The United States’ largest fast-food chains generated roughly $400 billion in revenue in 2021, with one major chain alone raking in a whopping $46 billion.
New data from Quick Service Restaurant Magazine revealed that the top fast food chains in the US include quick service restaurants like Taco Bell, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks and Dunkin’.
The country’s most popular fast food chain has just over 13,000 locations across the country and opened in 1940. The first branch was opened in 1955.
In addition, the chain has achieved tremendous commercial success worldwide and is currently present in more than 100 countries.
Do you think you know which chain it is? Keep scrolling to find out if you’re right.
Chicck-Fil-A is one of the most popular fast food chains on the list
Starbucks also made the top 10 list in the new research data
At the bottom of the list, White Castle ranked No. 50 and grossed around $615 million
Top 10 Fast Food Chains
1. McDonald’s – $46 billion
2. Starbucks – $24.3 billion
3. Chick-Fil-A – $16.7 billion
4. Taco Bell – $12.6 billion
5. Wendy’s – $11.1 billion
6. Dunkin’ – $10.4 billion
7. Burger King – $10.0 billion
8. Subway – $9.4 billion
9. Domino’s – $8.6 billion
10. Chipotle – $7.5 billion
Bottom 10 Chains
1. White Castle – $615 million
2. Moe’s – $661 million
3. Baskin-Robins – $686 million
4. Tim Hortons – $687 million
5. Freddy’s Custard – $759 million
6. Shake Shack – $775 million
7. Church’s Chicken – $776 million
8. Papa Murphy’s – $809 million
9. Qdoba = $835 million
10. McAlister’s Deli – $869 million
If your best guess was McDonald’s then you were right.
Ranked number one on the Top 50 list, McDonald’s has a significant number of locations across the country, with more than 12,000 franchised stores.
The report also states that the iconic burger joint owns and operates nearly 1,000 of its own stores.
Second behind McDonald’s is Starbucks, which had just over $24 billion in revenue in 2021.
Starbucks and Dunkin’ both also made the top 10 winnings list, with Dunkin’ coming in at number 6 and grossing $10.4 billion.
However, the second most profitable grocery chain is Chick-Fil-A, which ranks third on the overall list.
Though the company operates fewer than 3,000 locations nationwide, the company reported a whopping $16.7 billion in sales of its popular chicken products in 2021.
Closing the top ten list are Taco Bell at #4 ($12.6 billion), Wendy’s at #5 ($11.1 billion), Burger King at #7 ($10 billion) , Subway at #8 ($9.4 billion), and Domino’s at #9 ($8.6 billion) and Chipotle at #10 ($7.5 billion).
At the bottom of the list, at number 50, was White Castle, which along with Moe’s and Baskin Robins grossed around $615 million.
The list of total sales is broadly consistent with the ranking of fast food restaurants currently operating the most franchised locations, with one major exception.
These are the ten largest fast food chains in the United States by earnings in 2021
A breakdown of fast food chains in the United States by profit
Unsurprisingly, McDonald’s was the country’s most popular fast-food chain, with 2021 profits approaching $50 billion
Chipotle, which was 10th on the list for most sales, ranked 16th by number of locations with a meager 3,100 stores in the US
These are the largest fast food chains in the country by number of locations
The top selling fast food location in the United States is Subway.
Known for offering healthier options, the sandwich shop has more than 20,000 stores nationwide.
Just behind Subway is Starbucks with 15,966 stores, then McDonald’s with 13,515 and Dunkin’ with just under 10,000.
Hunt Brothers Pizza — which operates primarily in the Midwest and South — is just below Dunkin’ with 9,240 locations.
Taco Bell, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Wendy’s and Dairy Queen all top the top five fast food chains with between 8,000 and 4,300 locations.
Chipotle, which was 10th on the list for most sales, ranked 16th by number of locations with a meager 3,100 stores in the US