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
| # | Concept | Cuisine | Y/E 2020 | Y/E 2023 | Opened | 3-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave’s Hot Chicken | Chicken | 7 | 169 | 162 | 2,314.29% |
| 2 | 7 Brew | Coffee/Tea | 8 | 180 | 172 | 2,150.00% |
| 3 | Crumbl | Bakery/Café | 142 | 970 | 828 | 583.10% |
| 4 | Bubbakoo’s Burritos | Mexican | 44 | 116 | 72 | 163.64% |
| 5 | Scooter’s Coffee | Coffee/Tea | 308 | 750 | 442 | 143.51% |
| 6 | Wahlburgers | Burger | 47 | 110 | 63 | 134.04% |
| 7 | Playa Bowls | Salad/Smoothie | 96 | 216 | 120 | 125.00% |
| 8 | Slim Chickens | Chicken | 85 | 180 | 95 | 111.76% |
| 9 | Paris Baguette | Bakery/Café | 86 | 155 | 69 | 80.23% |
| 10 | Kung Fu Tea | Coffee/Tea | 245 | 380 | 135 | 55.10% |
| 11 | Nothing Bundt Cakes | Bakery/Café | 376 | 559 | 183 | 48.67% |
| 12 | PJ’s Coffee | Coffee/Tea | 114 | 169 | 55 | 48.25% |
| 13 | Wingstop | Chicken | 1,359 | 1,926 | 567 | 41.72% |
* 3-year growth rate calculated from Y/E 2020 to Y/E 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 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
RestaurantData’s Top 100 Restaurant Franchisor Growth Trends provides a broader comparison of franchise location movement using more recent FDD reporting.
The Expansion Pressure Index™ examines verified development activity over compressed reporting periods rather than relying only on changes in total unit count.
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.
The RestaurantData Research Center brings together Restaurantdata.com reports, methodologies, indexes, and market analysis for readers following restaurant openings, expansion activity, executive changes, operator records, ownership structures, franchise disclosure documents, restaurant technology, and industry development.
Continuing restaurant industry analysis is published through RestaurantData Insights.
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