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The 10 biggest limited-service chicken restaurants in AmericaThe 10 biggest limited-service chicken restaurants in America

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

October 10, 2023

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Church's Texas Chicken Top 500

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This year’s ranking of limited-service chicken restaurants holds a few surprises: A swap in the No.2 spot, and a struggling chain hanging on to its position.

Every year, Nation’s Restaurant News and Datassential partner to present The Top 500, the definitive sales ranking of restaurants in America.

One element of this data is restaurant segment, meaning each can be broken down by systemwide domestic sales, units, and estimated sales per unit. NRN has been analyzing the Top 10 restaurant chains in each segment by sales.

The 10 biggest limited-service chicken restaurants, out of 28 on the full Top 500 list, are the same 10 as they were last year — albeit in a different order, specifically in the Top 5.

Seven of these chains grew domestic systemwide sales in 2022, one as much as 31.2%, and the same seven added net new units. Eight grew their estimated sales per unit. KFC was the only chain to see each of those metrics fall.

Boston Market is hanging onto its ranking despite its struggles in recent years, though its sales fell and it brought in roughly $359 million less than the chain above it.

Click through the gallery to meet the 10 biggest limited-service chicken restaurants in America.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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