---
title: "Emerging Fast-Casual Franchises Coming In Hot in 2021"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/055ab384-0ffb-4aae-a672-54662d525b5b
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/emerging-fast-casual-franchises-coming-in-hot-in-2021-2715511
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
topics: ["Emerging brands"]
published: 2021-04-19T14:09:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:45:38.982Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/b49b230169a34865b2e8465c177635842279.jpg
---

# Emerging Fast-Casual Franchises Coming In Hot in 2021

**TL;DR:** Emerging fast-casual franchises such as Velvet Taco and Protein Bar & Kitchen are booming post-2020. Velvet Taco has transformed into a fully on-the-go operation, while Protein Bar & Kitchen is expanding with a focus on healthy food.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2021-04-19. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/emerging-fast-casual-franchises-coming-in-hot-in-2021-2715511).*

## Story

Fast-casual restaurants offering high-quality menu items without the sit down element are booming post 2020 . Take a look at these three three emerging fast-casual restaurants in 2021.

This Dallas-based taco and Tex-Mex franchise was originally founded as a traditional sit-down restaurant. Now, Velvet Taco has transformed into a fully on-the-go operation, even offering to-go margaritas. The 18-unit chain had to make significant changes during Q2 of 2020, most of which were in their kitchens to improve order turnaround and increase sanitation. “During this pandemic, we’ve jumped to 60 percent takeout, that’s been huge for us,” Clay Dover, Velvet Taco President and CEO said .

Starting as a small storefront in Chicago, Protein Bar & Kitchen has now grown into an eight-unit franchise (with four more in development for this year) concentrated in the city. Focusing on serving healthy food, smoothies and juices, Protein Bar & Kitchen is expanding in the new year with locations set to open in Washington D.C. and Colorado. Health and wellness are becoming more and more important as people continue to social distance amid the pandemic, and with a focus on healthy habits, a lifestyle food brand like Protein Bar & Kitchen has potential to see success.

Kansas City is famous for its barbeque, so it’s no surprise that one of the coolest and tastiest emerging BBQ franchises is coming out of the city. Burnt End BBQ has been concentrated at three locations in downtown Kansas City for a number of years. Now, they’re looking to expand nationwide. With a new location just opening in Denver, and with Kansas City BBQ having a cult following nationwide, the brand is slated for growth in the new year. Burnt End BBQ is famous for their platters, sandwiches and one-of-a-kind rooster bowls.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- fast casual (topic)
- Chicago (location)
- Colorado (location)
- Dallas (location)
- Denver (location)
- menu items (topic)
- Washington, D.C. (location)
- Kansas City (location)
- healthy food (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/emerging-fast-casual-franchises-coming-in-hot-in-2021-2715511). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/055ab384-0ffb-4aae-a672-54662d525b5b).