U.S. quick service restaurant industry market size 2011-2021

The market size of the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry in the United States was 256.03 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, down from the previous year's total of 295.91 billion U.S. dollars. In 2021, the market size was forecast to reach 296.55 billion. QSRs are sometimes referred to as limited service restaurants (LSRs), but more commonly known as fast food restaurants.

What are the most popular fast food companies in the U.S.?

Many fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, are extremely well known brands both worldwide and in the United States. In a 2020 ranking of U.S. fast food restaurants by sales, McDonald’s took the lead by over 20 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, and Subway. However, Subway was by far the QSR with the most units in the U.S. in 2020 while McDonald’s placed third, after Starbucks.

How did the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impact the fast food industry in the U.S.?

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, the restaurant industry in the U.S. was often restricted to take-out orders or delivery only, as indoor dining was not possible due to social distancing orders enacted to control the spread of the virus. While the decline in U.S. restaurant traffic due to COVID-19 was felt most strongly by the full service restaurant (FSR) industry, the fast food industry experienced a nearly 20 percent decline in restaurant traffic that year.