The UK is home to more than 1,450 McDonald's restaurants, over 1,000 KFC locations, and just under 600 Burger King sites. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fast food in the country, as numerous other chains have established themselves over the last few years. So many brands have arrived that nearly one in two chains in the UK are from the US, with American brands accounting for 44% of all fast-food visits in 2025. The influx is not over yet; it seems it is only just beginning, as several more iconic businesses have set their sights on launching here, including Raising Cane's and Magnolia Bakery. We will keep track of all the US food chains coming to the UK and update this list as new ones are announced.
Raising Cane's
The cult US favorite announced its UK flagship location will open in late 2026 at 21-22 Coventry Street in London, between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. This opening will mark the beginning of a global expansion, with more restaurants planned for the capital and Europe in the months that follow. Other potential locations include The Strand, Oxford Circus, Paddington, and South Bank, as well as drive-thru locations in Greater London and beyond. The menu is straightforward, with just five core items: Crispy Chicken Fingers, Craveable Cane's Sauce, Buttery Cane's Toast, Crunchy Coleslaw, and Crispy Crinkle-Cut Fries.
Magnolia Bakery
If you are a Sex and the City fan, you will be familiar with Magnolia Bakery, as its cupcakes featured in an iconic episode of the show. However, the chain is best known for its famous banana pudding, which features fresh bananas, vanilla wafers, and vanilla pudding, making it a quintessential American dessert. No official plan has been shared for the bakery's launch in the UK, but the brand has confirmed that 'the time is right' for them to enter. Rick Raison, the brand's vice-president of international and development sales, told Propel that they are currently 'assessing strategic options for entry' and looking for a 'long-term franchise partnership across the UK'.
Why Are So Many American Fast Food Brands Coming to the UK Now?
Vhari Russell, founder of the Food Marketing Experts, explains that it is not a coincidence so many US brands are heading to the UK; it is strategic. 'The UK is the most valuable test market in the world for any American brand with global ambitions. We are English-speaking, culturally receptive to American food culture, and have one of the most sophisticated and well-documented consumer landscapes anywhere,' she says. 'If you can make it here, really make it here, not just survive, you can make it anywhere in Europe and beyond. London in particular acts as a global shop window. What lands in London gets noticed in Paris, Amsterdam, and Dubai.' She pinpoints three specific reasons for this moment being particularly significant: the nostalgia economy boom, social media changing the launch playbook, and UK high street gaps that did not exist five years ago.
The Nostalgia Economy Boom
Brands like Magnolia Bakery and Denny's are not just selling food; they are selling a feeling. They sell the romance of New York, American diners, and food culture that British consumers have consumed through film, television, and social media for decades. A whole generation of British 25 to 40-year-olds grew up watching Friends and Sex and the City, and they will queue on a London high street to relive that feeling.
Social Media Is Changing the Launch Playbook
Ten years ago, an American brand arriving in the UK had to spend enormous amounts on traditional advertising to build awareness. Now, a single well-executed opening weekend can generate millions of organic impressions before any paid media is spent. The queue outside the door is the marketing. The TikTok of someone biting into a Chili's blooming onion is the campaign. Brands that understand how to engineer those moments can build brand awareness at a fraction of the cost and time.
UK High Street Gaps That Did Not Exist Five Years Ago
The brutal reality of post-pandemic trading, rising rents, and the cost of living squeeze has created availability of prime sites in locations that would previously have been almost impossible to access. For an American brand with serious financial backing, there are now incredible opportunities in central London and major UK cities that simply were not there before.
Chili's
Specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine, Chili's is a casual dining chain founded in Texas in 1975. Its menu includes crispy chicken, a full rack of ribs, fajitas, burgers, salad, and soup. It is still very early days, but the chain has confirmed it is looking to enter the UK and is seeking franchise partners. Like Magnolia Bakery, Chili's had its starring moment in an iconic US show, hosting the Dundies awards in the second season of The Office. If Chili's opens here, it will not be the first time; it used to have locations in the UK in the 1990s and 2000s in places such as Cambridge and Reading.
Chuck E Cheese
Often hailed as a 'children's paradise' and a 'child casino', Chuck E Cheese is a legendary spot in the US for birthday parties. It serves pizza, chicken wings, fries, and confetti cake, and each restaurant features arcade games, live shows, and rides. A multi-unit agreement has been reached to bring the chain to the UK, with Wright Property appointed to oversee expansion. Potential targets include Leeds, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, and Bristol.
Denny's
The American diner chain is already in the UK, with one location in Swansea at Parc Tawe since 2017, serving pancakes, waffles, French toast, burgers, and more. Towards the end of 2025, it was revealed that a major expansion across the UK was being considered after building a strong customer base in Swansea. The chain said it would look into potential locations in city centres, airports, and service stations, but no further update has been given as of yet.
Chick-fil-A
The controversial American chain, known for its chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and sauces, recently set up shop in Kingston, Leeds, and Belfast. The brand is actively looking to continue expanding beyond these initial sites, with a plan to invest $100 million in the UK over the next decade. Chick-fil-A previously opened a restaurant in The Oracle shopping centre in Reading in 2019, but the site closed after a six-month trial period following customer backlash over donations made to anti-LGBT groups.
Popeyes
Popeyes has been growing its presence in the UK since first launching here in 2021. It now has a whopping 110 sites and was recently named Europe's fastest-growing food and beverage brand by the Financial Times. The Louisiana chicken chain has no plans to slow down. CEO Tom Crowley said: 'We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026 as we continue expanding to new locations.' Upcoming launches include St Helens, Hull, Dublin, Liverpool, and a second site in Bristol.
Dave's Hot Chicken
Since opening its first site on Shaftesbury Avenue in December 2024, Dave's has brought its Nashville-style hot chicken to several other spots, including Birmingham and Manchester. It has just announced its first Welsh store will launch on April 3, but with a different name: David's Hot Chicken in Cardiff, to pay homage to the Patron Saint of Wales. As they continue to expand across Wales, they are also considering rebranding sites as Dayfdd Hot Chicken or Dai's Hot Chicken. A source confirmed the name David will be in place at the Cardiff brand for the 'foreseeable'.
Wendy's
Wendy's arrived in the UK at the tail end of the pandemic and has been gradually expanding. There are currently around 50 sites across the UK in London, Liverpool, Brighton, Glasgow, and Reading, with new sites planned to open soon. The chain, known for its square-shaped burgers, just launched in Dundee and has plans to open in Norfolk soon.
Taco Bell
The Mexican-inspired Taco Bell continues to launch new sites. Currently, there are 23 locations across the South West, Midlands, and Wales, but they plan to launch up to 12 new sites a year, with a goal to have more than 50 by 2029. The next round of locations will target the M4 and M5 corridors, plus further locations in Wales.
Carl's Jr.
Last year, Carl's Jr. set up shop in Cardiff, bringing its chargrilled burgers, ice cream milkshakes, and brownies to the UK. This is currently the chain's only location, but it has shared plans to have more than 100 sites nationwide by 2029.
