Fast food represents a $238 billion and growing industry in the US, according to the market-research firm Euromonitor. But fast-food lovers aren't loyal only to legacy chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Taco Bell. In fact, these giants don't even break the top 25 in the latest ranking of the top fast-food chains in America.
These are the top 25 fast-food chains in America today:
Headquarters: Irvine, California
US sales in 2016: $807 million
Number of US restaurants: 325
Customer satisfaction rank: 1
Value rank: 1
In-N-Out Burger scores highest on customer satisfaction and value, making it the winner overall.
California's first drive-thru hamburger stand, In-N-Out Burger first opened in 1948. Nearly seven decades later, the menu remains simple, offering only five items. But loyal customers know that if they want to expand their options, they can order off the not-so-secret menu — it features items such as a protein-style burger and grilled cheese.
Headquarters: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
US sales in 2016: $741 million
Number of US restaurants: 306
Customer satisfaction rank: 3
Value rank: 5
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers focuses on only one menu item: chicken strips. But what truly keeps fans addicted is Cane's signature tangy sauce, a secret blend that customers can't get enough of.
Raising Cane's has a high customer satisfaction rating, and it's benefiting the chain; sales grew by 31% in 2016.
Headquarters: Atlanta
US sales in 2016: $6.7 billion
Number of US restaurants: 2,062
Customer satisfaction rank: 2
Value rank: 3
This Southern favorite is the largest food chain on our list and comes in first place for total sales in 2016.
The fried-chicken chain diversified its menu last year, adding a kale-and-broccolini salad, a premium coffee line, new sauces, and a barbecue-bacon sandwich in an effort to take on competitors.
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
US sales in 2016: $2.2 billion
Number of US locations: 806
Customer satisfaction rank: 17
Value rank: 11
Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson's goal was to create a burger so big that customers would have to use both hands to hold it. It would be so good that at first bite they would declare, "What a burger!" Thus, in 1950, Whataburger was born.
What started off as a burger stand, almost 70 years ago, now has 700 restaurants in the US. Though it lost out to In-N-Out Burger in Business Insider's taste comparison, it's still a favorite of many in the south.
Headquarters: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
US sales in 2016: $758 million
Number of US restaurants: 307
Customer satisfaction rank: 6
Value rank: 17
In 1937, Krispy Kreme founder Vernon Rudolph used a recipe given to him by a New Orleans chef so he could make and sell doughnuts to local grocery stores. As the fresh-baked doughnut smell wafted into the streets, customers began requesting to purchase the delicacies directly, so Rudolph cut a hole in the wall to open his first retail location.
In October 2015, the chain opened a new store in North Carolina that resembled a coffee shop, Business Insider reported. Six months later, it was bought by JAB, the parent company of coffee brands including Caribou Coffee, Peet's Coffee and Tea, and Keurig Green Mountain, for about $1.35 billion.
Headquarters: Dallas
US sales in 2016: $111 million
Number of US restaurants: 68
Customer satisfaction rank: 13
Value rank: 4
With only 68 stores, Pollo Campero is by far the smallest chain on the list. But diners adore the casual chicken spot, touting it as a solid value.
Pollo Campero, initially founded in Guatemala in 1971, stands out from other "better chicken" chains, such as Wingstop and Raising Cane's, for its authentic Latin flavors and impeccable service — meals are served on real plates with real silverware.
Headquarters: Vancouver, Washington
US sales in 2016: $885 million
Number of US locations: 1,537
Customer satisfaction rank: 7
Value rank: 2
This pizza franchise started in 1995 after the merger of two pizzerias, Papa Aldo's and Murphy's Pizza. Its pies are "take and bake," meaning they are made to order and cooked in the customer's oven at home.
Customers can pick from the signature pies like Pepperoni and Hawaiian, or they can create their own and choose the type of dough, sauce, and toppings. Papa Murphy's scores top marks for customer satisfaction on value, coming in at second place in the list.
Headquarters: Beaumont, Texas
US sales in 2016: $702 million
Number of US restaurants: 260
Customer satisfaction rank: 9
Value rank: 12
Nutrition is a priority at Jason's Deli, which serves sandwiches, salads, pastas, soups, and desserts. It has eliminated artificial trans fat, most artificial MSG, and all artificial colors, dyes, and flavors from its food over the past 10 years. It even says its soft-serve is made with 100% natural ingredients.
Headquarters: Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
US sales in 2016: $1.3 billion
Number of US restaurants: 605
Customer satisfaction rank: 23
Value rank: 29
At Culver's, diners can expect to spend a little more than they would at a run-of-the-mill burger joint, with average orders totaling about $10, according to Technomic. But it might just be worth it for the chain's frozen custard and ButterBurgers, the signature burger that gets its name from the glaze of butter that coats the bun.
This year, Culver's was ranked in second place on Restaurant Business' annual list of America's favorite chains.
Headquarters: Manasquan, New Jersey
US sales in 2016: $825 million
Number of US restaurants: 1,187
Customer satisfaction rank: 11
Value rank: 41
CEO Peter Cancro bought his first Jersey Mike's at the age of 17 after spending his summers working at the sandwich shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. A high-school senior at the time, Cancro was able to buy the shop after he took a loan from his school football coach at the time.
Jersey Mike's is now known for its subs loaded with high-quality ingredients. In 2016, Nation's Restaurant News announced that it was the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the US.
Headquarters: Athens, Georgia
US sales in 2016: $1.7 billion
Number of US locations: 825
Customer satisfaction rank: 32
Value rank: 46
Started by two childhood friends aiming to alleviate the lack of great wing joints in their Georgia hometown, Zaxby's is known for its craveable wing sauces and crinkle-cut fries.
Headquarters: Toledo, Ohio
US sales in 2016: $489 million
Number of US locations: 770
Customer satisfaction rank: 21
Value rank: 13
This cheap pizza joint first opened in Toledo in 1978. Today, it has 800 restaurants across the US, the Bahamas, India, and Puerto Rico.
The menu has grown too, and Marco's now offers sandwiches, hot chicken wings, and salads, along with multiple sauces to go with each dish.
Headquarters: Irvine, California
US sales in 2016: $298 million
Number of US restaurants: 172
Customer satisfaction rank: 10
Value rank: 21
The West Coast chain Habit Burger Grill first set up shop in 1969 in Santa Barbara, serving burgers with freshly baked buns. Since then, the chain has swelled to 175 restaurants in 10 states. It has also added chicken and tuna burgers, salads, and shakes to its menu, and it was named the best-tasting burger in America in 2014, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, beating competitors like Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Five Guys.
Headquarters: South Burlington, Vermont
US sales in 2016: $58 million
Number of US locations: 172
Customer satisfaction rank: 5
Value rank: 8
Best friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield originally had plans to create a bagel company but found that the bagel-making equipment was too expensive. Instead, they purchased an old gas station and turned it into a scoop shop.
The brand celebrated 39 years in business this March and is now known for inventive ice-cream flavors like Red Velvet Cake, Phish Food, and Cherry Garcia. Each employee is given three pints of Ben & Jerry's a day.
Headquarters: Atlanta
US sales in 2016: $163 million
Number of US locations: 836
Customer satisfaction rank: 12
Value rank: 33
Cinnabon is all about cinnamon. This popular chain was the brainchild of a father-son duo, who opened the first bakery in Seattle in 1985.
It's is known for its signature warm cinnamon roll, which comes with a rich cream-cheese frosting and is sold in various different sizes, but there are also cinnamon-flavored donuts, crispy pastry straws, and an expansive coffee menu.
Headquarters: Lorton, Virginia
US sales in 2016: $1.4 billion
Number of US locations: 1,284
Customer satisfaction rank: 14
Value rank: 62
The cult favorite started in Washington, DC, in 1986 when former bond trader Jerry Murrelland his family opened a burger joint — named after Murrell and his four sons — with the goal of cooking hamburgers and fries using the best quality ingredients.
The chain is off-limits to those with peanut allergies, as all fries are cooked in peanut oil and there are barrels of old-fashioned peanuts lining each shop’s dining area.
Headquarters: Ridgeland, Mississippi
US sales in 2016: $593 million
Number of US restaurants: 387
Customer satisfaction rank: 22
Value rank: 14
The deli specializes in local and regional American favorites, from The New Yorker with its corned beef, pastrami, and Swiss on marbled rye to the Spicy Southwest Chicken with guacamole, fire-roasted corn, and chipotle ranch sauce.
It's well known for its Sweet Tea drink, which is brewed in store and comes with free refills.
Headquarters: Atlanta
US sales in 2016: $338 million
Number of US locations: 362
Customer satisfaction rank: 15
Value rank: 18
The average customer order totals just over $10 at Schlotzsky's, according to Technomic. That's pricey for a sandwich shop, but the higher-quality offerings keep customers satisfied. Schlotzky's serves up a mix of classic and specialty sandwiches as well as offering four different types of mac 'n' cheese, flatbreads, soups, salads, and gourmet pizzas.
After more than 40 years of operation, Schlotzsky's has locations in 35 states and three foreign countries.
Headquarters: Oakville, Canada
US sales in 2016: $760 million
Number of US restaurants: 683
Customer satisfaction rank: 44
Value rank: 36
This Canadian chain, known for its coffee and donuts, has also become a favorite in the US. It was set up in 1964 by Tim Horton, a former National Hockey League legend in Canada.
Horton started off by selling coffee and donuts, which cost 10 cents each, but by the '80s he added muffins, cakes, soups, and chili into the mix. These are now staples on the menu.
The cafe also offers Cold Stone Creamery ice cream in certain locations.
Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
US sales in 2016: $362 million
Number of US restaurants: 905
Customer satisfaction rank: 4
Value rank: 30
It's not just an ice-cream parlor: Cold Stone Creamery serves up smoothies, cakes, and shakes also. The ice cream is freshly made every day in the stores and blended on a frozen granite stone, which keeps the temperature exactly the same.
Cold Stone also supports community projects, working closely with Best Buddies, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities to secure jobs and live independently.
Headquarters: Jacksonville, Florida
US sales in 2016: $683 million
Number of US restaurants: 1,037
Customer satisfaction rank: 8
Value rank: 6
This Florida-based franchise was founded in 1994 by two brothers who were former firefighters and sought to bring the enthusiasm and appetite of the firehouse to their restaurants.
Serving bold-flavor sandwiches piled high with quality meats and cheeses, this popular chain is in growth mode, having opened in Canada and now expanding into Mexico.
Headquarters: Champaign, Illinois
US sales in 2016: $2.22 billion
Number of US locations: 2,620
Customer satisfaction rank: 30
Value rank: 15
At Jimmy John's, customers can't get enough of the chain's signature subs and "freaky fast" delivery service. Jimmy John Liautaud opened the first shop back in 1983 to avoid pressure from his father to perform a stint in the Army. Papa Liautaud lent him $25,000, and if the restaurant turned a profit the first year, he wouldn't have to enlist. Sure enough, the gourmet-sub business took off, and he slowly expanded across the US — it now has the most franchises in our top-25 list.
Jimmy John's franchises commit to sustainability by partnering with suppliers that reach high standards of sustainable and ethical food practices. The chain also employs local businesses to build and maintain each JJ's store.
Headquarters: Chicago
US sales in 2016: $446 million
Number of US locations: 454
Customer satisfaction rank: 25
Value rank: 16
When Potbelly opened in 1977, it was an antique shop. The young couple who ran it decided they wanted to serve lunch to their customers, and the store evolved into a local lunch spot. In 1996, entrepreneur Bryant Keil bought Potbelly and turned it into a franchise; he stepped down as CEO in 2008 and is no longer involved.
Today, not only do all the Potbelly stores serve sandwiches and fresh cookies, but each location has its own potbelly stove.
Headquarters: Frisco, Texas
US sales in 2016: $547 million
Number of US locations: 828
Customer satisfaction rank: 16
Value rank: 37
Founded in 1990 in a California beach town, Jamba Juice was years ahead of today's ubiquitous green smoothie and healthy-living trends and remained a favorite for loyal customers over the years.
The chain's menu has expanded sine then, now offering Greek yogurt or acai berry bowls with soy milk. There's also plenty of new fruit and vegetable smoothies.
Headquarters: Sterling Heights, Michigan
US sales in 2016: $368 million
Number of US locations: 404
Customer satisfaction rank: 24
Value rank: 35
Brothers Eugene and John Jetts opened the first Jet's Pizza restaurant in Michigan in 1978, and since then it has spread to 18 US states.
Jet's claims not to scrimp on ingredients. And its pizzas aren't dirt cheap. On average, customers can expect to spend $8.05 on a meal at the chain. Its signature style, the deep-dish square pizza, comes in many varieties or customers can choose to create their own from scratch.
