Fast-Growing Restaurant Brands: 3-Year Growth Rate Rankings

Rapid Growth Concepts: 3-Year Growth Rate Analysis

RestaurantData.com analyzed more than 135 restaurant concepts to identify the brands with the highest U.S. location growth from year-end 2020 through year-end 2023. The analysis draws on Franchise Disclosure Documents, brand websites, financial records, and direct research.

Key finding: Dave’s Hot Chicken recorded the highest percentage increase, growing from 7 U.S. locations to 169, a gain of 2,314%. Crumbl added the largest number of locations in the group, increasing from 142 to 970, or 828 additional locations.

Key Growth Trends

• The three highest growth rates belonged to Dave’s Hot Chicken, 7 Brew, and Crumbl.
• Dave’s Hot Chicken and 7 Brew each expanded by more than 2,000% from relatively small 2020 location bases.
• Crumbl produced the largest absolute increase, adding 828 U.S. locations during the three-year period.
• Chicken, coffee and tea, and bakery or café concepts accounted for eight of the 13 brands listed.
• Every concept in the ranking operates primarily in a counter-service format.

Fastest-Growing Restaurant Brands by 3-Year Location Growth

The table ranks the leading concepts by percentage growth and shows year-end 2020 and year-end 2023 U.S. location counts, the net increase in locations, and the three-year growth rate.

Source: RestaurantData.com · FDD analysis, brand websites & financial data · 135+ concepts evaluated · U.S. locations only · Y/E 2020 vs. Y/E 2023

* Three-year growth rate calculated from year-end 2020 to year-end 2023 U.S. location counts as reported in Franchise Disclosure Documents and brand websites. All concepts listed are counter-service restaurant formats. RestaurantData.com analysis of more than 135 concepts.

Research Methodology

RestaurantData.com reviewed location counts reported in Franchise Disclosure Documents, brand websites, financial records, and other primary sources. The comparison uses year-end U.S. location totals for 2020 and 2023. Percentage growth was calculated from the change in reported locations over the three-year period. More than 135 concepts were evaluated before the 13 brands shown above were selected.

Interpreting the Growth Rates

Percentage growth is influenced by starting size. Dave’s Hot Chicken and 7 Brew began the period with fewer than 10 locations, so each new opening produced a large percentage increase. Crumbl combined a larger starting base with the largest absolute gain in the ranking, adding 828 locations.

The results also show the concentration of expansion among counter-service concepts. Chicken, coffee and tea, bakery and café, Mexican, burger, smoothie, and beverage brands can generally add locations through repeatable operating formats and standardized site requirements. The ranking describes verified location growth during the period; it is not a forecast of future performance.

Related Restaurant Growth Research

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The Expansion Pressure Index™ examines verified restaurant development activity over compressed reporting periods rather than relying only on changes in total unit count.

Read 4 Restaurant Chains Crossing Expansion Thresholds in 2026 for an analysis of emerging and growing restaurant concepts advancing from one operating stage to another. The report explains how RestaurantData evaluates unit growth, geographic movement, and stage progression within the Expansion Pressure Index™.

The Top 10 Upscale Dining Brands Showing Expansion Pressure applies the Expansion Pressure Index™ to a defined 10-to-30-unit cohort, comparing recent openings, multi-state activity, and movement toward the next operating-stage threshold.

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For additional context on restaurant development by operator type, geography, service segment, and location type, see the U.S. Restaurant Opening Cross-Tab Analysis: January–June 2026.