- Positive opinion score: 65%
-- Popularity among boomers: 54%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 64%
-- Popularity among millennials: 63%

Founded by Glen Bell in San Bernardino, California, Taco Bell has its roots in a stand called Bell's Drive-In and Taco Tia. The first Taco Bell opened in 1962 in Downey, California, and Bell began franchising outlets around Los Angeles and beyond.

The fast-food Mexican chain became one of the fastest-growing brands in the world, and there are now more than 8,100 locations in the United States. Bell eventually sold his stake in Taco Bell to PepsiCo. It's now part of the Yum! Brands' portfolio, which includes Pizza Hut and KFC.

- Positive opinion score: 65%
-- Popularity among boomers: 71%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
-- Popularity among millennials: 67%

Olive Garden is a fast-casual Italian restaurant that caters to families looking for tasty pasta without breaking the bank. The company was founded in 1982 as General Mills' first original restaurant. It is famous for its menu specials like unlimited breadsticks, salads, and soups, along with its never-ending pasta bowls. Today, there are more than 900 Olive Garden locations where you can feel right at home, according to its classic "when you're here, you're family" slogan.

- Positive opinion score: 65%
-- Popularity among boomers: 56%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 60%
-- Popularity among millennials: 62%

When Sonic opened in Oklahoma in 1953, it was considered revolutionary for its ordering process. Customers could order through a speaker, and a worker would bring their food to them so they would never have to leave their cars.

The company still employs carhops (servers on skates), and there are now around 3,500 establishments across the United States serving burgers, milkshakes, hot dogs, and fries. Sonic is part of the restaurant group Inspire Brands, which includes Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, and Baskin-Robbins.

- Positive opinion score: 65%
-- Popularity among boomers: 58%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
-- Popularity among millennials: 66%

"Love that chicken" from Popeyes? You're not alone. The restaurant was founded in 1972 in New Orleans by Alvin Copeland, with an emphasis on Southern-inspired fried chicken and Cajun flavors. Originally named Chicken on the Run, the chain operates over 4,100 locations globally.

The menu features its signature fried chicken, spicy chicken sandwich, and red beans and rice. Popeyes gained significant attention for its chicken sandwich, sparking a "chicken sandwich war" among fast-food competitors in 2023.

- Positive opinion score: 66%
-- Popularity among boomers: 67%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 63%
-- Popularity among millennials: 64%

The truth behind Kentucky Fried Chicken's secret recipe remains shrouded in mystery, but the fast-food chain is as popular as ever, opening its 30,000th outlet in 2024. Colonel Harland Sanders created KFC's famous fried chicken in 1939 and helped grow the company into the multibillion-dollar behemoth it is today. The restaurant is known for its buckets of fried chicken, along with sandwiches and sides that include mac and cheese, corn, and potatoes.

- Positive opinion score: 66%
-- Popularity among boomers: 66%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 59%
-- Popularity among millennials: 70%

Founded as The Dwarf Grill in 1946 outside Atlanta, Chick-fil-A is now a multibillion-dollar fast-food chain specializing in chicken sandwiches. The company's founder, S. Truett Cathy, was deeply religious, so Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays.

Even though there are more than 3,000 locations, Chick-fil-A is still owned and operated by the founding family, and the restaurant maintains consistency by selling the same chicken sandwiches, nuggets, strips, and wraps at all its locations.

- Positive opinion score: 67%
-- Popularity among boomers: 71%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 64%
-- Popularity among millennials: 61%

Panera Bread started as the St. Louis Bread Company in Missouri in 1987. When Au Bon Pain purchased it in 1993, the name changed to Panera. The fast-casual, sit-down restaurant is famous for its freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and various pastries, soups, and salads. Panera has over 2,200 U.S. locations, and today, it's part of JAB Holding Company, a European group whose portfolio also includes Pret A Manger, Bruegger's Bagels, and Caribou Coffee.

- Positive opinion score: 67%
-- Popularity among boomers: 58%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 67%
-- Popularity among millennials: 65%

Domino's Pizza used to be called DomiNick's, but the name was changed after brothers Tom and James Monaghan bought the restaurant with a $500 down payment and $900 they borrowed. Domino's was founded on delivering hot pizza to homes in a timely manner, and its meteoric success now equates to over 21,300 restaurants in more than 90 countries. In addition to pizza, Domino's menu features made-to-order salads, sides, and sandwiches.

- Positive opinion score: 67%
-- Popularity among boomers: 57%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 67%
-- Popularity among millennials: 57%

Married couple Mike and Marian Ilitch started Little Caesars in Michigan in 1959. Today, it is one of the biggest pizza chains in the United States. The company truly took off in 1979 when it coined its famous phrase "Pizza! Pizza!" and started selling two pizzas for the price of one. Today, Little Caesars is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, with thousands of global locations, and it's well known for its delivery and carry-out deals.

- Positive opinion score: 69%
-- Popularity among boomers: 70%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 61%
-- Popularity among millennials: 69%

Cinnabon's founders had a mission to create the world's greatest cinnamon roll, and if the level of success the company has achieved is any indication, it might just have pulled that off. The cinnamon roll shop started in Seattle in 1985 and has grown to over 1,800 locations around the world.

Cinnabon is more of a bakery than a sit-down restaurant, now serving a variety of cinnamon treats in addition to its famous rolls. Today, Cinnabon is owned by GoTo Foods, which also has Auntie Anne's, Carvel, and Jamba in its portfolio.

- Positive opinion score: 69%
-- Popularity among boomers: 61%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 65%
-- Popularity among millennials: 68%

Once known for its iconic red roofs, Pizza Hut is a sit-down restaurant, carry-out spot, and pizza delivery place. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, as a single outlet, there are more than 20,000 locations around the world. Pizza Hut is also famous for its pizza innovations, like stuffed crusts, the calzone-inspired P'Zone, and Dippin' Strips, pizza pieces that could be pulled off and dipped in sauce.

- Positive opinion score: 70%
-- Popularity among boomers: 70%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 78%
-- Popularity among millennials: 71%

Named after founder Dave Thomas' daughter, Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas, Wendy's opened in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Known for its square-shaped burger patties, Wendy's was one of the first of the big chains to adopt a drive-thru window.

The fast-food destination's popularity has been boosted by its creative advertising campaigns, such as its iconic 1984 "Where's the Beef?" ad. Today, more than 7,000 locations around the world serve the same square-shaped burgers, fries, baked potatoes, and Frostys.

- Positive opinion score: 71%
-- Popularity among boomers: 73%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 76%
-- Popularity among millennials: 72%

The secret to Krispy Kreme's fluffy donuts lies in a recipe that Vernon Rudolph bought in 1937 from a New Orleans chef. Since then, the wafting scent of Krispy Kreme's addictive donuts has tempted customers around the globe.

There are more than 350 Krispy Kreme donut shops in the United States and many more worldwide. They all provide customers with favorites like the original glazed and strawberry-filled donuts, as well as seasonal flavors and special partnerships. Biscoff donuts, anyone?

- Positive opinion score: 72%
-- Popularity among boomers: 85%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 74%
-- Popularity among millennials: 67%

Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were brothers-in-law who wanted to open an ice cream shop where families could gather to enjoy tasty treats. Though they originally opened separate stores, the men eventually combined their powers to form Baskin-Robbins, which famously boasts 31 ice cream flavors. Today, there are more than 7,800 locations globally, and Baskin-Robbins is part of Inspire Brands, which also owns Dunkin'.

- Positive opinion score: 74%
-- Popularity among boomers: 73%
-- Popularity among Gen X: 75%
-- Popularity among millennials: 70%

The first Dairy Queen store opened in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, after co-founder John Fremont McCullough developed a formula for soft-serve ice cream—and the brand has been expanding ever since. Dairy Queen is famous for inventions like the Peanut Buster Parfait and the Blizzard.

The chain has become more than just an ice cream shop in recent decades. It also serves burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and fries. There are more than 7,700 Dairy Queen locations worldwide, and the brand's popularity shows no sign of slowing down.

Story editing by Cu Fleshman. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire.