Top 500 Chain Restaurants in the US: A Guide to Casual Dining and Family-Style Chains

Technomic has released its latest report on the top 500 chain restaurants in the United States for the year 2023. While fast-food chains continue to dominate the industry, there are many casual-dining and family-style chains that are also thriving. This year has been particularly challenging for chain restaurants as they compete with fast-food chains to attract value-driven customers.

Research firm Technomic identified the top 500 biggest chain restaurants in the US based on decades of historical data, focusing specifically on the top 15 casual dining, midscale, or family-style chains. Fast-casual or quick-service restaurants like Chipotle and McDonald’s were not included in this ranking.

According to the report, Olive Garden is one of the top chain restaurants in the US, ranked among the top 15 casual dining, midscale, or family-style chains. The company was founded in 1981 and generated $4.7 billion in sales in 2023 with a restaurant count of over 900 locations across North America.

Denny’s is another well-known chain restaurant that made it onto Technomic’s list. The company was founded in 1948 and generated $4.6 billion in sales in 2023 with a restaurant count of over 1780 locations across North America.

Other notable chains on Technomic’s list include Red Lobster, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Applebee’s, and Cracker Barrel Old Country Buffet. These chains have all shown resilience and adaptability in a highly competitive industry and continue to attract customers with their unique offerings and dining experiences.

Overall, it is clear that while fast food dominates much of the industry, there is still a strong market for casual dining and family style chain restaurants like Olive Garden and Denny’s. With continued innovation and adaptation to changing customer preferences, these types of establishments will continue to be popular choices for diners looking for quality food at an affordable price point.