Fast food restaurants in the U.S. - statistics & facts
Which country do people think of when they hear the term fast food? There is certainly one place that comes to mind. The United States has been synonymous with fast food for so long that it has become an integral part of its cultural identity, known across the globe for huge household names such as McDonald's, KFC, and Burger King. This reputation as the king of fast food is not unfounded, with the 10 most valuable quick service restaurants (QSRs) worldwide all originating in the United States.
With well-established services like online food delivery, contactless ordering, and drive-thru pickup, fast food restaurants in the U.S. weathered the storm of the pandemic significantly better than their full service restaurant counterparts.
Whether it is burgers or pizza, fast food is not only something U.S. consumers enjoy, but also part of the country’s national identity. With its growing sales and units, the appetite for fast food not look to be declining any time soon.
How big is the U.S. fast food market?
Sales of quick service restaurants in the U.S. have seen almost consistent annual growth for three decades. They peaked in 2023 at over 490 billion U.S. dollars, which exceeded pre-pandemic levels. A similar trend can be seen when looking at the number of QSR franchises in the U.S., although the 2023 figure did not quite reach pre-pandemic levels.With well-established services like online food delivery, contactless ordering, and drive-thru pickup, fast food restaurants in the U.S. weathered the storm of the pandemic significantly better than their full service restaurant counterparts.
What is the biggest U.S. fast food brand?
While the U.S. fast food landscape has been inundated by new concepts over the past decade, the older more well-established QSR brands continue to dominate the industry. For example, in 2023, McDonald's had the highest sales of any U.S. fast food chain at over 53 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, coffee shop chain Starbucks followed in second place. While McDonald’s may have recorded higher U.S. sales, Starbucks had higher levels of American customer satisfaction, coming third in a 2024 survey with a score of 80 out of 100. Comparatively, McDonald’s had the lowest customer satisfaction of any QSR.What are U.S. consumers favorite types of fast food?
When picturing fast food, many will see a burger and fries. However, according to a 2023 survey, pizza was the most ordered type of fast food in the United States. Different U.S. states even have their own distinct pizza culture, from the hand-tossed thin crust pizza sold by the slice in New York to the heartier Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. That said, the same survey showed that burgers were ordered more frequently by Americans than pizza. They were also seen as the most popular American dish by U.S. consumers.Whether it is burgers or pizza, fast food is not only something U.S. consumers enjoy, but also part of the country’s national identity. With its growing sales and units, the appetite for fast food not look to be declining any time soon.
