Whether you’re craving a juicy smash burger or a hot sausage roll, Britain is home to some amazing fast food chains that even rival the global giants. Here, we look at the best homegrown British fast food chains of all time – from the restaurants found on every high street to the long-gone brands of yesteryear (not to mention some lesser-known chains with staunchly loyal fans). But which one is 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.
Little Dessert Shop is the new kid on the block when it comes to British dessert parlours. The chain got its start in 2015 and claims to sell the UK's 'most viral desserts' – including towering pancakes and wacky chocolate creations. The brand's online success has led it to expand to 50 locations on UK high streets, and it's targeting 50 more by the end of 2027. It seems the UK can't get enough of gelato, cakes, waffles and cookie dough.
Founded in 1939, Coughlans Bakery prides itself on using local ingredients to produce baked goods based on the original owner's recipes. It's grown to 31 stores throughout London, Surrey, Kent and East Sussex, and there could be more to come. After all, Coughlans made headlines in late 2024 after securing an investment from British comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who was particularly attracted by the chain's extensive vegan range.
Inspired by a road trip around the USA, Byron’s founder Tom Byng set about creating the UK’s answer to the delicious burgers from 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’ 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 number of closures and controversies, and there are now just seven Byron restaurants left (as well as two takeaway kitchens).
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 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. It went into administration in 2006 and collapsed a year later, largely due to competition from the likes of Starbucks.
Fast food may have a reputation for 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; however, it's now on the up again, with plans to launch outside its core central London market.
A mecca for sweet-toothed snackers, Kaspa's Desserts offers an incredible range of gelatos, waffles, shakes, smoothies and sundaes. The first Kaspa's hit the high street in 2012, and it's rapidly taken the dessert scene by storm, opening 100 stores and serving 20 million customers. Its grand plan is to serve up its decadent desserts in every major city and town in the UK.
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. With more than 115 stores across the country, Chopstix has grown 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 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. Sadly, Pizzaland’s success didn't endure; it went under in 1996. Many of its former sites were converted into Pizza Huts.
Baguettes may be known as a French speciality, but Upper Crust is very much a British endeavour. The first kiosk opened in London’s Waterloo station in 1986, and the chain now has 29 stores in the UK and Ireland. A favourite with commuters, Upper Crust – and its baguettes, filled with everything from tuna mayo to bhaji and hummus – can often be seen in airports and train stations.
The West Cornwall Pasty Company was established in 1998 by a Cornish father and his two sons – and since then, it's become a household name. The company has sold millions of pasties and is a familiar sight 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 150 branches across the UK. The chain prides itself on creating 'naturally fast food' that's healthy and tasty, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Popular dishes include crispy gluten-free chicken thigh nuggets, baked waffle fries and grilled halloumi wraps. The brand has also become known for its user-friendly cookbooks, which allow fans to recreate LEON classics at home.
Once a popular roadside restaurant option, Happy Eater was founded in 1973 and was loved for its colourful décor, family-friendly menu and animal-themed children's play areas. Its menu featured classic American-style fast food dishes such as burgers, fried chicken and ice cream sundaes, but Happy Eater was particularly known for its traditional English breakfasts, which it sold all day. It sadly became defunct in 1996, but it had more than 80 branches at its peak in the 1980s.
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 use 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.
Creams calls itself the UK's dessert parlour pioneer – and it's hard to argue with a chain that started out in 2008 and now has almost 100 stores throughout the country. Adam Mani and Balal Aqil's cafés aim to create ice creams that inspire joy and wonder, and there are all kinds of fabulous varieties on offer. While the ice creams, waffles and sundaes are the main draw, Creams also has a selection of tasty savoury dishes.
Chicken Cottage was founded in 1994 in London’s Wembley and has gone from strength to strength, with plans to open 100 stores by 2027. It has a cult following for its perfectly seasoned fried chicken, and it even has outlets in Kenya. It was the first UK fast food chain to introduce halal chicken in grilled and fried varieties, and it's continued to move with the times, introducing a mobile app and in-store 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. It's known for its epic gourmet burgers, including the Smokey Robinson, the Lambshank Redemption and the Hot Chic Chicken Burger – and there are plant-based versions, too. Creative sides include confit chicken wings, and hand-cut chips served with roast chicken mayo and chicken skin salt.
Fish and chips is a British classic, and Harry Ramsden’s has been serving the nation's favourite dish since 1928. The first Harry Ramsden's shop was a wooden hut near a tram stop in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, and word soon spread about the spot's tasty fish and chips. Now, the brand claims to be 'Britain’s longest established restaurant chain' – and, thanks to its partnerships with huge names like Sainsbury’s, it 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 it now has 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 and ramen (and more) at home.
Pizza lovers go back to Franco Manca time and time again. The chain was established 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 bases (made from an 18th-century starter sourced from Naples) 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. These days, fans everywhere can 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. The chain offers unexpected and mouthwatering concoctions such as the Reuben pastrami bagel (stuffed with pastrami, sauerkraut, mustard and Emmental cheese), 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's 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 160 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. The chain also made big strides by opening at some motorway service stations, and by launching Coco baguettes in Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK.
In 2016, Chaiiwala co-founders Muhummed Ibrahim and Sohail Ali opened their first store in Leicester, selling traditional chai made with fresh ingredients and spices imported 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 breads. The chain now has more than 100 stores globally, including the UK’s first Indian drive-thru restaurant in Bolton.
If you can’t get enough of 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 62 sites. It has expanded significantly 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 claims to smash 200 tons of guacamole every year.
The first Gail’s bakery opened on London’s posh Hampstead High Street in 2005, and there are now more than 150 sites across the UK (with big plans to open more). The chain 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 chain, Little Chef was founded in the 1950s, inspired by traditional American diners. The brand was incredibly popular; in its heyday, there were 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 to front a Channel 4 series that aimed to revive the brand in 2008 – but even the celebrity 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 around 100 shops, the family-run brand was 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 hit song Big for Your Boots.
Carnivores and herbivores alike can’t get enough of the moreish burgers at Honest Burger. Founded by two friends in London’s Brixton in 2011, Honest Burger currently has 39 sites, with plans to quadruple in size by 2030. The brand puts the taste of its burgers down to the fact that it chops its beef rather than mincing it, which the team say locks in all the flavour and keeps the meat tender. A side of the chain's signature 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 yearly global sales – and, given how ubiquitous its burgundy storefronts are, it’s no surprise that the sandwich chain keeps getting bigger and bigger.
This 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 2,300 shops across the UK and is widely considered a national treasure. It’s so popular that it knocked McDonald’s off the top spot as the UK’s favourite breakfast destination – and it’s even got its own jewellery line.
Now discover the world's best fast food chains you probably haven't tried
Last updated by Luke Paton.