100 leading Restaurants companies in North America (2026 list)

This selection of North American restaurant companies comprises large, well-established quick-service and casual dining chains. These include global brands like McDonald's, serving popular menu items across 37,000 locations, and Burger King, known for its flame-grilled burgers. Other prominent companies are Subway, offering made-to-order sandwiches, and Dunkin', a global beverage powerhouse known for coffee and on-the-go breakfast.

A clear pattern among these companies is their focus on franchising and extensive global reach. Many, such as KFC, which serves fried chicken in 150+ countries, and Domino's, a leading pizza company, operate thousands of locations worldwide through franchise partners. The headquarters are widely distributed across the US, with clusters in cities like Atlanta and Orlando.

#	Company	Industry	Headquarters	Employees	Founded
1	Dunkin'dunkindonuts.com Global beverage powerhouse, high customer frequency, fuels everyday life, iconic iced drinks, coffee, on-the-go breakfast.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Canton	270,000	1950
2	McDonald's corporate.mcdonalds.com global fast-food restaurant chain operating over 37,000 locations worldwide, serving popular menu items and employing 1.9 million people	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Chicago	261,219	n/a
3	Burger King bk.com Operates over 17,000 restaurants globally, serving flame-grilled burgers to 11 million guests daily. Part of a larger quick service restaurant group.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Miami	124,616	1954
4	Subway hosted.app Global quick service restaurant franchise with over 37,000 locations in 100+ countries, serving made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads, and bowls through dedicated franchisees and corporate teams	Restaurants	🇺🇸	118,689	1965
5	Chipotle Mexican Grill chipotle.com Serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked real food with wholesome ingredients, focusing on sustainability, digital innovation, and excellent guest experience.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Newport Beach	105,000	1993
6	KFC kfc.com Serving fried chicken to customers at over 34,000 restaurants in 150+ countries. Supporting global teams and franchise partners with strategies and tools.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	98,109	n/a
7	Domino's dominos.com Leading pizza company globally, operating through franchises, innovating in pizza and delivery, committed to customer service and community involvement.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Ann Arbor	95,605	1960
8	Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center chick-fil-a.com Company provides extensive support for restaurant operations including digital, financial, analytics, and development to ensure exceptional customer experiences globally.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	90,667	1946
9	Pizza Hut pizzahut.com A global leader in the restaurant industry, focused on breakthrough innovation, passionate customer service, and investing in employees for success	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Plano	85,296	1958
10	Taco Bell tacobell.com This company operates as a global Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant brand, with thousands of locations serving millions of customers weekly, part of a major restaurant group.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Irvine	83,421	1962
11	Darden darden.com Restaurant company with diverse brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, employing 190,000 team members to serve 380 million guests annually	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Orlando	82,251	n/a
12	Chick-fil-A Restaurants chick-fil-a.com Operates quick-service restaurants, known for fresh food and hospitality, with an independent Owner-Operator franchise model across the US, Canada, Puerto Rico.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	76,067	1946
13	The Wendy's Company wendys.com Serves made-to-order square hamburgers, fresh salads, chili, and Frosty desserts across 7,000+ restaurants globally, also supporting adoption initiatives.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dublin	73,218	1969
14	Inspire inspirebrands.com Operates a diverse portfolio of over 33,000 restaurants worldwide including Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	56,164	2018
15	Olive Garden olivegarden.com Leading casual Italian restaurant chain inspired by Italy for menus, wine, and Tuscan design, emphasizing warmth, hospitality, and family in dining experiences.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Orlando	40,632	1993
16	Brinker International brinkerjobs.com Leading casual dining restaurant company owning, operating, or franchising over 1,600 restaurants globally, including Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	39,975	1975
17	Panera Bread panerabread.com Fresh bakery foodservice offering freshly baked breads, pastries, and clean food with omni-channel ordering and community focus.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Fenton	39,768	1987
18	Yum! Brands yum.com Franchises and operates over 62,000 restaurants globally, including KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, specializing in chicken, Mexican, pizza, and burgers.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Louisville	34,000	1997
19	Chili's chilisjobs.com A global restaurant chain known for casual fare and warm hospitality, with a focus on giving back to communities Passionate about exceptional guest service	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	33,439	1975
20	Papa Johns papajohnsegypt.com A company seeking individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit, offering hands-on training, advancement opportunities, and emphasizing teamwork and quality customer experiences	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	30,377	1984
21	Arby's arbys.com Second-largest sandwich restaurant brand globally, operating over 3,400 locations in seven countries, part of Inspire Brands family.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	28,936	1964
22	Waffle House, Inc.wafflehouse.com Serving fast American food across 25 states, creating career opportunities for 40,000+ employees, and fostering customer and associate loyalty since 1955.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Norcross	28,807	1955
23	Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen popeyes.com Quick-service restaurant chain specializing in New Orleans-style spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and regional Louisiana-inspired menu items.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Miami	27,338	1972
24	Denny's dennys.com This company serves and nourishes people with food while also promoting their wellbeing and overall satisfaction	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Spartanburg	26,621	1953
25	Outback Steakhouse outback.com An Australian themed steakhouse restaurant offering a variety of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta dishes with high-quality food, generous portions, and a casual atmosphere	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Tampa	24,676	1988
26	Whataburger whataburger.com Opened in 1950, this restaurant chain serves made-to-order burgers with never-frozen beef on toasted buns, along with other menu items, in over 1,100 locations.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 San Antonio	24,292	1950
27	Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers raisingcanes.com Fast-food chain specializing in craveable chicken finger meals, focused on customer satisfaction, crew culture, and community involvement.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Plano	21,660	1996
28	Jack in the Box jackinthebox.com Operates quick-serve restaurants, offering diverse menu items like breakfast sandwiches, salads. Company pioneered many fast-food staples, with over 2000 locations.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 San Diego	21,368	1951
29	Jimmy John's jimmyjohns.com Prepares and sells sandwiches made with fresh vegetables, hand-sliced meats, and freshly baked bread daily for quick service restaurant customers.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Sandy Springs	20,137	1983
30	The Cheesecake Factory cakecareers.com Large restaurant chain offering generous food portions, career growth opportunities, work-life balance, and a supportive team environment.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Calabasas Hills	19,341	1978
31	Cracker Barrel crackerbarrel.com Restaurant and retail business offering country-style meals and hospitality, creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests to enjoy.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Lebanon	18,801	1969
32	Panda Restaurant Group pandacareers.com A global leader in Asian dining experiences focused on people development, fostering a purpose-driven culture with values promoting growth and progress	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Rosemead	18,701	1973
33	Red Lobster redlobster.com A leading seafood restaurant company focused on providing a top-notch dining experience with quality seafood, passionate team members, and sustainable growth	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Orlando	17,619	1968
34	Culver's Restaurants culvers.com A restaurant chain offering ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard, with franchise opportunities available for those with strong leadership skills	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Prairie du Sac	16,686	1984
35	KFC US jobs.kfc.com It is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain, a division of Yum! Brands, one of the world's largest restaurant companies.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Plano	16,422	1952
36	Jersey Mike's Subs jerseymikes.com Serves authentic fresh sliced subs and Philly cheesesteaks on freshly baked bread, committed to community giving and philanthropic endeavors.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Manasquan	16,217	1956
37	Wingstop Restaurants Inc.wingstop.com Global restaurant chain specializing in flavorful chicken wings, offering diverse career opportunities within its rapidly expanding network and support centers.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	16,095	1994
38	Red Robin redrobin.com Operates casual dining restaurants across U.S. and Canada, offering American food, fun, and a playful atmosphere for guests.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Greenwood Village	14,265	n/a
39	Zaxbys zaxbys.com Established in 1990, this brand serves chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, and salads in a lively atmosphere, with over 900 locations across 18 states	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	14,170	1990
40	In-N-Out Burger in-n-out.com Privately owned fast food chain serving high-quality, fresh, made-to-order burgers in a clean environment with friendly service.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Irvine	14,130	1948
41	TGI Fridays tgifridays.com Operating over 380 restaurants worldwide, offering authentic American food and legendary drinks in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	13,865	n/a
42	Five Guys Enterprises fiveguys.com Opened, perfected, and expanded burger restaurants from a local presence to over 1,900 locations globally, including North America, Europe, and the Middle East, since 1986.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Alexandria	11,602	1986
43	Bojangles' Restaurants, Inc.bojangles.com A unique and growing restaurant operator and franchisor serving high-quality, Southern-inspired food made from scratch with a special blend of seasonings	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Charlotte	11,124	1977
44	P.F. Chang's pfchangs.com Restaurant specializing in handcrafted Asian cuisine, using fresh ingredients and traditional wok cooking methods for every dish daily.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Scottsdale	10,885	1993
45	SPB Hospitality spbhospitality.com Leading operator of full-service dining restaurants and breweries nationwide, with a diverse portfolio of popular brands and specialty concepts	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Houston	9,153	n/a
46	Tropical Smoothie Cafe tropicalsmoothiecafe.com Serves better-for-you food and smoothies, inspiring healthier lifestyles and community well-being through a fast-casual restaurant brand across many states.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	9,087	1997
47	BJ's Restaurants, Inc.bjsrestaurants.com A company offering a unique dining experience with award-winning handcrafted beer, Chicago-style pizza with a Southern California twist, and world-renowned desserts	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Huntington Beach	8,709	1978
48	Steak n Shake steaknshake.com Premium burger and milkshake restaurant focused on quality food, excellent service, affordable prices, and a fun, people-centered work environment.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Indianapolis	8,521	1934
49	Firehouse Subs firehousesubs.com Operates a restaurant chain serving hearty subs, founded by former firefighters, supporting public safety through a non-profit foundation.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Jacksonville	8,503	1994
50	CEC Entertainment chuckejobs.com A global leader in family dining/entertainment with 605 Chuck E Cheese's and 149 Peter Piper Pizza locations, ensuring every guest leaves happy	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Irving	8,255	1977
Want more companies than this list? This page shows the largest ones only. Connect to Tamtam to see every company that matches, filter by size, industry or growth, and reach their decision-makers. Get more companies, free
51	Marco's Pizza (Marco's Franchising, LLC)marcosfranchising.com A fast-growing pizza brand founded in 1978, known for high-quality pizza made from scratch dough and fresh cheeses, with over 1,200 locations nationwide	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Toledo	7,864	1978
52	Hooters of America hooters.com operates a global chain of restaurants specializing in chicken wings, offering a unique hospitality experience and actively expanding through franchising partnerships.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Clearwater	7,683	1983
53	Alsea alsea.net Leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe, offering a diverse portfolio of recognized global brands in fast food, cafes, casual dining, and family restaurants Operating over 4,600 units worldwide	Restaurants	🇲🇽 Álvaro Obregón	7,274	1989
54	Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In Restaurants web.checkersandrallys.com A fast food chain offering bold burgers, sandwiches, and fries at unbeatable prices, with a focus on employee development and rewarding hard work	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Tampa	7,001	1985
55	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen cheddars.com Casual dining restaurant focusing on scratch-made meals, emphasizing genuine hospitality, team appreciation, and a rewarding work environment.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Orlando	6,816	1979
56	Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers freddys.com A family-owned restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, serving quality steakburgers inspired by 1950s classics, along with signature frozen custard desserts	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Wichita	6,755	2002
57	Smoothie King (SKFI)smoothieking.com A leading smoothie bar and nutritional lifestyle center franchise with over 1,000 stores in the US and internationally Ready to find your purpose?	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	6,100	1973
58	Golden Corral Corporation goldencorral.com A leading chain restaurant specializing in family-style buffets, offering high-quality food at reasonable prices in a clean, friendly atmosphere	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Raleigh	6,099	1973
59	A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.web.aw.ca A Canadian-owned company with over 1,020 franchised restaurants, focusing on collaborative relationships, successful business practices, and creating a positive work environment	Restaurants	🇨🇦 North Vancouver	5,926	1956
60	McAlister's Deli beta.mcalistersdeli.com A fast casual restaurant chain offering sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts with catering services, known for its hospitality and famous sweet tea	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	5,735	1989
61	Wendy's (Pertoria, Inc.)wendysnwo.com A local company operating six Wendy's restaurants in Northwest Ohio, focusing on providing great food, excellent customer service, and community involvement	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Perrysburg	5,367	1969
62	First Watch Restaurants firstwatch.com A breakfast-focused restaurant chain prioritizing freshness, community relationships, and employee well-being while serving customers with care and intention	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Bradenton	5,343	1983
63	CAVA cava.com Focus on delivering food with heart, health, and humanity, emphasizing quality and care in every meal served.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Washington	5,240	2010
64	White Castle whitecastle.com Family-owned fast-food chain since 1921, known for iconic Sliders, operating 350+ restaurants and retail division, with commitment to quality and innovation	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Columbus	5,169	1921
65	Del Taco deltaco.com Established in 1964, this California-based company operates nearly 600 restaurants across 16 states offering Mexican and American made-to-order items using fresh ingredients	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Lake Forest	5,131	1964
66	Noodles & Company noodles.com A global food company that values individuality and community, creating delicious, made-to-order meals with ingredients to feel good about	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Broomfield	5,063	1995
67	Carrabba's Italian Grill carrabbas.com Casual Italian restaurant serving fresh, handmade dishes cooked to order in an lively exhibition kitchen, emphasizing flavorful foods and hospitality	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Tampa	5,032	1986
68	Hard Rock Cafe cafe.hardrock.com A global restaurant chain founded in 1971, known for its rock and roll memorabilia and quality menu items, committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Davie	4,859	1971
69	Captain D's captainds.com Affordable seafood restaurant dedicated to serving great food at a great price, with a culture of service excellence and a commitment to guests	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Nashville	4,636	1969
70	Earls Kitchen + Bar earls.ca Family-run, independent restaurant group operating upscale establishments across North America, known for customized locations, innovative improvements, and quality service.	Restaurants	🇨🇦 Vancouver	4,603	1982
71	Ruth's Chris Steak House careers.ruthschris.com A global steakhouse chain known for high-quality steaks, traditional menu items, and warm hospitality inspired by New Orleans heritage	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Winter Park	4,563	1965
72	Pollo Campero campero.com Serves fried and grilled chicken for dining in, drive-thru, takeout, or delivery, also offering franchise opportunities for new markets.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	4,515	1971
73	Moe's Southwest Grill beta.moes.com A fast-casual restaurant chain serving fresh Southwest cuisine in a lively atmosphere with over 700 locations across 40 states Owned by FOCUS Brands Inc	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	4,472	2000
74	Qdoba Restaurant Corporation qdoba.com A fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain with over 740 locations in the US and Canada, focusing on flavorful ingredients and a vibrant, inclusive work culture	Restaurants	🇺🇸 San Diego	4,341	1995
75	Boston Pizza International Inc bostonpizza.com A leading casual dining brand in Canada with a focus on community giving, great food, and creating inclusive, hospitable gathering places	Restaurants	🇨🇦 Richmond	4,340	1964
76	Bon Appétit Management Company bamco.com Providing on-site foodservice management with scratch cooking, sustainable sourcing, and environmentally responsible practices for corporations and universities.	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Redwood City	4,234	1987
77	Bagel Brands bagelbrands.com Parent company of popular breakfast brands, offering innovative menus and strong customer service at over 1,100 locations with 16,000+ employees nationwide Serving communities since 1983	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Denver	4,140	1983
78	MOD Pizza modpizza.com A Seattle-based pizza company founded in 2008, prioritizing individual style, value, and community through their dedicated employees, the MOD Squad	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Bellevue	4,042	2008
79	California Pizza Kitchen cpk.com A global brand known for innovative California-style cuisine, featuring creative pizzas and a unique dining experience in over 14 countries	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Costa Mesa	3,841	1985
80	El Pollo Loco, Inc.elpolloloco.com An iconic chain of Mexican restaurants originating in Los Angeles, known for their citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken and fresh LA Mex cuisine	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Costa Mesa	3,760	1980
81	Jason's Deli jasonsdeli.com Family-owned business dedicated to serving customers and communities for over 40 years with integrity, refusing shortcuts in favor of quality service	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Beaumont	3,657	1976
82	Portillo's portillos.com Established in 1963, this company serves fresh and homemade food in nostalgic themed restaurants, specializing in classic Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Oak Brook	3,585	1963
83	Perkins American Food Co.perkinsrestaurants.com A family restaurant chain established in 1958, offering classic comfort dishes like pancakes, waffles, pies, burgers, and salads across 32 states	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Sandy Springs	3,566	1958
84	Texas Roadhouse careers.becomearoadie.com A family restaurant offering legendary hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and made-from-scratch sides, focused on providing great food and fun for all ages at a great price	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Louisville	3,543	1993
85	Miller's Ale House Restaurants millersalehouse.com A casual dining restaurant chain known for freshly-made food, value, personal experience, and local camaraderie, with over 100 locations across 10 states	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Orlando	3,521	1988
86	Benihana benihana.com An operator of teppanyaki-style, RA Sushi, and Haru restaurants, creating memorable dining experiences for guests through multiple Asian restaurant concepts	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Aventura	3,507	1964
87	Huddle House huddlehouse.com Family-focused diner serving delicious cooked-to-order homestyle meals with southern flavors, creating a welcoming environment for friends and family to gather over food	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Sandy Springs	3,409	n/a
88	Potbelly Sandwich Works potbelly.com A neighborhood sandwich shop known for oven-toasted sandwiches, soups, shakes, and cookies, offering fast, friendly service in a welcoming environment	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Chicago	3,397	1977
89	A&W Restaurants, Inc.awrestaurants.com Established in 1919, this company is America's oldest franchised restaurant chain, offering All American Food and freshly made Root Beer in frosty mugs Operating in more than 900 locations in the US and Asia	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Lexington	3,382	1919
90	Restaurant.com restaurant.com A trusted source connecting diners with local restaurants, offering savings, digital marketing services, and cost-effective gift certificate solutions to drive revenue	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Arlington Heights	3,328	1999
91	Fogo de Chão fogodechao.com This company provides an unforgettable dining experience showcasing Brazilian churrasco, while prioritizing team members' growth and creating a welcoming environment for all	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	3,311	1979
92	Fox Restaurant Concepts foxrc.com A hospitality company founded by Sam Fox, creating diverse restaurant concepts across the US, focusing on amazing experiences and incredible food	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Phoenix	3,216	1998
93	Blaze Pizza, LLC blazepizza.com Fast-casual artisan pizza chain offering house-made dough, quick 11-inch pizzas, salads, beverages, and desserts, with a franchise opportunity available nationwide	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	3,051	2011
94	Twin Peaks Restaurants twinpeaksrestaurant.com A lodge-themed sports bar offering scratch kitchen menu, 29° draft beer, wall-to-wall sports, and attentive Twin Peaks Girls for an exceptional dining experience Apply now!	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	3,017	2005
95	Apple American Group LLC appleamericancareers.com A leading franchise operator with over 440 Applebee’s restaurants in 23 states, generating $13B in sales with 21,000 employees	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Independence	2,885	1998
96	Mellow Mushroom mellowmushroom.com Franchise company offering psychedelic-inspired dining experience with fresh stone-baked pizzas and creative cocktails, reflecting a unique culture and vibe	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Atlanta	2,880	1974
97	Long John Silver's, LLC ljsilvers.com Popular quick-service seafood chain with a history of serving batter-dipped whitefish, chicken, and shrimp, along with famous hushpuppies and non-fried menu options	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Louisville	2,859	1969
98	Boston’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar – Franchising – United States ownabostons.com A restaurant chain in the United States offering gourmet pizzas, pastas, wings, burgers, and more in a family-friendly atmosphere with a sports bar	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Dallas	2,847	1998
99	Jack's Family Restaurants, LP eatatjacks.com Established in 1960, this company serves up Southern food with a commitment to community, family, growth, and respect at over 200 locations	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Homewood	2,829	1960
100	Boston Market bostonmarket.com A company based in Golden, Colorado, offering fresh, home-style meals and catering services with a focus on convenience and quality	Restaurants	🇺🇸 Golden	2,797	1985

Turn this list into pipeline

Tamtam finds the decision-makers at every company on a list like this one, with verified emails, phone numbers and the buying signals that tell you when to reach out.

Build your own list, free

How this list is built

Every company on this list has a Tamtam company profile. The industry is the one the company gives on LinkedIn; categories such as SaaS or fintech are classified by Tamtam's AI from the company's website and LinkedIn page; and the headquarters city must match the company's own address. Companies are ranked by the number of employees on LinkedIn, and the list is refreshed every night. Classifications can be wrong, so treat the list as a starting point rather than an official ranking. Last updated Nov 13, 2026.

100 leading Restaurants companies in North America

Want more companies than this list?

Turn this list into pipeline

How this list is built

More company lists in North America

The same list elsewhere