3 Popular Fast Food Chains With The Most US Locations
Fast food might not be as inexpensive as it once was, now carrying a double-digit price for an average single meal in some regions of the United States. However, that hasn't slowed the growth in spending or the number of quick service restaurants (QSRs) in operation. How much do Americans spend on fast food each year? Statista says growth has continued at a steady pace for U.S.-based QSRs for three decades, including record spending of $509 billion in 2024. Only three QSR chain brands have more than 10,000 restaurants in operation in the United States currently, though: Subway, Starbucks, and McDonald's.
The fast-food chain with the most restaurants in the United States at the end of 2024 is Subway, which had 19,502 total locations, according to QSR Magazine. Even though Subway is number one now, it is a restaurant that is seeing a reduction in the total number of U.S. stores. The chain recently dipped below the 20,000 restaurant threshold for the first time in almost two decades after peaking at more than 27,000 U.S. locations in 2016. 2024 marked the eighth straight year that Subway's total U.S.-based restaurant count dropped year to year.
Although Subway ranks first in total number of restaurants, it ranked ninth in U.S. sales in 2024 of $9.65 billion. To explain the reduction in sales and total number of stores, Subway's struggles include managing heightened competition and changes in consumer preferences.
The second-largest U.S. fast food brand is about more than beverages
According to QSR Magazine, Starbucks had a total of 16,935 stores in the United States at the end of 2024. Its year-to-year store growth was 589, ranking as the highest growth number among the top 50 fast food restaurant chains. California is the most popular state for Starbucks locations, with 18% of all U.S.-based stores.
Starbucks might be categorized as a snack QSR, but it's still competing successfully with more traditional fast food burger and sandwich restaurants. It might be cheaper to brew coffee at home vs. grabbing a beverage at Starbucks, but that hasn't slowed the amount Americans spend on products from the famous coffee brand that sells beverages, food, and branded products. In 2024, Starbucks reported $30.4 billion in sales at its U.S. restaurants, which is the second-largest sales number among QSR brands during 2024.
Starbucks continues to focus on growth in the number of stores it operates, with a goal of 55,000 stores worldwide by 2030. However, much of the growth may be focused outside the United States, including in China. The chain announced a restructuring plan in October 2025, where it expected to close several hundred underperforming locations in the United States while still opening new stores. The company announced it would end up with about 18,300 operating stores in the United States and Canada after the restructuring. At the end of 2024, Starbucks had an estimated combined 18,400 stores in the two countries.
McDonald's dominates all QSR brands in U.S. sales
Among fast food brands, McDonald's ranks third in the total number of U.S.-based stores with 13,559 at the end of 2024, according to QSR Magazine. However, McDonald's easily ranked number one in total U.S. sales in 2024 with $53.47 billion. This amount is more than the number two and three brands in total U.S. sales combined (Starbucks and Chick-fil-A).
Even with the large sales numbers and operational store counts, the total number of McDonald's stores in the United States has declined over the past decade. The brand had 14,339 American-based stores in 2014, according to Statista. The store count decreased slowly from 2014 to 2021, when it began growing slightly again. The 2021 U.S.-based store count for McDonald's was 13,438. California and Texas are the states with the most McDonald's locations, with more than 1,100 restaurants in operation each in 2024.
Even as the U.S. store count for McDonald's has begun to grow slightly in recent years, its U.S. sales recently slipped. The first-quarter fiscal 2025 U.S. sales for McDonald's represented a 3.6% decrease compared to the previous year. McDonald's doesn't plan to give up its sales dominance any time soon, though, as it announced a new growth strategy to outpace rivals and redefine the competitive landscape early in 2025, called Accelerating the Arches. It focuses on the brand's core menu of burgers, chicken, and coffee, while emphasizing the brand's affordability in its marketing efforts.