All Special Reports

Restaurant Business identified the 20 fastest-growing small chains that have fewer than 20 units, at least 20% sales growth from 2015 to 2016, and under $25 million in total sales.

The segment may be maturing, but these growing fast-casual concepts have found plenty of opportunity.

Popular new offerings from Top 100 restaurants run the gamut, with operators listing drinks, seafood, steaks and more as popular new items.

The top-performing independent steak restaurants of the year

The top-grossing independent seafood restaurants of the year.

The top-grossing independent restaurants located in hotels of 2017.

The top-performing independent restaurants specializing in Italian cuisine of 2017.

Over the years, the leading independents ranking has become more geographically diverse. Nevertheless, almost three in 10 Top 100 independents are located in New York City. Here are the highest-volume restaurants in the Big Apple.

Las Vegas is home to the top-grossing restaurant in the United States, Tao, along with 13 other high-volume players from the Top 100. The city hosts several celebrity chefs and leading multiconcept operators.

Five of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the U.S. are in the nation’s capital, from one of America’s oldest places to talk politics to a newcomer owned by a consortium of family farms.

The 11 Top 100 restaurants in California are almost evenly split between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Orange County. Here are the top-grossing independents in the Golden State.

Ten restaurants among the Top 100 Independents call Florida home. Three are in Orlando’s Disney Springs, and the rest are clustered in and around Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Of the 12 restaurants among the Top 100 Independents that are located in Chicagoland, nine are in the city and three are in the suburbs. Two of those suburban restaurants—and three in the city—are operated by Gibsons Restaurant Group.