# The 25 Fastest-Growing QSR Chains in America Right Now > Source: https://qsr.pro/articles/fastest-growing-qsr-chains-america > Publisher: QSR Pro While the restaurant industry is projected to grow just over 4% in 2025, a select group of quick-service chains is crushing that benchmark. These 25 brands are expanding at breakneck speed, opening hundreds of locations, and reshaping the competitive landscape through smart strategies, loyal... Published: 2026-03-19T00:00:00+00:00 By QSR Pro Staff While the restaurant industry is projected to grow just over 4% in 2025, a select group of quick-service chains is crushing that benchmark. These 25 brands are expanding at breakneck speed, opening hundreds of locations, and reshaping the competitive landscape through smart strategies, loyal customers, and aggressive [franchise calculator](https://qsr.pro/tools/franchise-calculator) development. Here's the data-driven breakdown of which QSR chains are actually winning the growth game right now. ## The Methodology This ranking is based on 2024-2025 [unit growth](https://qsr.pro/glossary#unit-growth) rates, new location openings, and franchise [development pipeline](https://qsr.pro/glossary#development-pipeline) data from industry sources including QSR Magazine, Entrepreneur, Technomic, and company disclosures. Chains are ranked by percentage unit growth and total new openings projected through 2026. ## The Top 25 Fastest-Growing QSR Chains ### 1. Dave's Hot Chicken **Growth Rate:** ~30% annual unit growth **Current Locations:** 260 **2025 New Openings:** 80 planned The Nashville hot chicken concept has exploded from East Hollywood roots to $406 million in sales. With 1,000 locations in the development pipeline, Dave's is proving that Americans have an insatiable appetite for heat. ### 2. Burritobar **Growth Rate:** Massive expansion underway **Current Locations:** ~650 planned (93 new U.S. deals signed) **Target Markets:** New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Florida Canada's fastest-growing Mexican franchise is aggressively pushing into the U.S. market, riding the fast-casual boom with bold flavors and customizable bowls. ### 3. Bonchon **Growth Rate:** 3x growth target over 5 years **Current Locations:** 150 (U.S., as of Q1 2025) **5-Year Goal:** 500 U.S., 1,000 globally Korean fried chicken has gone mainstream, and Bonchon is leading the charge. Since debuting in New York in 2006, the chain has built a cult following for its crispy, double-fried chicken. ### 4. Slim Chickens **Growth Rate:** ~25% in 2024 **Current Locations:** 300+ **2025 Projection:** 600 locations **New Deals:** 150 franchise agreements, 50+ openings planned With 14 signature sauces and a southern-inspired menu, Slim Chickens is rapidly expanding across the U.S. and internationally. ### 5. Raising Cane's **Growth Rate:** 20% YoY **Current Locations:** 850+ (early 2025) **2024 Openings:** 118 new restaurants The chicken finger specialist opened more than one restaurant every three days in 2024. Its simple menu, Cane's Sauce, and strong workplace culture are fueling relentless expansion. ### 6. CAVA **Growth Rate:** 35% revenue growth **Current Locations:** ~370 **2025 Plan:** 62-66 new restaurants **2032 Goal:** 1,000 locations Fresh off a $318 million IPO, CAVA is bringing Mediterranean fast-casual to new markets like Miami, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. [Same-store sales](https://qsr.pro/glossary#same-store-sales) jumped 13.4% in 2024, and its "Connected Kitchens" AI system is improving speed and accuracy. ### 7. Wingstop **Growth Rate:** 200+ global openings planned **Current Locations:** 2,560+ worldwide **International Expansion:** France and beyond The wing chain continues its global domination, with aggressive international development complementing domestic growth. ### 8. Jersey Mike's Subs **Growth Rate:** 45% over 3 years **Current Locations:** ~2,900 **Valuation:** $8 billion (Blackstone acquisition) Jersey Mike's explosive suburban growth earned it the #2 spot on Entrepreneur's 2025 QSR list. Fresh ingredients and the signature "Mike's Way" keep customers coming back. ### 9. Port of Subs **Growth Rate:** 300+ new locations planned **Current Locations:** ~200 **5-Year Goal:** 500+ restaurants **Key Markets:** California, Minnesota, Arizona (50-unit deal), Eastern Washington/North Idaho The 1970s sandwich chain is stepping into the spotlight with massive franchise development in the West. ### 10. Tropical Smoothie Cafe **Growth Rate:** Strong franchise momentum **Current Locations:** 1,500 (2024) **2024 New Deals:** 247 franchise agreements **Franchisee Retention:** 70%+ of new stores from existing owners Health-focused consumers are driving growth at this smoothie and food concept, which benefits from high multi-unit franchisee satisfaction. ### 11. Scooter's Coffee **Growth Rate:** ~15% **Current Locations:** 800+ **2025 Goal:** 1,000+ by December **2024 Openings:** 120 new stores The drive-thru coffee model is working. Scooter's landed on Yelp's top 10 fastest-growing brands list for 2025. ### 12. Chipotle **Growth Rate:** ~10% annual **Current Locations:** 3,400+ **2025 Plan:** 315-345 new locations **Sales Growth:** 13% in late 2024 The fast-casual giant isn't slowing down. New menu items like Honey Chicken and expanded drive-thru "Chipotlanes" are keeping growth steady. ### 13. Shake Shack **Growth Rate:** 16 straight quarters of sales growth **Current Locations:** ~500 **2025 Plan:** 80 new U.S. restaurants **Long-Term Goal:** 1,500 locations **New Location AUVs:** $4 million+ Premium burgers still have room to run. Shake Shack's strong [unit economics](https://qsr.pro/glossary#unit-economics) are fueling confident expansion. ### 14. Sweetgreen **Growth Rate:** From 250 to 921 locations **Current Locations:** 921 (across 24 states, March 2025) **2025 Plan:** 40 new openings **Innovation:** ~50% with automated "Infinite Kitchen" The salad chain is scaling through automation and new menu items like Ripple Fries. A revamped SG Rewards program is driving repeat visits. ### 15. Culver's **Growth Rate:** Steady, quality-focused **Current Locations:** 997 (early 2025) **2025 Plan:** 55 new restaurants **Milestone:** Approaching 1,000 locations The Wisconsin ButterBurger chain is nearing a major milestone while maintaining its reputation for quality and Midwestern hospitality. ### 16. Dunn Brothers Coffee **Growth Rate:** 5x expansion plan **Current Locations:** 50 **5-Year Plan:** 250+ stores across multiple states **Target Markets:** Texas and beyond This Minnesota-based roaster is breaking out of the Midwest with an ambitious multi-state expansion. ### 17. Qdoba **Growth Rate:** Accelerating **Current Locations:** ~800 **2023 Openings:** 14 **2024 Openings:** 50 **2025 Plan:** 70 **2033 Goal:** 1,500 locations **Sales Growth:** 6.1% (2023), 7.7% (2024) After years of retrenchment, Qdoba is back on offense. High-traffic locations and multi-unit franchisees are driving a turnaround. ### 18. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen **Growth Rate:** Solid global expansion **Current Locations:** 3,900+ globally **2024 Openings:** 126 new stores **Sales Lift:** 4.2% **Innovation:** "Easy to Run" operations initiative The fried chicken chain continues expanding into airports, campuses, and international markets. ### 19. Whataburger **Growth Rate:** 80 new locations planned **Current Locations:** 1,000+ **Target Markets:** Georgia, Alabama **Strategy:** Expanding beyond Texas The Texas icon is going national, bringing made-to-order burgers to new Southern markets. ### 20. Bojangles **Growth Rate:** Western expansion **Current Locations:** 800+ **Markets:** 17 states **New Territory:** California, Nevada (first Las Vegas opening) The Southern chicken and biscuit chain is crossing into the West for the first time. ### 21. Marco's Pizza **Growth Rate:** Strong franchise momentum **Current Locations:** 1,200+ **2024 Activity:** 70 new stores, 86 franchise deals **International:** 50 planned Mexico City locations **Recognition:** Entrepreneur 2025 Franchise 500 Top 50 Fresh Italian-style pizza is winning. Multi-unit owners and non-traditional venues (airports) are fueling growth. ### 22. MOD Pizza **Growth Rate:** Refranchising strategy underway **Current Locations:** 485+ (across 28 states) **Owner:** Elite Restaurant Group (2024 acquisition) **Strategy:** New markets, flexible formats After acquisition, MOD is pursuing aggressive refranchising and store format innovation. ### 23. Chick-fil-A **Growth Rate:** Industry leader **Current Locations:** ~3,000+ **2024 Revenue:** $12.5 billion **Net Income:** $2.1 billion The chicken sandwich king continues steady expansion while maintaining industry-leading unit volumes. ### 24. Starbucks (included for [comparison tool](https://qsr.pro/compare)) **Growth Rate:** Moderate **Current Locations:** 16,000+ U.S. **Strategy:** International expansion, format innovation While not a traditional QSR, Starbucks' footprint expansion continues globally. ### 25. Five Guys **Growth Rate:** Selective, quality-focused **Current Locations:** 1,700+ **Strategy:** Controlled franchise growth The premium burger chain maintains disciplined expansion, prioritizing quality over speed. ## What's Driving QSR Growth in 2026? ### The Categories Winning Big According to Placer.ai data, three categories dominated foot traffic growth in 2025: - **Coffee chains** - Drive-thru convenience meets daily habit - **Chicken concepts** - Protein-forward menus and flavor innovation - **Mexican-inspired chains** - Customization and bold flavors ### The Strategies That Work 1. **Franchising at scale** - The top growers are franchise-driven, with multi-unit operators leading expansion 2. **[Off-premise](https://qsr.pro/glossary#off-premise) optimization** - Drive-thru, delivery, and pickup capabilities are table stakes 3. **Technology integration** - AI ordering, automated kitchens, and app-based loyalty programs 4. **Non-traditional venues** - Airports, universities, and travel centers offer new growth vectors 5. **International expansion** - Mature domestic chains are finding growth overseas ### The Numbers Don't Lie The U.S. restaurant industry is projected to grow from $905 billion (2023) to $1.77 trillion by 2030. QSR brands are capturing an outsized share of that growth through speed, value, and convenience. While legacy giants like McDonald's and Burger King continue to dominate by sheer size, these 25 fast-growing chains are reshaping the competitive landscape one new location at a time. The QSR industry isn't just growing. It's being rebuilt by chains that understand what today's consumers want: speed, quality, flavor, and experience. The brands on this list are the ones making it happen. --- ## Related Reading - [Raising Cane's Hits 1,000 Restaurants and Is Not Slowing Down: Inside the Fastest-Growing QSR Story in America](https://qsr.pro/articles/raising-canes-1000-restaurants-milestone-fastest-growing-qsr-2026) - [Jersey Mike's: How a Sub Shop Became America's Fastest-Growing Franchise](https://qsr.pro/articles/jersey-mikes-fastest-growing-franchise) - [Buc-ee's: How a Gas Station Became America's Most Beloved QSR Destination](https://qsr.pro/articles/bucees-gas-station-qsr-destination) - [How International QSR Innovations Are Coming to America](https://qsr.pro/articles/international-qsr-innovations-coming-to-america) Category: [Industry Analysis](https://qsr.pro/categories/industry)