Modern culinary artistry offers endless paths to achieving the perfect taste, aroma, and satisfaction for the discerning palate. When circumstances prevent home cooking, diners seek out esteemed local establishments for quality dishes. We present a selection of globally renowned restaurants worth visiting.
Tony Roma’s
This American casual dining chain excels in serving signature baby back ribs. Founder Tony Roma opened the first location in North Miami, Florida, in 1972. In 1976, Roma and Clint Murchison Jr. formed the jointly held Roma Enterprise after Murchison Jr. acquired the restaurant’s majority stake. Following the opening of its first international location in Tokyo in 1979, the company expanded globally through company-owned stores and franchises.
Popeyes
Founded in New Orleans in 1972, this global American fried chicken chain maintains its headquarters in Miami. As of 2021, Popeyes operates 3,705 company-owned outlets; franchisees manage the remaining 98%.
Hard Rock Cafe
Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton established this chain of theme bar-restaurants, gift shops, casinos, and museums in London in 1971. In 1979, the cafe began decorating its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, and other locations in the chain quickly adopted the practice. The Seminole Tribe of Florida acquired Hard Rock Cafe Universal, Inc. in 2007. The company moved its headquarters to Davie, Florida, in April 2018, relocating from Orlando.
McDonald’s
The worldwide American quick-service food establishment began in 1940 when Richard and Maurice McDonald opened a restaurant in San Bernardino, California. They changed the company’s focus to a hamburger stand before expanding their offerings. A location in Phoenix, Arizona, first utilized the Golden Arches logo in 1953. After becoming a franchise agent in 1955, businessman Ray Kroc acquired the McDonald brothers’ stake in 1961. In June 2018, it relocated its central command to Chicago, a neighboring city, from Oak Brook, Illinois.
Denny’s
Denny’s began in Lakewood, California, as a coffee shop called Danny’s Donuts. It quickly gained fame for operating around-the-clock and consistently providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Denny’s maintained operations on holidays and during all hours, closing only when legally mandated. Many eateries sit near bars, in-service areas, and freeway exits.
Big Smoke Burger
Mustafa Yusuf established the Big Smoke Burger in November 2007, initially naming it Craft Burger. When Yusuf failed to secure a trademark for the initial title in 2011, he renamed the business Big Smoke Burger. He chose the new title because “Big Smoke” is a well-known nickname for Toronto, where the company’s headquarters reside.
Tim Hortons
This global Canadian coffee shop and restaurant brand, headquartered in Toronto, serves coffee, donuts, sandwiches, morning egg muffins, and other fast-food items. As of September 2023, it stands as the largest quick-service restaurant company in Canada, operating 5,701 locations across 13 nations.
Steak ‘n Shake
The restaurants offer a combination of diner-style sit-down service and fast-food to-go, including front-window, drive-thru, and seated alternatives. Biglari Holdings reported 536 outlets in 2021, but by March 31, 2023, that number had decreased to 493; not all locations remained operational at that time. Additionally, the business model had been shifting away from full-service eateries, prioritizing “counter-service” and drive-thrus.
Wendy’s
The company serves sea salt fries, the Frosty, soft serve ice cream featuring starches, and square cheeseburger patties on circular buns. Fries, chicken sandwiches, and ground sirloin sandwiches constitute the menu’s majority. The company discontinued The Big Classic, its former signature sandwich.
Quiznos
This Denver-based diversified fast-food exchange specializes in toasted submarine sandwiches. Jimmy Lambatos created the company in 1981, and Rick and Richard Schaden purchased it ten years later. Subsequently, it expanded to about 5,000 areas, and by 2013, Quiznos ranked as the second-largest submarine sandwich chain in North America, following Subway. In 2014, it declared liquidation; by 2016, it had fallen to ninth place; and ten years later, only about 400 Quiznos eateries remained in the U.S., a steep decline from a peak of 4,700 in 2007.
Taco Bell
Glen Bell launched the expansive fast-food restaurant in Downey, California, in 1962. Yum Brands, Inc. acts as the parent company of Taco Bell. The restaurant’s Mexican-inspired menu offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, specialty items, and a variety of “value menu” selections. Independent franchisees and licensees own and operate more than 94 percent of Taco Bell’s 8,212 locations, which serve over two billion people annually by 2023.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
This fast-casual restaurant company specializes in mission burritos, tacos, and freshly prepared culinary offerings served in bowls. As of June 30, 2024, Chipotle operates 3,500 locations. The company derives its name from chipotle, the Nahuatl term for a dried and smoked jalapeño chili pepper.
Subway
This fast-food eatery chain specializes in submarine sandwiches and wraps. Fred DeLuca established it as Pete’s Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965, with financial backing from Peter Buck. It changed its name several times before officially becoming Subway in 1972. It launched a franchise operation with a second location in Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1974.
