Restaurants in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Restaurants in the United States are not only a big contributor to the domestic economy, they are also an international export, with many U.S. restaurant chains being famous across the globe. In 2022, the U.S. quick service restaurant (QSR) industry's output was forecast to see an increase of roughly 111 billion U.S. dollars over a fifteen-year period, reaching 275.7 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the output of the U.S. full service restaurant industry experienced similar growth in recent years and reached an estimated total of over 76.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. For many in the U.S., restaurants have become an essential part of everyday personal and professional life. Millions depend on the hospitality sector for employment and in 2022, the number of employees in the U.S. restaurant industry reached 12.5 million.

What is the most valuable restaurant chain in the U.S.?

Some restaurant chains, especially QSRs, have become household names in the U.S. and around the world. McDonald’s was the most well-known restaurant chain in the U.S. as well as the most valuable QSR brand worldwide in 2022. Founded in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, the American fast-food chain was recognized by 95 percent of internet respondents that year and had a brand value of over 196.5 billion U.S. dollars. Despite the company’s impressive brand value and brand recognition, McDonald’s received a comparatively low American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score in 2023. The ACSI index scores on a 0-100 scale at the national level with 100 being the highest and best possible score. In 2023, the ACSI score of McDonald’s was 69. This was the lowest ACSI score of any QSR in the ranking that year.

How often do Americans dine out?

In April 2023, a survey determined that U.S. adults were dining out less than they did half a year prior to being surveyed. When looking at the eating out frequency of U.S. adults compared to six months ago, 55 percent of U.S. adults claimed that they were eating out less at full-service restaurants and 45 percent of adults claimed they were eating out less at fast food restaurants. This was in line with the leading changes U.S. adults made when dining out at restaurants in spring 2023. The leading change in habit was selecting cheaper items on menus, with 55 percent of respondents stating that this was the case. Another survey asked about the restaurant programs that would convince diners to eat out at restaurants more often in the U.S. as of April 2023. The majority of respondents, 54 percent, said that promotional deals would convince them to eat out at restaurants more often.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Most valuable restaurant brand worldwide: McDonald's

Foodservice and drinking place sales in the U.S.: 975.9bn USD

Number of employees in the restaurant industry in the U.S.: 12.5m

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Foodservice and drinking place sales in the United States from 1992 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Food & Drink Services

Foodservice and drinking place sales in the U.S. 1992-2022

Leading chain restaurants in the United States in 2022, by sales (in billion U.S. dollars)

Quick-Service & Casual Dining Restaurants

Sales of the leading chain restaurants in the U.S. 2022

Number of foodservice employees in the United States as of May 2022, by occupation

Food & Drink Services

Number of foodservice employees in the U.S. 2022, by occupation

Recommended statistics

Industry overview

Premium Statistic Foodservice and drinking place sales in the U.S. 1992-2022
Foodservice and drinking place sales in the U.S. 1992-2022
Foodservice and drinking place sales in the United States from 1992 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Output of the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Output of the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Output of the quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise industry in the United States from 2007 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Output of the full service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2013-2023
Output of the full service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2013-2023
Output of the full service restaurant franchise industry in the United States from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Number of quick service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2007-2023
Number of quick service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2007-2023
Number of quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise establishments in the United States from 2007 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023
Premium Statistic Number of full service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2013-2023
Number of full service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2013-2023
Number of full service restaurant franchise establishments in the United States from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023
Premium Statistic Number of employees in the restaurant industry in the U.S. 2010-2022
Number of employees in the restaurant industry in the U.S. 2010-2022
Number of employees in the restaurant industry in the United States from 2010 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Number of foodservice employees in the U.S. 2022, by occupation
Number of foodservice employees in the U.S. 2022, by occupation
Number of foodservice employees in the United States as of May 2022, by occupation
Premium Statistic Hourly wages of foodservice employees in the U.S. 2022, by occupation
Hourly wages of foodservice employees in the U.S. 2022, by occupation
Hourly wages of foodservice employees in the United States as of May 2022, by occupation (in U.S. dollars)

Key players

Premium Statistic Leading casual dining chain restaurant sales in the U.S. 2021
Leading casual dining chain restaurant sales in the U.S. 2021
Sales of selected leading casual dining restaurant chains in the United States in 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)
Basic Statistic Most well-known restaurant chains in the United States 2022
Most well-known restaurant chains in the United States 2022
Leading restaurant chains ranked by brand awareness in the United States in 2022
Basic Statistic American Customer Satisfaction Index: QSRs in the U.S. 2023, by brand
American Customer Satisfaction Index: QSRs in the U.S. 2023, by brand
American Customer Satisfaction Index scores for leading quick service restaurant chains in the United States in 2023, by restaurant brand
Basic Statistic American Customer Satisfaction Index: FSRs in the U.S. 2023, by brand
American Customer Satisfaction Index: FSRs in the U.S. 2023, by brand
American Customer Satisfaction Index scores for leading full service restaurants in the United States in 2023, by restaurant brand

Consumers

Premium Statistic Frequency of adults dining out at restaurants in the U.S. 2023, by restaurant type
Frequency of adults dining out at restaurants in the U.S. 2023, by restaurant type
Eating out frequency of adults compared to six months ago in the United States as of April 2023, by restaurant type
Premium Statistic Restaurant habit changes made by consumers in the U.S. 2022-2023
Restaurant habit changes made by consumers in the U.S. 2022-2023
Leading changes made when dining out at restaurants in the United States in fall 2022 and spring 2023
Premium Statistic Main budget changes when dining out in the U.S. 2022
Main budget changes when dining out in the U.S. 2022
Leading budgeting changes among adults eating out at restaurants in the United States as of fall 2022
Premium Statistic Public opinion on menu pricing at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Public opinion on menu pricing at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Public opinion on menu pricing at restaurants in the United States as of March 2022
Premium Statistic Public opinion on customer service at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Public opinion on customer service at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Public opinion on customer service at restaurants in the United States as of March 2022
Premium Statistic Restaurant programs that would make diners eat out more in the U.S. 2022-2023
Restaurant programs that would make diners eat out more in the U.S. 2022-2023
Restaurant programs that would convince diners to eat out at restaurants more often in the United States as of April 2023
Premium Statistic Top order and pay methods for restaurant meals in the last 30 days in the U.S. 2022
Top order and pay methods for restaurant meals in the last 30 days in the U.S. 2022
Leading selected order and pay methods for restaurant meals in the last 30 days in the United States as of September 2022
Premium Statistic Opinions on maximum waiting times at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Opinions on maximum waiting times at restaurants in the U.S. 2022
Opinions on maximum waiting time for a table at a restaurant in the United States as of January 2022

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Restaurants in the U.S." and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Output of the QSR franchise industry in the U.S.
275.7bn USD
Detailed statistics
Output of the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Number of QSRs in the U.S.
192,057
Detailed statistics
Number of quick service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2007-2023
QSR chain with the highest American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score in the U.S.
Chick-fil-A
Detailed statistics
American Customer Satisfaction Index: QSRs in the U.S. 2023, by brand

Output of the FSR franchise industry in the U.S.
76.5bn USD
Detailed statistics
Output of the full service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2013-2023
Number of FSR franchises in the U.S.
32,879
Detailed statistics
Number of full service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2013-2023
Number of employees in the FSR franchise sector in the U.S.
1.09m
Detailed statistics
Employment in the full service restaurants franchise industry in the U.S. 2013-2023