"Mexican food has become one of the most popular cuisines in America, and in the chain restaurant sphere, there are two spots that absolutely dominate. While burgers still dominate the lists of largest chain restaurants in the U.S., for years, the "international" food that the country couldn't get enough of was Italian. Propped up by pizza's enduring popularity, it was the food Americans ordered most, and it still is, but Mexican restaurants have been rising rapidly, and Mexican has already overtaken Italian with younger generations."
"Taco Bell is far and away the No. 1 spot for Mexican in the country, with over 7,600 locations at the end of 2024, according to the Technomic report's count of top restaurant chains. Chipotle is a clear-but-distant No. 2, with just over 3,600. After that, there is another huge drop, and things get a little more competitive. Qdoba is No. 3 with only 777 locations."
Mexican cuisine has surged in popularity across the United States and has overtaken Italian among younger generations. Taco Bell leads Mexican chain restaurants with over 7,600 locations at the end of 2024, while Chipotle follows with just over 3,600 locations. Qdoba, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Del Taco rank next with 777, 596, and 594 locations respectively. Fast food and fast casual formats overwhelmingly dominate the Mexican chain category. The largest sit-down Mexican chain is On the Border Mexican Grill with around 98 locations. Taco Bell and Chipotle represent competing visions of Mexican food, with Chipotle emphasizing fresher, higher-quality ingredients and more authentic items.
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