---
title: "Top 5 Fast Casual Franchises"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/dfb7bacb-c8ba-48f6-8943-9d92d4e070a7
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/5-fast-casual-franchises-we-love-2718143
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
published: 2022-03-03T12:07:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:35:30.667Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/33d3c8c0970f00b11e0ba7fbdbef2f816703.jpg
---

# Top 5 Fast Casual Franchises

**TL;DR:** Fast-casual restaurants are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing innovative ways to interact with customers and growing sales. The fast-casual segment provides a good opportunity for potential franchisees to get in on the growth with brands like Togo's, Atomic Wings, Shuckin' Shack, A&W, and Teriyaki Madness.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2022-03-03. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/5-fast-casual-franchises-we-love-2718143).*

## Story

Fast-casual restaurants continue to adapt to a “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic by developing innovative ways to interact with customers while growing sales. Despite the challenges that affected the industry, the fast-casual segment is on the upswing and provides a good opportunity for potential franchisees to get in on the growth.

- Startup costs: $216,500-$451,500

California-based sandwich giant Togo’s uses high-quality ingredients to make fresh artisan bread, hand-sliced premium pastrami, turkey and roast beef sandwiches, and Hass avocados hand-mashed daily. The brand, founded in 1971, offers a unique restaurant investment opportunity for potential franchisees in the West.

- Startup costs: $155,900-$381,000 (depending on number of units in agreement)

Atomic Wings was founded in 1981 with a mission to offer its customers authentic Buffalo wings. Now the brand has spread throughout the New York metropolitan region with its perfected recipes and proven business model. Atomic Wings continues to grow in the Northeast with its proprietary sauces and regional menu items made from fresh, never-frozen buffalo wings.

- Startup costs: $352,700-$1,128,252

Shuckin’ Shack started out in a 900-square-foot shack in Carolina Beach, North Carolina in 2007. The brand prides itself on offering an oyster bar “lifestyle experience” for families of all ages coupled with its excellent seafood menu.

- Startup costs: $841,500-$1,213,000 (does not include real estate cost)

A&W first opened in Lodi, California in 1919 and has grown to over 500 locations in the U.S. The brand elicits a sense of nostalgia from customers with its one-of-a-kind look and signature A&W Root Beer served in the iconic frosty mug.

- Startup costs: $327,200-$678,260

Teriyaki Madness offers made-to-order, healthy bowls, apps and sides made with fresh, all-natural ingredients at affordable prices. The brand was founded in 2003 and has more than 100 stores open around the country.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- franchise opportunities (topic)
- restaurant growth (topic)
- covid-19 pandemic (topic)
- Teriyaki Madness (company)
- TOGO'S (company)
- Shuckin' Shack (company)
- Atomic Wings (company)
- startup costs (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/5-fast-casual-franchises-we-love-2718143). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/dfb7bacb-c8ba-48f6-8943-9d92d4e070a7).