Fast Food Giant Reaches Milestone in Illinois with 639 Locations

With well over 600 spots, Illinois now ranks fourth in the nation for having the most locations of a certain famous restaurant chain.

Love it or hate it, there is one franchise out there making a name for itself all around the world. The company has thousands of locations in the U.S. alone, but some states have more than others. Before we dive into which states are seeing the most growth in 2025, let’s take a look at the current economic status of these quick serve restaurants as a whole.

The Global Restaurant Market is Experiencing a Staggering Shift

It's no secret that several well-known restaurant chains have had their financial struggles over the last few years, from Red Lobster and TGI Fridays to Hooters. These bar-and-grill-style locales are very expensive to operate, which means prices are reflected on the menu. That's also not including a tip, which can be costly on its own, depending on what you order.

Quick-Serve Restaurants Are Seeing a Massive Increase in 2025

Unlike sit-down restaurants, quick-serve formats can operate in smaller spaces with fewer people. This could be why the market is expected to reach a staggering $1.25 trillion by 2033, according to Business Wire. Additionally, the busy lifestyles of millennials and the growth of working populations could be driving the increase, which has only led to more such locations opening up everywhere.

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Illinois Now Has a Record Number of McDonald's Amid Market Shift

According to the data company ScrapeHero, there are 13,620 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. as of Feb. 18, 2025. The top three states with the most McDonald's locations are California with 1,224, Texas with 1,194, and Florida with 882. Illinois ranks fourth on this list with 639 locations, accounting for about 5% of all the restaurants in the entire Prairie State. Whether it's because of the chain's new $5 meal deal or a dip into nostalgia, it seems nothing is stopping them for now.