REI links, ownership references and reuse terms reviewed October 23, 2026. Historical figures reflect the original research periods.
Republished May 2026 from the original RestaurantChains.net archives.
This January 2008 report highlights ten fast-growing restaurant concepts identified through the RestaurantChains.net restaurant chain research and verification process.
See also: April 2007 Top Ten Fast Growing Restaurant Concepts, February 2009 Top 20 Fastest Growing Restaurant Concepts and Top Ten Fastest Growing Restaurant Concepts — October 2010.
(Began period with 50 units or less)
Research Period: 9/21/07 – 12/20/07
REI identifies a current company, parent-company or documented acquirer profile in the Restaurant Enterprise Index. Separately named parents have their own links. Ownership and acquisition notes are distinct from the historical report figures.
| Rank | Name | Cuisine | Service Type | Start Count | Growth Count | End Count | Growth % | Trading States | As of Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAGWOOD’S SANDWICH SHOPPES | Sandwich | Quick Serve | 3 | 6 | 9 | 200% | AL, FL, KY, LA, MO | 9/25/2007 |
| 2 | WHOLE HOG CAFE | BBQ | Quick Serve | 5 | 4 | 9 | 80% | AL, LA, NM, TN | 10/8/2007 |
| 3 | WHICH WICHREI | Sandwich | Quick Serve | 21 | 12 | 33 | 57% | AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, OK, SC, TN, TX | 10/15/2007 |
| 4 | SPICY PICKLE (SPKL.OB) | Sandwich | Fast Casual | 25 | 11 | 36 | 44% | AZ, CA, CO, IL, IN, MS, NV, OH, OR, SD, TX, VA | 12/20/2007 |
| 5 | BAR-B-CUTIE | BBQ | Quick Serve | 9 | 4 | 13 | 44% | GA, KS, NC, TN, TX | 11/9/2007 |
| 6 | SALAD CREATIONS OF AMERICA | Salad | Fast Casual | 24 | 10 | 34 | 42% | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, MA, MI, MN, NC, NV, OH, RI, SC, VA | 12/19/2007 |
| 7 | ROOSTERS | American | Family/Casual | 12 | 4 | 16 | 33% | OH | 10/5/2007 |
| 8 | ONO HAWAIIAN BBQREI | BBQ | Quick Serve | 22 | 7 | 29 | 32% | AZ, CA | 11/6/2007 |
| 9 | HURRICANE GRILL AND WINGSREICurrent parent: OHG Brands | Chicken | Family/Casual | 21 | 6 | 27 | 29% | FL, GA, NV | 12/4/2007 |
| 10 | RUDY’S COUNTRY STORE BBQ | BBQ | Family/Casual | 17 | 5 | 22 | 29% | NM, OK, TX | 10/30/2007 |
Research Notes
Unit ranges (starting, growth and ending) reflect growth information that occurred four months prior to the “as of date” listed (each company has their own research date range). Overall research for this quarter concluded on December 20th, 2007.
RestaurantChains.net presents a quarterly list of Top Ten Fastest Growing Concepts (began period with less than 50 units) displaying quarter-to-quarter recent growth captured during our re-verification process. Information is derived and calculated from the continual process of interviewing and verifying more than 7300 restaurant chain concepts.
Parameters Considered
- A restaurant chain or group with at least 3 units.
- A restaurant chain or group who began the period with fewer than 50 units.
- A restaurant chain or group who grew by at least 4 units.
- A restaurant chain or group that is a unique brand/concept, not a franchisee.
- A concept with growth within the U.S. or Canada.
- A restaurant chain or group with reliable information available regarding unit counts and activity.
This quarter’s Top Ten list reveals four repeat concept leaders (all four are on previous Top Ten lists).
- Hurricane Grill and Wings*
- Salad Creations of America
- Spicy Pickle*
- Which Wich
Readers should know that unit counts and percentages are not annualized and relate to recent growth only of net growth in units. Companies on the list are chosen without opinion and are a result of academic research.
*Honorable mentions go to Spicy Pickle and Hurricane Grill & Wings. Both concepts had the highest level of consistent growth and earned spots three times on the Top Ten Fastest Growing Concepts list since January of 2007.
Related Links
- Restaurant Growth Archive
- Restaurantdata.com restaurant chain intelligence and industry growth data
- RestaurantPipeline.com for new restaurant openings
