mexican Eats

Sept. '19

5.86%

4.05%

50

56

Whataburger

Dec. '19

5.80%

6.03%

51

123

Sonic Drive-In

Aug. '19

5.42%

0.87%

52

44

Portillo's

Dec. '19

5.41%

7.59%

53

64

Caribou Coffee

Dec. '19

5.24%

5.05%

54

21

Fuzzy's Taco Shop

Dec. '19

5.23%

12.73%

55

76

Dunkin'

Dec. '19

5.03%

3.88%

56

53

Sarku Japan

Dec. '19

5.00%

6.17%

57

100

McDonald's

Dec. '19

4.90%

2.35%

58

48

Marco's Pizza

Dec. '19

4.81%

6.77%

59

61

Wienerschnitzel

Dec. '19

4.74%

5.22%

60

182

Rally's Hamburgers

Dec. '19

4.71%

-5.55%

62

34

Pret A Manger

Dec. '19

4.20%

9.52%

63

109

Wendy's

Dec. '19

4.18%

1.53%

64

70

Del Taco

Dec. '19

4.01%

4.32%

65

39

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Dec. '19

3.99%

8.25%

66

62

Wetzel's Pretzels

Dec. '19

3.87%

5.18%

67

40

Twin Peaks

Dec. '19

3.78%

7.88%

68

79

La Madeleine Country French Cafe

Dec. '19

3.76%

3.65%

69

18

Mastro's Steakhouse/Ocean Club

Dec. '19

3.68%

13.34%

70

28

Le Pain Quotidien

Dec. '19

3.60%

10.92%

71

133

Dairy Queen

Dec. '19

3.09%

0.34%

72

124

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Dec. '19

3.05%

0.78%

73

87

El Pollo Loco

Dec. '19

3.01%

3.16%

74

22

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Dec. '19

2.84%

12.48%

75

108

Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits

Dec. '19

2.73%

1.58%

76

85

Burger King

Dec. '19

2.67%

3.28%

76

97

Target Cafe (Target stores)

Jan. '20

2.67%

2.43%

76

90

The Cheesecake Factory

Dec. '19

2.67%

2.93%

79

131

KFC

Dec. '19

2.53%

0.38%

80

144

Cold Stone Creamery

Nov. '19

2.43%

-1.02%

81

92

Hooters

Dec. '19

2.40%

2.82%

82

107

White Castle

Dec. '19

2.21%

1.63%

83

46

Casey's General Store

April '20

2.19%

6.83%

84

140

Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores

Dec. '19

2.09%

-0.38%

86

141

Chuck E. Cheese's

Dec. '19

1.74%

-0.55%

87

86

Donatos Pizza

Dec. '19

1.56%

3.23%

88

17

Firehouse Subs

Dec. '19

1.53%

14.83%

89

93

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Dec. '19

1.48%

2.70%

90

82

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

July '19

1.34%

3.48%

91

129

Captain D's Seafood Kitchen

Dec. '19

1.22%

0.40%

92

103

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Dec. '19

1.17%

2.11%

93

152

Carl's Jr.

Jan. '20

1.13%

-1.73%

93

112

Stripes

Dec. '19

1.13%

1.41%

95

135

Jack in the Box

Sept. '19

1.11%

-0.09%

96

122

Denny's

Dec. '19

1.09%

0.92%

97

113

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Dec. '19

1.02%

1.37%

98

181

Sam's Cafe (Walmart)

Jan. '20

1.01%

-5.53%

99

110

Little Caesars Pizza

Dec. '19

0.93%

1.45%

100

127

Outback Steakhouse

Dec. '19

0.92%

0.64%

101

77

IHOP

Dec. '19

0.88%

3.86%

102

138

Auntie Anne's

Dec. '19

0.86%

-0.30%

103

99

Penn Station East Coast Subs

Dec. '19

0.85%

2.40%

104

136

Round Table Pizza

Dec. '19

0.83%

-0.18%

105

97

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom

Dec. '19

0.82%

2.43%

106

149

Golden Corral

Dec. '19

0.77%

-1.45%

107

132

Noodles & Company

Dec. '19

0.68%

0.36%

108

156

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Dec. '19

0.65%

-2.37%

109

121

Baskin-Robbins

Dec. '19

0.53%

0.93%

110

114

Taco John's

Dec. '19

0.48%

1.23%

111

200

Romano's Macaroni Grill

Dec. '19

0.41%

-14.48%

111

170

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q

Dec. '19

0.41%

-3.84%

113

89

Peter Piper Pizza

Dec. '19

0.38%

3.06%

114

128

Pizza Hut

Dec. '19

0.36%

0.49%

115

102

Newk's Eatery

Dec. '19

0.31%

2.22%

116

142

Shari's Cafe & Pies

Dec. '19

0.24%

-0.70%

117

172

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches

Dec. '19

0.15%

-4.02%

118

120

Legal Sea Foods

Dec. '19

0.12%

0.99%

119

115

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub

Dec. '19

0.06%

1.19%

120

129

California Pizza Kitchen

Dec. '19

0.03%

0.40%

121

66

Godfather's Pizza

May '20

-0.04%

4.86%

122

45

Arby's

Dec. '19

-0.05%

6.96%

123

165

Corner Bakery Cafe

Dec. '19

-0.25%

-3.44%

124

94

Fazoli's

March '20

-0.34%

2.59%

125

191

Buca di Beppo

Dec. '19

-0.35%

-7.19%

126

117

Moe's Southwest Grill

Dec. '19

-0.50%

1.02%

127

126

Sbarro

Dec. '19

-0.51%

0.65%

128

150

Checkers

Dec. '19

-0.55%

-1.47%

129

71

Benihana

March '20

-0.62%

4.27%

130

157

Big Boy/Frisch's Big Boy

Dec. '19

-0.63%

-2.44%

131

15

Circle K

April '20

-0.77%

15.61%

132

174

Bonefish Grill

Dec. '19

-0.86%

-4.35%

133

185

Rubio's Coastal Grill

Dec. '19

-0.90%

-5.75%

134

171

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Dec. '19

-0.99%

-4.00%

135

78

Morton's the Steakhouse

Dec. '19

-1.07%

3.79%

136

148

Beef 'O' Brady's Family Sports Pub

Dec. '19

-1.15%

-1.44%

137

81

Bar Louie

Dec. '19

-1.36%

3.51%

138

134

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches

Dec. '19

-1.65%

0.04%

139

166

Subway

Dec. '19

-2.02%

-3.61%

140

143

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Dec. '19

-2.19%

-1.01%

141

163

Tim Hortons

Dec. '19

-2.31%

-3.42%

142

83

Black Angus/Cattle Company Steakhouse

Dec. '19

-2.60%

3.31%

143

196

Papa John's Pizza

Dec. '19

-2.70%

-9.78%

144

168

Logan's Roadhouse

Dec. '19

-2.71%

-3.77%

145

161

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews

Dec. '19

-2.76%

-3.08%

146

96

Jamba Juice

Dec. '19

-2.90%

2.45%

148

160

Hardee's

Jan. '20

-3.00%

-3.03%

149

178

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Dec. '19

-3.15%

-5.24%

150

144

Buffalo Wild Wings

Dec. '19

-3.30%

-1.02%

151

125

Pollo Tropical

Dec. '19

-3.31%

0.66%

152

183

Uno Chicago Grill/Pizzeria Uno

Sept. '19

-3.32%

-5.61%

153

38

Zoes Kitchen

Dec. '19

-3.34%

8.35%

154

154

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Dec. '19

-3.50%

-2.10%

155

59

Taco Cabana

Dec. '19

-3.70%

5.65%

156

189

Pei Wei Asian Kitchen

Dec. '19

-3.97%

-6.59%

157

173

Church's Chicken

Dec. '19

-4.14%

-4.10%

158

139

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill

Dec. '19

-4.57%

-0.33%

159

116

Jason's Deli

Dec. '19

-4.74%

1.08%

160

151

Schlotzsky's

Dec. '19

-4.87%

-1.58%

161

194

Mimi's Bistro & Bakery

Dec. '19

-5.00%

-9.13%

162

179

Hard Rock Cafe

Dec. '19

-5.06%

-5.37%

163

175

Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza

Dec. '19

-5.21%

-4.38%

164

118

Krystal

Dec. '19

-5.54%

1.01%

165

190

Smashburger

Dec. '19

-5.80%

-6.95%

166

187

Cicis

Dec. '19

-5.86%

-5.83%

166

65

Olive Garden

May '20

-5.86%

5.02%

168

158

Shoney's

Dec. '19

-5.91%

-2.48%

169

192

BRIO Italian Mediterranean

Dec. '19

-6.03%

-8.73%

169

52

LongHorn Steakhouse

May '20

-6.03%

6.25%

171

180

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Dec. '19

-6.09%

-5.47%

172

198

Famous Dave's

Dec. '19

-6.27%

-10.40%

173

72

Huddle House

April '20

-6.33%

4.21%

174

166

Houlihan's

Sept. '19

-7.33%

-3.61%

175

153

Luby's Cafeteria

Aug. '19

-7.47%

-1.87%

176

164

Bob Evans Restaurants

April '20

-8.21%

-3.43%

177

197

Johnny Rockets

Dec. '19

-8.38%

-9.85%

178

176

Dickey's Barbecue Pit

May '20

-9.12%

-4.85%

179

119

Red Lobster

May '20

-9.43%

1.00%

180

169

Joe's Crab Shack

Dec. '19

-9.44%

-3.80%

181

193

Au Bon Pain

Dec. '19

-9.63%

-8.76%

182

147

Boston Market

Dec. '19

-10.04%

-1.33%

183

188

Fuddruckers

Aug. '19

-10.56%

-6.53%

184

50

Yard House

May '20

-11.44%

6.59%

185

95

Chili's Grill & Bar

June '20

-11.48%

2.49%

186

67

The Capital Grille/Burger

May '20

-11.49%

4.70%

187

60

The Melting Pot

Dec. '19

-11.91%

5.64%

188

184

TGI Fridays

Dec. '19

-13.11%

-5.72%

189

195

Long John Silver's

Dec. '19

-13.15%

-9.26%

189

111

Seasons 52

May '20

-13.15%

1.44%

191

155

Sizzler

April '20

-13.65%

-2.18%

192

186

O'Charley's

Dec. '19

-13.90%

-5.80%

193

159

Steak 'n Shake

Dec. '19

-15.32%

-3.01%

194

136

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

May '20

-16.72%

-0.18%

195

104

Waffle House

May '20

-17.21%

1.98%

196

74

Bahama Breeze

May '20

-17.81%

4.10%

197

199

Friendly's

Dec. '19

-17.82%

-11.11%

198

105

Maggiano's Little Italy

June '20

-18.21%

1.79%

199

162

Village Inn

Dec. '19

-18.89%

-3.12%

200

177

Ruby Tuesday

May '20

-26.56%

-5.16%

Average Top 200 Sales Growth Rate:

1.38%

3.25%