10 Restaurant Chains Set to Dominate Dining in 2026 — Who to Watch

10 Restaurant Chains Set to Dominate Dining in 2026

The restaurant landscape keeps shifting: viral dishes, aggressive franchising and new investment rounds can turn regional concepts into national — even international — brands almost overnight. Below are 10 chains that have the combination of momentum, capital and strategy to become much more visible in 2026.

Din Tai Fung

Originating in Taiwan in 1958, Din Tai Fung has become a global sensation thanks to its xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and tight quality control. In 2024 the chain reportedly averaged about $27.4 million in revenue per U.S. location — an exceptionally high figure — driven in large part by strong social-media buzz on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. With 17 U.S. locations now, plans for additional openings, a targeted East Coast push and broader international ambitions, Din Tai Fung looks positioned to accelerate expansion in 2026.

CAVA

Founded in 2010, Mediterranean fast-casual CAVA has carved out a compelling niche with bowls, spreads and signature items like Crazy Feta. After substantial traffic gains in recent years, the brand planned roughly 70 new restaurants in fiscal 2025 and targeted ≈16% growth for 2026. While the industry faces headwinds, CAVA’s aggressive unit growth indicates confidence that demand for its format will continue.

Paris Baguette

Despite its French name, Paris Baguette is a Korean bakery chain that entered the U.S. market in 2005. After modest early growth, the chain reported about 250 U.S. units and 18 consecutive quarters of sales growth as of mid‑2025. With 500+ units reportedly in development and a new Texas manufacturing facility slated for 2027, Paris Baguette is positioning itself for sustained expansion through 2026 and beyond.

Layne’s Chicken Fingers

Founded in Texas in 1994 and a franchising convert in 2021, Layne’s has accelerated growth rapidly. The chain reached roughly 30 units by mid‑2025 and expects to surpass 80 locations by the end of 2026, backed by multiple franchise agreements — including a large planned rollout in West Texas. Its simple, focused menu and franchise pipeline make it a contender among growing chicken concepts.

Sweetgreen

Positioning itself as an elevated fast-casual salad brand, Sweetgreen has become a recognizable competitor to legacy café chains. The brand faced same‑store sales pressure in 2025 as consumers grew cost-conscious, but it continued to expand: targeting up to 40 openings by the end of 2025 and 15–20 in 2026. Sweetgreen is also entering new markets and adjusting menu pricing to broaden its appeal.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

From a 2017 parking‑lot start with a modest investment, Dave’s Hot Chicken scaled rapidly via franchising and social media, growing to over 300 locations and earning a valuation above $1 billion. The chain aimed to open 150 stores by the end of fiscal 2025 and targets roughly $1.6 billion in sales by the end of 2026, with thousands of units already sold to franchise partners and international expansion plans in Europe.

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s, founded in 2006, rode a resurgence in breakfast concepts and projected 25–30% annual growth as of mid‑2025, with plans for a significant single‑year rollout. After the brand was taken private by new owners later in 2025, those owners signaled support for its long‑term expansion, making Keke’s a brand to watch for 2026 growth.

Houston TX Hot Chicken

Founded in 2020 with its first location opening in 2021, Houston TX Hot Chicken posted exceptional growth in 2024 (roughly a 105% sales increase and an 80% rise in units). With 15–20 restaurants planned for 2026 and ambitions to acquire 50–60 units per year thereafter — plus reported overseas interest — the chain appears set for rapid multi‑year growth.

Big Chicken

Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken used celebrity exposure to accelerate franchising after its 2018 launch. By late 2024 it had nearly 50 units and large franchise interest. Management tempered some early ambitions in 2025, but the brand still had units under construction and more planned for 2026, alongside early international expansion and strong year‑over‑year sales gains.

Via 313

A Detroit‑style pizza specialist from Austin, Via 313 expanded from a single trailer to dozens of units and secured a substantial investment to scale. The brand expects to add several locations in 2026 and could approach ~40 restaurants by the end of 2027 as it pushes into new markets.

Bottom line: Whether driven by viral dishes, franchise deals or new capital, these ten brands have clear catalysts and pipelines that make them likely to be far more visible in 2026. Expect a mix of national rollouts and selective international moves as competition for customer attention intensifies.