(STACKER) — Fast food restaurants rose to fame during the 1950s and 60s during the advent of the American highway system. The pairing seemed like a match made in heaven: Traversing long open roads for hours on end take a lot of energy, and few options feel better than a pit stop at a fast food restaurant along the way.
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Satiating the U.S.’s on-the-go lifestyle and car-centric infrastructure were the likes of McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, and others. In recent years, some Americans have grown more conscious of just how unhealthy some fast food options are. Newer options have cropped up to meet new demand for cleaner, healthier fast food. Rather than hoping for people to change their minds and return to their greasy burgers and salty fries, legacy restaurants pivoted to introduce healthier, plant-based options, often to rousing success.
Stacker compiled a list of the most common fast food chains in Pennsylvania using data from the Friendly City Lab at Georgia Tech. Note that chains are ranked by the number of locations in Pennsylvania in 2021. Since many restaurants have shuttered during the pandemic, these figures are expected to differ from the current actual count. Fast food, fast casual, and coffee chains were considered for the list. Data was available for 27,039 restaurants in Pennsylvania, of which 9,708 are chain restaurants.
#20. Five Guys
– Locations: 61
#19. Little Caesars
– Locations: 62
#18. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
– Locations: 71
#17. Papa Johns Pizza
– Locations: 86
#16. Chick-fil-A
– Locations: 97
#15. Fox’s Pizza Den
– Locations: 103
#14. Chipotle Mexican Grill
– Locations: 108
#13. Panera Bread
– Locations: 114
#12. KFC
– Locations: 120
#11. Arby’s
– Locations: 141
#10. Dairy Queen
– Locations: 194
#9. Taco Bell
– Locations: 201
#8. Starbucks
– Locations: 203
#7. Pizza Hut
– Locations: 219
#6. Domino’s Pizza
– Locations: 258
#5. Wendy’s
– Locations: 267
#4. Burger King
– Locations: 278
#3. McDonald’s
– Locations: 493
#2. Dunkin
– Locations: 620
#1. Subway
– Locations: 816
I am a fast-food industry enthusiast with a profound understanding of its history, evolution, and current trends. My expertise is rooted in extensive research, personal experiences, and a passion for exploring the dynamic landscape of fast-food chains. To demonstrate my knowledge, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article.
The rise of fast-food restaurants in the 1950s and 60s, coinciding with the American highway system's advent, marked a pivotal moment in culinary history. The article rightly highlights the symbiotic relationship between long road trips and the convenience of fast food pit stops. During this era, iconic brands like McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and others became synonymous with satisfying the on-the-go lifestyle facilitated by a car-centric infrastructure.
In recent years, a shift in consumer awareness towards healthier eating habits has influenced the fast-food landscape. The article notes the emergence of cleaner and healthier options to cater to changing demands. Legacy fast-food restaurants recognized this trend and successfully introduced plant-based alternatives to their menus.
The article then presents a list of the most common fast-food chains in Pennsylvania, ranking them based on the number of locations in 2021. The data, sourced from the Friendly City Lab at Georgia Tech, considers fast food, fast-casual, and coffee chains. Notably, the figures may differ from the current count due to pandemic-related closures.
Here is the list of the top 20 fast-food chains in Pennsylvania, along with their respective locations in 2021:
20. Five Guys – Locations: 61
19. Little Caesars – Locations: 62
18. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen – Locations: 71
17. Papa John's Pizza – Locations: 86
16. Chick-fil-A – Locations: 97
15. Fox’s Pizza Den – Locations: 103
14. Chipotle Mexican Grill – Locations: 108
13. Panera Bread – Locations: 114
12. KFC – Locations: 120
11. Arby’s – Locations: 141
10. Dairy Queen – Locations: 194
9. Taco Bell – Locations: 201
8. Starbucks – Locations: 203
7. Pizza Hut – Locations: 219
6. Domino’s Pizza – Locations: 258
5. Wendy’s – Locations: 267
4. Burger King – Locations: 278
3. McDonald’s – Locations: 493
2. Dunkin’ – Locations: 620
1. Subway – Locations: 816
This ranking provides insights into the prevalence and popularity of these chains in Pennsylvania, offering a snapshot of the state's fast-food landscape in 2021.
