Best Emerging Restaurant Chains the Rest of the Country Needs Right Now

Hankering to try something different? Despite tough times in the restaurant industry, entrepreneurs continue to innovate, thinking up exciting new chains — often with delicious results. Unsurprisingly, most are the fast-casual restaurants that continue to expand their footprint, especially as more family-oriented sit-down dining chains struggle. Here are several culinary hotspots we’re hoping to see pop up in our neighborhood soon.

Related: 15 Ways Restaurants Have Changed Over the Past Decade

What they serve: Specialty and build-your-own personal pizzas
Where they are: Mostly Washington, D.C., with a few locations popping up in New York , Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey.
The buzz: The distinctively oval pies at &Pizza have attracted enough fans to fuel big expansion plans, mostly along the East Coast. The chain is even using pizza trucks and portable, 300-square-foot "pizza cubes" as it tests out business in new markets. 

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Pizza Joints Across America

What they serve: Lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls; seafood salads; soups
Where they are: Mostly New York City, with a few locations in other big metro areas including Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
The buzz: The founder of Luke's Lobster turned his back on a cushy Wall Street job to return to his family's lobsterman roots. The result is a chain that's continuing to grow, even in Japan, as it earns repeat customers who are lured back by fresh seafood purchased directly from coastal fisheries.

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What they serve: Build-your-own bowls with Asian staples including purple rice, noodles, bean sprouts, steak, spicy chicken, and sesame ginger sauce
Where they are: Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Maryland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

The buzz: Another fast-casual joint that has seen almost immediate success, Bibibop first opened in 2013 and now has some 50 locations. And yes, it has Chipotle in its sights, with a very similar business model. Its parent company even bought out Chipotle’s own version of Asian fast casual, ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, and quickly converted those restaurants to Bibibops.

What they serve: From-scratch Southern favorites like fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits
Where they are: Mainly North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia with recent expansion into the Midwest and mountain states.
The buzz: America likes its comfort food, but something a little more foodie-friendly than Cracker Barrel would be nice. That's where Tupelo Honey comes in, a sit-down restaurant that will gladly serve you a cocktail while you linger over a menu of responsibly sourced dishes. We'd love to see some honey-dusted fried chicken in our neck of the woods.

What they serve: Tacos, tacos, and more tacos, including some breakfast varieties
Where they are: Mostly Texas, with a new locations in 13 other states across the South and Midwest
The buzz: Torchy's started as a food truck in Austin, and while Food & Wine cautions that "they're not the best tacos in Texas," the irreverent, upscale feel has allowed the chain to earn a die-hard following. Even better than the tacos, Food & Wine says: The queso and the street corn. 

Looking for more great taco options? Check out Tasty Taco Places Across the Country.

What they serve: Hand-rolled piadas (like burritos, but with Italian ingredients); pasta bowls; salads
Where they are: Mostly Ohio and Texas, with a few locations in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan, and Minnesota
The buzz: Another restaurant that's taken Chipotle’s concept and run with it, Piada was founded by experienced restaurateurs, including an executive with the Bravo and Brio Italian mega-chains. In not quite a decade, it's opened nearly 50 locations as customers return for favorites like the Avocado Piada, made with pancetta, avocado, arugula, basil aioli, mozzarella, sweet corn and tomato.

Related: 51 Best Old-School Italian Restaurants in America

What they serve: From-scratch salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, soups, brick-oven pizzas, and breakfast items
Where they are: Mostly Colorado and Texas, with a few locations in Arizona and Indiana
The buzz: Modern Market, founded in 2009, aims to turn out sustainably harvested food without any antibiotics, additives, or artificial ingredients. The Panera-like menu focuses on local and organic ingredients wherever possible, and the chain was merged with another fast-casual concept, Lemonade, after being bought in 2018 by a private equity firm.

What they serve: Classic biscuit sandwiches; about 10 varieties of donuts
Where they are: Mostly North Carolina, with a few more locations in Tennessee and a handful of other Southern states
The buzz: Crispy buttermilk-brined chicken on a fresh, fluffy biscuit? Sweet-glazed blueberry biscuits? Yes, please. The chain changed its name from Rise Biscuits and Donuts as it plans to focus on its core biscuit business during franchise-driven growth. 

What they serve: Hot dogs made with a variety of sausages and topped with everything under the sun; veggie dogs; burgers, chicken, and fish sandwiches
Where they are: Mostly Louisiana
The buzz: In this land of burger mania, hot dogs just don't get the respect they deserve. Dat Dog is aiming to change that with an expansion into Texas, so if you live in the Lone Star State, prepare to feast on specialties like the Bacon Werewolf (smoked bratwurst, bacon, sauerkraut, dill relish, grilled onions, tomatoes and Creole mustard).

What they serve: Inventive chicken sandwiches; fried chicken; salads
Where they are: New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Philadelphia
The buzz: The best way to describe Fuku might be "Chick-fil-a with an edge" — here, you can get that fried chicken sandwich super spicy, topped with pickled daikon, and served with beer or sake. And though it only has a handful of locations, it might be one of the most-talked-about restaurants on this list because it’s from Momofuku, founded by formidable celebrity chef David Chang. 

Related: Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in America

What they serve: Pitas or bowls filled with Middle Eastern staples like rice, hummus, couscous, shawarma, steak, and falafel, plus various sauces and garnishes
Where they are: Mostly Chicago, Minneapolis and Philadelphia with new locations popping up across the Midwest.
The buzz: Naf Naf, founded in 2009, is yet another Chipotle-like fast-casual chain (sensing a trend?) that’s applying the build-it-fresh-and-fast concept to Middle Eastern food. Naf Naf has grown quickly as more franchisees have signed on, so plenty of pita sandwiches and hand-cut Naf fries may be coming to your neighborhood soon.

What they serve: Burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches, fries and milkshakes
Where they are: Mostly New York City, with a few other locations in Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio
The buzz: What sets Bareburger apart from any other high-end burger joint? First, its aim to make "clean comfort food" by sourcing sustainable ingredients; second, its large slate of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options. That includes the much-buzzed-about Impossible Burger, made with a plant-based patty that somehow looks, smells and even bleeds — yes, bleeds —  just like beef.

What they serve: Breakfast and brunch favorites, plus a large menu of "morning cocktails" 
Where they are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas
The buzz: One popular way to nurse that morning hangover? More alcohol. Lively Snooze sets itself apart from First Watch and other big breakfast-and-brunch café chains with a little more irreverence and a lot more booze. So go ahead, chase that French toast or corned beef hash with a Morning Marg (tequila, orange liqueur, and a sour and lime squeeze).

Related: Best Brunch in Every State

What they serve: About a dozen kinds of chicken salads from savory to sweet; soups and sandwiches
Where they are: Most states across the South
The buzz: It's no surprise that Alabama-based Chicken Salad Chick has a stranglehold on the South, where it has more than 100 locations in about a dozen states feeding chicken-salad fanatics. But this fast-casual chain also has expanded into the Midwest, with new shops in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

What they serve: Salads, rice bowls, tacos, and noodle bowls customized with Korean barbecue proteins, veggies, and other toppings
Where they are: Austin and San Marcos, Texas, and Houston
The buzz: This "Shark Tank" alum started as a single Mexican-Korean fusion food truck in Austin and now has 10 locations across the city. We're hoping for more soon — and the chain has signaled its intent to expand — because those spicy pork kimchi fries and Korean-fried chicken wings just sound way too good.

What they serve: Indian snacks and street food, bowls, burritos, plates, desserts
Where they are: California, New Jersey, Colorado, Utah, Georgia, Texas, and Indiana
The buzz: How's a tikka masala burrito sound? How about some Naughty Naan, topped with cheese, caramelized onions, and jalapeno? Curry Up Now, founded in 2009, aims to make Indian food more accessible, and it won't be a Bay Area secret for much longer. 

Related: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Indian Restaurant in Every State

What they serve: High-end sandwiches and entrée salads
Where they are: California, with several locations in Texas
The buzz: Founded in southern California, this sandwich chain has set itself apart from the Panera pack with more distinctively designed restaurants and even an investment from Whole Foods. The menu is also filled with higher-brow fare like a Peruvian steak sandwich with Oaxacan cheese and herb aioli.

What they serve: Elevated bar food with a side of games
Where they are: Several major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
The buzz: As its name indicates, Punch Bowl Social aims to be a place to get social, not just eat. Restaurants include games like mini golf, shuffleboard, bowling and skeeball to go with the menu of made-from-scratch bar food and craft beer. The chain made a big push into several new cities and now has locations in more than two dozen cities.

What they serve: A largely seasonal, produce-driven menu of health-focused salads, sandwiches, bowls and pizzas
Where they are: Mainly California, Florida and Texas, with locations sprinkled in major metro areas in 14 other states.
The buzz: The almighty Oprah Winfrey invested in True Food Kitchen and joined its board in 2018, and a former Starbucks executive is overseeing its growth, so you know the chain means business. The restaurant aims to give patrons healthy food that will appeal to a range of diets, whether customers want something organic, vegan, carb-conscious or otherwise. 

What they serve: Chef-inspired, seasonal fare including salads, traditional entrees and sides, sandwiches, and soups
Where they are: California  
The buzz: Though it serves its offerings cafeteria-style, Urban Plates definitely targets an upscale demographic with its "real food" mantra (think wild-caught ahi tuna or cage-free chicken) and upscale interiors. The chain has grown to at least 17 locations with plans for more sites in the works.

What they serve: A fully gluten-free menu of make-your-own salad- and rice-based bowls
Where they are: New York City, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Virginia
The buzz: Founded in 2014, The Little Beet unabashedly caters to the gluten-free crowd while also providing plenty of options for other special diets or customers with food allergies. With a former Starbucks executive at the helm, the fast-casual chain merged with its full-service sibling restaurant, The Little Beet Table.

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