Fried chicken remains classic comfort food, but the business is changing quickly. IBISWorld reports strong growth in the U.S. chicken restaurant industry, driven by demand for tenders, hot chicken, and bold global flavors. These 10 fastest-growing fried chicken chains are expanding into new markets and could soon show up near you.
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken
Founded in Virginia in 2021, Hangry Joe’s has grown from a local hot chicken concept to a chain with roughly 100-plus locations in only a few years. Entrepreneur’s 2026 franchise data listed 109 units and an unusually high recent growth rate. Its oversized sandwiches come with slaw, pickles, sauce, and heat levels ranging from mild to waiver-worthy Angry Hot. Customers often praise the substantial sandwiches, but experiences vary by location, and the hottest seasoning can be far more intense than casual spice fans expect.
Huey Magoo’s
Huey Magoo’s has moved well beyond its Florida beginnings by selling multiunit franchise territories across the South, Midwest, and Texas. The company reported more than 85 open restaurants, over 200 in development, and a goal of reaching 100 operating locations during 2026. Its specialty is chicken tenderloins served breaded or grilled, making it more flexible than chains that offer only fried strips. Diners frequently compliment the seasoning and grilled chicken, though the full meals may not always beat local competitors on price.
Layne’s Chicken Fingers
Layne’s began in College Station, Texas, in 1994. After remaining small for decades, it has switched into rapid franchise mode. The chain reached its 50th restaurant in 2026 and announced more than 50 newly awarded units across California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas during the first quarter. The menu is reassuringly simple: regular or spicy fingers, fries, toast, sauce, and shakes. Fans like the peppery coating, while critics question whether portions and prices consistently beat Cane’s.
Slim Chickens
Arkansas-born Slim Chickens entered 2026 with more than 300 restaurants worldwide and over 1,000 locations under development agreements. The broad menu includes tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps, desserts, and more than a dozen sauces. That variety helps families with different tastes, but it can also lead to slower service. Customers commonly praise freshly cooked tenders and sauces while complaining about inconsistent orders, waits, and prices.
bb.q Chicken
Despite the name, bb.q Chicken is a Korean fried chicken chain rather than an American barbecue restaurant. It had more than 250 U.S. locations by early 2026 and expects to sign agreements covering another 100 North American restaurants by the first quarter of 2027. The attraction is a thin, notably crisp coating paired with flavors such as Honey Garlic, Secret Sauce, Spicy Galbi, and Cheesling. Portions can be generous enough to share.
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Bonchon
Bonchon helped introduce Korean fried chicken to many American diners before the category became crowded. The chain opened its 150th U.S. restaurant in February 2025, entered states including Arkansas and Iowa, and is adding airport locations as it approaches 500 restaurants globally. Its signature chicken is fried twice and brushed with Soy Garlic or Spicy sauce, producing a crisp shell that is quite different from Southern-style breading.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken
Krispy Krunchy Chicken may be the largest chain here that many diners have never consciously visited. Instead of relying on standalone restaurants, it installs branded food counters inside gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, casinos, and other retailers. The company added 605 locations in 2024 and began 2025 with plans to open more than 600 additional counters, bringing its footprint above 3,200 locations. Its Cajun-seasoned chicken and honey biscuits can be a convenient road-trip meal.
Golden Chick
Golden Chick is hardly new: the Texas chain traces its roots to 1967. What is new is the speed of its expansion. It opened its 250th restaurant in February 2026 after recording more openings in 2025 than in any previous year. Growth has included Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, and additional Texas markets, with several more restaurants opening during spring 2026. Its Golden Tenders, yeast rolls, fried chicken, and family meals offer old-fashioned familiarity.
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Super Chix
Super Chix combines made-to-order chicken tenders and sandwiches with hand-cut fries, house sauces, and frozen custard. Its growth is slower than the explosive expansion at Dave’s or Hangry Joe’s, but it continued opening restaurants in Georgia, Washington, North Carolina, and other states during 2025. Georgia alone received its eighth Super Chix location by November. The food is positioned as more premium than standard fast food, which may appeal to diners who prioritize freshly cooked chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken is rapidly becoming too famous for an “under-the-radar” list. The Los Angeles business grew from a 2017 parking-lot pop-up to more than 400 restaurants worldwide by April 2026. It added roughly 120 restaurants in 2025 and reportedly planned another 131 franchised openings during 2026. The menu centers on tenders and sliders offered at seven spice levels, plus fries and kale slaw. The stripped-down selection keeps ordering simple, but meals can feel expensive for chicken, bread, and sides.
