Operations

Yelp's 2026 growth data: Fast casual brands, customization devouring the competition

Fast casual is dominating when it comes not only to specific brands — 7 Brews, Dave's Hot Chicken, Cava and Chipotle — but also to the culture it has helped cultivate: Drive-thru beverage concepts, bold chicken brands and customized menus. Consumers don't just want food and drinks anymore; they want their food and drinks built exactly to spec.

Photos: Yelp

June 9, 2026 by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

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If you needed any more proof that fast casual has a stranglehold on American consumer behavior, Yelp just handed it to you in a tidy 50-brand package, releasing its third annual Fastest Growing Brands report.

What we learned?

By analyzing new locations, search volume and consumer engagement throughout 2025, Yelp mapped out the top 50 brands driving America's dining and shopping habits in 2026. The big takeaway? We have officially reached peak personalization, and fast casual innovators are holding the reins.

The beverage boom: Inside the dirty soda and drive-thru craze

Topping this year's list at No. 1 is 7 Brew, a drive-thru-only coffee concept that generated 244% growth in consumer interest. What makes this spectacular is that 7 Brew was sitting at No. 23 just last year. By eliminating indoor seating and focusing entirely on high-energy service and infinite drink customizations, it cracked the code on morning routines.

But this isn't just a coffee story. It is a full-blown beverage revolution driven by the "dirty soda" phenomenon. Once a regional Utah subculture, the trend exploded into the mainstream, driving Yelp searches up 675% in 2025 alone.

Fast casual and quick-service giants are pivoting to capture this liquid gold. Brands like Sonic Drive-In (No. 48) and even Taco Bell (No. 12) are adjusting their menus to feature customizable sodas and energy drink add-ons, satisfying a Gen Z and millennial crowd that views beverage orders as a form of self-expression. Other liquid-centric brands like Smoothie King (No. 2), Black Rock Coffee Bar (No. 8), Scooter's Coffee (No. 13) and Dutch Bros (No. 38) proved that beverages are here to stay.

Chicken is America's protein

If customizable beverages are how Americans start their day, chicken is how they finish it, as customers increasing their protein intake has been one of themost common trends we've covered this year. The chicken category secured eight spots on the top 50 list, making it the most dominant cuisine type in the report.

Top-Ranked Chicken Concepts on Yelp's 2026 List:

Bojangles (No. 3).
Wingstop (No. 10).
Dave's Hot Chicken (No. 18).
Zaxbys (No. 22).
Popeyes (No. 29).
Krispy Krunchy Chicken (No. 34).
Champs Chicken (No. 45).
bb.q Chicken (No. 49).

The chicken boom is fueled by a collective obsession with protein, but the real driver here is variety. The fast-casual segment has allowed consumers to fragment into hyper-specific flavor profiles. For example, you can get traditional Southern heritage at Bojangles, a variety of heat levels at Dave's Hot Chicken or a global crunch of Korean-fried technique at bb.q Chicken.

What is particularly fascinating is how universally these brands scale. Yelp's regional data shows Wingstop and Dave's Hot Chicken, which was No. 2 this year on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers list after taking the top seat in 2025, appearing in the top five across almost every U.S. region. They are cutting across regional demographics because they offer an identical promise: customization, short wait times and a consistent product.

Value does not mean cheap

The restaurant industry used to define "value" by the lowest price point, but Sarah Chang, Yelp's vice president and head of enterprise, said it has evolved.

"It's no longer just about price — it's about what a brand gives you in return for your attention and your time," she said.

The brands surging in 2026, including sustained growth heavyweights like Chipotle (No. 35) and Mediterranean fast-casual darling CAVA (No. 31 on Yelp's list and recently named Fast Casual's Top Brand of 2026), give customers all the control. Yelp's data confirms what operators and investors paying attention already know: the brands building loyalty through personalization and experience are the ones growing fastest.

The list is out. Fast casual is running it. Now the question is which brands will be back next year.

OperationsCava Chipotle Mexican Grill Dave's Hot Chicken Smoothie King

About Cherryh Cansler

Cherryh Cansler is Publisher of FastCasual.com and Vice President of Connect Food. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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