The restaurant industry’s most exciting growth stories aren’t always found in the biggest chains — particularly in a year like last year, when unit counts across the Top 500 only grew by a meager 1.4%, according to Technomic, and several major chains retrenched their number of locations in the midst of a difficult economic landscape. A dynamic group of emerging restaurant companies is quietly reshaping the competitive landscape, taking market share from the bigger chains as they capitalize on consumer demand for new, exciting menu items and experiences. To identify those emerging chains that have the most growth momentum, NRN once again partnered with Technomic on the 100 Under 100, ranking the 100 growth chains with the highest percentage unit-count growth between 2024 and 2025. This year, as more casual and fine-dining brands in particular gain traction with their high-quality experiences, we’re offering a special call-out to five full-service brands that are uniquely capturing the attention of American consumers. Related:Sixty Vines offers wine on tap and cuisine to matchClich through the above slideshow to meet the future of the restaurant industry.