Wingstop opened more U.S. restaurants in 2025 than any other quick-service franchise brand in the country, according to a preview of QSR Magazine’s annual QSR 50 ranking. The Dallas-based chicken wing chain posted 382 net new domestic locations during the year, finishing with 2,586 U.S. restaurants and 3,056 units worldwide as it accelerates toward a long-term goal of 10,000 stores.
The chain’s 2025 expansion outpaced second-place Chipotle by nearly 100 locations. Wingstop recorded 384 gross openings against just four closures, a closure rate that has been near zero for three consecutive years. System-wide sales reached $5.3 billion, and average unit volumes came in at $2.02 million for stores that operated the full year. With around 98% of its restaurants operated by franchisees, Wingstop’s franchise model continues to drive its rapid expansion across the U.S. and international markets.
A Record Year for Unit Openings
For entrepreneurs looking to open a restaurant, Wingstop’s franchise model continues to demonstrate exceptional growth. Wingstop’s 384 gross openings in 2025 followed lifts of 278 and 205 in 2024 and 2023 respectively, marking a clear acceleration in its development pace. The brand did not terminate a single franchise unit during the year, and has ceased operations at just five total locations since 2023. Over that three-year span, it opened 868 franchised restaurants while closing five. California and Texas remain the two largest markets, with 457 and 428 units respectively at year-end 2025.
Fastest-growing U.S. restaurant chain in 2025
Wingstop topped the QSR 50 annual ranking for net domestic unit growth, adding 382 net new locations — nearly 100 more than second-place Chipotle. (Source: QSR Magazine, July 2026)
The top five quick-service brands by net domestic unit growth in 2025 were as follows, according to QSR Magazine:
- Wingstop : +382 net new U.S. locations
- Chipotle : +294
- 7 Brew : +281
- Jersey Mike’s : +238
- Dunkin’ : +231
Strong Unit Growth Alongside Softer Same-Store Sales
Wingstop’s 2025 unit expansion coincided with a more challenging sales environment at the store level. Same-store sales turned negative for the first time in 22 years, declining 3.3% for the full year and 5.8% in the fourth quarter. The brand attributed the softness to macro pressures, including a pullback among lower-income consumers who represent approximately 25% of its customer base. Average unit volumes, which stood at $2.02 million in 2025, declined modestly from the $2.1 million recorded in 2024. Median annual net sales across the network reached $1.904 million.
Good to know
Wingstop’s upfront investment to build a new location runs approximately $580,000. According to the company, most franchisees have historically reached payback periods of less than two years, based on the brand’s stated AUV trajectory. Individual results vary by market and operator.
A Packed 2026 Development Pipeline
Wingstop entered 2026 with 378 new franchise openings scheduled and more than 2,200 restaurant commitments under development agreements. In the first quarter of 2026, the brand added a net 97 units globally, reaching 3,153 total locations. Domestic same-store sales slipped further to -8.7% in that quarter, affected by weather-related closures at more than 700 units and continued pressure on traffic. The company guided for low single-digit same-store sales growth for the full year of 2026, with a return to positive territory targeted in the second half. Q2 2026 results are scheduled for release on July 29, 2026.
The brand’s long-range ambition is to reach 10,000 stores globally, which would rank it among the top 10 restaurant chains worldwide. As of year-end 2025, Wingstop was No. 15 by U.S. system-wide sales at $5.34 billion, placing it just behind Raising Cane’s and ahead of its own 2024 position.
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