Whether you’re craving a juicy smash burger or a hot sausage roll, Britain is home to some amazing fast food brands that even rival the global giants. From the ubiquitous restaurants found in every airport, service station and high street to the lesser-known chains with a cult status and staunchly loyal fans, we take a look at the best British homegrown fast food chains of all time, counting down to the most iconic of all.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our countdown of Britain's greatest fast food chains. How many have you tried?
We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each restaurant, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Inspired by a road trip around the USA, Byron’s founder Tom Byng set about creating the UK’s answer to the delicious burgers he found across the pond. The first Byron opened in 2007 on Kensington High Street in London, and the chain's mission was to serve ‘proper hamburgers’, focusing on classic burgers made with British beef and fresh ingredients. It was an instant hit and the chain became a pioneer of the British burger scene, with 67 branches at its peak in 2018. Since then it’s had a volatile history, with a number of closures and controversies, and there are now just eight Byron restaurants left.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Benjys was the place to go for a quick and affordable lunch. So, sandwich lovers were devastated when the budget chain closed in 2007. First established in 1989 in London, Benjys offered customers budget-friendly comfort food such as sandwiches, paninis, jacket potatoes and pies. At its peak, it had 60 stores in the UK (mainly in London and the South East of England) employing more than 650 people. Sadly it went into administration in 2006 and collapsed a year later, largely due to competition from the likes of Pret A Manger and Starbucks.
Fast food may have the reputation of being unhealthy, but not at Tossed. The healthy chain, which offers customisable salads, wraps and power bowls, can be found in 13 London locations. The chain struggled during the pandemic, with lockdowns meaning no lunchtime regulars, but it's now on the up again, with plans to launch outside its core central London market.
Chopstix isn't exactly a household name, but you'll probably recognise the distinctive logo and loaded hot counters from food courts and shopping centres all over the UK. And with more than 115 stores across the country, Chopstix has expanded rapidly since its first store opened in 2002. The brand now has plans to expand globally, with its first site outside of the UK and Ireland opening in Romania. Fans love Chopstix’s tasty Asian-inspired flavours, enjoying spring rolls, tasty noodles or rice topped with sticky chicken, spicy beef and prawns.
You might not be familiar with Pizzaland but, once upon a time, it was one of the UK’s biggest pizza chains. Initially financed by Associated Newspapers in the 1970s, the group soon had more than 140 restaurants. It was probably most famous for its ‘penny for a pizza’ promotion, where diners could buy one pizza and get another for 1p. Despite its popularity, Pizzaland’s success didn't endure and it went under in the 1990s; many of its former sites were converted into Pizza Huts.
Baguettes may be known as a French speciality, but Upper Crust is very much homegrown in Britain. The first kiosk opened in London’s Waterloo station in 1986, and the chain now has more than 30 stores in the UK and Ireland. A favourite with commuters, Upper Crust – and its baguettes filled with everything from bacon and egg to ham and cheese – can often be seen in airports and train stations.
First established in 1998 by a Cornish father and his two sons, The West Cornwall Pasty Company has become a household name. The company has sold millions of pasties and is a familiar face at train stations and service stations. Customers adore the brand’s traditional hand-crimped pasties stuffed with goodies, from cheese and onion to steak and potatoes, but the traditional Cornish pasty is the go-to here.
The first Leon opened in London in 2004, and the much-loved brand now has more than 70 branches across the UK. The chain prides itself on creating 'naturally fast food' which is healthy and tasty, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Popular dishes include the crispy gluten-free chicken thigh nuggets, baked waffle fries and grilled halloumi wrap. The brand has also become known for its user-friendly cookbooks, which allow fans to recreate Leon classics at home.
Once a popular family roadside restaurant option, Happy Eater was founded in 1973 and was loved for its colourful decor, family friendly menu and animal-themed children's play areas. Its menu featured classic American-style fast food dishes like burgers, fried chicken and ice cream sundaes, but Happy Eater was particularly known for its traditional English breakfast, which was sold all day. It sadly became defunct in 1996 but had more than 90 branches at its peak in the 1980s. It's a nostalgic eatery that's recalled fondly by those who visited it.
Established in London’s Spitalfields Market in 2011, Poppies Fish and Chips now has four restaurants across London. Standing out from the crowd thanks to its sourcing of fresh fish rather than frozen, Poppies is best-known for its scrumptious servings of crispy battered cod and perfectly golden, fluffy chips, with mushy peas (or curry sauce) on the side. So popular is the small chain that more than 10,000 hungry Londoners enjoy a portion of Poppies Fish and Chips every week.
Chicken Cottage was first founded in 1994 in London’s Wembley, and has gone from strength to strength, with plans to reach 100 stores by 2027. It has a cult following for its perfectly seasoned fried chicken, and has grown into a global brand with outlets in multiple countries, from Nigeria to Malaysia. It was the first UK fast food chain to introduce halal chicken in grilled and fried varieties, and has continued to move with the times, introducing a mobile app and instore digital kiosks to make customers’ lives easier.
One of the youngest brands on our list, Patty&Bun opened its first store in 2012 and now has several restaurants in London and Brighton, plus a food truck in Dubai. Known for its epic gourmet burgers and mouthwatering sides, some of its best-known burgers include the Smokey Robinson, the Lambshank Redemption and the Hot Chic Chicken Burger – and there are plant-based versions too. Creative sides include its signature confit chicken wings and hand-cut chips served with roast chicken mayo and chicken skin salt.
Fish and chips is a great British classic, and Harry Ramsden’s has a long tradition of serving up the traditional dish of the nation: since 1928, to be precise. Harry Ramsden's first shop was a wooden hut near a tram stop in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, and word soon spread about his tasty fish and chips. Now, the brand claims to be 'Britain’s longest established restaurant chain' – and, thanks to its partnerships with huge names such as Sainsbury’s, can be found all over the UK.
With its colourful store fronts and fresh flavours, Wasabi is a favourite for fans of Japanese and East Asian-style food on the go. The chain began as a stall in London’s Camden Market in 2003, and now has more than 40 stores around the country where customers can pick up bento boxes, sushi, katsu curry bowls, salads and snacks. Wasabi also has its own grocery line, so fans can cook its yakisoba, ramen and more at home.
Pizza lovers go back to Franco Manca time and time again. The chain was founded in 2008 in London's Brixton Market, when co-founders Giuseppe Mascoli and Bridget Hugo took over an existing pizzeria. The pair developed their own slow-rising sourdough (made from an 18th-century starter sourced from Naples) for the base, and added tasty Neapolitan-style ingredients on top. Now there are 70 Franco Manca pizzerias all over the country, where pizza aficionados can order their favourites without spending a fortune.
If you’re partial to a sushi lunch, chances are you’ve indulged in a box or two from Itsu. Launched in 1997 in London’s Chelsea, the Asian-inspired chain now has more than 70 restaurants, and is a well-established grocery brand on supermarket shelves, where fans stock up on everything from frozen gyoza to ramen broth to bring that 'fakeaway' feeling to their own kitchen tables.
Versatile, affordable and great on the go: the mighty bagel has it all. Perhaps this explains the success of Bagel Factory, which opened in London in 1997 and now has more than 50 outlets in the UK and Ireland. Rather than samey ingredients, the chain offers unexpected and mouthwatering concoctions such as the Reuben pastrami, with pastrami, sauerkraut, mustard and Emmental, and specials like the tuna melt bagel. There are loads of vegan and veggie options, too.
Bakeries don't get more old-school than Wenzel’s. These days the much-loved chain is a household name in London, the Home Counties and parts of the Midlands, but it started off in 1975 as a small family-run business in northwest London. Wenzel’s is still owned by the same family and now has more than 100 locations selling sweet and savoury treats, fresh loaves and delicious sandwiches at affordable prices. Over the years it has picked up some diehard fans who rave about its breakfast baguettes, hefty cake slices and seasonal doughnuts.
A young upstart compared to some of the other chains on our list, Fireaway has exploded in popularity and size since it was founded in 2016. The gourmet pizza takeaway now has more than 150 branches across the UK, and thanks to its franchise model, is growing fast. Founder Mario Aleppo uses a recipe from his Nonna, brought to the UK from the Amalfi Coast in the 1950s, while the tomatoes and flour are imported from Naples and Milan for authentic Italian flavour.
Carb lovers adore Italian to-go chain Coco Di Mama, which was founded in 2011, and now has around 145 locations. The menu appeals to fans of Italian cuisine, with comforting pasta dishes, toasted sandwiches and creative salads – and the coffee is great, too. There are big plans in the works for the chain: recent news includes the brand opening at a variety of motorway service stations, plus the launch of Coco baguettes in Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK.
In 2016, Chaiiwala co-founders Muhummed Ibrahim and Sohali Ali opened their first store in Leicester, selling traditional chai made with fresh ingredients and spices imported straight from India. The Indian street food brand offers a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as Indian-style snacks, Bombay toasties, breakfast plates and naan. The chain now has more than 100 stores globally, including the UK’s first Indian drive-thru restaurant in Bolton.
If you can’t eat enough Mexican food, chances are you’re well acquainted with the joys of Tortilla. Calling itself the 'UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand', Tortilla was founded in 2007 and now has more than 100 sites and 1,100 employees. It has significantly expanded over the years, and now fans can enjoy its burritos, tacos, salads and quesadillas in pretty much every corner of the country. Another fun fact: the chain smashes 200 tons of guacamole every year.
The first Gail’s bakery was born in London’s posh Hampstead High Street in 2005, and there are now more than 100 sites across London, Brighton and Oxford, with big plans to open more. It inspires fervent loyalty from its fans, who flock to their local Gail’s for top quality sourdough sandwiches, seasonal specialities, sweet and savoury bakes and delicious house-blend coffee.
Once Britain’s most famous roadside restaurant, the Little Chef chain was founded in the 1950s and inspired by traditional American diners. The brand was mega popular, with 439 branches serving cosy comfort food like all-day breakfasts, fish and chips and cheeseburgers. As the chain’s success dwindled, Heston Blumenthal was enlisted in 2008 as part of a Channel 4 series to revive the brand – but even the great chef couldn’t reverse Little Chef’s fortunes, and its doors shut for good in 2018.
If you love tasty fried chicken, you’d be remiss not to check out Morley’s, which has been a cult London staple since its first shop opened in Sydenham in 1985. Now boasting 100 shops, the family-run brand was first started by Sri Lankan–born Kannalingham 'Indran' Selvendran and is now run by his son, Shan. The shops have been the backdrop for some exciting shoots too, including the video for Stormzy’s Big for your Boots.
Carnivores and herbivores alike can’t get enough of the moreish burgers at Honest Burger. Founded by two friends in 2011 in London’s Brixton, Honest Burger currently has 39 sites, with plans to quadruple in size by 2030. The brand puts the taste of its burgers down to chopping beef rather than mincing it, which the team say keeps in all the flavour and keeps the meat tender – and the signature side of rosemary salted chips is always a hit, too.
There’s seemingly one on every street, and it’s the go-to choice for many Britons in search of a quick coffee or bite to eat. Pret A Manger, which first opened in 1986, now has nearly 700 locations around the world, including in the USA and Europe. It's so omnipresent that it's hard to imagine life in the UK without it. Sales continue to boom, with over £1 billion ($1.3bn) in global sales last year – and, given how ubiquitous its burgundy storefront is, it’s no surprise the sandwich chain keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Of course, our top slot had to go to Greggs. The beloved British high street bakery was founded by John Gregg in Newcastle upon Tyne, way back in 1939. Now famous for its headline-grabbing, affordable and tasty goodies, including the much-debated vegan sausage roll, Greggs has more than 2,000 shops across the UK, and is widely considered to be a national treasure. It’s so popular, it knocked McDonald’s off the top spot as the UK’s favourite breakfast choice – and it’s even got its own jewellery line.
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