Restaurants

The Chains, By the Numbers

History, locations, revenue, and a deep dive into each chain's signature items — including what they cost at launch vs. today, and how that compares to 60+ years of U.S. inflation.

McDonald's

Founded 1940

US locations13,533

Global locations40,275+

Revenue$25.8B

Signature items tracked3

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Wendy's

Founded 1969

US locations5,907

Global locations7,166+

Revenue$2.2B

Signature items tracked2

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KFC

Founded 1952

US locations3,990

Global locations27,000+

Revenue$5.6B

Signature items tracked2

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Popeyes

Founded 1972

US locations3,733

Global locations3,800+

Revenue$6.2B

Signature items tracked1

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Taco Bell

Founded 1962

US locations8,367

Global locations8,000+

Revenue$15.5B

Signature items tracked2

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Starbucks

Founded 1971

US locations16,466

Global locations35,711+

Revenue$36.0B

Signature items tracked3

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Domino's

Founded 1960

US locations6,703

Global locations19,519+

Revenue$4.5B

Signature items tracked1

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Panda Express

Founded 1983

US locations2,300

Global locations2,400+

Revenue$4.0B

Signature items tracked1

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Jersey Mike's

Founded 1956

US locations2,500

Global locations2,500+

Revenue$3.0B

Signature items tracked1

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Methodology

Launch prices are sourced from historical records, news archives, and industry publications. Current prices reflect U.S. national averages as of 2026. Inflation figures use the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U (All Urban Consumers, index 1982–84 = 100). Price growth is expressed as a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period from launch to present.

Internal Links

Cross-Link the Profiles With the Live Data

Pair chain history pages with the live menu table, map view, and value explorer so users can move from brand context to current pricing data.

Core tools

Menu Table

Sort every menu item by calories or protein per dollar.

Map View

See nearby chains and value hotspots by location.

Explorer

Visualize value across the whole menu landscape.

Compare

Compare stores and items side by side.

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Popeyes vs McDonald's

Head-to-head calories per dollar and protein per dollar.

Items to Avoid

The worst calorie-per-dollar traps in fast food.

Data Status

Freshness, coverage, and API health in one place.