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50 most popular chain restaurants in America
50 most popular chain restaurants in America
With the advent of Big Data, it's now easier than ever to quantify what people like around the globe. When it comes to food, Americans seem to have specific opinions. American dining brands have a long and storied history, and whether they're fast food, fast-casual, high-end, or super cheap, U.S. restaurants offer something for almost everyone.
What's clear about U.S. dining habits is that people love options. Restaurants across America are chock-full of variety, mixing ethnicities, food regions, and cultures into steaming melting pots of (often) fried deliciousness.
Stacker analyzed data from YouGov to rank the 50 mos popular chain restaurants in the U.S. The rating agency surveys people on a daily basis across a variety of areas—such as culture, politics, and business—to determine what people like, dislike, and might have no opinion on. YouGov's overall positive opinion scores represent the percentage of people who had a positive response out of those surveyed, and they are also broken down by generation—baby boomers, Gen X'ers, and millennials. In case you're dubious about the findings, YouGov has surveyed more than 20 million people online since 2017, so the data set isn't exactly small.
YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you’ll even find a favorite or two!
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#50. Orange Julius
- Positive opinion score: 48%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 52%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 51%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 43%
In 1926, Julius Freed opened an orange juice stand in Los Angeles. When Freed’s business partner Bill Hamlin mixed the orange juice with a few other ingredients in an effort to lower the acidity that bothered his stomach, the chain’s iconic, frothy, creamy orange beverage was born. Dairy Queen acquired Orange Julius in 1987; its smoothies and fruit beverages can now be purchased at drive-throughs and malls around the country.
#48. Golden Corral
- Positive opinion score: 48%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 50%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 48%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 45%
Golden Corral's stated mission is to “offer guests real, wholesome foods in a family-friendly atmosphere and at a great value.” The restaurant, which opened` in 1973, is a buffet-style eatery offering up classic American dishes from salads and pizzas to fried chicken and ribs. Golden Corral has more than 400 locations around the United States.
#47. In-N-Out Burger
- Positive opinion score: 49%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 43%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 46%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 57%
Ask a group of Californians where to find their favorite burgers, and you’re guaranteed to hear In-N-Out Burger at least once. The chain’s first drive-through stand was opened in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948. It was years before customer favorites like Animal Style burgers, milkshakes, and secret menu items were added to the offerings. Today, there are 358 In-N-Out Burger locations, almost all of which are concentrated on the west coast.
#46. Long John Silver's
- Positive opinion score: 49%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 52%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 45%
Seafood fast-food chain Long John Silver's was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1969. The now-international brand offers a variety of fried and grilled seafood entrees, including salmon bowls, fish and chips boxes, and popcorn shrimp sides.
#45. Hard Rock Cafe
- Positive opinion score: 50%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 55%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 48%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 45%
What started as a small-themed restaurant in London in 1971 has since turned into a mega-franchise with 185 cafés, more than two dozen hotels, and multiple casinos all over the world. Two Americans, Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, just wanted a good burger in the UK; when they couldn't find one, they started their own company. The cafés are renowned for their extensive collections of rock ‘n' roll memorabilia that hang on every free space in the restaurants, as well as regularly scheduled live concerts at many of the venues. The food generally consists of burgers, fries, sandwiches, steaks, and other American favorites.
#44. Ruby Tuesday
- Positive opinion score: 50%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 52%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 45%
Founded in 1972 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Ruby Tuesday is a casual dining restaurant with primarily American-style cuisine consisting of fried appetizers, sandwiches, steaks, pastas, and burgers. The name Ruby Tuesday was derived from the Rolling Stones song of the same name, though there are no official ties to the band. Today there are more than 200 locations in America and around the globe. The original founder, Sandy Beall III, left the company in 2012.
#43. Marie Callender's
- Positive opinion score: 50%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 62%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 57%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 38%
Marie Callender was a real person who started selling her home-baked pies to supplement her family's income in the early 1940s. Callender, her husband Carl, and their son Don soon turned the small delivery business into a thriving bakery delivering pies to restaurants around Orange County, California. Pretty soon, the delivery business turned into a retail business with pie shops around California and beyond. Today, Marie Callender operates around 30 stores in the United States that serve a wide variety of pies. It is also a sit-down restaurant chain offering burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other American favorites, such as meatloaf and roasted turkey.
#42. Starbucks
- Positive opinion score: 50%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 43%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 47%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 57%
The first Starbucks coffee shop opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971. The name comes from the first mate in the book “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville. After Howard Schultz bought the brand in 1987, the chain eventually exploded into the biggest coffee empire in the world. Today, the company has more than 30,000 locations in nearly every country and sells a variety of sandwiches, pastries, and other goodies in addition to its coffee products.
#41. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 52%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 54%
Based in Denver, Colorado, Chipotle serves up real food with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The burrito and bowl spot has more than 2,400 locations throughout the country. The owners chose not to franchise the business, believing instead that holding ownership allows them to set the tone for their employees and better control the quality of their ingredients. McDonald’s was an early and major investor but has since divested entirely.
#40. Five Guys
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 48%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 58%
The name Five Guys is derived from founders Jerry Murrell and his four sons Ben, Jim, Chad, and Matt. The family-owned business got its start in the Washington D.C. area in 1986, and has since expanded to more than 1,500 locations in the United States and around the world. Five Guys is a fast-casual chain known for its burgers, hot dogs, and fries, but true fans of the establishment know about the secret menu. It includes favorites like the patty melt, double-grilled cheeseburger, or the Presidential, so-named for President Barack Obama's special order: a cheeseburger with jalapeño peppers, lettuce, tomato, and mustard.
#39. Papa John's
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 49%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 56%
Although its founder John Schnatter was ousted as CEO over his controversial comments on the NFL in 2017, the franchise is still going strong with more than 3,000 locations around the United States. Papa John's was founded by Schnatter in 1984 and is known for its signature dipping sauce that separates it from other pizza delivery chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut.
#38. Boston Market
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 41%
Originally called Boston Chicken when it was founded in 1985 in Newton, Massachusetts, Boston Market is an inexpensive rotisserie chicken restaurant with nearly 350 locations across the United States. The company changed its name in 1995 after expanding its menu to include ribs, meatloaf, turkey, and a bevy of savory sides.
#37. Waffle House
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 52%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 49%
Waffle House is one of the biggest franchises in the United States, consisting of more than 2,000 locations across 25 states. The first Waffle House launched in Avondale Estates, Georgia, where partners Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened their restaurant on Labor Day of 1955. Every Waffle House is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and serves reasonably priced waffles (of course), as well as omelets, melts, steak and eggs, burgers, and sandwiches.
#36. Red Robin
- Positive opinion score: 53%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 53%
Founded in Seattle in 1940, the original name of the restaurant was Sam's Red Robin. That all changed when Gerry Kingen bought the restaurant in 1969 and began rapid expansion across the country. Today, there are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants, which are considered casual dining spots with American fare like burgers, sandwiches, and fried appetizers.
#35. TGI Fridays
- Positive opinion score: 54%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 55%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 50%
TGI Fridays is a casual dining establishment and bar that first opened in New York City in 1965. It quickly became a hotspot and was one of the first restaurants to use promotions like Ladies' Nights. On the food front, American fare is the order of the day with fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and steaks on the menu. Today, there are more than 300 TGI Fridays in the United States and hundreds more around the world. In popular culture, TGI Fridays was the hopping bar in the movie “Cocktail” where Tom Cruise spun bottles and helped kick off an international flair bartending craze.
#34. Buffalo Wild Wings
- Positive opinion score: 55%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 52%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 61%
When Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery were living in Ohio in 1982, they had a hankering for Buffalo-style wings—only they realized there was nowhere to satiate their craving. As a result, the two men opened their own restaurant and Buffalo Wild Wings has since turned into an international craze with more than 1,000 locations around the globe. The restaurant is known for its Buffalo-style wings, but it's also a sports bar that serves sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and lots of cold brews.
#33. Mrs. Fields
- Positive opinion score: 55%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 66%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 49%
There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and no one did it better than Debbi Fields. She opened her eponymous cookie shop, Mrs. Fields, in California in 1977 and quickly grew the business with outlets in malls across the United States. Today, the cookie business is still booming with more than 300 locations, in addition to a massive online ordering component.
#32. LongHorn Steakhouse
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 55%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 51%
First opened in 1981 in Atlanta as LongHorn Steaks Restaurant & Saloon, the LongHorn Steakhouse is a casual dining steak joint with more than 450 locations around the United States. The chain is owned and operated by Darden Restaurants, whose portfolio also includes the Olive Garden, Yard House, and The Capital Grille. Obviously known for its steaks, LongHorn Steakhouse also serves burgers, sandwiches, ribs, chicken, and fish.
#31. A&W Restaurants
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 60%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 51%
This fast-food chain was first popularized back in 1919 as a root beer stand in California. With the advent of Prohibition in the 1920s, A&W played on the name root beer to attract alcohol drinkers to its establishment. Today, A&W is still famous for its draft-style root beer, root beer floats, and sizzling burgers. A&W's root beer was so popular that the company began selling the drink in bottles and cans. The company now has locations across the globe and is part of a conglomerate that includes Dr. Pepper, Snapple, and 7 Up.
#30. Denny's
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 52%
Harold Butler and Richard Jezak opened a donut stand in 1953 called Danny's Donuts, where they aimed to serve the best coffee and donuts 24 hours a day. The name was changed to Denny's Coffee Shops in 1959 and then finally Denny's in 1961. Since then, the breakfast joint—which is still open 24 hours each day—has expanded around the world with more than 1,600 restaurants. Denny's is typically known for its diner-style ambiance and breakfast items, but the restaurant also serves burgers, steaks, and other American fare throughout the day.
#29. Little Caesars
- Positive opinion score: 57%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 62%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 59%
Little Caesars was started by a husband-and-wife team in Michigan in 1959. Today, it is one of the biggest pizza chains in the United States. The company truly took off in 1979 when it coined its famous phrase “Pizza! Pizza!” and started selling two pizzas for the price of one. Today, the chain has thousands of locations around the world and is just as well-known for its sit-down restaurants as it is for delivery and carry-out.
#28. Red Lobster
- Positive opinion score: 57%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 51%
Bill Darden started Red Lobster in Lakeland, Fla., in 1968 with a single restaurant. Today, there are more than 700 Red Lobster joints around the world. Red Lobster is a family-friendly restaurant whose mission is to bring inexpensive seafood to the masses. The menu always includes a fresh catch of the day, in addition to lobster, shrimp, steaks, and sides. Red Lobster was formerly part of the Darden Restaurants group, which also counts Yard House, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille in its portfolio. Now, it is owned by Golden Gate Capital.
#27. McDonald's
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 63%
Though Ray Kroc is credited with McDonald's meteoric rise around the world, the fast-food burger joint was actually started by Dick and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. After eating at the restaurant, Kroc was so impressed that he started franchising and bought the exclusive rights to McDonald's in 1961. Today, the fast-food chain—known for burgers, fries, and drive-thrus—is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet with over 30,000 restaurants and billions of dollars in sales.
#26. Cold Stone Creamery
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 57%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 59%
Cold Stone Creamery is an ice cream parlor chain where sugary treats are made to order. Cold Stone's specialty is mixing up ice cream flavors atop a 16-degree granite slab with a choice of numerous toppings. Cold Stone started in Tempe, Arizona, in 1988, and now has more than 1,000 locations. Today, the company is owned by Kahala Brands, which also has Baja Fresh, Blimpie, and Pinkberry in its portfolio.
#25. Chili's
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 55%
After falling in love with chili cook-offs, Chili’s Grill & Bar founder Larry Lavine decided to open his own restaurant in Texas in 1975 to share that love with the world. Chili’s concept was always a family-friendly, casual dining eatery at reasonable prices, and that mantra remains to this day. The sit-down restaurant is known for its burgers, fajitas, and all kinds of American fare at more than 1,000 locations across the globe.
#24. Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 55%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 60%
New Orleans has a long and savory culinary history, and that's where Popeyes Louisiana Chicken was born and bred. Founded in 1972, Popeyes was launched by Al Copeland and allegedly takes its name from Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle from the movie “The French Connection.” Today, Popeyes is known for its succulent and inexpensive fried chicken in restaurants around the world. There are currently more than 2,600 outlets and growing.
#23. Applebee's
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 63%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 58%
With over 2,000 locations, Applebee's is a fast-casual dining spot that is now ubiquitous around the world. With slogans like “Eating good in the neighborhood,” Applebee's solidified itself as a family dining destination with reasonable prices. The company first broke ground in 1980 in Atlanta and has been expanding ever since with American classics like sandwiches, burgers, ribs, pastas, and fried appetizers. Today, Applebee's is part of a dining group that also includes IHOP.
#22. Sonic
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 56%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 61%
When Sonic first opened in Oklahoma in 1953, it was considered revolutionary for its ordering process. Customers could drive into a lane, order through a speaker, and never leave their cars as their food was brought out to them. The company still features carhops (aka servers on skates) and now, there are more than 3,000 establishments across the United States serving burgers, milkshakes, hot dogs, and fries. Sonic is part of a restaurant group that also includes Buffalo Wild Wings and Arby's.
#21. Arby's
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 67%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 53%
The name Arby's comes from its founders Leroy and Forrest Raffel, known as the Raffel Brothers—hence R.B.'s. The brothers were looking to start a fast-food franchise that would be different than the popular burger chains. As a result, they landed on freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches and have been growing ever since. Arby's slogan “We have the meats” still holds true, as the sandwich shop serves everything from roast beef and turkey to brisket and Italian subs.
#20. Texas Roadhouse
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 67%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 55%
Despite its name, Texas Roadhouse is a western-themed steak joint that's headquartered in Louisville, Ky., and has origins in Clarksville, Ind. Opened by Kent Taylor in 1993, the Roadhouse has more than 600 locations around the world including the United States, Indonesia, and Turkey. The family-friendly restaurant is known for its variety of hand-cut steaks, but it also offers chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and other American specialties.
#19. Domino's
- Positive opinion score: 61%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 50%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 64%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 64%
Domino's Pizza used to be called DomiNick's, but the name was changed after brothers Tom and James Monoghan bought the restaurant for $500. Domino's concept was founded on delivering hot pizza to homes in a timely manner, and its meteoric success now equates to more than 17,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. In addition to pizza, Domino's includes made-to-order salads, sides, and sandwiches on its menu.
#18. Taco Bell
- Positive opinion score: 61%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 61%
Founded by Glen Bell in San Bernardino, California, Taco Bell was originally a hot dog stand called Bell's Drive-in in 1954. Bell opened his first Taco Bell in 1962 and began franchising outlets around Los Angeles and beyond. The fast-food Mexican restaurant became one of the fastest-growing brands in the world, and there are now upwards of 7,000 locations. Bell eventually sold his stake in Taco Bell to PepsiCo, which then sold to Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
#17. Cracker Barrel
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 67%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 58%
With a Southern country ethos based on warm hospitality and home-style food, Cracker Barrel has been a roadside staple since 1969. The part restaurant, part gift shop got its start in Tennessee as a family-friendly, sit-down restaurant. There are now more than 600 Cracker Barrels around the country, and they can usually be found close to highways, as they're known to attract long-haul commuters with their food and general stores.
#16. Burger King
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 63%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 60%
The McDonald brothers didn't just inspire the McDonald's franchise. After eating at the famed San Bernardino restaurant in the 1950s, Matthew Burns and Keith Kramer bought the rights to a grill called the Insta-Broiler and opened Insta-Burger King in 1953 in Florida. The name changed to Burger King in 1954, and explosive growth has continued since. Today, Burger King has more than 18,000 locations around the world and serves a variety of fast-food items like charbroiled burgers, fries, chicken, and even breakfast items.
#15. Pizza Hut
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 69%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 63%
Known for its iconic red roofs, Pizza Hut is a part sit-down restaurant, part carry-out spot, and part pizza delivery place. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., as a single outlet, today, there are more than 18,000 locations around the world. Pizza Hut is also famous for its pizza innovations, trotting out items like stuffed crusts with melted cheese, a calzone-like pizza concoction called the P'zone, and the Dippin' Strips pizza, which features pieces that can be pulled off and dipped in marinara sauce.
#14. KFC
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 62%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 70%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 60%
The secrecy around Kentucky Fried Chicken's special recipe remains shrouded in mystery, but the fast-food chain is as popular as ever with 24,000 outlets around the world. Colonel Harland Sanders created KFC's famous fried chicken in 1940 and grew the company into the multibillion-dollar behemoth it is today. KFC is known for its buckets of fried chicken, along with sandwiches and sides that include everything from mac and cheese and corn to green beans and potatoes.
#13. Olive Garden
- Positive opinion score: 63%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 67%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 65%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 58%
The Olive Garden is a fast-casual Italian restaurant that caters to families looking for tasty pasta without breaking the bank. The company was originally founded as a division of General Mills in 1982 and is famous for its menu items and specials like unlimited breadsticks, salads, soups, and never-ending pasta bowls. Today, there are 900 Olive Gardens. The company is part of the Darden Restaurants Group that includes Yard House, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille.
#12. Chick-fil-A
- Positive opinion score: 63%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 66%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 65%
Founded as the Dwarf Grill in 1946 outside Atlanta, Chick-fil-A is now a multibillion-dollar fast-food chain that specializes in chicken sandwiches. The company's founder, S. Truett Cathy, was deeply religious, and because of that, Chick-fil-A is always closed on Sundays. It has also seen its fair share of controversy. Even though there are more than 2,000 locations, Chick-fil-A is still owned and operated by the founding family, and the restaurant maintains consistency throughout by selling the same chicken sandwiches, nuggets, strips, and wraps at all its locations.
#10. Panera Bread
- Positive opinion score: 65%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 65%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 68%
Panera Bread actually started as the St. Louis Bread Company in Missouri in 1987. When it was purchased by Au Bon Pain in 1993, the name was changed to Panera. The fast-casual, sit-down restaurant is famous for its freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and a variety of pastries, soups, and salads. Panera has more than 2,300 locations in the United States and Canada, and today it's owned by JAB Holding Company, a European group whose portfolio also includes Pret a Manger and Peet's Coffee.
#9. The Cheesecake Factory
- Positive opinion score: 66%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 66%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 70%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 61%
Anyone who has ever eaten at a Cheesecake Factory knows the menu can be overwhelming, with its endless pages of food items. But the restaurant had much humbler beginnings as a small salad and sandwich shop in Beverly Hills, Calif., with a variety of cheesecakes that all fit on a one-page menu. Since its start in 1978, The Cheesecake Factory has grown into a family-friendly juggernaut with more than 200 outlets around the world serving everything from soups, salads, and appetizers to pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and, of course, a large variety of cheesecakes.
#8. IHOP
- Positive opinion score: 66%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 65%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 65%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 66%
The International House of Pancakes has been an American breakfast staple since it opened in 1958. The shortened name IHOP was coined about 15 years later and is now the official name of the company. Serving pancakes at more than 1,800 restaurants around the world, IHOP is a family-friendly enterprise known for clever branding and iconic menu items like the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Pancakes, Signature Pancake Sliders, and other savory dishes. It started as breakfast only, but today, the restaurants have sandwiches, burgers, and other lunch and dinner items.
#7. Dunkin'
- Positive opinion score: 69%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 67%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 72%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 69%
Formerly known as Dunkin' Donuts, Dunkin' is a coffee and donut shop founded by Bill Rosenberg in 1950 in Quincy, Mass. With the world's never-ending appetite for the round and sweet, Dunkin' has since opened more than 12,000 locations globally. While donuts are the specialty, the company's coffee also garners praise and the shops have expanded their menus to include sandwiches, wraps, and bagels.
#5. Cinnabon
- Positive opinion score: 69%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 65%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 72%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 72%
Cinnabon's mission was to create the world's greatest cinnamon roll, and with the level of success the company has achieved, it might just have accomplished that feat. The small cinnamon roll shop started in Seattle in 1985 and has grown to more than 1,200 locations around the world. Cinnabon is more bakery than a sit-down restaurant, and it serves a variety of cinnamon treats in addition to its famous rolls. Today, Cinnabon is owned by Focus Brands, which also owns Auntie Anne's, Jamba Juice, and Schlotzsky's.
#4. Subway
- Positive opinion score: 69%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 69%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 68%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 66%
When nuclear physicist Peter Buck loaned Fred DeLuca $1,000 to open a sub sandwich shop in 1965, the seeds of Subway were officially planted. The first store was located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and franchises began popping up soon after. The official Subway name was first used in 1968; since then, the fast-food sandwich chain has grown to over 40,000 locations around the world. The restaurant itself is known for its wide-ranging menu of sub sandwiches, but also salads, wraps, and some breakfast items.
#3. Wendy's
- Positive opinion score: 70%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 69%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 73%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 67%
Named after founder Dave Thomas's daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas, Wendy's was first opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. Known for its square-shaped burger patties, Wendy's was one of the first of the big chains to adopt a drive-thru window. Wendy's popularity has been boosted by its creative advertising campaigns, like the 1984 “Where's the Beef?” ad and Thomas's frequent spots as the company spokesman. Today there are more than 6,000 locations around the world serving the same square-shaped burgers, fries, baked potatoes, and Frostys.
#2. Dairy Queen
- Positive opinion score: 72%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 77%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 75%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 66%
The first Dairy Queen store opened in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, after co-founder John Fremont McCullough developed a formula for soft-serve ice cream. McCullough opened the shop with Sherb Noble, and the brand has been expanding ever since. Known for its ice cream, Dairy Queen is also famous for sweet-treat inventions like the Peanut Buster Parfait and the Blizzard. Dairy Queen is much more than just an ice cream shop these days, as it also serves burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and fries. There are more than 6,800 Dairy Queen's around the world and the uber-popular brand shows no sign of slowing down.
#1. Baskin-Robbins
- Positive opinion score: 75%
--- Popularity among Boomers: 80%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 74%
--- Popularity among Millennials: 70%
Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were brothers-in-law who wanted to open an ice cream shop where families could gather to enjoy tasty treats. Though they originally opened separate stores, eventually the men merged to form Baskin-Robbins, boasting 31 flavors. Today there are more than 8,000 locations globally, and Baskin-Robbins is part of Inspire Brands, which also owns Dunkin'.
50 most popular chain restaurants in America
With the advent of Big Data, it’s now easier than ever to quantify what people like around the globe. When it comes to food, Americans have particularly specific opinions. American dining brands have a long and storied history, and whether it’s fast food, fast-casual, high-end, or super cheap, U.S. restaurants offer something for almost everyone.
What’s clear about U.S. dining habits is that people love options. Restaurants across America are chock-full of variety, mixing foods from various regions and cultures into steaming melting pots of deliciousness.
Stacker analyzed 2022 Q1 data from YouGov to rank the 50 most popular chain restaurants in the U.S. The rating agency surveys people on a daily basis across a variety of areas—such as culture, politics, and business—to determine what people like and dislike. YouGov’s overall positive opinion scores represent the percentage of people who had a positive response out of those surveyed, and they are also broken down by generation—baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials.
Read on for a look at America’s vast and divergent variety of chain restaurants.
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#50. Panda Express
- Positive opinion score: 48%
--- Popularity among boomers: 48%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 40%
--- Popularity among millennials: 52%
A subsidiary of the Panda Restaurant Group, Panda Express started as a formal, sit-down restaurant, called Panda Inn, in Pasadena, California, in 1973. The restaurant’s founders, father-and-son team Ming-Tsai Cherng and Andrew Cherng, crafted a menu of Mandarin and Sichuan dishes that filled a gap in the area’s market. Their success allowed them to open a number of similar restaurants in the surrounding community.
In 1983, a year after Ming-Tsai’s wife, Peggy Cherng, joined the company, the restaurant group opened a fast-food version of their restaurant in the Glendale Galleria, which they dubbed Panda Express. There are now more than 2,200 Panda Express restaurants.
#49. Jersey Mike’s Subs
- Positive opinion score: 48%
--- Popularity among boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 50%
--- Popularity among millennials: 46%
The original Jersey Mike’s Subs opened in a popular Jersey Shore town, Point Pleasant, in 1956. In 1971, 17-year-old high school student and Jersey Mike’s employee Peter Cancro bought the stand-alone restaurant from its aging founder, and after opening a handful of outlet stores in the area, began franchising in 1987. Today, there are over 2,000 Jersey Mike’s restaurants in the United States, as well as a couple of stores in Australia and Canada.
#47. Quiznos
- Positive opinion score: 49%
--- Popularity among boomers: 44%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 51%
--- Popularity among millennials: 55%
Not many chain restaurants can claim they were started by acclaimed chefs, but Quiznos can. Jimmy Lambatos, who had previously worked at Colorado Mine Company (a steakhouse in Glendale, Colorado), opened his own sandwich shop in Denver in 1981. The restaurateur claimed the unique heated subs he sold at Quiznos were inspired by the sandwiches he ate during his childhood living on Long Island.
In 1987, Lambatos sold his chain to a franchisee named Rick Schaden, who grew the chain to 5,000 restaurants in its heyday back in 2006. As of 2021, there were 255 locations in the U.S.
#46. Golden Corral
- Positive opinion score: 49%
--- Popularity among boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 47%
--- Popularity among millennials: 48%
Golden Corral’s stated mission is to “offer guests real, wholesome foods in a family-friendly atmosphere and at a great value.” The restaurant, which opened in 1973, is a buffet-style eatery offering up classic American dishes, from salads and pizzas to fried chicken and ribs. Golden Corral has more than 400 locations around the United States.
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#45. Hard Rock Cafe
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among boomers: 50%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 50%
What started as a small-themed restaurant in London in 1971 has since turned into a megafranchise with 185 cafés, more than two dozen hotels, and multiple casinos all over the world. Two Americans, Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, just wanted a good burger in the U.K.; when they couldn’t find one, they started their own company. The cafés are renowned for their extensive collections of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia that hang on every free space in the restaurants, as well as regularly scheduled live concerts at many of the venues. The food generally consists of burgers, fries, sandwiches, steaks, and other American favorites.
#44. Buffalo Wild Wings
- Positive opinion score: 51%
--- Popularity among boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 51%
--- Popularity among millennials: 56%
When Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery were living in Ohio in 1982, they had a hankering for Buffalo-style wings—only they realized there was nowhere to satiate their craving. As a result, the two men opened their own restaurant, and Buffalo Wild Wings has since turned into an international craze with more than 1,000 locations around the globe. The restaurant is known for its Buffalo-style wings, but it’s also a sports bar that serves sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and lots of cold brews.
#43. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Positive opinion score: 52%
--- Popularity among boomers: 46%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 56%
--- Popularity among millennials: 52%
Based in Denver, Chipotle serves up real food with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The burrito and bowl spot has more than 2,400 locations throughout the country. The owners chose not to franchise the business, believing instead that holding ownership allows them to set the tone for their employees and better control the quality of their ingredients. McDonald’s was an early and major investor but has since divested entirely.
#42. Nathan’s Famous
- Positive opinion score: 52%
--- Popularity among boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 47%
--- Popularity among millennials: 52%
Polish Jewish immigrant Nathan Handwerker opened up the first Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island in 1916. Fellow immigrants flocked to his Brooklyn shop, eager to get their hands on his frankfurters, which were seasoned with his wife Ida’s secret blend and sold for only a nickel.
In 1959, Nathan’s son, Murray Handwerker, began opening other branches of the restaurant in New York City, and by 2001, there were locations in every state in America as well as in several countries around the world. Today, the chain is the official hotdog sponsor of the MLB, runs its own annual hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July, and also sells a line of products in grocery stores across the country.
#41. Little Caesars
- Positive opinion score: 52%
--- Popularity among boomers: 47%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 53%
Little Caesars was started by a husband-and-wife team in Michigan in 1959. Today, it is one of the biggest pizza chains in the United States. The company truly took off in 1979 when it coined its famous phrase “Pizza! Pizza!” and started selling two pizzas for the price of one. Today, the chain has thousands of locations around the world and is just as well-known for its sit-down restaurants as it is for delivery and carry-out.
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#40. TGI Friday’s
- Positive opinion score: 52%
--- Popularity among boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 51%
--- Popularity among millennials: 55%
TGI Friday’s began as a cocktail bar that catered to single folks on New York City’s Upper East Side. Alan Stillman opened the first location in 1965, and it was an instant success. Two years later, Stillman began franchising, and it was these early suburban locations, which focused on food and a family atmosphere rather than being a place for attractive young 20-somethings to be seen, that transformed it into the diner-style restaurant we know it as today. As of 2022, there are 900 TGI Friday’s locations in 60 countries around the world.
#39. Papa John’s
- Positive opinion score: 53%
--- Popularity among boomers: 50%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 50%
--- Popularity among millennials: 56%
Although its founder John Schnatter was ousted as CEO over his controversial comments on the NFL in 2017, the franchise is still going strong with more than 3,000 locations around the United States. Papa John’s was founded by Schnatter in 1984 and is known for its signature dipping sauce that separates it from other pizza delivery chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut.
#38. Chili’s
- Positive opinion score: 53%
--- Popularity among boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among millennials: 52%
After falling in love with chili cook-offs, Chili’s Grill & Bar founder Larry Lavine decided to open his own restaurant in Texas in 1975 to share that love with the world. Chili’s concept was always a family-friendly, casual dining eatery at reasonable prices, and that mantra remains to this day. The sit-down restaurant is known for its burgers, fajitas, and all kinds of American fare at more than 1,000 locations across the globe.
#37. Boston Market
- Positive opinion score: 53%
--- Popularity among boomers: 57%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among millennials: 52%
Originally called Boston Chicken when it was founded in 1985 in Newton, Massachusetts, Boston Market is an inexpensive rotisserie chicken restaurant with nearly 350 locations across the United States. The company changed its name in 1995 after expanding its menu to include ribs, meatloaf, turkey, and a bevy of savory sides.
#36. White Castle
- Positive opinion score: 54%
--- Popularity among boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 53%
--- Popularity among millennials: 57%
White Castle began in Whiticha, Kansas, in 1921 and claims it’s “the first fast-food hamburger chain in the world.” The brand’s focus on cleanliness, quality, and an affordable price point has been credited with convincing Americans that hamburgers (which had previously been viewed as an unsanitary and unsafe option) were good, healthy, and safe to eat. The company, which has never franchised and wholly owns every location, currently operates about 349 locations in just 14 states, primarily in the Midwest and on the East Coast.
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#35. LongHorn Steakhouse
- Positive opinion score: 54%
--- Popularity among boomers: 57%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 56%
--- Popularity among millennials: 49%
First opened in 1981 in Atlanta as LongHorn Steaks Restaurant & Saloon, LongHorn Steakhouse is a casual dining steak joint with more than 450 locations around the United States. The chain is owned and operated by Darden Restaurants, whose portfolio also includes the Olive Garden, Yard House, and The Capital Grille. Obviously known for its steaks, LongHorn Steakhouse also serves burgers, sandwiches, ribs, chicken, and fish.
#34. Five Guys
- Positive opinion score: 54%
--- Popularity among boomers: 53%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among millennials: 56%
The name Five Guys is derived from founders Jerry Murrell and his four sons Ben, Jim, Chad, and Matt. The family-owned business got its start in the Washington D.C. area in 1986 and has since expanded to more than 1,500 locations in the United States and around the world. Five Guys is a fast-casual chain known for its burgers, hot dogs, and fries, but true fans of the establishment know about its secret menu. It includes favorites like the patty melt, double-grilled cheeseburger, or the Presidential, so-named for former United States President Barack Obama’s special order: a cheeseburger with jalapeño peppers, lettuce, tomato, and mustard.
#33. A&W Restaurants
- Positive opinion score: 55%
--- Popularity among boomers: 64%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 52%
--- Popularity among millennials: 44%
This fast-food chain was first popularized back in 1919 as a root beer stand in California. With the advent of Prohibition in the 1920s, A&W played on the name “root beer” to attract alcohol drinkers to its establishment. Today, A&W is still famous for its draft-style root beer, root beer floats, and sizzling burgers. A&W’s root beer was so popular that the company began selling the drink in bottles and cans. The company now has locations across the globe and is part of a conglomerate that includes Dr. Pepper, Snapple, and 7 Up.
#32. Mrs. Fields
- Positive opinion score: 55%
--- Popularity among boomers: 64%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 62%
--- Popularity among millennials: 45%
In 1977, Debbi Fields opened the first Mrs. Fields store in Palo Alto, California, which served warm and fresh cookies to its patrons. The parent company, Famous Brands International, purchased TCBY, the country’s first frozen yogurt chain, in the 1990s. Today, the company is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, and there are more than 250 franchise locations around the world.
#31. Red Robin
- Positive opinion score: 55%
--- Popularity among boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 54%
--- Popularity among millennials: 57%
Founded in Seattle in 1940, the original name of the restaurant was Sam’s Red Robin. That all changed when Gerry Kingen bought the restaurant in 1969 and began rapid expansion across the country. Today, there are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants, which are considered casual dining spots with American fare like burgers, sandwiches, and fried appetizers.
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#30. Waffle House
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among boomers: 59%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 52%
--- Popularity among millennials: 54%
Waffle House is one of the biggest franchises in the United States, consisting of more than 2,000 locations across 25 states. The first Waffle House launched in Avondale Estates, Georgia, where partners Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened their restaurant on Labor Day of 1955. Every Waffle House is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and serves reasonably priced waffles (of course), as well as omelets, melts, steak and eggs, burgers, and sandwiches.
#29. Marie Callender’s
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among boomers: 71%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 52%
--- Popularity among millennials: 43%
Marie Callender was a real person who started selling her home-baked pies to supplement her family’s income in the early 1940s. Callender, her husband Carl, and their son Don soon turned the small delivery business into a thriving bakery delivering pies to restaurants around Orange County, California. Pretty soon, the delivery business turned into a retail business with pie shops around California and beyond. Today, Marie Callender operates around 30 stores in the United States that serve a wide variety of pies. It is also a sit-down restaurant chain offering burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other American favorites, such as meatloaf and roasted turkey.
#28. Denny’s
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among boomers: 59%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among millennials: 49%
Harold Butler and Richard Jezak opened a donut stand in 1953 called Danny’s Donuts, where they aimed to serve the best coffee and donuts 24 hours a day. The name was changed to Denny’s Coffee Shops in 1959 and then finally Denny’s in 1961. Since then, the breakfast joint—which is still open 24 hours each day—has expanded around the world with more than 1,600 restaurants. Denny’s is typically known for its diner-style ambiance and breakfast items, but the restaurant also serves burgers, steaks, and other American fare throughout the day.
#27. Cold Stone Creamery
- Positive opinion score: 56%
--- Popularity among boomers: 56%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among millennials: 55%
Cold Stone Creamery is an ice cream parlor chain where sugary treats are made to order. Cold Stone’s specialty is mixing up ice cream flavors atop a 16-degree granite slab with a choice of numerous toppings. Cold Stone started in Tempe, Arizona, in 1988, and now has more than 1,000 locations. Today, the company is owned by Kahala Brands, which also has Baja Fresh, Blimpie, and Pinkberry in its portfolio.
#26. Red Lobster
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among boomers: 63%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among millennials: 48%
Bill Darden started Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968 with a single restaurant. Today, there are more than 700 Red Lobster joints around the world. Red Lobster is a family-friendly restaurant whose mission is to bring inexpensive seafood to the masses. The menu always includes a fresh catch of the day, in addition to lobster, shrimp, steaks, and sides. Red Lobster was formerly part of the Darden Restaurants group, which also counts Yard House, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille in its portfolio. Now, it is owned by Golden Gate Capital.
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#25. McDonald’s
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among boomers: 54%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 61%
Though Ray Kroc is credited with McDonald’s meteoric rise around the world, the fast-food burger joint was actually started by Dick and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. After eating at the restaurant, Kroc was so impressed that he started franchising and bought the exclusive rights to McDonald’s in 1961. Today, the fast-food chain—known for burgers, fries, and drive-thrus—is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet with over 30,000 restaurants and billions of dollars in sales.
#23. Cracker Barrel
- Positive opinion score: 58%
--- Popularity among boomers: 68%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among millennials: 50%
With a Southern country ethos based on warm hospitality and home-style food, Cracker Barrel has been a roadside staple since 1969. The part restaurant, part gift shop got its start in Tennessee as a family-friendly, sit-down restaurant. There are now more than 600 Cracker Barrels around the country, and they can usually be found close to highways, as they’re known to attract long-haul commuters with their food and general stores.
#22. Popeyes
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among boomers: 57%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 66%
New Orleans has a long and savory culinary history, and that’s where Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was born and bred. Founded in 1972, Popeyes was launched by Al Copeland and reportedly takes its name from Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle from the movie “The French Connection.” Today, Popeyes is known for its succulent and inexpensive fried chicken in restaurants around the world. There are currently more than 2,600 outlets and growing.
#21. Taco Bell
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 55%
Founded by Glen Bell in San Bernardino, California, Taco Bell was originally a hot dog stand called Bell’s Drive-In and Taco Tia in 1954. Bell opened his first Taco Bell in 1962 and began franchising outlets around Los Angeles and beyond. The fast-food Mexican restaurant became one of the fastest-growing brands in the world, and there are now upwards of 7,000 locations. Bell eventually sold his stake in Taco Bell to PepsiCo, which then sold to Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
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#20. Texas Roadhouse
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among boomers: 65%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among millennials: 55%
Despite its name, Texas Roadhouse is a Western-themed steak joint that’s headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and has origins in Clarksville, Indiana. Opened by Wayne Kent Taylor in 1993, the eatery has more than 600 locations around the world including the United States, Indonesia, and Turkey. The family-friendly restaurant is known for its variety of hand-cut steaks, but it also offers chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and other American specialties.
#19. KFC
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 58%
--- Popularity among millennials: 57%
The secrecy around Kentucky Fried Chicken’s special recipe remains shrouded in mystery, but the fast-food chain is as popular as ever, boasting 24,000 outlets around the world. Col. Harland Sanders created KFC’s famous fried chicken in 1940 and grew the company into the multibillion-dollar behemoth it is today. KFC is known for its buckets of fried chicken, along with sandwiches and sides that include everything from mac and cheese and corn to green beans and potatoes.
#18. Arby’s
- Positive opinion score: 59%
--- Popularity among boomers: 65%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among millennials: 59%
The name Arby’s comes from its founders Leroy and Forrest Raffel, known as the Raffel Brothers—hence R.B.’s. The brothers were looking to start a fast-food franchise that would be different than the popular burger chains. As a result, they landed on freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches; the company’s been growing ever since. Arby’s slogan, “We have the meats,” still holds true, as the sandwich shop serves everything from roast beef and turkey to brisket and Italian subs.
#17. Olive Garden
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among boomers: 64%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among millennials: 56%
The Olive Garden is a fast-casual Italian restaurant that caters to families looking for tasty pasta without breaking the bank. The company was originally founded as a division of General Mills in 1982 and is famous for its menu items and specials like unlimited breadsticks, salads, soups, and never-ending pasta bowls. Today, there are 900 Olive Gardens. The company is part of the Darden Restaurants Group that includes Yard House, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille.
#16. Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 55%
--- Popularity among millennials: 63%
With over 2,000 locations, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar is a fast-casual dining spot that is now ubiquitous around the world. With slogans like “Eating good in the neighborhood,” Applebee’s solidified itself as a family dining destination with reasonable prices. The company first broke ground in 1980 in Atlanta and has been expanding ever since with American classics like sandwiches, burgers, ribs, pastas, and fried appetizers. Today, Applebee’s is part of a dining group that also includes IHOP.
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#15. Burger King
- Positive opinion score: 60%
--- Popularity among boomers: 66%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among millennials: 56%
The McDonald brothers didn’t just inspire the McDonald’s franchise. After eating at the famed San Bernardino restaurant in the 1950s, Matthew Burns and Keith Kramer bought the rights to a grill called the Insta-Broiler and opened Insta-Burger King in 1953 in Florida. The name changed to Burger King in 1954, and explosive growth has continued since. Today, Burger King has more than 18,000 locations around the world and serves a variety of fast-food items like charbroiled burgers, fries, chicken, and even breakfast items.
#14. Chick-fil-A
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among boomers: 61%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among millennials: 57%
Founded as the Dwarf Grill in 1946 outside Atlanta, Chick-fil-A is now a multibillion-dollar fast-food chain that specializes in chicken sandwiches. The company’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, was deeply religious, and because of that, Chick-fil-A is always closed on Sundays. It has also seen its fair share of controversy. Even though there are more than 2,000 locations, Chick-fil-A is still owned and operated by the founding family, and the restaurant maintains consistency throughout by selling the same chicken sandwiches, nuggets, strips, and wraps at all its locations.
#13. Sonic
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among boomers: 58%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
--- Popularity among millennials: 69%
When Sonic first opened in Oklahoma in 1953, it was considered revolutionary for its ordering process. Customers could drive into a lane, order through a speaker, and never leave their cars as their food was brought out to them. The company still features carhops (aka servers on skates) and now, there are more than 3,000 establishments across the United States serving burgers, milkshakes, hot dogs, and fries. Sonic is part of a restaurant group that also includes Buffalo Wild Wings and Arby’s.
#12. Subway
- Positive opinion score: 62%
--- Popularity among boomers: 64%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
--- Popularity among millennials: 61%
When nuclear physicist Peter Buck loaned Fred DeLuca $1,000 to open a sub sandwich shop in 1965, the seeds of Subway were officially planted. The first store was located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and franchises began popping up soon after. The official Subway name was first used in 1968; since then, the fast-food sandwich chain has grown to over 40,000 locations around the world. The restaurant itself is known for its wide-ranging menu of sub sandwiches, but also salads, wraps, and some breakfast items.
#11. Panera Bread
- Positive opinion score: 63%
--- Popularity among boomers: 63%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among millennials: 60%
Panera Bread actually started as the St. Louis Bread Company in Missouri in 1987. When it was purchased by Au Bon Pain in 1993, the name was changed to Panera. The fast-casual, sit-down restaurant is famous for its freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and a variety of pastries, soups, and salads. Panera has more than 2,300 locations in the United States and Canada, and today it’s owned by JAB Holding Company, a European group whose portfolio also includes Pret A Manger and Peet’s Coffee.
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#10. Domino’s
- Positive opinion score: 63%
--- Popularity among boomers: 59%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 62%
--- Popularity among millennials: 65%
Domino’s Pizza used to be called DomiNick’s, but the name was changed after brothers Tom and James Monoghan bought the restaurant for $500. Domino’s concept was founded on delivering hot pizza to homes in a timely manner, and its meteoric success now equates to more than 17,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. In addition to pizza, Domino’s includes made-to-order salads, sides, and sandwiches on its menu.
#9. The Cheesecake Factory
- Positive opinion score: 63%
--- Popularity among boomers: 64%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
--- Popularity among millennials: 62%
Anyone who has ever eaten at a The Cheesecake Factory knows the menu can be overwhelming, with its endless pages of food items. But the restaurant had much humbler beginnings as a small salad and sandwich shop in Beverly Hills, California, with a variety of cheesecakes that all fit on a one-page menu. Since its start in 1978, The Cheesecake Factory has grown into a family-friendly juggernaut with more than 200 outlets around the world serving everything from soups, salads, and appetizers to pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and of course, a large variety of cheesecakes.
#8. IHOP
- Positive opinion score: 64%
--- Popularity among boomers: 62%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 70%
--- Popularity among millennials: 59%
IHOP has been an American breakfast staple since it opened in 1958. The shortened name IHOP was coined about 15 years later and is now the official name of the company. Serving pancakes at more than 1,800 restaurants around the world, IHOP is a family-friendly enterprise known for clever branding and iconic menu items like the Rooty Tooty Fresh ’N Fruity Pancakes, Signature Pancake Sliders, and other savory dishes. It started as a breakfast-only eatery, but today, the restaurants have sandwiches, burgers, and other lunch and dinner items.
#7. Cinnabon
- Positive opinion score: 65%
--- Popularity among boomers: 66%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 65%
--- Popularity among millennials: 64%
Cinnabon’s mission was to create the world’s greatest cinnamon roll, and with the level of success the company has achieved, it might just have accomplished that feat. The small cinnamon roll shop started in Seattle in 1985 and has grown to more than 1,200 locations around the world. Cinnabon is more bakery than a sit-down restaurant, and it serves a variety of cinnamon treats in addition to its famous rolls. Today, Cinnabon is owned by Focus Brands, which also owns Auntie Anne’s, Jamba Juice, and Schlotzsky’s.
#6. Pizza Hut
- Positive opinion score: 65%
--- Popularity among boomers: 66%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 67%
--- Popularity among millennials: 64%
Known for its iconic red roofs, Pizza Hut is a part sit-down restaurant, part carry-out spot, and part pizza delivery place. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, as a single outlet, today, there are more than 18,000 locations around the world. Pizza Hut is also famous for its pizza innovations, trotting out items like stuffed crusts with melted cheese, a calzone-like pizza concoction called the P’zone, and the Dippin’ Strips pizza, which features pieces that can be pulled off and dipped in marinara sauce.
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#5. Dunkin’
- Positive opinion score: 66%
--- Popularity among boomers: 67%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
--- Popularity among millennials: 65%
Formerly Dunkin’ Donuts, Dunkin’ is a coffee and donut shop founded by Bill Rosenberg in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts. With the world’s never-ending appetite for the round and sweet, Dunkin’ has since opened more than 12,000 locations globally. While donuts are the specialty, the company’s coffee also garners praise and the shops have expanded their menus to include sandwiches, wraps, and bagels.
#3. Wendy’s
- Positive opinion score: 69%
--- Popularity among boomers: 71%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 69%
--- Popularity among millennials: 68%
Named after founder Dave Thomas’ daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas, Wendy’s was first opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. Known for its square-shaped burger patties, Wendy’s was one of the first of the big chains to adopt a drive-thru window. Wendy’s popularity has been boosted by its creative advertising campaigns, such as its 1984 “Where’s the Beef?” ad. Today there are more than 6,000 locations around the world serving the same square-shaped burgers, fries, baked potatoes, and Frostys.
#2. Dairy Queen
- Positive opinion score: 71%
--- Popularity among boomers: 77%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 75%
--- Popularity among millennials: 63%
The first Dairy Queen store opened in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, after co-founder John Fremont McCullough developed a formula for soft-serve ice cream. McCullough opened the shop with Sherb Noble, and the brand has been expanding ever since. Known for its ice cream, Dairy Queen is also famous for sweet-treat inventions like the Peanut Buster Parfait and the Blizzard. Dairy Queen is much more than just an ice cream shop these days, as it also serves burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and fries. There are more than 6,800 Dairy Queen locations around the world and the uber-popular brand shows no sign of slowing down.
#1. Baskin-Robbins
- Positive opinion score: 74%
--- Popularity among boomers: 79%
--- Popularity among Gen X: 77%
--- Popularity among millennials: 67%
Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were brothers-in-law who wanted to open an ice cream shop where families could gather to enjoy tasty treats. Though they originally opened separate stores, eventually the men merged to form Baskin-Robbins, boasting 31 flavors. Today there are more than 8,000 locations globally, and Baskin-Robbins is part of Inspire Brands, which also owns Dunkin’.
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50 most popular chain restaurants in America
Close up hands holding burger at outdoor restaurant table.
50 most popular chain restaurants in America
Close up hands holding burger at outdoor restaurant table.
Ryan Redington wins the Iditarod 50 years after his grandfather co-founded the race
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Ryan Redington on Tuesday won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, bringing his six dogs off the Bering Sea ice to the finish line on Nome’s main street.
Redington, 40, is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” He helped co-found the arduous race across Alaska that was first held in 1973.
Pentagon releases footage of Russian aircraft dumping fuel on US drone over Black Sea
KYIV, Ukraine — The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.
The 42-second video, released Thursday, shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said.
Can you guess the iconic TV show from just one image?
25 stills from television were curated by Stacker with an emphasis on a diverse range of genres, protagonists, styles, and time periods. Can you guess every TV show?
French bulldog becomes top US dog breed, ending Labrador retriever's 31-year reign
NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in three decades, the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed, according to the American Kennel Club.
Adorable in some eyes, deplorable in others, the sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation's most prevalent purebred dog last year, the club announced Wednesday. Frenchies ousted Labrador retrievers from the top spot after a record 31 years.
The top 10 most popular dog breeds in America
1. French bulldogs
FILE - Lola, a French bulldog, lies on the floor prior to the start of a St. Francis Day service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Oct. 7, 2007, in New York. The American Kennel Club announced Wednesday, March 15, 2023 that French bulldogs have become the United States' most prevalent dog breed, ending Labrador retrievers' record-breaking 31 years at the top.
2. Labrador retrievers
Labrador retrievers Soave, 2, left, and Hola, 10-months, pose for photographs as Harbor, right, 8-weeks, takes a nap during a news conference at the American Kennel Club headquarters in New York, March 28, 2018.
3. Golden retrievers
Daniel, a golden retriever, wins the sporting group during 144th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York.
4. Golden shepherds
FILE — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's dog Commander, a purebred German shepherd, is walked before the president and first lady arrive on Marine One at the White House in Washington, March 13, 2022.
5. Poodles
A poodle competes during the Annual Kennel Club of Beverly Hills Dog Show at Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, Calif, March 4, 2017.
6. Bulldogs
An English bulldog gets a kiss from its owner, in Bucharest, Romania, March 12, 2017.
7. Rottweilers
Talos, a Rottweiler, poses for photos as the American Kennel Club's breed rankings are announced, in New York, March 21, 2017.
8. Beagles
Miss P, a 15-inch beagle, is presented during the best in show competition at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, at Madison Square Garden, in New York, Feb. 17, 2015.
9. Dachshunds
A long-haired dachshund is shown in the Hound group competition, during the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Feb. 15, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
10. German shorthaired pointers
CJ, a German shorthaired pointer, is shown in the ring by his handler during the Best in Show competition, at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Feb. 16, 2016, at Madison Square Garden, in New York.
Donald Trump expects to be arrested Tuesday as DA eyes charges
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump said in a social media post that he expects to be arrested Tuesday as a New York prosecutor is eyeing charges in a case examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president.
Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network early Saturday that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney's office indicate that “THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.”
Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine amount to war crimes, UN-backed investigation finds
GENEVA (AP) — Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine, including systematic torture and killing in occupied regions, amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, according to a report from a U.N.-backed inquiry released Thursday.
The sweeping human rights report, released a year to the day after a Russian airstrike on a theater in Mariupol killed hundreds sheltering inside, marked a highly unusual condemnation of a member of the U.N. Security Council.
Timeline: A look at key moments in a year of war between Russia and Ukraine
A month-by-month timeline of the war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine that began a year ago has killed thousands, forced millions to flee their homes, reduced entire cities to rubble and has fueled fears the confrontation could slide into an open conflict between Russia and NATO.
A look at some of the main events in the conflict.
Feb. 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine
On Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launches an invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south. He says the "special military operation" is aimed at "demilitarization" and "denazification" of the country to protect ethnic Russians, prevent Kyiv's NATO membership and to keep it in Russia's "sphere of influence." Ukraine and the West say it's an illegal act of aggression against a country with a democratically elected government and a Jewish president whose relatives were killed in the Holocaust.
Russian troops quickly reach Kyiv's outskirts, but their attempts to capture the capital and other cities in the northeast meet stiff resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy records a video outside his headquarters to show he is staying and remains in charge.
About the photo: Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
March 2, 2022: Russia takes Kherson, gets stuck near Kyiv
On March 2, Russia claims control of the southern city of Kherson. In the opening days of March, Russian forces also seize the rest of the Kherson region and occupy a large part of the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest.
The Russian army soon gets stuck near Kyiv, and its convoys — stretching along highways leading to the Ukrainian capital — become easy prey for Ukrainian artillery and drones.
About the photo: Russian's army tanks move down a street on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022.
March 29, 2022: Russia withdraws from Kyiv, shifts focus east
Moscow announces the withdrawal of forces from Kyiv and other areas March 29, saying it will focus on the eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas, where Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces since 2014 following the illegal annexation of Crimea.
About the photo: People with Ukrainian flags walk toward Russian army trucks during a rally against the Russian occupation in Kherson, Ukraine, on March 20, 2022. As Russian forces sought to tighten their hold on Melitopol, hundreds of residents took to the streets to demand the mayor's release.
April 2022: Mass graves discovered in Bucha
The Russian pullback from Kyiv reveals hundreds of bodies of civilians in mass graves or left in the streets of the town of Bucha, many of them bearing signs of torture in scenes that prompt world leaders to say Russia should be held accountable for possible war crimes.
About the photo: Police work to identify civilians who were killed during the Russian occupation in Bucha, Ukraine, on the outskirts of Kyiv, before sending the bodies to the morgue, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
April 9, 2022: Russia strikes train station, killing 52 civilians
On April 9, a Russian missile strike on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk kills 52 civilians and wounds over 100.
Intense battles rage for the strategic port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, and Russian air strikes and artillery bombardment reduce much of it to ruins.
About the photo: People board buses during their evacuation, with a Soviet MiG-17 fighter jet monument in the background, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Saturday, April 9, 2022. After the bombing of the train station, residents continued their attempts to leave the city on buses and other transports.
April 13, 2022: Ukraine sinks Russian missile cruiser
On April 13, the missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is hit by Ukrainian missiles and sinks the next day, damaging national pride.
About the photo: The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet is seen anchored in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, on Sept. 11, 2008.
May 16, 2022: Ukraine defenders surrender key steel mill
On May 16, Ukrainian defenders of the giant Azovstal steel mill, the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol, agree to surrender to Russian forces after a nearly three-month siege. Mariupol's fall cuts Ukraine off from the Azov coast and secures a land corridor from the Russian border to Crimea.
About this photo: In this photo provided by Azov Special Forces Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard Press Office, a Ukrainian soldier stands inside the ruined Azovstal steel plant prior to surrender to the Russian forces in Mariupol, Ukraine, May 16, 2022.
May 18, 2022: Finland, Sweden apply for NATO membership
On May 18, Finland and Sweden submit their applications to join NATO in a major blow to Moscow over the expansion of the military alliance.
About the photo: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg displays documents as Sweden and Finland applied for membership in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2022.
June 2022: Western weapons flow into Ukraine
More Western weapons flow into Ukraine, including U.S.-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launchers.
About the photo: Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region June 18, 2022.
June 30, 2022: Russian troops pull back from Snake Island
On June 30, Russian troops pull back from Snake Island, located off the Black Sea port of Odesa and seized in the opening days of the invasion.
About the photo: In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Office on Thursday, July 7, 2022, Ukrainian soldiers install the state flag on Snake island, in the Black Sea.
July 22, 2022: Deal struck on grain exports
On July 22, Russia and Ukraine, with mediation by Turkey and the United Nations, agree on a deal to unblock supplies of grain stuck in Ukraine's Black Sea ports, ending a standoff that threatened global food security.
About the photo: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, sit as Sergei Shoigu, Russia's Defense Minister, and Hulusi Akar, Turkey's Defense Minister, shake hands during a signing ceremony at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, July 22, 2022.
July 29, 2022: 53 killed in missile strike on prison
On July 29, a missile strike hits a prison in the Russia-controlled eastern town of Olenivka where Ukrainian soldiers captured in Mariupol were held, killing at least 53. Ukraine and Russia trade blame for the attack.
About the photo: In this photo taken from video a view of a destroyed barrack at a prison in Olenivka, in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces, eastern Ukraine, Friday, July 29, 2022.
Aug. 9, 2022: Ukraine strikes air base in Crimea
On Aug. 9, powerful explosions strike an air base in Crimea. More blasts hit a power substation and ammunition depots there a week later. signaling the vulnerability of the Moscow-annexed Black Sea peninsula that Russia has used as a major supply hub for the war. Ukraine's top military officer later acknowledges that the attacks on Crimea were launched by Kyiv's forces.
About the photo: Rising smoke can be seen from the beach at Saky after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, Aug. 9, 2022.
Aug. 20, 2022: Daughter of Russian ideologist killed in car bombing
On Aug. 20, Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian nationalist ideologist Alexander Dugin, dies in a car bomb explosion outside Moscow that the Russian authorities blame on Ukraine.
About the photo: Philosopher Alexander Dugin speaks during the final farewell ceremony for his daughter Daria Dugina in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022.
Sept. 6, 2022: Ukraine counteroffensive retakes parts of Kharkiv region
On Sept. 6, the Ukrainian forces launch a surprise counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, quickly forcing Russia to pull back from broad areas held for months.
About the photo: A Ukrainian national guard serviceman stands atop a destroyed Russian tank in an area near the border with Russia, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sept. 19, 2022.
Sept. 21, 2022: Putin orders mobilization of reservists, stages illegal "referendums"
On Sept. 21, Putin orders mobilization of 300,000 reservists, an unpopular move that prompts hundreds of thousands of Russian men to flee to neighboring countries to avoid recruitment. At the same time, Russia hastily stages illegal "referendums" in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions on whether to become part of Russia. The votes are widely dismissed as a sham by Ukraine and the West.
About the photo: Riot police block a street during a protest against mobilization in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022.
Sept. 30, 2022: Putin claims annexation of 4 regions
On Sept. 30, Putin signs documents to annex the four regions at a Kremlin ceremony.
About the photo: From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Denis Pushilin, leader of self-proclaimed of the Donetsk People's Republic and Leonid Pasechnik, leader of self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic pose for a photo during a ceremony to sign the treaties for four regions of Ukraine to join Russia, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
October 2022: Bridge linking Crimea and Russia attacked
On Oct. 8, a truck laden with explosives blows up on the bridge linking Crimea to Russia's mainland in an attack that Putin blames on Ukraine. Russia responds with missile strikes on Ukraine's power plants and other key infrastructure.
After the first wave of attacks on Oct. 10, the barrage continues on a regular basis in the months that follow, resulting in blackouts and power rationing across the country.
About the photo: Flame and smoke rise from the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and the Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait, in Kerch, Crimea, Oct. 8, 2022.
November 2022: Russia retreats from Kherson
On Nov. 9, Russia announces a pullback from the city of Kherson under a Ukrainian counteroffensive, abandoning the only regional center Moscow captured, in a humiliating retreat for the Kremlin.
About the photo: Ukrainian servicemen check the trenches dug by Russian soldiers in a retaken area in Kherson region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Dec. 5, 2022: Ukraine uses drones to hit Russian targets
On Dec. 5, the Russian military says Ukraine used drones to target two bases for long-range bombers deep inside Russian territory. Another strike takes places later in the month, underlining Ukraine's readiness to up the ante and revealing gaps in Russian defenses.
About the photo: Ukrainian soldiers watch a drone feed from an underground command center in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022.
Dec. 21, 2022: Zelenskyy visits US
On Dec. 21, Zelenskyy visits the United States on his first trip abroad since the war began, meeting with President Joe Biden to secure Patriot air defense missile systems and other weapons and addressing Congress.
About the photo: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, react as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine's contested Donetsk province, as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022.
Jan. 1, 2023: Ukraine kills scores of freshly mobilized Russian soldiers
On Jan. 1, just moments into the New Year, scores of freshly mobilized Russian soldiers are killed by a Ukrainian missile strike on the city of Makiivka. Russia's Defense Ministry says 89 troops were killed, while Ukrainian officials put the death toll in the hundreds.
About the photo: Workers clean rubbles after Ukrainian rocket strike in Makiivka, in Russian-controlled Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
Jan. 12, 2023: Russia claims capture of Soledar
After months of ferocious fighting, Russia declares the capture of the salt-mining town of Soledar on Jan. 12, although Kyiv does not acknowledge it until days later. Moscow also presses its offensive to seize the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut.
About the photo: Ukrainian servicemen fire a 120mm mortar towards Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Jan. 14, 2023: Russian strike kills 45 in apartment building
On Jan. 14, when Russia launches another wave of strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities, a Russian missile hits an apartment building in the city of Dnipro, killing 45.
About the photo: Emergency workers clear the rubble after a Russian rocket hit a multistory building leaving many people under debris in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.
Feb. 20, 2023: Biden makes surprise visit to Kyiv
On Feb. 20, U.S. President Joe Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv where he meets with the Ukrainian president in a remarkable and defiant display of solidarity.
About the photo: US President Joe Biden, center, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and Olena Zelenska, left, spouse of President Zelenskyy, at Mariinsky Palace during an unannounced visit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.
Photos: In Ukraine, searing images capture a year of war
Natali Sevriukova is overcome with emotion as she stands outside her destroyed apartment building following a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee by crossing the Irpin River on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Stanislav says goodbye to his 2-year-old son, David, and wife, Anna, after they boarded a train that will take them to Lviv, from the station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3. 2022. Stanislav stayed to fight as his family sought refuge in a neighboring country. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A child in a stroller is lifted across an improvised path as people flee Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Ukrainian emergency personnel and police officers evacuate injured pregnant woman Iryna Kalinina, 32, from a maternity hospital that was damaged by a Russian airstrike in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. "Kill me now!" she screamed, as they struggled to save her life at another hospital even closer to the frontline. The baby was born dead, and a half-hour later, Iryna died too. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A man runs after recovering items from a burning shop following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
An elderly woman is assisted while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by Ukrainian troops designed to slow any Russian military advance, while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Bodies are placed into a mass grave on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Cadets practice with gas masks during a lesson in a bomb shelter on the first day of school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Armored vehicles destroyed during the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian armed forces lie on a bank of the frozen Siverskiy Donets River in the recently-liberated village of Bogorodychne, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
An explosion erupts from an apartment building at 110 Mytropolytska St., after a Russian army tank fired on it in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022. On the seventh floor of the building, two elderly women Lydya and Nataliya were stuck in their apartment because they couldn't make it down to the shelter, and were killed in the explosion. The two heavily burned bodies were buried by neighbors in front of the building. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Destroyed Russian tanks sit on a main road after battles near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Ira Gavriluk holds her cat as she stands near the bodies of her husband and brother who were killed in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Ludmila, left, says goodbye to her granddaughter, Kristina, who, with her son, Yaric, departs by train from Odesa, southern Ukraine, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The body of a man with his hands tied behind his back lies on the ground in Bucha, Ukraine, Sunday, April 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A man and child ride a bicycle as bodies of civilians lie in the street in the formerly Russian-occupied Kyiv suburb of Bucha, Ukraine, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Children look out of the window of an unheated Lviv-bound train, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A civilian wears a Vladimir Putin mask as a spoof, while a Ukrainian soldier stands atop a destroyed Russian tank in Bucha, Ukraine, outside of Kyiv, on April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Nina Shevchenko mourns over the body of her 15-year-old son, Artem Shevchenko, who was killed in a Russian attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
The body of an elderly woman lies inside a house in Bucha, outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Elderly men lie in beds at a hospice in Chasiv Yar city, Donetsk district, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. At least 35 men and women, some in wheelchairs and most of them with mobility issues, were helped by volunteers to flee from the region that has been under attack in the last few weeks. They are being transported to Khmelnytskyi, in western Ukraine. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of Volodymyr Losev, 38, during his funeral in Zorya Truda in the Odesa region of Ukraine, Monday, May 16, 2022. The 38-year-old Ukrainian volunteer soldier was killed on May 7 when the military vehicle he was driving ran over a mine in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Nila Zelinska holds her granddaughter's doll found in her destroyed house in Potashnya on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Zelinska had just returned to her hometown after escaping war to find out she is homeless. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Volodymyr, 66, injured from a strike, sits on a chair in his damaged apartment in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Relatives and friends pay their last respects to Liza, a 4-year-old girl killed in a Russian attack, during a mourning ceremony in an Orthodox church in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Sunday, July 17, 2022. Wearing a blue denim jacket with flowers, Liza was among 23 people killed, including two boys aged 7 and 8, in a missile strike three days earlier in Vinnytsia. Her mother, Iryna Dmytrieva, was among the scores injured. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Anastasia Ohrimenko, 26, is comforted by relatives as she cries next to the coffin of her husband, Yury Styglyuk, a Ukrainian serviceman who died in combat on Aug. 24, in Maryinka, Donetsk, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery towards Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/LIBKOS)
A woman warms her dog in her coat in Kivsharivka, Ukraine, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. Residents in Kivsharivka have been living without gas, electricity or running water for around three weeks. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Ukrainian family members reunite for the first time since Russian troops withdrew from the Kherson region in the village of Tsentralne, southern Ukraine, on Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A resident wounded after a Russian attack lies inside an ambulance before being taken to a hospital in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A woman transporting the coffin holding the body of her son, a soldier who was killed in fighting with Russians, sits in a boat crossing the Siverskyi Donets River near Staryi Saltiv, Kharkiv region on Wednesday Jan. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)
A woman walks with a flashlight during a power outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Ukrainian military doctors treat an injured comrade who was evacuated from the battlefield at the hospital in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The serviceman did not survive. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
The body of a woman lies under rubble after a Russian rocket hit a multistory building leaving many people under debris in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Emergency workers clear the rubble after a Russian rocket hit a multistory building leaving many people under debris in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Relatives mourn over the body of Oleksiy Zavadskyi, a Ukrainian serviceman who died in combat on Jan. 15 in Bakhmut, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Ambulance paramedic Oleksandr Konovalov performs CPR on a girl injured by shelling in a residential area, next to her father, left, after arriving at the city hospital in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. The girl did not survive. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Residents prepare tea in a basement being used as a bomb shelter in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A woman takes shelter in a basement with no electricity in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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