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Nation’s Restaurants News presents the 2020 Top 200 largest restaurant chains: U.S. unit growth
The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by U.S. unit 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. unit count.
The average rate of domestic unit growth for chains was 0.3% in the Latest Year. Performance was split across the group, with 94 of the 200 brands posting sales gains in the Latest Year, and 94 seeing sales declines. Sales were flat at the other 12.
Shake Shack took the No. 1 spot with a 36% increase in U.S. unit count, matching the 36% gain it saw a year earlier. At the bottom of the list, Ruby Tuesday’s unit count was down 31.6% in the Latest Year, following a 10.3% decline a year earlier.
For more on how results are calculated, see the Top 200 methodology.
Get the full results below.
Read more:
The largest restaurant chains in America ranked by number of U.S. units
Restaurants discover a new path to growth
The methodology behind the Nation's Restaurant News Top 200
Data compiled by Alan Liddle, senior data and events editor
RANK | CHAIN | FISCAL YEAR | % CHANGE, LATEST VS. PRECEDING | NET CHANGE, LATEST VS. PRECEDING | % CHANGE, PRECEDING VS. PRIOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shake Shack | Dec. '19 | 36.03% | 49 | 36.00% |
2 | True Food Kitchen | Dec. '19 | 28.00% | 7 | 19.05% |
3 | First Watch | Dec. '19 | 24.83% | 73 | 23.01% |
4 | Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar | Dec. '19 | 20.00% | 6 | 20.00% |
5 | MOD Pizza | Dec. '19 | 18.23% | 72 | 33.00% |
6 | Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant | Dec. '19 | 17.14% | 6 | 16.67% |
7 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Dec. '19 | 15.99% | 115 | 14.49% |
8 | Black Bear Diner | Dec. '19 | 15.00% | 18 | 13.21% |
9 | Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers | Dec. '19 | 14.25% | 57 | 13.64% |
10 | Dave & Buster's | Jan. '20 | 12.71% | 15 | 14.56% |
11 | Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers | Dec. '19 | 12.20% | 40 | 16.73% |
12 | Jersey Mike's Subs | Dec. '19 | 11.58% | 173 | 11.24% |
13 | Cafe Rio Mexican Grill | Dec. '19 | 10.66% | 13 | 7.96% |
14 | Saltgrass Steak House | Dec. '19 | 10.26% | 8 | 14.71% |
15 | Circle K | April '20 | 10.22% | 604 | 16.25% |
16 | Wingstop | Dec. '19 | 9.52% | 107 | 9.44% |
17 | Jack's | Dec. '19 | 9.26% | 15 | 10.20% |
18 | Portillo's | Dec. '19 | 8.77% | 5 | 9.62% |
19 | The Habit Burger Grill | Dec. '19 | 8.64% | 21 | 17.96% |
20 | Fogo de ChÜo | Dec. '19 | 7.69% | 3 | 5.41% |
21 | Smoothie King | Dec. '19 | 7.55% | 68 | 10.55% |
22 | Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q | Dec. '19 | 6.80% | 7 | -7.21% |
23 | Wawa | Dec. '19 | 6.72% | 56 | 5.58% |
24 | Culver's | Dec. '19 | 6.71% | 46 | 7.02% |
25 | Miller's Ale House | Dec. '19 | 6.59% | 6 | 9.64% |
26 | Firebirds Wood Fired Grill | Dec. '19 | 6.25% | 3 | 6.67% |
26 | Mastro's Steakhouse/Ocean Club | Dec. '19 | 6.25% | 1 | 6.67% |
28 | 7-Eleven | Dec. '19 | 5.95% | 472 | -0.33% |
29 | Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza | Dec. '19 | 5.74% | 17 | 24.89% |
30 | Chick-fil-A | Dec. '19 | 5.71% | 135 | 5.77% |
31 | McAlister's Deli | Dec. '19 | 5.63% | 25 | 8.56% |
32 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen | Dec. '19 | 5.50% | 129 | 6.63% |
33 | Mountain Mike's Pizza | Dec. '19 | 5.39% | 11 | 8.51% |
34 | Wetzel's Pretzels | Dec. '19 | 5.37% | 18 | -1.76% |
35 | Chipotle Mexican Grill | Dec. '19 | 5.22% | 128 | 3.77% |
36 | Panda Express | Dec. '19 | 4.99% | 105 | 4.62% |
37 | Panera Bread | Dec. '19 | 4.53% | 93 | 2.90% |
38 | Domino's | Dec. '19 | 4.25% | 250 | 5.17% |
39 | Godfather's Pizza | May '20 | 4.22% | 24 | 3.83% |
40 | Charleys Philly Steaks | Dec. '19 | 3.98% | 21 | 4.76% |
41 | In-N-Out Burger | Dec. '19 | 3.85% | 13 | 3.05% |
42 | Texas Roadhouse | Dec. '19 | 3.75% | 20 | 4.51% |
43 | Marco's Pizza | Dec. '19 | 3.62% | 32 | 1.85% |
44 | La Madeleine Country French Cafe | Dec. '19 | 3.45% | 3 | 1.16% |
44 | The Capital Grille/Burger | May '20 | 3.45% | 2 | 0.00% |
46 | Pret A Manger | Dec. '19 | 3.30% | 3 | 1.11% |
47 | Costco | Aug. '19 | 3.15% | 16 | 2.42% |
48 | Which Wich Superior Sandwiches | Dec. '19 | 3.10% | 12 | -4.21% |
49 | Starbucks Coffee | Sept. '19 | 3.00% | 438 | 4.85% |
50 | BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse | Dec. '19 | 2.97% | 6 | 2.54% |
51 | Casey's General Store | April '20 | 2.80% | 60 | 3.52% |
52 | Del Taco | Dec. '19 | 2.76% | 16 | 3.02% |
52 | Pollo Tropical | Dec. '19 | 2.76% | 4 | -4.61% |
54 | Taco Bell | Dec. '19 | 2.70% | 178 | 2.20% |
55 | Yard House | May '20 | 2.53% | 2 | 9.72% |
56 | The Cheesecake Factory | Dec. '19 | 2.51% | 5 | 1.02% |
57 | Peet's Coffee & Tea | Dec. '19 | 2.43% | 6 | 2.49% |
58 | Pizza Ranch | Dec. '19 | 2.42% | 5 | 1.97% |
59 | Seasons 52 | May '20 | 2.27% | 1 | 4.76% |
60 | Dunkin' | Dec. '19 | 2.24% | 211 | 3.04% |
61 | Sheetz | Sept. '19 | 2.22% | 13 | 4.46% |
62 | LongHorn Steakhouse | May '20 | 2.11% | 11 | 1.95% |
63 | Krispy Kreme Doughnuts | Dec. '19 | 2.00% | 7 | 3.55% |
64 | Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub | Dec. '19 | 1.89% | 2 | 0.00% |
65 | Bar Louie | Dec. '19 | 1.52% | 2 | 0.00% |
65 | Cinnabon | Dec. '19 | 1.52% | 14 | 4.76% |
67 | Ruth's Chris Steak House | Dec. '19 | 1.48% | 2 | 1.50% |
68 | Hungry Howie's Pizza | Dec. '19 | 1.45% | 8 | -0.18% |
69 | Jason's Deli | Dec. '19 | 1.44% | 4 | 1.83% |
69 | Waffle House | May '20 | 1.44% | 28 | 1.04% |
71 | Target Cafe (Target stores) | Jan. '20 | 1.30% | 24 | 1.21% |
72 | Taco Cabana | Dec. '19 | 1.18% | 2 | -1.73% |
73 | Cracker Barrel Old Country Store | July '19 | 1.07% | 7 | 1.24% |
74 | Le Pain Quotidien | Dec. '19 | 1.01% | 1 | 5.32% |
75 | Peter Piper Pizza | Dec. '19 | 1.00% | 1 | -2.91% |
75 | Rally's Hamburgers | Dec. '19 | 1.00% | 3 | 1.69% |
77 | Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom | Dec. '19 | 0.92% | 1 | 0.93% |
78 | Arby's | Dec. '19 | 0.90% | 30 | 1.40% |
79 | Captain D's Seafood Kitchen | Dec. '19 | 0.75% | 4 | 0.94% |
80 | Five Guys Burgers and Fries | Dec. '19 | 0.74% | 10 | 2.80% |
81 | Wendy's | Dec. '19 | 0.72% | 42 | 0.71% |
82 | Zaxby's | Dec. '19 | 0.67% | 6 | 2.39% |
83 | Whataburger | Dec. '19 | 0.61% | 5 | 0.49% |
84 | Olive Garden | May '20 | 0.58% | 5 | 1.18% |
85 | Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen | May '20 | 0.57% | 1 | 2.94% |
86 | Golden Chick | Dec. '19 | 0.55% | 1 | 5.78% |
87 | Fazoli's | March '20 | 0.47% | 1 | 0.94% |
88 | Moe's Southwest Grill | Dec. '19 | 0.42% | 3 | 1.99% |
89 | Red Lobster | May '20 | 0.30% | 2 | 0.00% |
90 | Huddle House | April '20 | 0.29% | 1 | -2.56% |
90 | IHOP | Dec. '19 | 0.29% | 5 | 2.03% |
92 | Jack in the Box | Sept. '19 | 0.27% | 6 | -0.62% |
93 | Burger King | Dec. '19 | 0.22% | 16 | 1.44% |
94 | Checkers | Dec. '19 | 0.17% | 1 | 1.39% |
95 | Bahama Breeze | May '20 | 0.00% | 0 | 7.69% |
95 | Bonefish Grill | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | -1.99% |
95 | Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | -1.75% |
95 | Chuy's | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 9.89% |
95 | Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 23.08% |
95 | Donatos Pizza | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
95 | Fuzzy's Taco Shop | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 8.96% |
95 | Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | -1.47% |
95 | Maggiano's Little Italy | June '20 | 0.00% | 0 | 1.92% |
95 | Sam's Cafe (Walmart) | Jan. '20 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.34% |
95 | Sarku Japan | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.46% |
95 | Stripes | Dec. '19 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.27% |
107 | Buffalo Wild Wings | Dec. '19 | -0.17% | -2 | 0.17% |
108 | KFC | Dec. '19 | -0.22% | -9 | -0.85% |
109 | Jamba Juice | Dec. '19 | -0.26% | -2 | -2.62% |
110 | Penn Station East Coast Subs | Dec. '19 | -0.32% | -1 | -0.96% |
111 | Cold Stone Creamery | Nov. '19 | -0.33% | -3 | -2.38% |
112 | Dairy Queen | Dec. '19 | -0.37% | -16 | -0.93% |
113 | El Pollo Loco | Dec. '19 | -0.41% | -2 | 1.47% |
114 | Noodles & Company | Dec. '19 | -0.44% | -2 | -3.97% |
115 | P.F. Chang's China Bistro | Dec. '19 | -0.45% | -1 | 0.91% |
116 | Chili's Grill & Bar | June '20 | -0.48% | -6 | -0.72% |
117 | McDonald's | Dec. '19 | -0.49% | -68 | -0.87% |
118 | Chuck E. Cheese's | Dec. '19 | -0.57% | -3 | -0.93% |
118 | Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches | Dec. '19 | -0.57% | -16 | 1.74% |
120 | Bob Evans Restaurants | April '20 | -0.62% | -3 | -2.83% |
121 | Einstein Bros. Bagels | Dec. '19 | -0.69% | -5 | 4.44% |
122 | White Castle | Dec. '19 | -0.81% | -3 | -2.12% |
123 | Newk's Eatery | Dec. '19 | -0.82% | -1 | 5.17% |
124 | Potbelly Sandwich Shop | Dec. '19 | -0.84% | -4 | 0.42% |
125 | Carrabba's Italian Grill | Dec. '19 | -0.88% | -2 | -0.44% |
126 | Firehouse Subs | Dec. '19 | -0.95% | -11 | 3.69% |
127 | Baskin-Robbins | Dec. '19 | -1.03% | -26 | -0.35% |
128 | Shari's Cafe & Pies | Dec. '19 | -1.08% | -1 | -1.06% |
129 | Little Caesars Pizza | Dec. '19 | -1.16% | -49 | -1.63% |
130 | Twin Peaks | Dec. '19 | -1.19% | -1 | 3.70% |
131 | Denny's | Dec. '19 | -1.20% | -19 | -1.80% |
132 | Golden Corral | Dec. '19 | -1.23% | -6 | 0.00% |
132 | Outback Steakhouse | Dec. '19 | -1.23% | -9 | -0.95% |
134 | Taco John's | Dec. '19 | -1.28% | -5 | 0.00% |
135 | Buca di Beppo | Dec. '19 | -1.30% | -1 | -2.53% |
136 | Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits | Dec. '19 | -1.32% | -10 | -0.66% |
137 | Round Table Pizza | Dec. '19 | -1.38% | -6 | -0.23% |
138 | Benihana | March '20 | -1.39% | -1 | 0.00% |
139 | Houlihan's | Sept. '19 | -1.59% | -1 | -10.00% |
140 | Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar | Dec. '19 | -1.65% | -28 | -4.99% |
141 | BRIO Italian Mediterranean | Dec. '19 | -1.72% | -1 | -9.38% |
142 | Papa John's Pizza | Dec. '19 | -1.78% | -57 | -3.47% |
143 | Qdoba Mexican Eats | Sept. '19 | -1.88% | -14 | 3.19% |
144 | California Pizza Kitchen | Dec. '19 | -1.95% | -4 | 0.49% |
145 | Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews | Dec. '19 | -1.98% | -11 | 1.28% |
146 | Hardee's | Jan. '20 | -2.00% | -37 | -0.97% |
147 | Big Boy/Frisch's Big Boy | Dec. '19 | -2.05% | -4 | -4.41% |
148 | Caribou Coffee | Dec. '19 | -2.08% | -9 | 7.20% |
149 | Corner Bakery Cafe | Dec. '19 | -2.20% | -4 | -2.67% |
150 | Sonic Drive-In | Aug. '19 | -2.22% | -80 | 0.36% |
151 | Pizza Hut | Dec. '19 | -2.35% | -176 | -0.53% |
152 | Logan's Roadhouse | Dec. '19 | -2.45% | -5 | -4.23% |
153 | Carl's Jr. | Jan. '20 | -2.50% | -28 | -3.03% |
154 | Wienerschnitzel | Dec. '19 | -2.78% | -9 | 1.25% |
155 | Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | Dec. '19 | -2.86% | -2 | 1.45% |
156 | Steak 'n Shake | Dec. '19 | -3.03% | -18 | 1.54% |
157 | Hooters | Dec. '19 | -3.23% | -11 | 0.89% |
158 | Romano's Macaroni Grill | Dec. '19 | -3.33% | -3 | -2.17% |
159 | Rubio's Coastal Grill | Dec. '19 | -3.43% | -7 | -1.92% |
160 | Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. | Dec. '19 | -3.70% | -1 | -3.57% |
161 | Church's Chicken | Dec. '19 | -3.85% | -37 | -4.86% |
162 | Au Bon Pain | Dec. '19 | -3.93% | -7 | -16.04% |
163 | Subway | Dec. '19 | -4.02% | -997 | -4.28% |
164 | Uno Chicago Grill/Pizzeria Uno | Sept. '19 | -4.26% | -4 | -9.62% |
165 | Beef 'O' Brady's Family Sports Pub | Dec. '19 | -4.46% | -7 | -8.19% |
166 | Black Angus/Cattle Company Steakhouse | Dec. '19 | -4.55% | -2 | 0.00% |
167 | Sbarro | Dec. '19 | -4.62% | -15 | 2.85% |
168 | Morton's the Steakhouse | Dec. '19 | -4.69% | -3 | -1.54% |
169 | Mimi's Bistro & Bakery | Dec. '19 | -4.94% | -4 | -5.81% |
170 | Cicis | Dec. '19 | -5.04% | -21 | -3.02% |
171 | Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza | Dec. '19 | -5.07% | -71 | -5.60% |
172 | Schlotzsky's | Dec. '19 | -5.39% | -20 | 0.82% |
173 | Legal Sea Foods | Dec. '19 | -5.56% | -2 | 0.00% |
174 | On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina | Dec. '19 | -5.59% | -8 | -2.05% |
175 | Luby's Cafeteria | Aug. '19 | -5.95% | -5 | -4.55% |
176 | Shoney's | Dec. '19 | -5.97% | -8 | 0.75% |
177 | Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill | Dec. '19 | -6.15% | -4 | -1.52% |
178 | Auntie Anne's | Dec. '19 | -6.49% | -84 | -1.22% |
179 | A&W All American Food | Dec. '19 | -6.50% | -40 | -2.23% |
180 | Hard Rock Cafe | Dec. '19 | -6.98% | -3 | 0.00% |
181 | Joe's Crab Shack | Dec. '19 | -7.14% | -4 | -11.11% |
182 | TGI Fridays | Dec. '19 | -7.89% | -33 | -4.57% |
183 | Zoes Kitchen | Dec. '19 | -8.43% | -22 | 7.41% |
184 | The Melting Pot | Dec. '19 | -8.85% | -10 | -1.74% |
185 | Dickey's Barbecue Pit | May '20 | -8.91% | -45 | -4.90% |
186 | Village Inn | Dec. '19 | -8.96% | -18 | -5.63% |
187 | Pei Wei Asian Kitchen | Dec. '19 | -9.33% | -18 | -8.96% |
188 | Tim Hortons | Dec. '19 | -9.77% | -71 | -1.49% |
189 | Fuddruckers | Aug. '19 | -10.97% | -17 | -8.82% |
190 | Famous Dave's | Dec. '19 | -11.59% | -16 | -2.82% |
191 | Long John Silver's | Dec. '19 | -12.42% | -78 | -5.28% |
192 | Sizzler | April '20 | -12.93% | -15 | -3.33% |
193 | O'Charley's | Dec. '19 | -12.94% | -26 | -3.83% |
194 | Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | Dec. '19 | -13.48% | -48 | -4.81% |
195 | Boston Market | Dec. '19 | -14.10% | -64 | -1.52% |
196 | Smashburger | Dec. '19 | -14.24% | -46 | -3.58% |
197 | Johnny Rockets | Dec. '19 | -14.29% | -25 | -7.89% |
198 | Krystal | Dec. '19 | -14.37% | -51 | -2.20% |
199 | Friendly's | Dec. '19 | -22.39% | -45 | -12.99% |
200 | Ruby Tuesday | May '20 | -31.56% | -154 | -10.29% |
Average Top 200 Unit Growth: | 0.35% | 7 | 1.87% |