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The 10 biggest U.S. limited-service restaurants that fall into ‘other’ segmentsThe 10 biggest U.S. limited-service restaurants that fall into ‘other’ segments

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

November 29, 2023

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We’ve arrived at our final Top 500 analysis of 2023, a look at the limited-service restaurant chains that don’t fit neatly into established segments (salad/healthful, pizza, Mexican, dessert/snack, chicken, burger, bakery/café, coffee, or sandwich).

We’ve arrived at our final Top 500 analysis of 2023, a look at the limited-service restaurant chains that don’t fit neatly into established segments (salad/healthful, pizza, Mexican, dessert/snack, chicken, burger, bakery/café, coffee, or sandwich).

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 “other” limited-service chains encompass Asian cuisines, seafood, pasta, Barbecue (and Hawaiian barbecue!), and Mediterranean food.

Nine of the restaurants on this list grew systemwide sales last year, one by 46.9%. The chains are largely the same as they were last year, but with some movement in No. 2-5, and with Zoës Kitchen swapped for CAVA (the former’s units were all converted to the latter after a 2018 acquisition).

Click through the gallery to see the Top 10 “other” limited-service restaurant chains.

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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