Dallas-based Wingstop was America’s fastest-growing restaurant in 2025

When you think about America’s buzziest restaurant, what place comes to mind? 

If Wingstop was one of your guesses, then you may be on to something. The Dallas-based chicken wing spot — known for its range of wing flavors and ranch sauce — must be doing something right, because it was the fastest-growing restaurant in the United States last year. 

Wingstop increased its U.S. footprint by adding 382 restaurants in 2025, nearly 100 more than second-place Chipotle Mexican Grill, according to a new report from QSR, a magazine for the quick-service restaurant industry. Wingstop finished the year with 2,586 restaurants in the U.S., almost all franchised, and 3,056 restaurant locations worldwide.

Since going public in 2015, the chain has roughly quadrupled its global footprint and reached $5.3 billion in systemwide sales, according to the report. Wingstop’s sales rank No. 15 in the U.S., trailing behind those of brands like Panera Bread, Domino’s, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s. 

This year is shaping up to be another strong one for Wingstop in terms of growth, with 378 franchise openings expected for 2026. The expansion is led by 42 openings in Florida and 39 for California, with Texas following at 22. 

Wingstop’s long-term goal is to hit 10,000 locations and become a top 10 global chain, according to the report.