While McDonald's remains the world's biggest fast-food brand by many measures, the most eaten item globally is likely McDonald's French Fries, selling millions daily, though Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea has surpassed it in number of locations, and burgers/fries, fried chicken, pizza, and sandwiches are all top contenders in overall consumption.
KFC's brand is ranked #130 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of KFC. Their current valuation is $32.95B. McDonald's's brand is ranked #85 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of McDonald's. Their current valuation is $167.91B.
The top fast-food restaurants vary by metric (sales, locations, brand value), but consistently high-ranking chains globally and in the U.S. include McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Subway, KFC, and Taco Bell, with McDonald's often leading in revenue and Starbucks in brand value, while Subway boasts the most locations in the U.S. Other top contenders frequently cited are Burger King, Wendy's, Dunkin', and Domino's.
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, with over 31,980 locations globally in 150 countries, as of September 2025.
In terms of share of spend, McDonald's dominate the Australian QSR market at 54%, followed by KFC at 22% and Hungry Jack's at 12%. Far more Australians spend with McDonald's due to its convenience and range of food options, which rated higher than any other QSR.
KFC's 7-Minute Policy, primarily in India, is an Express Pick-up service promising orders ready in 7 minutes or less for app/kiosk orders, with a free piece of chicken if they fail, ensuring speed and signature taste, but it's a limited-time offer or specific to certain locations/promotions. It's part of KFC's focus on quick, convenient service, backed by safety measures during its launch, and relies on customers showing the confirmation SMS to claim the offer.
There's no single "number 1" healthiest fast-food restaurant, as it depends on the meal, but Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Chick-fil-A frequently rank high for offering fresh, customizable options with good protein, though customization (like skipping sugary dressings) is key for health, with chains like Australia's Top Juice or Zambrero also scoring well for fresh juices and salads.
McDonald's has a massive presence, with over 13,000 locations in the United States. This makes it the most extensive fast-food chain in the country. Burger King, on the other hand, operates around 7,000 locations across the U.S., which is roughly half of McDonald's footprint.
The fast food landscape has shifted dramatically, with the United States firmly claiming the title as the world's most fast food obsessed country in 2024.
Currently, McDonald's has a market capitalization of $208.66 billion. Buying $1000 In MCD: If an investor had bought $1000 of MCD stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $3,019.74 today based on a price of $288.95 for MCD at the time of writing.
The McDonald's chicken burger scores roughly half the unhealthiness points of its equivalents at Burger King (31 points) and KFC (27 points). While the McChicken is significantly less unhealthy than other fast-food chicken burgers, it is still high in sodium, fat, and calories.
Subway leads with 1,248 outlets as of 10 September 2025. Subway, McDonald's, and KFC remain Australia's biggest food chains in 2025, according to ScrapeHero's data last updated on 24 October 2025.
Some of my favorite memories from growing up revolve around eating cheeseburgers with my family at Burgermaster. The Laurelhurst location was even my dad's unofficial office in the early days of the Gates Foundation. If you're ever in Seattle, there's nowhere better. Happy National Burger Day!
Most historians agree that the American company White Castle was the first fast-food outlet, starting in Wichita, Kansas in 1916 with food stands and founding in 1921, selling hamburgers for five cents apiece from its inception and spawning numerous competitors and emulators.
For the cheapest fast food, look for deals at Taco Bell, Wendy's, and McDonald's, focusing on their value menus (like Taco Bell's Cravings Box or Wendy's Biggie Bags) and using apps for exclusive discounts, while also checking local pizza places for cheap slices. KFC and Subway, with coupons, are also strong contenders for budget-friendly meals, offering substantial value for under $10.
5 Of The Richest Fast Food CEOs
By U.S. systemwide sales, including both company-owned sales and franchised-unit sales, it's no surprise that McDonald's leads the rankings, followed by Subway and Starbucks Coffee. All three chains dominate the domestic landscape and have weathered the recession better than most.
The Bawabet Dimashq (Arabic: بوابة دمشق, romanized: Bawābat Dimashq, lit. 'Damascus Gate') is a family owned restaurant in Damascus, Syria, that opened in 2002. It is the largest restaurant in the world, as listed by the Guinness World Records.
Neither Five Guys nor McDonald's offers truly "healthy" fast food, but studies often find Five Guys' burgers higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium, making McDonald's a relatively better choice if you're watching those metrics, especially with simpler orders like a basic hamburger or chicken nuggets, though their fries and shakes are still high in unhealthy elements. Five Guys uses fresher ingredients (80/20 beef, no fillers), but their portion sizes and ingredient density (cheese, bacon, multiple patties) significantly increase nutritional downsides compared to McDonald's standard offerings.
In a new report, World Atlas ranks the top 10 unhealthiest fast food chains, warning of higher risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Wendy's ranked as the unhealthiest, along with other popular chains like McDonald's, Taco Bell, Little Caesars and Chick-fil-A. Here's what to know.
Top 10 Foods for Health
Yes, you can safely reheat cooked chicken as long as it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
For $4.99 at KFC (in the US, primarily in 2024), you typically got the "Taste of KFC Deals" Meal for One, which included two pieces of chicken (a drumstick and thigh), mashed potatoes with gravy, and a biscuit, part of their value menu to compete with other fast-food options, though prices and availability change. Sometimes they have had special $4.99 deals like a pot pie on Mondays or tenders boxes, but the classic offer was that two-piece meal.
KFC has arguably the most famous secret recipe in the world, and so we set out to celebrate the 11 herbs & spices in a unique way. Our idea was simple: hide an Easter egg in KFC's Twitter account by following only 11 people—six guys named Herb and all five Spice Girls.