Fast food-lovers have a lot to look forward to in 2020. Chicken biscuits will arrive at a chain that has never offered breakfast before, a national name will make waves overseas and incredible newcomers you’ve never heard of will open up shop near you – here’s what the big and small players have planned in the coming year.

Move over KFC, Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to take your customers. Starting out as an East Hollywood parking lot pop-up in 2017, within two years this millennial and Gen-Z focused chicken shop has two bricks and mortar locations, a third on the way and 96,700 Instagram followers. What’s more, it has a new team of investors and plans to franchise across the US.

The main event at Dave’s Hot Chicken is deep-fried chicken tenders coated in different spice levels from No Spice and Lite Mild to Extra Hot and Reaper. The latter is so spicy customers have to sign a general release to eat it. It also serves decadent sides such as macaroni cheese, cheese fries and kale slaw.

All fans of the long-standing American burger chain will soon be able to wake up with Wendy’s as it rolls out its breakfast menu across the country. Think Breakfast Baconators, Frosty-ccinos and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits. Currently available in 300 restaurants, it has plans to add the morning items to all its US outposts.

Wendy’s isn't just shaking things up in the US. The chain wants to double its overseas operation of approximately 800 stores and return to the UK. Brits can expect to be eating its signature square-patty, fresh beef burgers within the next 12 to 18 months. The last time it had a permanent store in the UK was in 2000.

Four years ago chicken finger chain Raising Cane’s set out a five-year plan to double restaurants and triple sales, however it achieved its target of £1.16 billion ($1.5 bn) in sales a year early. Things are only set to get better in 2020. It has 70 new openings planned and is predicted to be a £1.55 billion ($2 bn) company by the end of the year.

The fast-growing company’s success is down to its simple menu. It has six combos available made up of crispy chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast (garlic buttered and grilled sesame bread), coleslaw, Cane’s sauce (a spicy secret recipe dip) and a drink.

If you don’t already know Tropical Smoothie Café, you will soon. By the end of this year it will have opened 130 cafés and signed 200 franchise agreements for new outposts in Chicago, Tampa, Orlando, Cleveland and New Haven. And  not stopping there, the goal is 1,500 cafés by the end of 2025.

Head to Tropical Smoothie Café for a Kiwi Quencher (kiwi, strawberry and yogurt), Avocolada (avocado, pineapple, spinach, kale, coconut and lime) or seasonal Pumpkin Pie smoothie (pumpkin, white chocolate, cinnamon and yogurt). While you’re in there be sure to pick up a flatbread, wrap, quesadilla, sandwich or bowl for later.

Ordering your favourite sandwich or coffee from Starbucks is about to get a whole lot easier in 2020. Starbucks delivery will be available throughout the entire US by early next year with Uber Eats. This means customers in Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia and New Jersey can get a latte or Ham & Swiss Panini with the same ease as ordering a taxi.

In other digital news, the coffee chain has launched its first Starbucks Pick-Up location in New York City. Busy customers who want fast service can pick up orders they’ve made on an app. If all goes to plan, it’s likely we can expect more of these locations in 2020.

A quirky restaurant serving toasties and desserts, Potbelly Sandwich Shop started life as an antique store which sold sandwiches in Chicago in 1977. It now has 450 corporate and franchise locations following a year of rapid expansion in Florida, California, New York and the Carolinas. This will continue into 2020 as it’s just signed a franchise agreement for 10 shops in Las Vegas.

Potbelly offers comforting sandwiches such as Grilled Chicken, Italian meats and PB & J, hearty salads, macaroni cheese and soups. There are also sweet treats such as cookies, ice cream sandwiches and doughnut sundaes, plus smoothies and shakes.

Founded in a garage in Arkansas in 2003, Slim Chickens will be a 100-unit chain by the end of December. But its end game is 600 new locations in 10 years. Those in the southern, Midwest, mid-Atlantic and northeast states should expect to see this chicken chain very soon.

What sets Slim Chickens apart is its 17 dipping sauces including cayenne ranch, blue cheese, buffalo, Korean BBQ, mango habanero and gravy. It also serves wings, sandwiches, salads, chicken and waffles, and sides like fried pickles, fried okra and macaroni cheese.

East Coasters, watch out as this popular pretzel spot from Redondo Beach, California, is expanding. Founded in 1994, it currently has more than 340 bakeries across the US and the rest of the world. But recent meetings indicate new franchises are coming to Tysons, Virginia, so watch this space.

The Southern Californian company has cultivated a loyal following for its pretzels, homemade lemonade and Cin-a-Bitz (bite-sized pieces of pretzel topped with cinnamon and sugar). It also has classic pretzels and saucy dips; cheesy, garlicky and chilli pretzels; pretzel dogs; mini pretzel “Bitz”; and frozen drinks.

Known for its lunch time offering, Panera Bread now has its sights set on the breakfast and dinner market. Earlier this year it added scrambled egg wraps to its morning menu and revamped its coffee selection. It also tested flatbread pizzas, and warm chicken and rice bowls at select locations in the evening.

Good news for travellers, the healthy chain is expanding into airports. Joining its existing 2,000 or so stores, the plan takes off with Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport next year, followed by more. It will also be adding new menu items designed for people on the go.

Next year will be big for square hamburger chain Krystal. It’s returning to franchise growth for the first time in 15 years, with 18 new stores in the pipeline. Currently at 202 company-owned outlets and 116 franchises, it’s also remodelling its existing stores. They will have the same menu and the same location but a sparkling new image.

The original Krystal is a miniature square-shaped beef patty topped with onions, mustard and dill pickles in a steamed bun. It also serves fried chicken, bacon cheese and double Krystals. Looking for something smaller? Opt for the loaded fries or tots, nuggets or mini hot dogs called Pups.

Now take a look at the legendary fast food brands that fell by the wayside

If you haven’t heard of Chicago’s Pizza With-A-Twist yet, by the end of 2020 you will have. Founded in 2014, the innovative pizza restaurant adds Indian and Middle Eastern spices to vegan dough and currently has 42 stores across nine states. However, it has 90 more lined up, plans for expansion in Canada and is hoping to have 200 units sold by the end of 2020.

Alongside the classic Hawaiian and All Meat pizzas, at Chicago’s Pizza With-A-Twist you’ll find some incredible fusion options. Normally opt for pepperoni? Swap it for a garlicky Lamb Kabab. A four cheese-lover? Go for the Tandoori Paneer. More of a vegetable person? Try the Tikka Masala Veggie option. There’s nothing else like it.

Originating in Austin in the 1970s, Schlotzsky’s recently underwent rebranding as Schlotzsky’s Austin Eatery. The 350-restaurant chain is now expanding in south Texas with 10 new franchise agreements signed. It’s also working on its delivery, take-out and drive-thru efficiency.

When the Austin-inspired chain rebranded it added some fresh ideas to its menu of sandwiches, flatbreads, pizzas, salads and soups. The Original (smoked ham, salami, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, olives and salad on a sourdough bun) is an old favourite. The French Dip (roast beef, provolone, Swiss cheese, caramelised onion in a pretzel bun with au jus sauce) and Caprese (mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, mayo and salad in ciabatta) are new.

There are good things on the horizon for UK-based KFC fans. Currently at 850 stores, it plans on having 1,000 across the UK and Ireland by 2020. The list of potential locations includes drive-thru venues, food court counters and restaurants in Glasgow, Liverpool, Bangor, Birmingham, Coventry, Chelmsford and Exeter.

Meanwhile the store has done a U-turn on its healthy baked chicken plans. It spent £8 million ($10.3 m) installing ovens in shops across the UK but the Brazer grilled chicken sandwich and the Rancher sandwich failed to take off. Good news for Original Recipe and Zinger-lovers, it will be fried chicken only from here on out.

It’s all bone broth bowls and power plates at CoreLife Eatery, a very different kind of restaurant making waves in the fast food industry. It first opened in New York in 2015 and is expanding in suburban markets like Strongsville, Ohio and Sandy, Utah. It plans to go from its current 55 stores to 300 stores in the next five years, hoping to become the Planet Fitness of health restaurants.

Making healthy eating easy, CoreLife Eatery has green bowls, grain bowls, power plates and bone broth bowls to support active and busy lifestyles. Feast on ahi tuna poke, avocado, pickles and sesame sriracha sprouts on purple rice or sriracha ginger tofu and veggies on warm quinoa. It even has its own 21-day health challenge.

 

The biggest fast food chain in the world, McDonald’s has been synonymous with beef burgers since the 1940s. However, next year it may be known for something different: a vegan bacon cheeseburger. The multinational has been thinking on the idea for a while and Nestlé’s new development in plant-based burgers might be the push it needed.

For more fast food history take a look at the incredible story of how McDonald's conquered the world

Plant-based foods aren’t the only way McDonald’s is upping its game. A McChicken McMuffin, Chicken McGriddle or Chicken Biscuit could join the breakfast menu in the US from January following recent testing of the items in select markets. Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s better watch out.

For this year's rising stars read the fast food newcomers conquering America in 2019