Top 10 Greatest Fast Food Restaurants of All Time
#10: Chick-fil-A
Some companies flourish because they choose to diversify and expand their offerings. However, the folks over at Chick-fil-A found another way to remain successful. They stuck to what they knew best: chicken sandwiches. Coupling their great food with unparalleled customer satisfaction, Chick-fil-A found a way to keep themselves in the eyes of hungry Americans. With just over 11 billion dollars worth of revenue in 2019, there’s no doubt they’ve found the key to their own success. Despite a handful of controversies around the company due to their conservative leadership, they continue to thrive in the United States, Canada, and overseas.
#9: Domino's Pizza
Are you old enough to remember “Avoid the Noid?” He was a character featured in a plethora of commercials for Domino’s Pizza back in the 1980s. Looking back now, we wonder what anyone could have against this pizza powerhouse. With revenues in excess of 4 billion dollars in 2021, it’s not hard to see why they have become the largest pizza franchise in the world. It’s no surprise given how diversified the menu has become over the years. What started as just pizza has blossomed into various chicken dishes, wings, pasta, and other regionally unique delights.
#8: Abrakebabra
No, it’s not a fancy catchphrase from a magic show. Abrakebabra found its audience when it started serving doner kebabs to late-night patrons likely hungry from a night of pub crawling. Opening its first location in Rathmines in Dublin back in 1982, they have since expanded to 20 locations all across Ireland. Beyond their original dish, they also serve delicious shawarma and falafels, and even some crispy chicken. And if you happen to be a notable public figure who has been kind to the brand, they may send you a “Doner Card” giving you free food for life at any of their locations. How cool is that?
#7: Subway
Although you’ll find plenty of burger joints on this list, there’s only one sub sandwich shop that cracks the top 10: Subway. Founded in 1965 as Pete's Super Submarines, Subway has been the go-to alternative to a cheeseburger and fries. With almost 37,000 locations worldwide, there’s no questioning Subway’s popularity, especially now with so much focus being put on healthy eating. With the variety of sandwiches and toppings available, including regional-specific favorites, it’s not hard to believe their menu has more than 38 million combinations. Sure, there are other healthy fast food options out there, but none match the size and popularity of Subway.
#6: Max Burgers
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How often do you hear about a burger chain putting McDonald’s out of business? Swedish-born Max Hamburgers managed to push the golden arches out of Sweden in 1991 and then again in 2007. Customers of Max Burgers cited their quality and taste as being the biggest reasons for choosing local over the burger mogul. And if we’re being honest, who could blame them? One look at their burgers and you can’t help but feel a craving coming on. The regional chain started in 1968 and has grown to 146 restaurants across Sweden, Denmark, Egypt, and even Kuwait.
#5: Taco Bell
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If the future had turned out like it did in “Demolition Man,” “...all restaurants are Taco Bell.” Thankfully the world has options, but if you’re looking for some quick Mexican food, Taco Bell seems to be the fast food of choice. Glen Bell learned the secrets of how to make a hard shell taco from a little shop in California called Mitla Cafe. From there he turned it into a multi-billion dollar restaurant chain. With more than 7,000 locations worldwide and an annual revenue of almost two billion dollars, Taco Bell has cemented itself into history as the go-to place for a quick taco or burrito.
#4: KFC
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If someone says the name Colonel Sanders, who do you think of? Kentucky Fried Chicken of course. Shortened to KFC in 1991, the famous 11 herbs and spices chain has been serving fried chicken to customers since 1952. Harland Sanders started selling his famous recipe from the Sanders Court & Café in the late 1930s. That blossomed into one of the largest fast food restaurants across the globe. With more than 24,000 locations worldwide, and earning almost 28 billion dollars in revenue per year, there’s no denying the popularity of this brand. Plus, since both KFC and our previous entry Taco Bell are owned by the same company, many locations feature both sets of menu items.
#3: MOS Burger
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Mountain, Ocean, Sun. Not necessarily three words you’d associate with fast food and burgers. But nonetheless, MOS Burger is indeed a real thing, and yes, it is huge in Japan. Second, only to McDonald’s, MOS Burger has become quite a successful chain of burger restaurants all throughout Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and even Australia. The name of the chain is also its signature product: a BLT-style burger with cheese. They’re also quite well known for their rice burger which substitutes the bun with a rice patty. With over 1,700 locations, be sure to check them out should you be in that part of the world.
#2: Burger King
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What do Pepsi, Android Phones, and Macintosh computers have in common with Burger King? They serve as the largest opposition to their main competitor. Burger King may not have ever beaten out their largest opponent, but that doesn’t mean they’re not popular. With more than 19,000 locations around the world, there are very few places that haven’t heard of “the Whopper.” Distinguishing themselves through their “flame-broiled” means of cooking their burgers, BK has done a great job of keeping up with the times. Like other franchises, they’ve had their hits and misses, but continue to serve up great meals to millions. Oh, and fun fact: Did you know they’re known as Hungry Jack’s in Australia?
#1: McDonald's
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Was there ever any doubt this would be number one? Of all the fast food restaurants across the globe, no brand is more synonymous with a quick bite than McDonald’s. With more than 40,000 locations across the globe, they are the very definition of brand recognition. Between their mascot Ronald, and their signature Big Mac, even those who dislike their food know who they are. Sure, not everything they’ve put out has been a huge success. But as the pioneer of fast food, drive-thru lanes, and the concept of franchising, no other fast food place in the world comes anywhere near those golden arches.
