From golden arches and chicken buckets to bubble tea and dollar cones, practically everyone in the world has dined on (and has opinions about) fast food.
But which brands actually resign supreme, not just by size, but by popularity? And what about fast food restaurants outside the US? Are they popular enough to compete with American chains?
To answer that, we at Fugo.ai are digging into the world’s most popular fast food restaurants based on store count, revenue, brand recognition, and customer volume. We’ve also listed financial stats and restaurant fast facts so you can come to your own conclusions about what ‘popular’ means.
But first: how did we pick the most popular fast food restaurants?
We didn’t just go with our gut (although we kinda wanted to). 🤤
But to figure out which fast food chains truly rank as the most popular in the world, we looked at the following six factors:
- Number of Locations: More locations generally means more global demand and reach. We factored in both domestic and international stores to get a clearer picture.
- Annual Revenue: High yearly revenue tells us which brands are generating high customer traffic. We used the most recent publicly available financial data to compare (aka Q4 2024).
- Average Sales Per Location: A chain with fewer locations but sky-high sales per store still counts as wildly successful. This helped us highlight brands with loyal and consistent foot traffic.
- Household Recognition: A ‘popular’ brand should also be deeply embedded in people’s daily lives. We gave extra weight to fast food brands that have become internationally recognized household names.
- International Reach: Some chains are wildly popular in their home country but unknown elsewhere. We prioritized brands that have successfully gone global and kept the same general rate of sales.
- Survey Reports: Public opinion still matters. We pulled from customer satisfaction surveys, brand loyalty rankings, and fast food popularity polls to round out our data.
How the world's most popular fast food chains compare
So now the real question is: where’s the beef?!
Here’s a quick chart showing how the world’s biggest fast food giants compare (with data based in 2025):
Now, let’s kick off with the not-so-surprising blue ribbon winner:
1. McDonald's: multinational burger giant
- Headquarters: Chicago, IL, USA
- Number of Locations: 41,822+
- Daily Customers: ~69 million
McDonald’s hardly needs an introduction: it’s only the largest and most popular fast food joint globally. It has humble beginnings when founded in San Bernardino, CA, but has quickly risen through the ranks as one of the world’s best recognized QSRs.
You can probably guess where McDonald’s is most popular: right here in the ol’ US of A. But since 1940, it’s also present in more than 11 other countries, including China, Italy, Brazil, and beyond.
McDonald’s financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $25.920 billion
- Growth Rate: -0.28% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (Global): 15.68%
Fun facts about McDonald’s
- McDonald's is technically the world's largest distributor of toys. It gives away around 1.5 billion toys each year via Happy Meals, which is far more than the average toy store sells.
- Contrary to popular belief, french fries (not Big Macs) are McDonald’s fastest-selling item. Customers consume more than a million pounds of French fries daily, which totals around 3.29 billion pounds per year.
- McDonald’s has 97% brand awareness in the United States. In other words, only three people in a room of 100 have never heard of Mickey D’s before.
2. Mixue Ice Cream & Tea: largest fast food restaurant by number of locations
- Headquarters: Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Number of Locations: 45,000+
- Daily Customers: Estimated ~12 million
Mixue Ice Cream & Tea might not be a household name in the West, but it absolutely dominates in China (and Asia, and Africa, and beyond). What started as a humble ice cream cart in 1997 has become a cold drink juggernaut with more locations than McDonald’s in China.
While most of its growth is still concentrated in Asia, Mixue is picking up steam internationally. There are stores popping up in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, and even Australia. Its secret sauce (er, syrup)? Ice cream cones that cost less than $1 and a wide variety of milk tea flavors.
Mixue financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $2.87 billion
- Growth Rate: +21% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (China): 52.8% share of the Chinese tea market
Fun facts about Mixue Ice Cream & Tea
- Despite its massive size, Mixue is one of the cheapest fast food brands in the country. Case in point: its soft serve ice cream costs six yuan — approximately $0.83.
- The chain’s name roughly translates to “Sweet Ice,” which is a nod to its original iced dessert offerings. The short version: Mi means ‘honey,’ and ‘Xue means ‘snow.’
- Mixue is one of the most searched food brands on Douyin (Chinese TikTok). Today, approximately one out of every two teas sold in China are Mixue branded.
3. Starbucks: the world’s most iconic coffeehouse
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA
- Number of Locations: 40,199
- Daily Customers: 14.3 million
Name a fast food brand more iconic than Starbucks (I’ll wait). With its green siren logo recognized by 93% of people in the US, this coffeehouse has redefined the way the world drinks coffee. Starbucks was originally founded in 1971 as a single coffee bean shop, but today has evolved into a global powerhouse thanks to its unmistakable third-place experience.
From morning caffeine rituals to remote working spots, Starbucks is a brand that’s as much about culture as it is about coffee. And with a new store opening every nine hours in China (on average), its expansion shows no signs of slowing down.
Starbucks financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $36.347 billion
- Growth Rate: 2.3% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (Global): 29.60%
Fun facts about Starbucks
- In 2024, Starbucks sold over 5 million coffee drinks per day in the US.
- Starbucks currently purchases a whopping 3% percent of all the world's coffee. That comes to millions of pounds from 400,000 farmers across 30+ countries.
- Starbucks’ most popular drink is (unsurprisingly) the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which sells roughly 20 million units per year in the US.
4. Subway: a sandwich chain giant
- Headquarters: Shelton, Connecticut, USA
- Number of Locations: 37,000+
- Daily Customers: Estimated ~11 million
Subway might not dominate headlines like some of its flashier rivals, but it’s certainly a global force in terms of sheer footprint. It currently manages stores in more than 100 countries and is one of the most widely available fast food brands in the world (think gas stations, airports, and college campuses).
The core of Subway’s appeal? Customization. Customers can “Eat Fresh” with made-to-order subs stacked with their favorite meats, veggies, and sauces. Despite recent struggles in the US, its international growth continues steadily in both India and Latin America.
Subway financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $16.1 billion
- Growth Rate: +2.1% (2023)
- Competitor Market Share (Global): ~46% of the sandwich market
Fun facts about Subway
- Subway serves around 5,300 sandwiches every minute, which comes out to about 7.6 million per day.
- Subway currently has more global locations than McDonald’s in over 30 countries.
- The Italian BMT is the brand’s best-selling sandwich. And in case you’re wondering, it stands for “biggest, meatiest, tastiest.”
5. KFC: the world’s most beloved chicken chain
- Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Number of Locations: 30,000+
- Daily Customers: 12 million
Colonel Sanders’ finger-lickin’ legacy has made Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) one of the most recognizable fast food brands worldwide. Maybe it’s the world’s dying love for chicken, or maybe it’s KFC’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. Either way, it’s an international titan that’s still growing strong (and also the number one QSR brand in China, surpassing Mickey D’s).
KFC’s menu goes far beyond fried chicken, though. It’s also known for adapting its menu for local tastes: think rice bowls in India, egg tarts in China, and shrimp burgers in Japan. This unique lineup, combined with nostalgic branding and playful social media marketing, makes it a strong performer in both emerging and established markets.
KFC financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $31.12 billion
- Growth Rate: +5.5% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (Global): Not disclosed
Fun facts about KFC
- In Japan, eating KFC on Christmas is a national tradition. Somewhere around 3.6 million families order it every year.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken was the first fast-food chain to introduce a plant-based meat replacement: the Beyond Fried Chicken (also called Beyond Fried Chicken or the Kentucky Fried Miracle).
- KFC was one of the first Western fast food chains to enter the Chinese market. When it finally broke ground in 1987, it paved the way for other stores to follow suit (including McDonald’s).
6. Luckin Coffee: fastest-growing coffee chain in China
- Headquarters: Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Number of Locations: 22,340+
- Daily Customers: Estimated ~4 million
Luckin Coffee is China’s answer to Starbucks — just leaner, faster, and a bit more digitally native. This relatively new brand kicked off in 2017 and exploded in popularity thanks to its aggressive discounts and grab-and-go stocking style. In just six years, it surpassed Starbucks in China by total store count, and is now crowned the largest coffee chain in the country.
Luckin currently has its eyes set on global expansion and is interested in opening more stores in both Southeast Asia and the Middle East. For now, at least, they’re well established in their home country. In 2023 alone, Luckin opened an estimated 16.5 stores per day in China. 🤯
Luckin Coffee financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $5.14 billion
- Growth Rate: +34.68% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (China): 3.85%
Fun facts about Luckin Coffee
- Luckin is one of the only fast food brands currently selling alcoholic products. Its Moutai-infused latte (essentially liquor) sold 5.42 million cups on opening day.
- Luckin’s mobile app has over 120 million registered users. For context, the Starbucks Rewards App has around 34.3 million active members.
- Luckin is more than just a cheap coffee brand. According to the website, it's won the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (IIAC) gold medal for seven consecutive years
7. Domino’s: titan of the pizza delivery niche
- Headquarters: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Number of Locations: 21,366+
- Daily Customers: 1 million
Boasting more than 20,000 locations in 90 (yes, 90!) countries, Domino’s is the undisputed king of pizza delivery. A lot has changed since it opened in 1960. Today, 75% of its orders now come through digital channels — think Facebook Messenger, social media like X (Twitter), and even Amazon Echo.
There’s no question that Domino's has successfully expanded overseas (although we won’t talk about its Italian chains that filed for bankruptcy in 2022). It’s currently occupied with expansion in Australia and New Zealand, which contain some of its highest-performing store locations as of 2025.
Domino’s financial stats
- Annual Revenue: $19.1 billion
- Growth Rate: +5.90% (2024)
- Competitor Market Share (US): 42% of the pizza market
Fun facts about Domino’s
- Domino’s sells an estimated three million pizzas per day worldwide. Pepperoni, of course, is the most popular topping.
- While Domino’s is one of the largest pizza chains overall, it’s not necessarily the fan favorite of US locals. Surveys show that Pizza Ranch reigns supreme, followed by Papa Murphy’s, Marco’s Pizza, and Papa John’s.
- Domino’s ‘30 minutes or less’ delivery promise may be gone, but the brand still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest pizza-making (three large pizzas in 39 seconds).
8. Wallace: China’s homegrown fried chicken favorite
- Headquarters: Taijiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Number of Locations: 20,065+
- Daily Customers: Estimated ~2 million
Wallace (华莱士) is one of China’s most popular homegrown fast food chains and often referred to as ‘the KFC of China.’ The menu is very similar — think fried chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and wings — but at a much lower price point than its US equivalent.
You’ll mostly find Wallace in Chinese second and third-tier cities, which includes popular locations like Xiamen and Anshan. It may not be much of a household name outside China, but inside the country? It’s a force to be reckoned with.
Wallace financial stats
- Annual Revenue: Not disclosed
- Growth Rate: Not disclosed
- Competitor Market Share (China): 4.9%
Fun facts about Wallace
- Wallace’s chicken burgers can cost less than $1. Compare that to KFC’s menu: the classic chicken sandwich at $5.99.
- Wallace was once the #1 QSR brand in China by number of stores. However, it’s recently been overtaken by Mixue and Luckin (both of which we’ve covered above).
- Wallace’s first-ever US location opened in late 2024. If you happen to live near Walnut, CA, you could be one of the first to try Wallace Chicken in America.
9. Burger King: major player in the global burger wars
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida, USA
- Number of Locations: 19,789+
- Daily Customers: 11 million
Burger King has been serving up flame-grilled Whoppers since 1954 and now feeds an estimated 11 million customers a day. You can find one of its 19,700 locations in more than 120 countries, which the company expects to grow even more.
The US remains its largest market, but Burger King has still created strongholds across Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. In Brazil alone, it operates 1,000+ stores and continues to climb in regional popularity. Its growth may not be fast, but its global recognition and footprint remain unmatched by all but McDonald’s.
Burger King financial stats
Fun facts about Burger King
- Burger King operates in over 120 countries, making it one of the most internationally recognized burger chains.
- The Whopper was first introduced in 1957 and is still one of the most iconic fast food burgers of all time.
- Burger King was one of the first fast-food brands to sell plant-based burger products like the Impossible Whopper (2019).
10. Pizza Hut: Global leader in dine-in pizza
- Headquarters: Plano, Texas, USA
- Number of Locations: 19,866+
- Daily Customers: Estimated 4 million
Pizza Hut is literally the most widespread pizza chain on the planet, with nearly 20,000 locations in over 100 countries. Since opening its doors in 1958, it’s grown from a small Kansas storefront into a global titan that can stand toe-to-toe with nearly any other pizza joint.
Pizza Hut’s international footprint is also no joke, with a whopping 2,600+ stores in India alone. Despite fierce delivery competition, it still dominates globally in systemwide sales. It’s no surprise they’re raking in $13 billion in annual revenue — because quite frankly, no one out-pizzas The Hut.
Pizza Hut financial stats
- Annual Revenue: ~$13.016 billion
- Growth Rate: Not disclosed
- Competitor Market Share (US): 23%
Fun facts about Pizza Hut
- Pizza Hut was the first pizza chain to deliver to space. They made a delivery to the International Space Station in 2001.
- Pizza Hut’s delivery drivers drop off around two million pizzas per day to more than four million recurring customers.
- Pizza Hut delivers most of its food during The Superbowl. 2025 marked its highest sales per restaurant ever — roughly 1.4 million pizzas and 5 million wings.
Honorable mentions for the world’s most popular fast food restaurants
We’ve already dived into the top 10 biggest fast food chains globally. But what about the runner-ups that aren’t quite so large (but still insanely popular)?Let’s take a closer look at these below:
- Dunkin’ Donuts: These days, America (and most of the rest of the world) runs on Dunkin’. It’s the largest coffee and donuts brand you can find in the US, with more than 14,000 locations in 39 countries making ~$1.37 billion in revenue each year. If you’ve got an itch for a sweet treat, you’ll be in good company — DD currently welcomes more than five million customers per day.
- Krispy Kreme: The iconic glazed doughnut has reached cult status around the globe — and it’s not hard to see why. With 1,400+ stores in 35 countries, Krispy Kreme brings in more than $1.6 billion in annual revenue and produces over five million doughnuts each day. You’ll even find mini-factories inside retail stores and stadiums if you’re in a fairly busy metro.
- Hunt Brothers Pizza: This low-key pizza powerhouse is tucked inside 10,000+ gas stations and convenience stores across America — so who would have thought it could make around $400-800 million per year?! With zero franchise fees, it’s become the #1 pizza brand in convenience stores and is now found in 32+ states. It currently commands more US locations than Domino’s, so it might not be long until the Brothers go global.
- Cotti Coffee: Blink and you’ll miss another new Cotti Coffee popping up somewhere in China. Founded in 2022, it opened 6,000+ locations in 28 countries within just two years, which makes it one of the fastest-scaling coffee chains in history. Rumor has it they’re eyeing aggressive international expansion into the US. For now, they’re content with their 10,000+ locations and solid customer base in Asia and the Middle East.
- Good me (Gu Ming): Nope, not a typo: Good me (with a lowercase ‘m’) is one of China’s biggest domestic tea brands. It currently commands around 5,500 locations and an estimated annual revenue between $800 million and $1 billion USD. This, by the way, is a store to watch: it held its initial public offering in February 2025, which means it’s just dipped its toes into the Hong Kong stock market.
- Auntea Jenny: Auntea Jenny is a rising star in the premium milk tea scene (aka bubble tea). The brand has expanded to 8,000+ stores across Southeast Asia, with a big push in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. You can currently find Auntea Jenny in more than 300 cities across China. And in recent news: Auntea Jenny went public on May 7, 2025 and became so popular that its husband-wife founders are now billionaires.
Favorite fast food restaurants by US state
If you don’t see your favorite restaurant in the lineup, don’t panic! That doesn’t mean it’s not popular — it’s likely just less popular than the global titans on this list.
But rest assured there are many others that could have a spot on this list based on the type of food, the location, and the area (namely within the US).
Here’s a quick breakdown of popular fast food restaurants by type and their favored consumers in the US:
Most Popular Chicken Fast Food Restaurants
- Bojangles’: Most popular in North Carolina and South Carolina
- Chick-fil-A: Most popular in Arkansas, Maryland, and Virginia
- Church’s Chicken: Most popular in Alabama
- Zaxby’s: Most popular in Mississippi
- Culver’s: Most popular in Colorado, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Most popular in Delaware and Louisiana
- Raising Cane’s: Most popular in California
Most Popular Miscellaneous Fast Food Restaurants
- Taco Bell: Most popular in California
- Chipotle: Most popular in Colorado and New York
- Panera Bread: Most popular in Missouri
- Little Caesars: Most popular in Michigan
- Shake Shack: Most popular in New York
Most Popular Sandwich Fast Food Restaurants
- Wendy’s: Most popular in Montana
- Jersey Mike’s: Most popular in New Jersey
- Whataburger: Most popular in Texas
- Hardee’s: Most popular in Georgia
- Arby’s: Most popular in Wyoming
- Sonic Drive-In: Most popular in Alaska
- Five Guys: Most popular in Connecticut
FAQs about the world’s most popular fast food restaurants
Q: What is the 1 most popular fast food restaurant?
Internationally, McDonald’s reigns supreme accounting for size, sales, locations, and overall brand recognition.
Q: What are the most popular fast food restaurants?
As you know, just because something’s big doesn’t necessarily mean it’s popular. Case in point, Del Taco is currently the most popular fast food restaurant in the US in 2025 (although it’s nowhere near one of the biggest brands on our list).
With this in mind, let’s break down the most popular fast food restaurants by country:
- United States: Del Taco
- Australia: KFC
- India: McDonald's
- China: KFC
- Russia: McDonald’s
Q: What's the number 1 fast food chain?
The number one fast food chain (by popularity, revenue, and locations) is McDonald’s. This quick-service restaurant boasts $25.920 billion in yearly revenue and manages 41,822 restaurants across 11+ countries.
Q: What are the top 5 fast food restaurants in the world?
According to our research, the top five fast food restaurants in the world are McDonald’s, Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, Starbucks, Subway, and KFC.
Q: Which fast food restaurant sells the most?
Recent data shows the fast food restaurant with the most sales per unit was Chick-fil-A (approximately $6.71 million in sales per unit). In terms of overall revenue, however, the fast food business selling the most product is Starbucks (resulting in $32.3 billion per year).
Q: Which restaurant chain is the most visited in the world?
With approximately 69 million customers per day, McDonalds is the most visited restaurant chain in the world. Starbucks is a very close second, attracting more than 14.3 million customers per day (71% of which visit at least once per week).
