Top 100 Independents 2025
Top 100 Independents 2025
It’s a tough time for restaurants of all sizes. But some independent operators keep showing their resilience, making Restaurant Business’ annual ranking of the 100 top-grossing independent restaurants. This year’s list boasts 19 new names, as well as many stalwarts, all with a focus on putting people first.
Special Reports
Starbucks' turnaround plan enters a new phase
The coffee shop giant is closing hundreds of locations as its sales and traffic remain persistently weak. Here’s a look at some of the recent coverage on the company from Restaurant Business.
Emerging chains selling chicken and coffee dominated the latest Future 50 ranking of the country's fastest-growing small chains. Read on for the full list of the industry's up-and-comers, as compiled by the Restaurant Business editorial team and sister data firm Technomic. And be sure to scroll down to check out videos from leaders of some of these hot concepts.
Even though a quarter of the restaurants on this year’s Top 100 Independents list saw sales declines over the previous year, these resilient operators implemented some crafty pivots. They focused on private events and boosted operational efficiency, among other tricks of the trade. Read on to see how this segment collectively grossed nearly $2 billion in food and beverage sales in 2023.
Third-party restaurant delivery exploded during the pandemic and continues to grow. But how are services like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub performing on the ground? A secret shopper study by researcher Intouch Insight, conducted exclusively for Restaurant Business and sister publications CSP Daily News and Nation’s Restaurant News, reveals detailed data on consumers’ third-party delivery experience. Dive into the findings below.