Chicken Salad Chick Passes 350 Restaurants

Chicken Salad Chick has surpassed 350 restaurants across 27 states as it continues a record pace of growth in 2026. The fast-casual chicken salad brand has awarded more than 100 franchise units so far this year and opened its first restaurants in Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia. The expansion follows a record-breaking 2025 and extends the company beyond its Southeastern roots into the Midwest, Mountain West and Northeast. Chicken Salad Chick is also building toward almost 350 locations in its development pipeline.

Northeast Expansion Takes Shape

The company’s Northeast activity includes its largest development agreement to date, a 25-unit development planned for Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Restaurants are also open and in development across Pennsylvania, including Allentown, Collegeville and South Pittsburgh, as well as Barboursville and S. Charleston, West Virginia.

Mark Verges, Vice President of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick, said:

“Surpassing 350 restaurants is a proud milestone, but what excites us most is who is helping us get there. Every new state we enter is led by owners who share our mission to Spread Joy, Enrich Lives, and Serve Others®. That commitment is what allows us to grow at this pace without losing sight of the hospitality that has defined Chicken Salad Chick since day one.”

Recognition And Next Steps

In 2026, the brand was named No. 1 in YouGov’s Top 20 U.S. Emerging Dining Brands and ranked No. 150 on the Franchise Times Top 400. It has also been named one of QSR magazine’s Best Franchise Deals for four years and ranked in the top three of Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers for six consecutive years.

Chicken Salad Chick is seeking franchise partners across the Northeast, with territories remaining in New Jersey, New York and central Pennsylvania.

Franchise Pipeline Continues

Chicken Salad Chick has almost 350 locations in its development pipeline.