Top 10 Fast Food Chains in the U.S.
Fast food is defined as the kind of food that can be prepared and served quickly. Since Americans are always on the go, with little time to spare, fast food chains are a huge success all over the United States. These include all kinds of snacks, from hamburger and sandwich restaurants to pizza parlours, to coffeehouses that sell coffee as well as baked items. Here are the top ten fast food chains in the U.S., ranked by the number of outlets that each has.
10. Hardee’s
Now having 3,141 outlets all over the United States, Hardee’s was first opened in Greenville, North Carolina, on September 9, 1960 by its founder Wilbur Hardee. Hardee’s sells charbroiled burgers, which are apparently healthier than other burgers with fried patties. It’s logo contains “the Hardee’s star” which has become it’s identity now. Some burgers at Hardee’s are also names after the star, like SuperStar and FamourStar.
9. Domino’s Pizza
Now having 4,927 outlets all over the United States, Domino’s Pizza was first opened in 1960 by its founder Tom Monaghan in Ypsilanti, Michigan, near Eastern Michigan University, and is the world’s second largest Pizza chain. The logo consists of a domino bar, and the original plan was to add a dot to the logo with the opening of every new franchise, but looks like there can’t be enough dots on the domino bars to cover this number.
8. Kentucky Fried Chicken
Now having 5,162 outlets all over the United States, KFC was first opened in 1930, as a road side restaurant by Colonel Harland Sanders. Even though the brand was sold to a group of investors in 1964, The Kentucky Fried Chicken logo holds the Colonel’s face in display and there’s even a burger at KFC called the Colonel Chicken Burger.
7. Wendy’s
Now having 5,877 outlets all over the United States, Wendy’s was first opened in Columbus, Ohio, on November 15, 1969 by its founder, Dave Thomas. Until quite recently, the brand did not have any signature sandwiches, but only some time ago, they introduced a new sandwich called “the W.” The menu consists mainly of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and beverages.
6. Dunkin’ Donuts
Now having 6,500 outlets all over the United States, Dunkin’ Donuts was first opened in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1950 by its founder William Rosenberg. Although it started off as a company that sold doughnuts and other baked items, over the years, it evolved and now most of its business comes from selling coffee, making it a competitor for Starbucks. However, they also sell cold sandwiches and is a great place for breakfast.
5. Burger King
Now having 7,233 outlets all over the United States, Burger King was first opened in Jacksonville, Florida in 1953 by the name of Insta-Burger King, but later on when it ran into financial problems, two of its franchise owners bought the brand and called it Burger King in 1955.
4. Pizza Hut
Now having 7,566 outlets all over the United States, Pizza Hut, the leading Pizza seller in the world was first opened in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas which was the hometown of it’s founders, Dan and Frank Carney. Pizza Hut sells different kinds of Pizzas with side servings like salads, garlic bread, pasta and wings.
3. Starbucks
Now having 11,000 outlets all over the United States, the world’s leading coffeehouse, Starbucks was first opened in Seattle, Washington, on March 30, 1971 by three partners: a history teacher, Zev Siegl, an English teacher, Jerry Baldwin, and a writer Gordon Bowker. The brand mainly sells coffee but in addition also sells other hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and Panini, pastries, salads and other little snack items. Their branded coffee and ice-creams are available at grocery stores too.
2. McDonald’s
Now having 14,000 outlets all over the United States, McDonald’s being the world’s largest seller in terms of hamburger restaurants, was first opened eponymously in 1940, in San Bernardino by two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald. The original McDonald’s mascost was Speedee, a man with a chef’s hat on a hamburger shaped head, but was later replaced by the clown, Ronald McDonald. Most of the items at McDonalds contain the prefix “Mc” to mark its identity.
1. Subway
Now having 23,336 outlets all over the United States, Subway was first opened in Bridgeport, Conneticut, on August 28, 1965 by its founder Fred DeLuca, who borrowed a thousand dollars from a family friend to open a sandwich shop. They mainly sell submarine sandwiches, better known as “subs” as well as salads. The best part about Subway is that the entire preparation of your sandwich is done right in front of your eyes, and all sandwiches are custom-made.
