Published: June 30, 2026
Source: Restaurantdata.com Proprietary Research
Restaurantdata.com analyzed U.S. restaurant opening activity from January through June 2026. The review includes new openings, ownership transfers, relocations, reopenings, and development-stage restaurant signals tracked during the first half of the year.
This report breaks down activity by geography, cuisine, location type, service segment, operator type, alcohol status, source type, month, and city. The analysis shows where restaurant development is occurring, which formats are expanding, and which early signals help identify market movement before a location opens.
Executive Summary
Restaurantdata.com tracked 9,541 restaurant opening and development records during the first six months of 2026. Activity was concentrated in the Southwest, Southeast, and West. Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, San Francisco, Dallas, Austin, San Diego, Miami, and Brooklyn ranked among the most active city markets.
| Metric | Count | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Total tracked records | 9,541 | 100.0% |
| New openings | 8,687 | 91.0% |
| Independent restaurants | 5,820 | 61.0% |
| Micro / emerging multi-unit operators | 1,643 | 17.2% |
| Multi-unit / chain operators | 2,051 | 21.5% |
| Other / pending operator classification | 27 | 0.3% |
| Full bar records | 3,176 | 33.3% |
| Beer / wine records | 1,116 | 11.7% |
| No alcohol / not reported | 5,249 | 55.0% |
| Shopping center / mixed-use locations | 6,205 | 65.0% |
| Free-standing locations | 2,051 | 21.5% |
Key Findings from the January–June 2026 Restaurant Opening Analysis
1. Restaurant opening activity was concentrated in the Sun Belt and West.
The Southwest accounted for 2,526 records, or 26.5% of all tracked restaurant activity. The Southeast followed with 2,418 records, or 25.3%. The West accounted for 2,397 records, or 25.1%. Together, these three regions represented 76.9% of all tracked activity.
2. Shopping centers and mixed-use developments were the leading location formats.
Shopping center and mixed-use developments accounted for 6,205 records, or 65.0% of tracked activity. Free-standing buildings represented 2,051 records, or 21.5%. Other activity came from hotels, residential mixed-use projects, airports, entertainment venues, and other location types.
3. Independent restaurants remained the largest operator segment.
Independent restaurants accounted for 5,820 records, or 61.0% of total activity. Multi-unit and chain operators represented 2,051 records, or 21.5%. Micro and emerging multi-unit operators accounted for 1,643 records, or 17.2%. Another 27 records, or 0.3%, were classified as other or pending operator classification.
4. Houston led all tracked city markets.
Houston produced 265 records during the first half of 2026. Other active markets included Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, San Francisco, Dallas, Austin, San Diego, Miami, and Brooklyn.
5. Casual and family dining was the largest service segment.
Casual and family dining represented 4,605 records, or 48.3% of all tracked activity. Fast casual accounted for 1,993 records, or 20.9%. Quick service represented 1,507 records, or 15.8%. Other service segments, including upscale dining and additional restaurant formats, accounted for the remaining records.
6. Restaurant opening intelligence depends on multiple source types.
DBA, fictitious-name, and incorporation filings accounted for 4,480 records, or 46.9% of tracked activity. Regional news and publication monitoring represented 2,591 records, or 27.2%. Alcohol filings accounted for 1,673 records, or 17.5%. Building permits represented 765 records, or 8.0%. Other source types accounted for the remaining records.
7. Raw filings are only the starting point.
Many filings and source mentions do not become valid restaurant-opening records. More than half of raw filings and discovered records are removed or reclassified during review because they may be duplicate filings, re-filings, inactive entities, address corrections, ownership records with no operating change, or records that do not reflect a true restaurant opening or development event.
Research and verification note: Restaurantdata.com does not publish raw filing activity as final restaurant-opening data. Raw sources alone without human vetting can produce a nightmare scenario where sales reps are chasing bogus activity.
Records are reviewed by our staff before inclusion. The research process may include outreach, phone verification, location confirmation, neighborhood review, cuisine classification, service-type review, alcohol-status review when available, and operator-level research.
City-Level Restaurant Opening Activity
The highest city-level activity was led by Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, San Francisco, Dallas, Austin, San Diego, Miami, and Brooklyn. The data reflects strong Texas activity, continued California development, Florida growth, and dense urban activity in New York City markets.
| City | State | Records | Share | Independent % | Full Bar % | SC / Mixed-Use % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | TX | 265 | 2.8% | 66% | 28% | 73% |
| Los Angeles | CA | 178 | 1.9% | 85% | 35% | 78% |
| New York | NY | 146 | 1.5% | 60% | 51% | 29% |
| San Antonio | TX | 145 | 1.5% | 57% | 32% | 63% |
| San Francisco | CA | 141 | 1.5% | 73% | 30% | 75% |
| Dallas | TX | 132 | 1.4% | 62% | 33% | 74% |
| Austin | TX | 122 | 1.3% | 55% | 33% | 67% |
| San Diego | CA | 94 | 1.0% | 63% | 40% | 83% |
| Miami | FL | 93 | 1.0% | 62% | 38% | 72% |
| Brooklyn | NY | 92 | 1.0% | 68% | 39% | 46% |
Regional Restaurant Opening Activity
Region definitions: Restaurantdata.com groups markets into five reporting regions for analytical consistency. Texas markets are included in the Southwest region. Florida markets are included in the Southeast region.
| Region | Records | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | 2,526 | 26.5% |
| Southeast | 2,418 | 25.3% |
| West | 2,397 | 25.1% |
| Northeast | 1,367 | 14.3% |
| Midwest | 833 | 8.7% |
The Southwest, Southeast, and West were the three largest regions by activity. Together, they accounted for 76.9% of tracked restaurant opening and development records.
Cuisine by Location Type
| Cuisine | Free Standing | SC / Mixed-Use | Mixed Residential | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | 434 | 986 | 175 | 1,773 |
| Mexican / Latin | 312 | 710 | 50 | 1,128 |
| Coffee / Tea | 112 | 379 | 35 | 564 |
| Bar Food | 118 | 327 | 30 | 507 |
| Pizza | 68 | 307 | 23 | 412 |
| Asian | 37 | 251 | 27 | 331 |
| Chicken | 106 | 182 | 6 | 314 |
| Italian | 44 | 187 | 30 | 284 |
| Burger | 85 | 136 | 3 | 238 |
| Japanese | 25 | 160 | 22 | 215 |
Shopping center and mixed-use locations led across most major cuisine categories. Chicken and Burger concepts showed stronger free-standing activity than most other categories.
Cuisine by Region
| Cuisine | Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Southwest | West | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | 345 | 537 | 237 | 267 | 387 | 1,773 |
| Mexican / Latin | 115 | 259 | 88 | 413 | 253 | 1,128 |
| Coffee / Tea | 53 | 158 | 41 | 170 | 142 | 564 |
| Bar Food | 76 | 66 | 22 | 165 | 178 | 507 |
| Pizza | 56 | 110 | 50 | 88 | 108 | 412 |
| Asian | 36 | 64 | 23 | 68 | 140 | 331 |
American concepts led nationally with 1,773 records. Mexican / Latin concepts followed with 1,128 records. Mexican / Latin activity was highest in the Southwest.
Location Type by Region
| Region | Free Standing | SC / Mixed-Use | Mixed Residential | Hotel | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 194 | 766 | 297 | 31 | 79 |
| Southeast | 598 | 1,538 | 112 | 70 | 100 |
| Midwest | 231 | 474 | 80 | 18 | 30 |
| Southwest | 673 | 1,652 | 46 | 29 | 126 |
| West | 355 | 1,775 | 108 | 57 | 102 |
Shopping center and mixed-use openings led in every region. The West had the highest shopping center / mixed-use count. The Southwest had the highest free-standing count.
Service Segment by Region
| Service Segment | Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Southwest | West | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual / Family | 744 | 1,232 | 429 | 921 | 1,279 | 4,605 | 48.3% |
| Fast Casual | 257 | 591 | 195 | 454 | 496 | 1,993 | 20.9% |
| Quick Serve | 163 | 400 | 115 | 586 | 243 | 1,507 | 15.8% |
| Upscale Dining | 131 | 129 | 58 | 87 | 144 | 549 | 5.8% |
| Other service segments | 72 | 66 | 36 | 478 | 235 | 887 | 9.3% |
Operator Type by Region
| Operator Type | Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Southwest | West | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | 807 | 1,385 | 417 | 1,549 | 1,662 | 5,820 | 61.0% |
| Micro / Emerging Multi-Unit | 266 | 461 | 207 | 339 | 370 | 1,643 | 17.2% |
| Multi-Unit / Chain | 289 | 569 | 201 | 633 | 359 | 2,051 | 21.5% |
| Other / Pending Classification | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 0.3% |
Source Type by Month
| Source Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBA / Fictitious / Incorporation Filing | 304 | 907 | 966 | 709 | 854 | 740 | 4,480 | 46.9% |
| Regional / News Publication | 393 | 124 | 402 | 649 | 570 | 453 | 2,591 | 27.2% |
| Alcohol Filing | 271 | 369 | 268 | 263 | 247 | 255 | 1,673 | 17.5% |
| Building Permit | 104 | 96 | 112 | 224 | 117 | 112 | 765 | 8.0% |
| Other / Multiple Source Types | 7 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 0.3% |
Monthly Restaurant Opening Activity
| Month | Records | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,079 | 11.3% |
| February | 1,499 | 15.7% |
| March | 1,749 | 18.3% |
| April | 1,863 | 19.5% |
| May | 1,789 | 18.8% |
| June | 1,562 | 16.4% |
Activity increased after January and reached its highest point in April. May remained strong. June moderated but still represented 16.4% of first-half activity.
What These Findings Mean for Restaurant Suppliers and Sales Teams
The first-half 2026 data shows where restaurant industry demand is forming. Suppliers, distributors, technology companies, equipment manufacturers, POS providers, recruiters, real estate firms, investors, and sales teams should continue watching the Southwest, Southeast, and West.
Independent restaurants remain the largest source of restaurant activity. They represented 61.0% of tracked records. This matters because many independent openings do not appear through chain announcements. They are often first visible through filings, permits, licenses, and local sources.
Shopping centers and mixed-use projects also remain central to restaurant development. They accounted for 65.0% of tracked records. Companies selling into the restaurant market should monitor retail center redevelopment, landlord activity, tenant improvement permits, and mixed-use projects alongside public restaurant announcements.
Methodology
Source categories include DBA and fictitious-name filings, incorporation and LLC filings, alcohol license applications, building and construction permits, planning and zoning activity, regional publications, local business news, restaurant announcements, and additional market research sources. More than half of raw filings, new articles and discovered source records are removed or reclassified during review.
Combining these sources provides a more complete view of the market than relying on one source alone.
Classification Note: The analyses presented throughout this report examine the same dataset from different perspectives, including opening status, operator type, service segment, alcohol service, location type, geography, and source type. Individual tables summarize their respective categories and are not intended to total 100% across different sections. Minor differences may also occur where records are pending classification, fall into other categories, or result from rounding.
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Preferred citation: “Source: Restaurantdata.com, U.S. Restaurant Opening Cross-Tab Analysis, January–June 2026, published June 30, 2026.”