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What's Hot in Fast-Casual?

These restaurant concepts lead the pack.

Fast-casual restaurants are the industry’s fastest-growing sector. These restaurants serve meals between $7 and $10 in price, and made-to-order in five to eight minutes. Customers make menu selections at a counter and food is brought to customers’ tables. Locations have nice ambience and décor. These 10 fast-casual concepts are the sector’s hottest based on their innovative ideas and influence on the market, according to Fast Casual magazine.

1. Panera Bread, Richmond Heights, Mo., 1,000 locations

2. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Denver, 500+ locations

3. Qdoba, Denver, 318 locations

4. McAlister’s Deli, Ridgeland, Miss., 200 locations

5. Starbucks, Seattle, 7,100+ independent locations (5,300+ licensed locations)

6. Buffalo Wild Wings, Minneapolis, 415 locations

7. Pei Wei, Scottsdale, Ariz., 107 locations

8. Cold Stone Creamery, Scottsdale, Ariz., 1,200+ locations

9. RedBrick Pizza, Palmdale, Calif., 60 locations

10. Moe’s Southwest Grill, Atlanta, 200+ locations

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