The US has practically perfected the art of the restaurant chain; the world’s largest and most well-known chains are American, from McDonald’s to Starbucks. Then there are the chains that have become famous around the globe – despite there being few, if any, locations outside the USA. These all-American restaurants are loved by locals and tempting to tourists. We've hunted down the most talked-about chains, ranking them up to the one people want to visit most.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the American restaurant chains everyone wants to visit – counting down to the most unmissable of all.
We've based our ranking on reviews, discussions and general buzz surrounding each chain, and on the experience of our team. This list is unavoidably subjective.
Despite the name, Wienerschnitzel doesn’t sell Wiener schnitzel (breaded and pan-fried veal cutlets). It does, however, sell wieners – in other words, hot dogs. With options such as chilli, sauerkraut, Chicago style and green chile cheese, classic American dogs are the focal point of this chain’s menu. Wienerschnitzel was founded in 1961, and its restaurants can mostly be found in California and Texas. Every year, the brand sponsors the Wiener Nationals, the US dachshund racing championships.
Cook Out is largely centred around the Southeastern United States (including Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia) – and it has an eclectic offering of burgers, hot dogs, chicken and barbecue. The huge menu can be intimidating to first timers, but regulars say the secret is to go for a tray. Choose either a burger, two hot dogs, two quesadillas, some barbecue or some chicken, then either pick two sides or double up on your order. You get a drink to wash it all down with, too.
Previously called Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, but now just short and sweet Freddy’s, this fast casual chain was founded in 2002. World War II veteran Freddy Simon (the chain’s namesake), his two sons and a fourth business partner set up the first restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, with Freddy’s family values and recipes at its heart. Today, under different ownership, it’s a popular place to get old-school favourites, and it can be found in 35 states. Get the full Freddy’s experience with an Original Double Combo burger meal and a chocolate shake.
It’s a smaller chain than most on this list, but the viral power of Voodoo Doughnut has earned it a place on many people’s bucket lists. It’s a must-visit for anyone coming close to one of its locations, whether it’s the flagship store in Portland, Oregon or a newer spot in Texas, Colorado or Tennessee. The artisanal doughnuts, sold in bright pink boxes, come in all kinds of flavours – think banana cream pie, maple cream and Cap’n Crunch – with eye-catching decorations and fun names.
Cracker Barrel’s Southern theme is hard to resist, especially for visitors to the US who want to get a taste of what the South is all about. The combined restaurants and gift shops serve up traditional fare; think meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, and chicken pot pie. To complete the kitsch Southern experience, each restaurant – no matter where you are in the country – has a wraparound porch, decked out with rocking chairs and a stone fireplace to really make it feel like home.
Braum’s rainbow of flavour options makes it an ice cream lover’s dream. With so many choices on offer, it's practically essential to get a double or triple scoop with your cone (baked fresh at Braum’s bakery every day). If you really can’t decide, the classic banana split is a great fall-back option – you really can’t go wrong with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, matching toppings and a split banana, all sprinkled with almonds and finished with whipped cream and cherries. Want something savoury? There are burgers, too.
Habit Burger & Grill is less well-known outside of the US compared to some other burger chains – but it might not be for long. In 2024, it was tipped to serve the best fast food burger in the country by news website USA Today. The chain had great fun with its win too, even going so far as to taunt fellow California chain In-N-Out with signs offering congratulations on achieving second place. Outside of trolling, Habit Burger is known for its Charburgers: burgers chargrilled over an open flame for the perfect smoky flavour.
Fast food fans around the world – especially those who love burgers – should add Whataburger to their bucket list, stat. Not all that much younger than McDonald’s, having been founded in 1950, the Texas-based chain was once known for its orange and white A-frame restaurants. The distinctive buildings are no longer a trademark; however, Whataburger remains a favourite burger joint not just in Texas, but also in the neighbouring states that have been lucky enough to get their own outposts.
Bojangles – formerly known as Bojangles' Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits – pairs fried chicken, seasoned with Cajun spices, with soft, flaky buttermilk biscuits. You can buy chicken pieces with biscuits on the side, but real fans know that the best way to enjoy both is with a Chicken Filet Biscuit: tender and tasty chicken sandwiched between two halves of a house-made biscuit. If you want to visit, you’ll largely find this North Carolina–born chain in the South and Midwest.
If you have a clown phobia, you might want to avoid Jack in the Box, whose packaging and marketing materials sometimes feature a smiling clown face. But if you don’t mind the slightly unsettling mascot, you can get your pick of everything (from burgers to tacos and egg rolls) from the popular chain’s menu. Jack in the Box was the first restaurant to implement a two-way intercom system in its drive-thru when it was founded in 1951, making ordering faster than ever. Today, there are more than 2,200 locations across 21 states.
KFC can be found all over the world – but in the US, smaller chicken chains are often seen as better quality. Zaxby's, which started in Georgia and has been franchised out to multiple other states, is a fast casual option offering a range of chicken fingers, wings and sandwiches. The signature sauces are especially popular (so much so that they’re available to buy at H-E-B grocery stores). Fans say the salads are good too, which is a rarity for a casual chain.
Ask anyone what to get at Culver’s, and the first thing they recommend won’t be the ButterBurgers (served on a buttered and toasted bun) or even the fresh frozen custard. No, it’s the cheese curds that get people talking. Made with Cheddar from Wisconsin, where the chain was founded, they’re deep fried until golden brown, resulting in a crunchy exterior and gooey, warm interior. Super fans (or the super curious) should look out for the CurderBurger, a Deluxe ButterBurger topped with a giant cheese curd; it's made a yearly appearance on Culver’s menus since 2021.
Juicy steaks form the meat of the menu at Texas Roadhouse. Choose your cut from porterhouse, sirloin, strip, ribeye and more, then pick from sides such as steak fries, mashed potatoes and green beans to build the perfect meal. Founded in 1993 as an affordable Texas-style restaurant, the chain now has locations in 49 out of 50 states, plus a few in countries including Canada, Mexico and the Philippines. It remains one of the most affordable places in the US to get a steak today.
Though it's not technically a restaurant chain, Buc-ee's has earned a cult following for its unbeatable selection of hot and cold road trip snacks – particularly its Texas-style barbecue. Hefty and hearty, the convenience store's drool-worthy brisket, sausage and turkey sandwiches are the perfect thing to fill up on before you hit the road. And that’s not all you can get at Buc-ee’s; the stores have everything you could ever need, from fishing gear to groceries. There are currently around 50 locations (largely in Texas).
It’s easy to spot an original Arby’s: just look for the huge sign shaped like a 10-gallon hat. While it’s mostly older restaurants that have the giant sign, the logo is instantly recognisable, and it features on all of the chain's buildings. Arby's reputation as the go-to choice for roast beef sandwiches stretches all the way back to 1964, when the Raffel brothers launched the first restaurant in Ohio. Today, Arby’s can be found across the US, as well as in a handful of global locations, including outposts in Turkey and South Korea.
Ice cream, burgers, classic shakes and malts make Dairy Queen the place to go for a comforting, nostalgic meal. It’s a childhood favourite for many Americans, who have fond memories of stopping by their local DQ for a no-frills burger or signature Blizzard – soft-serve ice cream blended with mix-ins (think cookie dough, Oreos and brownie pieces). It’s also a reliable spot to pick up a birthday cake; you can even create your own custom design.
Who wouldn't want to eat at a joint named after man’s best friend? Founded in 1996, chicken chain Raising Cane’s took its name from its founder’s dog – and it still has a four-legged mascot today (Cane III). That’s not the only unique thing about this restaurant chain, though. Raising Cane’s only serves chicken fingers, so don’t bother visiting if you’re looking for wings or a fillet. The spot's super-crispy fingers are seasoned to a T, and they come with crinkle-cut fries, Cane’s signature sauce and a perfectly golden slice of Texas toast.
Red Lobster is a seafood paradise. The chain got its start in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968, and it now has more than 700 locations around the world – mostly in the US, but some in a select few other countries, too. On the menu you'll find fabulous fruits of the sea, from fried fish sandwiches to surf ‘n’ turf, grilled scallops and Maine lobster tail. The Cheddar Bay Biscuits (cheesy, buttery, herby pastries that are served warm on the side of every meal) deserve a mention, too.
A choice of almost 30 sauces for dipping and dousing your wings makes Buffalo Wild Wings a must-visit. Originally called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck (a weck is a type of beef sandwich), the casual dining spot/sports bar chain cooks up traditional and boneless chicken wings, and even cauliflower 'wings' as a meat-free option. Maple chipotle, Cajun and Parmesan garlic are just a few of the sauces and dry rubs available to coat your wings, with spice levels ranging from mildly peppery to seriously hot.
Barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it – these are just a few of the things you can do with shrimp according to Bubba, the legendary character from the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. began two years after these famous words first appeared on screen, themed after the movie and serving shrimp every which way. True to its origins, Bubba Gump has a menu brimming with shrimp delights: there’s fried shrimp, shrimp mac ‘n’ cheese, shrimp gumbo, coconut shrimp, shrimp po’ boys and more.
Maybe it’s the classic takeout containers (also known as oyster pails) that draw people to Panda Express, the American Chinese chain famous for its orange chicken. The little red boxes are often seen in TV shows and movies, but they're a concept that's foreign to people in many countries around the world. It’s not just the containers that pique people’s interest, though. The chain's American take on Chinese food is a fantastic example of how American food has developed its own identity. According to the chef who claims to have invented it, the orange chicken recipe originated in a Hawaiian branch of Panda Express in 1987.
The value of a good sandwich chain really can’t be underestimated. The US has several of them but, while some have made their way around the world, others have stayed put on American soil. Panera Bread has ventured into Canada, but it's yet to go any further – leaving many who are keen to try their sandwiches, salads and soups to hope they might one day get the chance. The Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich is one of the bakery-café chain’s top sellers, simply combining a generous helping of turkey and bacon with Cheddar and a signature sauce.
Small Chicago-born chain Portillo’s doesn’t skimp on the meat in its Italian beef sandwiches. Thinly sliced, slow-roasted beef is piled into soft Turano French bread and splashed with a little gravy. If you don't mind getting messy, you can also get your sandwich 'dipped' – dunked in gravy – for even more deliciousness. Portillo’s has expanded to several states since it got its start in 1963, but fans say you can’t visit Chicago without stopping by.
Other countries might have white castles, but they don’t have their very own White Castle. This regional chain, which mostly operates in the Midwest and New York, is known for its sliders. White Castle has been slinging its small, square hamburgers since 1921 – and over a century later, the basic cheeseburgers are still the top pick for many fans. The sides get a lot of love too; the onion rings, chicken rings and mozzarella cheese sticks are all big hitters.
The world’s first drive-in restaurant opened in the US in 1921, and the country has loved the concept ever since. Drive-in chain Sonic isn’t quite that old – its first location opened in Oklahoma 30 years later – but it’s still a beloved institution. It's especially popular for its many drink combinations (including its best-selling cherry limeade), as well as snacks like potato tots and pickle fries. Charmingly, Sonic still uses carhops on roller skates to deliver food to your car at many of its locations. There’s even a competition to find the best skater each year.
Waffle House has achieved a certain level of fame online, featuring in memes that may leave non-Americans confused. The main question on everyone’s lips is likely to be: what exactly goes on at a Waffle House? These legendary late-night haunts have a reputation as the place to be to see the weird and wonderful side of a town after dark. Visitors can expect an inexpensive 24-hour menu featuring breakfast foods, burgers, cheesy Texas melt sandwiches and ‘classic dinners’ with a choice of meat, toast and either hash browns or grits.
Chick-fil-A is truly the home of the chicken sandwich; in 2022 alone, it served 527 million of them. The Original Chicken Sandwich is the staple menu item here – it’s simple but delicious (not to mention ever-popular), featuring a crispy breaded chicken fillet on a toasted and buttered bun, with two dill pickle chips for extra zing. There are big plans for the brand to expand outside of the US, so more people could soon get the chance to grab a famous Chick-fil-A sandwich close to home.
For anyone who learnt about the US through TV and movies, Olive Garden is the stuff of legend. It appears to be everywhere – unsurprising, really, when there are more than 900 locations – and yet there are few of them outside of the US. Famous for its unlimited free breadsticks, Olive Garden offers a crowd-pleasing menu of Italian American favourites. Ranging from chicken Alfredo to Sicilian cheesecake, the chain's inexpensive options are perfect for feeding the whole family on a budget.
A nationwide chain dedicated to pancakes? Yes, please. The International House of Pancakes, or IHOP, has been feeding hungry breakfast crowds for decades, and it’s still a go-to spot for family meals, early morning pick-me-ups and late-night cravings. 24/7 service means breakfast is available whenever you need it most. Although you can also choose from lunch and dinner menus, a heaping pile of pancakes – complete with your favourite sweet or savoury toppings – is always a winner.
Known for its secret menu Animal Style burgers and fries, California-born chain In-N-Out has been a West Coast favourite since 1948. Most of its 400-odd locations are in California, but there are outposts in a few other states, too. So, what exactly is Animal Style? Ask for a burger this way and you'll be served a patty cooked in a thin layer of mustard, then topped with pickles, grilled onions and extra spread (In-N-Out’s signature Thousand Island dressing–style sauce). Get your fries Animal Style and you’ll be blessed with crispy fries loaded with two slices of melted cheese, spread and grilled onions.
Naturally, the big draw at The Cheesecake Factory is the extensive and delicious menu of cheesecakes. There are more than 30 to choose from at any given time, from original (with a sour cream topping) to more elaborate varieties like mango Key lime, and lemon raspberry cream. However, the chain is hugely popular for its savoury options too, including burgers, pizzas and sandwiches. If you’re planning a visit, be prepared to take some of your meal away with you; the portion sizes are enormous.
Planning a trip? Discover the best local chain in every US state