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Fast Casual
A fast casual restaurant, found primarily in the United States and Canada, is a restaurant that does not offer full table service, but advertises higher quality food than fast-food restaurants, with fewer frozen or processed ingredients. It is an intermediate concept between fast food and casual dining. History The concept originated in the United States in the early 1990s, but did not become mainstream until the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s. During the economic recession that began in 2007, the category of fast casual dining saw increased sales to the 18–34-year-old demographic. Customers with limited discretionary spending for meals tend to choose fast casual for dining which they perceive as healthier. Definition The founder and publisher of FastCasual.com, Paul Barron, is credited with coining the term "fast-casual" in the late 1990s. Horatio Lonsdale-Hands, former chairman and CEO of ZuZu Inc., is also credited with coining the term. ZuZu, a han ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Farmer Boys (fast Casual Chain)
Farmer Boys is a fast casual chain that operates primarily in California. Its headquarters are located in Riverside, California. History Farmer Boys was founded by the Havadjias brothers in 1981. The Havadjias family were immigrants from Cyprus. The brothers originally owned Astro Burgers in Torrance, California in 1979 and Theodore's Restaurant in Hollywood, California in 1981 prior to owning McCoy's Restaurant in Perris, California. McCoy's Restaurant became the first Farmer Boys restaurant following the name change in August 1981. About 16 years later, Farmer Boys had grown to eight restaurants. A year later, Farmer Boys was granted franchise status and later in the year, a Farmer Boys restaurant opened in Temecula, California. As of 2022, there were more than 100 Farmer Boys restaurants in Arizona, California and Nevada. In February 2020, Farmer Boys temporarily changed its name to "Farmer Girls" to celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day. They g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous states border Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the semi-exclave of Alaska in the northwest and the archipelago of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The United States asserts sovereignty over five Territories of the United States, major island territories and United States Minor Outlying Islands, various uninhabited islands in Oceania and the Caribbean. It is a megadiverse country, with the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, third-largest land area and List of countries and dependencies by population, third-largest population, exceeding 340 million. Its three Metropolitan statistical areas by population, largest metropolitan areas are New York metropolitan area, New York, Greater Los Angeles, Los Angel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beef-a-roo
Beef-a-roo is a franchised chain of fast casual restaurants which was founded in Rockford, Illinois by Dave Debruler and Jean Vitale. The menu features burgers, roast beef sandwiches, salads, and soups. The chain experimented with serving breakfast, but stopped in January, 2025. Each store has a different theme. The brand was established in 1967 and franchising became a focus in 2019. In 2022, the chain planned to open 50 stores. The chain hastened its expansion by using shipping containers to fabricate restaurants in Wisconsin, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Indiana. It has also opened restaurants in several closed Hardee's locations. the chain had about 20 restaurants in seven states. ''QSR'' magazine rated Beef-a-roo one of the top 40 fast casual restaurants in 2024. ''Entrepreneur'' magazine recognized the chain as a top new emerging franchise in 2024. The company ran an advertising campaign with NASCAR driver Noah Gragson and Front Row Motorsports Front Row Motorspo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Five Guys
Five Guys Enterprises, LLC (doing business as Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Five Guys) is an American multinational fast food chain focused on hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries. It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The first Five Guys restaurant opened in 1986 in Arlington County, Virginia. By 2001, there were five locations in the Washington, D.C., metro area. In early 2003, Five Guys began franchising, beginning a period of rapid expansion. In a year and a half, permits had been sold for over 300 franchised locations. , Five Guys had over 1,700 locations open worldwide, with 1,300 locations under development. It was the fastest-growing fast food chain in the United States, with a 32.8% sales increase from 2010 to 2011. History Five Guys was founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrell. Jerry and the couple's sons Jim, Matt, Chad, and Ben were the original "Five Guys". The Murrells had a fifth son, Tyler, two years later. Today, all five sons, the current "Five ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Restaurant Group, Inc., doing business as Firehouse Subs, is an American multinational Fast casual restaurant, fast casual restaurant chain based in Jacksonville, Florida, that specializes in submarine sandwiches. It was founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida by former firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen. It is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International, which also owns the chains Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons. Firehouse Subs has 1300 restaurants in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Mexico, Albania, Canada, Middle East and soon the United Kingdom and Australia by 2025 and in Brazil in 2026. History Brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen followed the same career path as their father Rob Sorensen, a 43-year veteran of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department in Jacksonville, Florida. On October 10, 1994, the first Firehouse Subs restaurant opened in Jacksonville. Firehouse Subs first attempted franchising in 1995. Soon after, the fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Brown's
Mary Brown's Chicken is a Canadian fast food restaurant with approximately 300 locations across Canada. The chain specializes in fried chicken. History In 1969, Pat Tarrant and Cyril Fleming purchased rights to open up the first Canadian Golden Skillet fried chicken franchise (originally from Richmond, Virginia) in Newfoundland. The first location was located in St. John's Avalon Mall. However, Tarrant and Fleming were forced to rename the establishment for legal reasons. It was eventually renamed ''Mary Brown's Virginia Fried Chicken'', after Mary Brown Guthrie (1909–1955), the wife of Golden Skillet owner and founder Clifton W. Guthrie. According to the company, Mary Brown, who was from Petersburg, Virginia, was the creator of the chain's proprietary recipe for American Southern-fried chicken, which was sold to Tarrant and Fleming in 1969. By 1972, Mary Brown's had grown beyond Newfoundland, opening locations in Oshawa and Mississauga in the Greater Toronto Area. From th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
El Pollo Loco (United States)
El Pollo Loco, Inc., is a restaurant chain based in the United States, specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken. Restaurant service consists of: dine-in and take-out, with some locations offering drive-through options. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and operates about 500 (as of January 2019) company-owned and franchised restaurants in the Southwestern United States. Fare El Pollo Loco prepares primarily Mexican chicken entrees. The company describes its chicken as "citrus-marinated and fire-grilled." The American company also offers Mexican-style food, such as tacos, burritos, tostada salads, chicken bowls, snacks, salsas, sides, and quesadillas. In a bid to compete with such companies as KFC and Chick-fil-A, El Pollo Loco experimented with offering deep-fried chicken in the form of breaded chicken tenders at selected locations in the United States for a limited time during the Fall 2016. This experiment was a big departure from its previous mar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dig (restaurant)
Dig (formerly Dig Inn) is an American chain of locally farm sourced restaurants, founded in 2011 by Adam Eskin in New York City. As of June 2023, the chain had 32 restaurants, including two in New York City boroughs (Manhattan and Brooklyn), Rye Brook in Westchester County, New York; Stamford, Connecticut; Bridgewater, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; and Washington, D.C. History The company received $21.5 million in early funding rounds, then $30 million in Series D funding. The main investors were Monogram Capital Partners, and Bill Allen (corporate CEO), Bill Allen (former CEO of OSI Restaurant Partners). In January 2019, the company introduced a new delivery concept called Room Service available some parts of downtown Manhattan. In April 2019, the company announced a $20 million round of financing, including $15 million from Danny Meyer’s investment group Enlightened Hospitality Investments. It also had plans to open its first full-service, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Culver's
Culver Franchising System, LLC, doing business as Culver's, is an American fast-casual Chain store, restaurant chain. The company was founded in 1984 by George, Ruth, Craig Culver, Craig, and Lea Culver. The first location opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1984, under the name "Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers." The privately held company is headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. The chain operates primarily in the Midwestern United States, and has a total of 1,000 restaurants in 26 states History Sauk City restaurateurs and husband and wife team George and Ruth Culver started their fast food careers as the owners of an A&W Restaurant, A&W on Phillips Boulevard (U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin, U.S. Highway 12) in 1961. In 1968, they purchased a resort-styled restaurant at Devil's Lake (Wisconsin), Devil's Lake called The Farm Kitchen. Their son, Craig Culver, worked for a local McDonald's right out of college in 1973. On July 18, 1984, George, Ruth, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chopt
Chopt Creative Salad Company, commonly referred to as Chopt, is an American chain of fast casual restaurants with over 70 locations in New York City, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Founded in 2001 by Tony Shure and Colin McCabe, the company serves salads, warm grain bowls, and sandwich wraps. The company features a selection of pre-made and customizable salads, along with a variety of dressings, grain and hot-top salads, wraps, and house-made iced teas and lemonades. Menu The company offers a selection of greens, proteins, vegetables, grains, and dressings. Customers can create their own salads or choose from a variety of pre-designed options, such as the Mexican Caesar, Kebab Cobb, and Crispy Chicken Ranch. In addition to salads, Chopt serves warm grain bowls, wraps, and soups. Chopt also has a rotating seasonal menu, which features limited-time items inspired by different cuisines and regions. Food ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. ( ), often known simply as Chipotle, is an American multinational chain of fast casual restaurants specializing in bowls, tacos, and Mission burritos made to order in front of the customer. As of March 31, 2025, Chipotle has nearly 3,800 restaurants. Its name derives from '' chipotle'', the Nahuatl name (from ''chilpoctli'') for a smoked and dried jalapeño chili pepper. Chipotle was one of the first chains of fast casual restaurants. It was founded by Steve Ells on July 13, 1993. Ells was the founder, chairman, and CEO of Chipotle. He was inspired to open the restaurant after visiting taquerias and burrito shops in San Francisco's Mission District while working as a chef. Ells wanted to show customers that fresh ingredients could be used to quickly serve food. Chipotle had 16 restaurants (all in Colorado) when McDonald's Corporation became a major investor in 1998. By the time McDonald's fully divested itself from Chipotle in 2006, the chain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cava (restaurant)
Cava (stylized as CAVA), also referred to as Cava Grill, is a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain with locations across the United States. Cava is owned by the publicly traded Cava Group, which purchased Zoës Kitchen in August 2018. The combined company is the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry. Cava also produces a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings that are sold in grocery stores across the US. As of May 2023, all Zoës Kitchen restaurants have been closed or replaced by Cava restaurants. History In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, with Moshovitis as executive chef. In 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis partnered with Geoff Maites and Kenny Maites to launch a line of dips and spreads, and grew the product line into over 200 stores, including Whole F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
