Despite boasting arguably the best cuisine in the world, as well as being “communist” fast-food restaurants in China are a big deal and indeed big business.
And this has very much been an ongoing trend since the late 80’s, particularly when KFC and McDonalds started breaking down red walls.
What though are the most popular fast food restaurants in China?
Table of Contents
Top ten fast-food restaurants in China
From least to most popular….
10) Yoshinoya (吉野家)
One of two Japanese joints on the list. They were formed in 1899, although have not been in China that long. Famous for their beef bowls and even hot-pot sets. Almost qualifies as a proper restaurant.
Very asian to say the least and you will not see too many Lao Wei chowing down to Yoshinoya.
9) Yonghe King (永和大王)
One I had not actually heard of until compiling this list and another that focuses on what I would call fairly bland Chinese noodles. Formed in 1995 in Shanghai they are now partly owned by Jolibee. Could we one day see Chinese spaghetti????
8) Ajisen Ramen (味干拉面)
You guessed it more Noodles! To be fair though this one concentrates on Ramen noodles, much as you see in many a Japanese style ramen joint.
The Japanese company, who trace their lineage back to 1968 have almost 800 stores in Hong Kong and mainland China.
7) Country Style Cooking (乡村基)
This one is actually pretty good and as the name suggests serves almost real home cooked food in a. Fast food setting. Originally formed in Chongqing, but now have 700+ restaurants in China and beyond.
6) Real Kungfu (真功夫)
These are the most visual Chinese fast food restaurant as they feature what I am sure is an unlicensed version of Bruce Lee. I actually went in one today with the intent of trying it again. Alas the rice dishes soup and meal deals are really unexciting.
Originally formed in Guangzhou in 1990.
5) Dicos
One I have written about before and in my mind THE Chinese fast food. Founded by Tianjin Ding Qiao Food Service in 1994 they have since gone from a KFC clone to being very much their own thing.
Opened their 2000 store way back in 2012 and now sponsor Basketball among a heap of there stuff. Can the apprentice become the master?
4) Home Original Chicken / Laoxiangji (老乡鸡)
Another tasteless flavorless culinary abortion in my mind. It os though the most popular and famous Chinese style fast food restaurant in the county and regularly has promotions about this fact.
Only formed in 2003 it has been a real rags to riches for this simple brand.
3) Burger King
I think we all see where this is going now, and no Subway and Starbucks do not make the list. As someone once said to me if you like Burger you like Burger King, if you like McDonalds you like McDonalds.
A relative newcomer they will have to work harder of they are not to be he Pepsi to McDonald’s Cole. Generally they do a pretty good job when it comes to burgers though.
2) McDonalds – (麦当劳)
Entered in the late 80’s but alas after KFC. This was despite conquering the communist world. The story goes that because China already had fried chicken a hamburger was more of a foreign concept.
Yet despite this they are pretty much everywhere. Alas you will see very few China based specials aside from the really crap Chinese McDonalds breakfasts.
Click here to read which countries do and don’t have McDonalds.
1) KFC (肯德基)
The Dady bear of not just fast food restaurants in China, but also by far the biggest franchise for even KFC itself. I will give KFC in China its own article at some point but the story goes thus.
KFC were the format foreign company prepared to enter the Chinese market and they did so while offering similar fried chicken to what was already available in the country. They did this though in a clean and sanitary fashion. Nowadays this means that their chicken is not beer good, but that formosa Chinese they have pretty much always been present.
And that is they story of the best fast food restaurants in China, or at least the most popular ones….