Get In Touch

Fast 47 Under 50

  • Published By Robert Kuypers
  • September 19, 2025

BrandConcept / FormatUnits (<50)CEO / FounderYoY Growth %2024/2025 SalesWebsiteNotes
Smalls SlidersDrive-thru sliders in modular builds<50 (est.)Maria Rivera (CEO)NPDNPDhttps://www.smallssliders.comFranchise momentum; modular CAPEX
Hangry Joe’sNashville hot chicken & waffles<50 (est.)Minwoo Lee (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.hangryjoes.comAggressive franchising; simple ops
Hattie B’sNashville hot chicken<50Nick Bishop Sr. & Jr. (Co-founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.hattieb.comCategory authority; destination lines
Call Your MotherModern Jewish-style bagel shop<50Andrew Dana & Daniela Moreira (Co-founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.callyourmotherdeli.comCult-followed; colorful brand
PinchoLatin burgers & kebabs (fast casual)<50Otto Othman (CEO/Co-founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.pincho.comMenu identity; franchising runway
Mici ItalianFast casual Italian<50Elliott Schiffer (Co-founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.miciitalian.comCatering engine; neighborhood brand
Sixty VinesWine-on-tap kitchen & bar<50Chris Boult (CEO)NPDNPDhttps://www.sixtyvines.comSustainability angle via kegged wine
Postino WineCafeWine bar + shareables<50Lauren Bailey (CEO)NPDNPDhttps://www.postinowinecafe.comStrong neighborhood strategy
Curry Up NowIndian burritos, bowls, street food<50Akash & Rana Kapoor (Co-founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.curryupnow.comEarly mover; franchising
Zalat PizzaLate-night craft pizza<50Khanh Nguyen (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.zalatpizza.comCulture-driven; strong ops
BirdcallBetter chicken sandwiches (tech-forward)<50Peter Newlin (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.eatbirdcall.comKiosk ordering; drive-thru friendly
Playa BowlsAçaí & smoothie bowls<50 in regionsAbby Taylor & Robert Giuliani (Co-founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.playabowls.comFunctional indulgence; colorful brand
HomeStateTexas breakfast tacos<50Briana Valdez (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.myhomestate.comLA cult favorite
GrecoGreek fast casual (souvlaki/gyros)<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.grecoboston.comUrban Greek; quality meats
Local KitchensMicro food hall platform<50Jon Goldsmith (CEO)NPDNPDhttps://www.localkitchens.comMulti-brand in small boxes
Blue Sushi Sake GrillSustainable sushi + cocktails<50Flagship Restaurant GroupNPDNPDhttps://www.bluesushisakegrill.comCertified sustainable sourcing
PizzanaNeo-Neapolitan pizzeria<50Candace Nelson (Co-founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.pizzana.comCelebrity-adjacent; meticulous dough
Naf Naf GrillMiddle Eastern fast casual<50Greg Willman (CEO)NPDNPDhttps://www.nafnafgrill.comStrong shawarma/falafel program
Torchy’s (micro cohorts)Taco concept (pilot micro formats)<50 (cohort)Mike Rypka (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.torchystacos.comFormat experiments; new markets
Levain BakeryIconic cookie + bakery cafés<50Pam Weekes & Connie McDonald (Founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.levainbakery.comHigh AUV bakery model
Milk BarModern dessert café<50Christina Tosi (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.milkbarstore.comBrand power; CPG halo
Intelligentsia Coffee (retail cafés)Third-wave coffee bars<50 retail cafésNPDNPDNPDhttps://www.intelligentsiacoffee.comCoffee authority; training culture
Alfred CoffeeSpecialty coffee + café<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.alfred.laLifestyle-forward coffee brand
Philz Coffee (subset)Customized pour-over coffee<50 in some regionsJacob Jaber (Chair)NPDNPDhttps://www.philzcoffee.comCommunity + customization
Mendocino Farms (small formats)Sandwiches/salads (pilot footprints)<50 in pilotNPDNPDNPDhttps://www.mendocinofarms.comWork-lunch rebound; catering
Calla PizzaArtisanal fast casual pizza<50NPDNPDNPD—Emerging regional brand
Prince Street Pizza (multi-city)Sicilian/pan pizza slices<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.princestpizzanyc.comIconic square slices; expansion
Howlin’ Ray’sHot chicken<50Johnny Ray Zone (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.howlinrays.comLA lines; cult status
Sidecar DonutsPremium donuts + coffee<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.sidecardoughnuts.comChef-driven donuts
Super Duper BurgersBetter burgers (Bay Area)<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.superduperburgers.comLocal sourcing; simple menu
Cava Mezze (bistros)Mediterranean full-service<50Ike Grigoropoulos et al. (Co-founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.cavamezze.comDistinct from CAVA fast casual
SweetfinModern poke bowls<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.sweetfin.comCategory pioneer; clean flavors
HoneygrowStir-fry + salads (mid-Atlantic)<50Justin Rosenberg (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.honeygrow.comTech-forward ordering
&pizzaOblong fast casual pizza<50Michael Lastoria (Co-founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.andpizza.comCulture-led; urban focus
Walk-On’s (small markets)Sports bar + grill<50 small-market subsetBrandon Landry (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.walk-ons.comLocal sports energy
Saint Marc USAAmerican/Californian food + bar<50NPDNPDNPD—Emerging concept
Bluestone Lane (subset)Aussie-inspired coffee cafés<50 in some regionsNick Stone (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.bluestonelane.comBrunch + coffee lifestyle
ToastiqueGourmet toast & juice bar<50Brianna Keefe (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://toastique.comClean label; franchising
Mah-Ze-Dahr BakeryModern bakery café<50Umber Ahmad (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.mahzedahrbakery.comJames Beard nominee cred
La Colombe Cafés (subset)Coffee cafés<50 in select metrosTodd Carmichael & J.P. Iberti (Founders)NPDNPDhttps://www.lacolombe.comDraft latte halo
Bluestone Lane CollectiveCafé-kitchen variant<50Nick StoneNPDNPDhttps://www.bluestonelane.comVariant format
TaïmFalafel/shawarma bowls and pitas<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.taimkitchen.comNYC heritage; clean flavors
RASAIndian bowls (fast casual)<50Sahil Rahman & Rahul VinodNPDNPDhttps://www.rasa.coHigh design + bold flavors
Dig (formerly Dig Inn)Veg-forward bowls & plates<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.eatdig.comFrom-scratch kitchens
Mulberry & VineVeg-forward bowls<50NPDNPDNPDhttps://www.mulberryandvine.comManhattan lunch
Rush BowlsBowls & smoothies<50 in some regionsNPDNPDNPDhttps://www.rushbowls.comFranchising; campus markets
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches (subset)Creative sandwiches<50 in some regionsIke Shehadeh (Founder)NPDNPDhttps://www.loveandsandwiches.comCult fanbase; LTOs
HomeState Tacos (Austin)Breakfast tacos<50Briana ValdezNPDNPDhttps://www.myhomestate.comRegional expansion

Latest Posts

Category

Post Tags:

Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Verified by MonsterInsights