Chick-fil-A Continues Its Unstoppable Reign
Walk into any Chick-fil-A location, and you’ll understand why this chicken chain has become America’s third-largest restaurant brand. The median annual sales volume for Chick-fil-A locations was $9.227 million in 2024, with the average hitting $9.317 million. That’s not just impressive – it’s mind-blowing when you consider they’re closed on Sundays. Their drive-thru locations are pulling in numbers that would make other chains weep with envy. What sets them apart isn’t just the crispy chicken or the famous “my pleasure” response – it’s the consistency that customers can count on from coast to coast. The brand is even expanding internationally, with plans to debut a record eight locations across Ontario and Alberta in 2025. With expansion plans reaching into Asia and Europe, Chick-fil-A isn’t just winning the American fast food game anymore – they’re going global.
Raising Cane’s Simple Menu, Massive Success
Sometimes doing one thing incredibly well beats trying to do everything okay. Raising Cane’s remains one of the industry’s fastest risers, adding 81 locations in the most recent year, with an average unit volume of $5.69 million, second only to Chick-fil-A among the QSR 50. Their menu is laughably simple – chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and that legendary Cane’s sauce – yet this Louisiana-born chain has cracked the code on fast food success. The company has posted an eye-popping 62 straight quarters of positive comps, spanning over 15 years. That Times Square location that opened recently? It was pacing north of $20 million for year one. When you can make that kind of money selling essentially five menu items, you know you’re doing something right. Their expansion continues to accelerate, with no signs of slowing down.
Culver’s Quietly Building a Midwest Empire
Culver’s has been on a steady growth tear, adding 262 locations since 2019, and their famous ButterBurgers are winning converts far beyond their Wisconsin roots. The chain’s average unit volume jumped from $2.453 million in 2019 to $3.487 million in 2023 – that’s roughly $1 million more per location than before the pandemic. What makes Culver’s special isn’t just their custom-made burgers or their fresh frozen custard that changes flavors daily – it’s their commitment to treating customers like family. The Wisconsin-based chain is projected to add another 51 units this year, potentially crossing into 2025 with 995 restaurants. They’re not flashy, they’re not trying to be everything to everyone, but they’ve perfected the art of the American burger joint. When food critics call you the best fast-food restaurant in America, you’re doing something very, very right.
Five Guys Maintains Premium Position
While other chains race to the bottom on price, Five Guys has doubled down on being the premium burger option. Five Guys continues to expand its footprint, known for its customizable burgers and fresh-cut fries, with emphasis on quality ingredients and customer experience cultivating a loyal fan base. Sure, you’ll pay more for a Five Guys burger than you would at McDonald’s, but customers keep coming back for those hand-cut fries and burgers made to order. Their model is simple – no freezers, no heat lamps, just fresh ingredients prepared when you order them. Five Guys ranked 40th in the top restaurant chains by revenue in 2024, which might not sound impressive until you realize they’re doing it with far fewer locations than the giants above them. They’ve proven that Americans will pay more for quality, and their steady expansion continues to validate that approach.
In-N-Out Burger’s West Coast Cult Following
In-N-Out Burger continues to expand its iconic brand with a focus on quality and simplicity, maintaining its cult following while attracting new fans with its straightforward menu and dedication to consistency. This California-born chain has achieved something remarkable – they’ve become a cultural phenomenon while staying true to their roots. Their “secret menu” alone generates more buzz than most chains’ entire marketing campaigns. In-N-Out Burger ranked 42nd among top restaurant chains by revenue in 2024, but their influence on American food culture far exceeds their size. Every time they announce expansion into a new state, it becomes local news. They’ve mastered the art of scarcity – you can’t get In-N-Out everywhere, which makes it more special when you can. Their commitment to never franchising and maintaining family ownership keeps quality consistent and prices reasonable.
Subway’s Sandwich Empire Crumbles
Once the king of fast food by sheer number of locations, Subway’s crown is slipping badly. Subway is facing closures due to increased competition and changing consumer preferences, with the brand’s reliance on franchisee-operated stores leading to inconsistent quality and recent attempts to revamp its menu and store design not being enough to stem the tide of closures. The chain that once boasted about being in more locations than McDonald’s is now quietly shuttering thousands of stores. Subway has seen years of decline thanks to growing competition and changing tastes, with the “build your own” sandwich model starting to feel old as newer chains offered fresher and more exciting options. Franchisee complaints about profitability, inconsistent food quality, and a brand image that feels stuck in the 2000s have created a perfect storm. While they’re trying to modernize with new menu items and store designs, it might be too little, too late for many locations.
Boston Market’s Rotisserie Reality Check
Boston Market was one of the most thriving fast food chains in the 1990s and early 2000s, operating over 1,000 locations at peak, but now only 14 remain open. What happened to the chain that once made rotisserie chicken and home-style sides a fast food staple? The chain has struggled with legal woes and possible bankruptcy filings, leading to Boston Markets shutting down across the country, with fewer than 20 locations open now and facing legal challenges over unpaid bills. The concept that once felt revolutionary – bringing Sunday dinner to the drive-thru – now seems outdated in a world where fast-casual chains offer fresher, more customizable options. Boston Market is struggling to maintain its foothold in the fast-food sector as competition from other chains offering similar comfort foods has intensified, with efforts to diversify its menu and modernize its dining experience not yielding desired results. For many customers, Boston Market has become a ghost from the past, a reminder of what happens when a restaurant chain fails to evolve with changing tastes.
Hardee’s Faces an Uphill Battle
Hardee’s has exhibited a pattern of regular closures over the past couple of years, closing multiple locations in 2023 in the Midwest and South, with more closing in 2024 across Central Illinois. The chain that once competed head-to-head with McDonald’s and Burger King is now fighting for survival in many markets. Several Hardee’s locations closed in 2024, including restaurants in Illinois, with at least one location already closed in 2025 in Bear, Delaware, and customers seeing closures in Champaign, Springfield, Chatham, Virden, and Monticello. Their “charbroiled” burgers and bold marketing campaigns of the past haven’t been enough to keep pace with newer, more innovative competitors. Hardee’s is facing closures due to competitive pressures and changing consumer tastes, with the brand’s traditional fast-food model being challenged by the rise of quick-service restaurants offering healthier and more diverse menus. Without a major reinvention or a return to what made them special, Hardee’s risks becoming another casualty in the fast food wars.
The fast food landscape is changing faster than ever, and what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Can you guess which chains will still be standing strong in five years?
