Fast food restaurants in the U.S. - statistics  &  facts

A quick service restaurant (QSR), or limited service restaurant (LSR) is an establishment that serves meals at a lower price point and typically provides fast service, a limited menu, and limited table service. They are more commonly referred to as fast food restaurants outside of the industry. The quick service restaurant industry in the United States is one of the most well-established in the world. Many of the biggest global QSR brands originated in the U.S. and dominate a large portion of the global market. The market size of the QSR industry in the U.S. was just over 322 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, and that figure was forecast to exceed 331 billion in 2022. The total consumer spending in the QSR sector in the U.S. saw year-over-year growth in 2022, estimated to reach 320.3 billion U.S. dollars.

What are the biggest U.S. fast food brands?

While the U.S. fast food landscape has been inundated by new concepts over the past decade, the older, well-established U.S. QSR brands continue to dominate the industry. McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world in 2022. That year, the burger behemoth had a brand value of 196.5 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, coffeehouse chain Starbucks followed behind in not-so-close second place with a brand value of 61.7 billion U.S. dollars. Other U.S. brands such as Domino's Pizza, Subway, and Yum! Brands (parent company of Taco Bell, KFC & Pizza Hut) also made the top 10 list of most valuable QSR brands worldwide. Although burger restaurants such as McDonald’s are more commonly associated with the U.S. quick service restaurant market, sandwich chain Subway came out on top in a ranking of the biggest QSR chains by number of units with over 22 thousand establishments in the U.S. alone.

Are fast food restaurants popular with U.S. consumers?

The American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) scores on a 0-100 scale at the national level with 100 being the highest and best possible score. In 2023, the average ACSI score for quick service restaurants in the U.S. was 78 out of 100. McDonald's received a score of 69, which meant that consumer satisfaction was nine points below the industry average. Despite the company’s underwhelming ACSI score, McDonald’s had the highest consumer loyalty score of the leading QRSs in the U.S. as of the first quarter of 2022. McDonald’s also had one of the highest drive-thru order accuracy rates of U.S. restaurant chains as of July 2022. However, Arby’s came out on top with a drive-thru order accuracy rate of 89.9 percent. Meanwhile, Taco Bell had the fastest QSR drive-thru time in the country.

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.

Quick service eating place sales in the U.S.: 442.3bn USD

Consumer spending in the fast food sector in the U.S.: 320.3bn USD

Fast food brand with the highest brand value worldwide: McDonald's

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Market size of the quick service restaurant sector in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Quick-Service & Casual Dining Restaurants

U.S. quick service restaurant industry market size 2012-2022

Quick-Service & Casual Dining Restaurants

Most valuable QSR brands worldwide 2022

Number of quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise establishments in the United States from 2007 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023

Quick-Service & Casual Dining Restaurants

Number of quick service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2007-2023

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Industry overview

Premium Statistic U.S. quick service restaurant industry market size 2012-2022
U.S. quick service restaurant industry market size 2012-2022
Market size of the quick service restaurant sector in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Limited service eating place sales in the U.S. 1992-2022
Limited service eating place sales in the U.S. 1992-2022
Quick service eating place sales in the United States from 1992 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Monthly U.S. quick service restaurant sales 2019-2022
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Monthly sales of quick service restaurants in the United States from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Monthly change in QSR menu prices in the U.S. 2022-2023
Monthly change in QSR menu prices in the U.S. 2022-2023
Monthly change in quick service restaurant menu prices in the United States from July 2022 to June 2023
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 Employment in the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Employment in the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Employment in the quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise industry in the United States from 2007 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023
Premium Statistic Hourly wages of fast food cooks in the U.S. 2018-2022, by percentile distribution
Hourly wages of fast food cooks in the U.S. 2018-2022, by percentile distribution
Hourly wage estimates of fast food cooks in the United States from 2018 to 2022, by percentile distribution (in U.S. dollars)

Key players

Premium Statistic Most valuable QSR brands worldwide 2022
Most valuable QSR brands worldwide 2022
Brand value of the 10 most valuable quick service restaurant brands worldwide in 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)
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Sales of biggest global food and drink services companies 2023
Leading food and drink services companies worldwide in 2023, sales (in billion U.S. dollars)
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
Premium Statistic Leading QSR chains in the U.S. Q1 2022, by consumer loyalty score
Leading QSR chains in the U.S. Q1 2022, by consumer loyalty score
Leading quick service restaurant chains in the United States during the 1st quarter of 2022, by consumer loyalty score
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Customer service at selected restaurant chains in the U.S. 2022
Customer service at selected restaurant chains in the United States as of July 2022

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
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Most popular American dishes in the United States as of Q3 2022
Premium Statistic Most downloaded QSR apps downloaded by U.S. mobile gamers 2022
Most downloaded QSR apps downloaded by U.S. mobile gamers 2022
Leading quick service restaurant (QSR) apps downloaded by mobile gamers in the United States as of 2nd quarter 2022

Pizza sector

Premium Statistic Consumer spending in the QSR pizza sector U.S. 2004-2022
Consumer spending in the QSR pizza sector U.S. 2004-2022
Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant (QSR) pizza sector in the United States from 2004 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Consumer spending in quick service pizza restaurants U.S. 2004-2022, by segment
Consumer spending in quick service pizza restaurants U.S. 2004-2022, by segment
Consumer spending in quick service pizza restaurants in the United States from 2004 to 2022, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Pizza chains in the U.S. with the highest sales 2021
Leading pizza chains in the United States in 2021, by sales (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Number of pizza restaurants in the U.S. 2017-2022, by restaurant type
Number of pizza restaurants in the U.S. 2017-2022, by restaurant type
Number of pizza restaurants in the United States from 2017 to 2022, by restaurant type

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Key figures

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

Number of franchised fast food establishments in the U.S.
192,057
Detailed statistics
Number of quick service restaurant franchise establishments in the U.S. 2007-2023
Number of employees in the QSR industry in the U.S.
3.8m
Detailed statistics
Employment in the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2023
Median hourly wage of fast food cooks in the U.S.
13.29 USD
Detailed statistics
Hourly wages of fast food cooks in the U.S. 2018-2022, by percentile distribution