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The Los Angeles model launched in 2018 and has grown to over 300 places. It gained the High 100 two years in the past, making it the second model in historical past to earn the glory greater than as soon as.
Photograph: Willie Lawless
Might 18, 2025 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
The quick informal eating scene celebrated its main innovators and performers Sunday evening on the Quick Informal High 100 Gala in Chicago, with Dave’s Sizzling Hen taking the coveted prime spot within the tenth annual Quick Informal High 100 Movers & Shakers.
The announcement capped a night recognizing the trade’s resilience, creativity and progress. (To see the total listing, obtain the free report right here.)
This yr’s report, a trademark of trade insights compiled by FastCasual.com, launched a major enhancement to its rating course of — the Quick Informal Index. Developed in partnership with Anand Tumuluru and his crew at Loop, the index offered a data-driven layer to the judges’ evaluations, monitoring a spread of efficiency indicators, together with menu technique, location progress, buyer sentiment, gross sales metrics, social media presence and on-line itemizing efficiency.
“The quick informal dinner is a celebration of probably the most modern and fastest-growing restaurant section that is going by means of speedy change,” Tumuluru stated, emphasizing the index’s position in mixing subjective human analysis with goal information evaluation. “The purpose for this collaboration is to allow the proper mix of the subjective and goal.”
For years, the Quick Informal High 100 relied on a self-nomination course of adopted by judges’ assessments of things past simply gross sales figures, aiming to spotlight the nimbleness and innovation typically seen in smaller manufacturers. The introduction of the Quick Informal Index marks a step towards larger objectivity in figuring out the highest performers throughout the dynamic fast-casual panorama, stated Cherryh Cansler, writer of FastCasual.com and hostess of the gala.
“Choosing the High 100 is at all times a problem, however including these data-based guardrails made it simpler to see which manufacturers are main in what areas.”
Including to the popularity, this yr’s report expanded its model honorees to 100, up from the earlier 75. The occasion additionally celebrated 26 prime executives, a slight enhance from the deliberate 25 as a result of distinctive pool of management throughout the trade.
The quick informal sector continues its sturdy progress, at present an $85 billion trade with projections to succeed in $150 billion throughout the subsequent 5 years.
“The proof is within the pudding; there are various manufacturers displaying consistency in buyer satisfaction by innovating buyer expertise and menus,” Tumuluru stated, underscoring the data-driven nature of the trade and the timeliness of incorporating information into the rankings.
Nominations for the Quick Informal High 100 and inclusion within the index opened earlier this yr and closed Feb. 3. Winners had been notified by mid-March and invited to the gala.
Based in 2000, Networld Media Group, which publishes FastCasual.com, focuses on digital media, occasions and associations throughout numerous industries.
About Cherryh Cansler
