---
title: "Top Restaurant Franchises"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/e626d6d9-f2d2-435f-8582-801c0a17a842
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/awesome-restaurant-franchises-dunkin-donuts-zoup-dennys-2704677
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2017-11-07T13:08:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:11:27.337Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/0b73f2add98ae287eadb9951ee27426b114.jpg
---

# Top Restaurant Franchises

**TL;DR:** Dunkin' Donuts, Zoup!, and Denny's are among the top restaurant franchises, with Dunkin' Donuts operating over 12,200 franchise units and Denny's having 1,733 locations. Denny's is looking to expand into major untapped markets including Europe, Australia, South America, and China.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-11-07. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/awesome-restaurant-franchises-dunkin-donuts-zoup-dennys-2704677).*

## Story

**Why Its Awesome:** Coming in at number 14 on the Franchise Times 200 list, Dunkin Donuts is one of the most profitable coffee and donut franchises in the country. The brand continues to win the hearts of its 3 million daily customers with high quality food and beverages. Founded in Massachusetts in 1950, Dunkin Donuts began franchising just five years later and today operates over 12,200 franchise units.

The brand also has several locations in major places overseas including China, Spain, Canada, Russia and Singapore. Dunkin' Donuts continues to prove itself as a leading franchise in the fast casual restaurant sector.

**Why Its Awesome:** Zoup! offers a variety of award-winning soups everyday at their locations, with 12 always rotating. Its founders initially started a company that created soup and spice mixers for restaurants where they were able to connect with top chefs and restaurantuers.

After learning valuable information about what it takes to make a great soup and developing a passion for the warm, comforting food, the two opened up the first Zoup! In Southfield, MI in 1998. The franchise brand now has 100 locations in the US and Canada and serves its customers everyday with hearty soups, fresh salads and tasty sandwiches.

**Why Its Awesome:** Harold Butler founded Denny’s in 1963 with a mission to provide its customers with an all American menu spread in a comfortable, family-friendly environment. That mission turned into core values for the breakfast-brand, leading them to become one of the leading restaurant chains in the nation with 1,733 locations and an impressive spot at number 48 on the Franchise Times Top 200 brand. Denny’s continues to prove itself as a leading breakfast chain by allowing customers to enjoy a hearty meal in “home-away-from home” atmosphere.

Denny’s is currently looking to expand its brand into major untapped markets including Europe, Australia, South America and China.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand expansion (topic)
- canada (location)
- market expansion (topic)
- Australia (location)
- Denny's (company)
- China (location)
- Dunkin' Donuts (company)
- Spain (location)
- Europe (location)
- Singapore (location)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/awesome-restaurant-franchises-dunkin-donuts-zoup-dennys-2704677). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e626d6d9-f2d2-435f-8582-801c0a17a842).