The

10

best

Other Food

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

Other food franchises span a wide range of specialty dining concepts, including ethnic cuisines, dessert-focused brands, casual dining, and niche foodservice models. These concepts often rely on differentiated menus and local market appeal, making payback efficiency, capital requirements, and system scale key drivers of performance.

Below are the top 10 Other Food franchises, ranked by capital efficiency, system strength, and franchisee momentum.

Golden Corral

8.6
/
10

Golden Corral is a buffet-style restaurant franchise that offers a wide variety of all-you-can-eat dishes, including grilled meats, seafood, salads, and desserts, providing a diverse dining experience with something for everyone.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

348
+
-3%
-3%
Franchise fee

?

$50,000
Investment

?

$3,558,000 - $8,739,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$4,110,000

+
-1.1%
-1.1%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
8.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Golden Corral operates large-format buffet-style restaurants serving classic American comfort food.
Its ranking is driven by massive system scale and strong revenue productivity.

  • Very large system with 348 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$6.15M)
  • Slower 1.50x payback
  • Stable franchise base supports long-term durability

Captain D’s

8.1
/
10

Captain D's is a fast-food franchise specializing in seafood, offering a variety of fish, shrimp, and chicken dishes, along with sides and desserts.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

237
+
6%
6%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$899,000 - $1,354,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,017,000

+
-1.2%
-1.2%
Operating Profit

?

14.5%

Our score
8.1
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Captain D’s is a quick-service seafood restaurant brand with a national footprint.
Its position reflects a strong balance between scale and operational efficiency.

  • Large system with 237 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$1.13M)
  • Solid 1.11x payback
  • Consistent franchisee growth (~6%)

Wienerschnitzel

7.9
/
10

Fast-food restaurant franchise specializing in hot dogs, chili dogs, and Tastee-FreezÔøΩ soft-serve desserts, offering a variety of classic American favorites.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

243
+
-4%
-4%
Franchise fee

?

$32,000
Investment

?

$299,000 - $1,462,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,132,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.9
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Wienerschnitzel is a quick-service restaurant franchise best known for its hot dogs, chili dogs, and classic American fast-food offerings.
Its ranking benefits from rapid expansion and strong unit-level economics.

  • Growing system with 243 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$880K)
  • Efficient 0.78x payback
  • Slow franchisee growth (~4%)

Nick the Greek

7.7
/
10

Nick the Greek specializes in Greek street food, including gyros, souvlaki, and Greek salads, made with authentic recipes and quality ingredients for a taste of Greece.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

39
+
388%
388%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$415,000 - $597,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,402,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

9.3%

Our score
7.7
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Nick the Greek offers fast-casual Mediterranean cuisine with a simplified operating model.
Its placement reflects exceptional payback paired with accelerating unit growth.

  • Expanding system with 39 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$508K)
  • Excellent 0.38x payback
  • Very strong franchisee growth (~388%)

Fazoli’s

7.6
/
10

Fazoli's is an Italian fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves a variety of pasta dishes, pizzas, and other Italian favorites, offering quick and affordable Italian dining options.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

150
+
-2%
-2%
Franchise fee

?

$50,000
Investment

?

$473,000 - $2,400,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,336,000

+
22.1%
22.1%
Operating Profit

?

5.2%

Our score
7.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Fazoli’s is a quick-service Italian restaurant focused on value-priced meals.
Its ranking reflects strong revenue scale supported by a mature franchise system.

  • Established system with 150 franchisees
  • Higher average investment (~$1.44M)
  • Moderate 1.08x payback
  • Slight franchise contraction (~-2%) limits upside

Twin Peaks

7.4
/
10

Sports lodge franchise combining sports viewing with made-from-scratch food, craft beer, and scenic views, creating a lively and entertaining dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

59
+
11%
11%
Franchise fee

?

$50,000
Investment

?

$1,987,000 - $6,048,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$5,540,000

+
9.7%
9.7%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.4
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Twin Peaks operates sports-lodge-style casual dining restaurants.
Its ranking benefits from strong revenue volumes and stable system size.

  • Large system with 59 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$4.02M)
  • Slower 0.73x payback
  • Steady franchisee growth (~11%)

Spitz Mediterranean

7.3
/
10

Spitz Mediterranean serves authentic Mediterranean street food, including döner kebabs, falafel wraps, and loaded street cart fries, made with fresh ingredients and bold flavors for a satisfying dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

20
+
100%
100%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$579,000 - $1,150,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,745,000

+
-4.0%
-4.0%
Operating Profit

?

11.1%

Our score
7.3
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Spitz Mediterranean delivers fast-casual Mediterranean street food concepts.
Its placement reflects solid growth and attractive payback economics.

  • Mid-sized system with 20 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$885K)
  • Efficient 0.50x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~100%)

Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe

7.1
/
10

Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe offers a diverse menu of gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizzas, made with premium ingredients and served in a fast and friendly environment.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

31
+
11%
11%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$416,000 - $1,044,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,273,000

+
9.7%
9.7%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.1
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Pickleman’s Gourmet Café focuses on sandwiches, soups, and salads in fast-casual formats.
Its ranking reflects steady growth and accessible startup costs.

  • Mid-sized system with 31 franchisees
  • Lower average investment (~$730K)
  • Solid 0.57x payback
  • Positive franchisee growth (~11%)

Brass Tap

7.0
/
10

Brass Tap is a craft beer bar franchise that offers a wide selection of draft and bottled beers from local and international breweries, along with a pub-style menu of food and snacks.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

51
+
24%
24%
Franchise fee

?

$25,000
Investment

?

$793,000 - $1,280,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,391,000

+
7.9%
7.9%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Brass Tap is a craft beer-focused bar and casual dining concept.
Its placement reflects strong unit economics balanced by higher capital needs.

  • Established system with 51 franchisees
  • Higher average investment (~$1.04M)
  • Efficient 0.75x payback
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~24%)

Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill

6.8
/
10

Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill serves traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, including falafel, shawarma, and hummus, made with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors, providing a taste of the Mediterranean.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

20
+
33%
33%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$501,000 - $819,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$812,000

+
-11.4%
-11.4%
Operating Profit

?

10.7%

Our score
6.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill offers fast-casual Mediterranean dishes with a streamlined menu.
Its ranking is supported by strong growth but moderated by system size.

  • Smaller system with 20 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$660K)
  • Solid 0.81x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~33%)

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