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Introduction

The expansion of fast food chains in the US between 2020 and 2025 highlights a resilient and rapidly evolving quick service restaurant (QSR) industry. Despite pandemic disruptions in early 2020, major players quickly rebounded, leveraging digital ordering, aggressive franchising, and hyper-local delivery infrastructure.

Actowiz Solutions’ in-depth report combines real-time restaurant location data, geospatial mapping, and competitive analytics to evaluate the shifts in US fast food store counts, regional saturation, and brand dominance. Chains like McDonald’s, Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A continue to lead, while newcomers like Shake Shack and MOD Pizza are disrupting niche markets.

By combining restaurant location intelligence with fast food outlet distribution trends, this study reveals where, why, and how chains have expanded. The report also covers regional disparities, store formats, delivery readiness, and the impact of tech-enabled growth strategies, helping brands plan better with accurate quick service restaurant analysis.

Nationwide Growth of Fast Food Chains

From 2020 to 2025, fast food chains in the US have grown at a steady annual rate of 2.8%, even as consumer behavior shifted toward healthier and faster options. The largest brands maintained momentum by closing underperforming outlets while aggressively franchising in suburban zones and emerging metros.

This growth was primarily led by high-performing QSRs like Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, who used robust restaurant location intelligence and predictive demand models. Many focused on off-premise formats, like drive-thrus and delivery-only kitchens, a trend further accelerated by evolving fast food market trends USA.

Table 1: Total US Fast Food Store Counts (2020–2025)
Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year Store Count
2020 195,000
2021 198,200
2022 202,800
2023 207,600
2024 211,300
2025 215,000*

Analysis

US fast food store counts rose from 195,000 to an estimated 215,000 stores, revealing a net growth of 20,000 locations, with urban clusters and mid-size cities fueling the majority of this expansion.

Table 2: Top 5 Fast Food Chains by Total US Stores (2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Brand Stores
Subway 20,100
Starbucks 17,900
McDonald’s 13,800
Dunkin’ 9,500
Taco Bell 8,000

Analysis

Legacy chains continue to dominate, but newer entrants are gaining ground. Fast food chains in the US are increasingly defined by tech adoption and delivery adaptability.

Regional Store Distribution and Mapping

Regional saturation reveals where fast food outlet distribution is thriving and where whitespace opportunities still exist. Brands are using detailed restaurant chain mapping and nationwide QSR statistics to analyze underserved pockets with high potential.

In the Southeast and South-Central U.S., chains like Raising Cane’s, Sonic, and Whataburger are rapidly growing, while the West Coast sees premium-positioned brands like In-N-Out and Shake Shack solidify their niche. Meanwhile, the Midwest shows slower growth due to market maturity.

Table 3: Store Count by US Region (2025)
Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Region Store Count
Southeast 48,000
West Coast 41,200
Midwest 38,600
Northeast 34,500
Southwest 32,700
Other 20,000

Analysis

The Southeast leads in store count, driven by both population density and high fast food dependency. Chains localize menus and offers to adapt regionally.

Table 4: Drive-Thru Enabled Locations (2020–2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year % of Total Locations
2020 53%
2021 57%
2022 61%
2023 64%
2024 66%
2025 68% (est.)

Analysis

Drive-thru integration is now a strategic necessity. Nearly 7 out of 10 US fast food store counts in 2025 include drive-thrus, up from just over 50% in 2020.

Table 5: Delivery-Enabled Fast Food Stores (2020–2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year Delivery-Enabled %
2020 42%
2021 48%
2022 53%
2023 60%
2024 64%
2025 68% (est.)

Analysis

Fueled by food delivery data extraction platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats, delivery-capable locations rose significantly, aligning with mobile-first consumer habits.

Table 6: Fast Casual Chains Growth vs Traditional QSR (2020–2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year Fast Casual Growth Traditional QSR Growth
2020 3.1% 1.8%
2021 3.5% 2.0%
2022 4.0% 2.3%
2023 4.4% 2.5%
2024 4.8% 2.7%
2025 5.2% (est.) 2.8% (est.)

Analysis

Fast casual brands like Chipotle and Five Guys are growing faster than traditional giants. Their appeal lies in health-conscious menus and tech-enabled ordering.

Table 7: Average Store Size (sq. ft.) by Chain Type

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Chain Type Avg. Size (2025)
Coffee Shops 1,800
Burger Chains 2,500
Pizza Chains 2,200
Chicken Chains 2,400
Fast Casual 2,800

Analysis

Average size varies by segment. Fast casual outlets invest more in dine-in space, while coffee and burger joints optimize for compact service and delivery flow.

Table 8: Top Cities by Store Density (Stores per 10K Residents)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
City Density
Atlanta 3.5
Las Vegas 3.3
Dallas 3.1
Houston 3.0
Orlando 2.9

Analysis

Southern cities show higher per capita store density, signaling brand saturation and aggressive territorial competition.

Table 9: Store Openings vs Closures (2020–2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year Openings Closures
2020 3,100 2,500
2021 3,600 2,000
2022 4,000 1,700
2023 4,300 1,400
2024 4,500 1,200
2025 4,700 1,100

Analysis

Net openings have grown steadily, with closures declining each year. This trend underscores market confidence and smarter site selection.

Table 10: Chain Count of New Entrants (2020–2025)

Kroger-Competitors-in-the-US
Year New Chains with >100 Stores
2020 4
2021 5
2022 6
2023 7
2024 9
2025 11 (est.)

Analysis

The rise of regional chains scaling nationally is reshaping the fast food chains in the US ecosystem. Expect more challenger brands to cross the 100-store mark by 2025.

Conclusion

From regional store shifts to delivery-led expansion, the fast food chains in the US have evolved significantly. With more than 215,000 outlets and data-backed expansion strategies, US fast food store counts reflect a digitally enabled, experience-driven QSR future.

Need real-time restaurant chain data or growth analytics? Connect with Actowiz Solutions for custom location intelligence and QSR data insights!

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