In Europe, fast food isn't just about big global chains. Throughout the continent, you'll find small, independent places that tap into local food culture, as well as regional chains that have successfully conquered their own countries (and sometimes crossed borders, too). From bulging burgers and kebabs to healthier sandwiches and seafood options, all sorts of quick-service treats are just waiting to be explored. To spark your curiosity, we’ve tracked down the best fast food chains Europe has to offer.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the European fast food chains that deserve a spot on your bucket list – counting down to the most unmissable of all.

We’ve based our ranking on the popularity of each chain in its country of origin and abroad, as well as on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. This list is unavoidably subjective.

If you think fries are always the best part of a fast food meal, Surf‘n’Fries is for you. This Croatian chain, which has also found some international success, puts fries at the centre of its menu, with everything else built around them. Cut in a curved ‘half-pipe’ shape, these fries are perfect for dipping and scooping up sauces – and for a heartier snack, they can be loaded with chilli, pulled pork, salmon and other gourmet toppings. Often perfectly positioned right on the beach, Surf‘n’Fries restaurants and kiosks are great for refuelling after an active day of watersports (or time spent lounging in the sun).

Fast and fresh pizza comes flying out of PizzaLab’s 20 locations in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. Customers tailor pizzas to their own preferences – and get to watch staff put them together before they’re slid into a hot oven and cooked in less than two minutes. Multiple options for dough, sauces, cheese, meat and vegetables offer up a huge range of possibilities, from a wholewheat base with tomato sauce, mozzarella and mushrooms to a cauliflower base with pesto, blue cheese and anchovies. Whatever your choice, the toppings are unlimited and full of flavour.

Tex-Mex street food can be picked up in Prague courtesy of Burrito Loco, which has 11 different locations in the city (plus one in Zlín in east Czechia). Pick a pre-designed burrito or build your own for a hearty handheld meal heaving with rice, flavourful meat, jalapeños, guacamole, sour cream and salad. Open until the early hours every night of the week, these burrito restaurants are a top alternative to the usual American chains – and a reliable choice for anyone who finds their stomach rumbling after a long night out.

This gyros chain has a fittingly Greek name, and some of its products follow the theme. Take, for example, the Leonidas, a pitta wrap bulging with chicken gyros meat, garlic and vegetable sauces, gherkins and salad – or the Apollo Burger, which sees a round pitta and thin slices of succulent meat combined with garlic and sweet and sour sauces. Spartan's sizeable portions and reasonable prices keep people coming back, which has helped the chain grow to over 60 locations in Romania since 2012.

Holy Cow! may not be the largest chain, but it has Switzerland well covered, with 18 locations – from Geneva, on the French border, to St Gallen, not far from Germany. Made with 100% Swiss beef and chicken, the restaurants’ gourmet burgers are recognised for their high-quality ingredients. They range from a simple beef burger with ketchup, onions and lettuce to mightily meaty creations like the King Kong Carnivore, a double burger topped with chorizo, bacon, spicy sauce, lime and basil mayo, caramelised onions and crinkly Batavia lettuce.

Danish chain Sunset Boulevard's first restaurant opened in 1996. Originally known for sandwiches, the restaurants now sell beef, chicken and plant-based burgers – all of which have built up a solid reputation among diners. The Hereford Béarnaise is a big seller, featuring a patty made with Irish Hereford beef, Béarnaise mayo, Cheddar, pepper bacon and soft fried onions. Although they're no longer the star of the show, sandwiches are still on the menu too; there's a choice of ham and cheese, tuna, club or chicken and bacon fillings, but you can also opt to build your own.

Small chain Jammi is largely focused around Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. Kebabs, burritos and burgers are the main draw here – and they're a big hit with locals. The kebabs are a particular favourite, made by filling a toasted pitta or lavash flatbread with slices of juicy chicken or beef, salad, sauce and more. Jammi is the place to go after a night on the town, welcoming everyone with its great selection of meaty, veggie and vegan options.

Fat Phill’s brings fast food inspired by the US to the Netherlands (plus one all-new British outpost in London). On the menu, you'll find a mouthwatering Philly cheesesteak, Nashville hot chicken and towering burgers with at least two patties each – including a huge offering known as the Big Belly, featuring four smashed patties, Cheddar cheese, turkey bacon and Phill’s sauce. Of course, no burger is complete without a portion of crinkle-cut fries, which come simply seasoned or loaded with the likes of cheese, steak and chicken tenders.

The UK might not be known for its quality Mexican food, but one Tex-Mex restaurant chain has made its mark. Barburrito does customisable burritos (think Subway with tortilla wraps), with the option of a rice, fries or vegetable base, plus a choice of fillings, toppings and salsas. Grilled chicken, barbacoa beef and pork carnitas can all be loaded with pico de gallo and chipotle sauces, as well as the likes of onion, cheese, jalapeños, chorizo and guacamole. Students love the chain for its great discounts, and fans say the churros are great, too.

Sandwich chain 100 Montaditos focuses on quality food at reasonable prices. Crusty Spanish rolls are piled with delights such as cold cuts, cheese, fish, potato tortilla and salad – resulting in fresh, tasty sandwiches that combine traditional flavours with a creative spin. Founded in 2000, the chain now has more than 350 restaurants throughout Spain, plus some international outposts, including in the US, Italy and Portugal. Its name refers to the Spanish culinary tradition of filling small rolls with whatever ingredients might be available.

North Fish takes inspiration from Scandinavia for its fish-focused restaurants and stores. Usually found in shopping centres, the Polish chain has a menu jam-packed with seafood delights. Fish and chips, fish nuggets and hearty sandwiches stuffed with pickles and ketchup are just some of the things available from its quick-service locations, as well as snacks such as calamari and onion rings. Going strong since 2002, it’s the second-largest fish and seafood chain in Europe and the largest in Poland.

The largest pizza restaurant chain in Scandinavia, Peppes Pizza is a beloved fast food staple in Norway. It was started in 1970 by an American and Norwegian couple, Louis and Anne Jordan, and it still sells American and Italian-style pizzas despite a change of ownership. Pepperoni, ham, and pepper steak take care of the truly American side of things, while the Scandi classic kebab pizza means there’s a local flavour on offer, too. Can’t decide? Get a half-and-half pizza and enjoy two toppings at once.

Pans & Company is all about sandwiches, and it has been since 1991. Here, long, pillowy rolls with crunchy crusts are stuffed with grilled chicken, Iberian ham, Brie and pulled pork, with delicious sides, salads and desserts rounding out the menu. The patatas bravas come highly recommended, topping potatoes with tomato sauce, aioli and smoky barbecue spices – and fans are keen on the chain's coffee and breakfast options too (think toasted panini and savoury croissants).

Burger fanatics in Greece go to Goody’s for their fast food fix. Founded in Thessaloniki in 1973, it’s now the country’s leading fast food chain, with a solid lineup of classic burgers – think Cheddar bacon, Texas barbecue and chilli – plus the option to customise them all. Sitting alongside the burgers and fries on the menu, you’ll find toasted sandwiches, wraps, pasta and even bao buns. Customers love the affordability of the chain and can get access to special combo deals when they join the All Star Club.

KFC has been in the UK for decades, and South African Nando’s is a fast casual hit – but even with these two behemoth chains in the mix, British fried chicken has managed to find its place. Founded in 1994, Chicken Cottage may be small, with just under 70 shops, but it has a loyal following. Fried and grilled chicken, burgers and wraps are all affordable items that can be chased down with classic British desserts, including sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble. The chain's hot and spicy wings are a favourite among customers.

Discover a distinctly Dutch item on the menu at FEBO, where you can get delicious kroketten (croquettes) alongside your burger or chicken. Veal, beef and even Asian-inspired satay beef or noodles are cooked in a creamy sauce, breaded and fried for the ultimate snack. You can also get a croquette burger, topped with house-made mustard sauce. In fact, it’s the kroketten that started FEBO, when baker Johan Izaäk de Borst started selling them in 1941. In 1976, the chain’s other signature item, the grill burger, came along using 100% Dutch beef with a sauce unique to FEBO, and it’s still a bestseller today.

This one’s for the seafood lovers. Nordsee is all about the fish, offering everything from grilled fillets to fish soup and sandwiches. Starting as a fishery in 1896, the chain moved into the fast food game in 1964. Now with more than 300 stores in Germany, Nordsee has also spread into other parts of Europe and the Middle East. Customers love the Nordsee burger, featuring a golden breaded fishcake with red cabbage, spicy remoulade, Cheddar and vegetables in a brioche bun.

Founded in Belgium in 1971, Quick has also become a fast food mainstay in France, as well as expanding into Morocco. The chain does a trade in beef, chicken and fish burgers, with a selection of veggie options to keep everyone happy. A visit to one of Quick’s many locations will see you tucking into loaded cheese and bacon burgers, chicken wings, cheesy chips and desserts including ice cream, doughnuts and melt-in-the-middle chocolate fondants.

Sometimes you just can’t beat a pretzel, with their chewy exterior and soft interior. They can be eaten alone, dipped into mustard or even turned into sandwiches. At Ditsch, a German fast food favourite, the pretzels fly off the shelves – and have done so since 1919. As well as classic pretzels, sprinkled generously with salt, the chain offers pretzel bites, buns and sticks for easier sandwich assembly. The stores are often found in railway stations, making them a convenient place to grab a bite to eat while on the move.

From its start in 1996, Da Grasso has grown to over 200 franchise locations and become a firm fast food favourite in Poland. The pizzas range from classics like Margherita, pepperoni and Hawaiian to modern takes such as pulled pork and a few local twists. The Poland sees a pizza topped with ham, cheese and kabanos (a thin and dry pork sausage) and the chicken kebab pizza is a true fusion dish. Customers love the pizzas for their doughy crusts, flavourful sauces and generous amounts of cheese.

Sibylla boasts of selling sausages to its customers long before the term ‘fast food’ existed, starting out in 1932. The sausages are still a firm favourite, served with either crinkle-cut fries or mashed potato, but today the menu also features meatballs, burgers, chicken and kebabs. More than 150 Sibylla restaurants and kiosks can be found up and down the country, as well as in Finland, and fans say the food is always fresh and fast, accompanied by friendly service.

Hesburger has been described as like McDonald’s or Burger King, but with a lot more mayonnaise. Though it’s a burger chain, it’s the six types of mayo on the menu that are the star attraction – it’s loved so much that Hesburger has 10 full-time employees working only on the sauce, who can produce up to 880 gallons (4,000l) in one shift. The highly rated fries are perfect for dipping in the paprika, cucumber, chilli or garlic flavours. The chain has nearly 270 locations in Finland, plus hundreds more in other European countries, from Estonia to Romania.

British chain LEON takes a healthier approach to fast food, with a focus on natural ingredients. Launched in 2004, the chain now has more than 60 locations in the UK, plus a few more elsewhere. The menu packs in fresh flavours, with burgers, wraps and rice boxes all designed to be nutritious as well as delicious. Even the desserts are on the wholesome side, with gluten-free treats including chocolate chip cookies and blueberry and yuzu blondies. The crunchy Korean chicken wrap and vegan LOVe burger are bestsellers and the baked waffle fries are a must-have side.

Albania’s homegrown Proper Pizza more than makes up for a lack of fast food options from the US, which have been slow to enter the country. There might not be a McDonald’s, Burger King or Starbucks, but young people are loyal to this pizza chain. All the pizzas have an Albanian touch, with a sprinkling of sesame seeds on the crust. The toppings range from those that play it safe, such as four cheeses, and rocket and Parmesan, and slightly wilder creations that really stand out – like the Cheeseburger, with cheeseburger sauce, meatballs and a ketchup base.

Not just a funny name, Abrakebabra is a top pick in Ireland for meaty kebabs stuffed with slaw, salad and plenty of chilli and garlic sauce. The chain launched in 1982 and is credited with introducing the döner kebab to Ireland, where it soon became a staple for late-night revellers. The meaty menu of slow-roasted döner, chicken shawarma and burgers also offers a few veggie options, including golden falafels and hummus with pita.

Five years before McDonald’s made its 1973 debut in Sweden, MAX Burgers came onto the scene. Now also found in Norway, Denmark and Poland, it’s a fast food chain that takes environmental responsibility seriously. Every year, the greenhouse gas emissions from the brand's activities are calculated and steps taken to reduce them as much as possible. Care for customers is important too, resulting in food they rave about and a restaurant experience that’s designed to be relaxing. Fries, milkshakes and tasty raspberry tarts are popular picks on top of the stacked burgers.

Irish institution Supermac’s is known for its Mighty Mac burger, featuring a pair of Irish beef patties with cheese, lettuce, onion, ketchup and burger sauce on a sesame seed bun. Established in 1978, just a year after McDonald’s arrived in the country, the chain became embroiled in a trademark battle with the global giant in 2019 over similarities between the names Mighty Mac and Big Mac. Supermac’s won the case, opening the doors for future expansion into Europe – so watch this space. If Supermac’s chooses to bring its burgers to other countries, it will also bring chicken snack boxes, generously sized subs and loaded fries.

Loved for its distinct malted semolina crusts and delicious toppings, Telepizza has been a go-to fast food option in Spain since 1987. More than 1,300 locations have opened since then, both within Spanish borders and around the world, making it the largest pizza chain established outside of the US. Classic pizza options are available – think pepperoni and Hawaiian – but the Las Brutales style is sure to catch your eye, too. It sandwiches five cheeses between two layers of pizza dough for a mightily indulgent feast that fans love.

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