Aaren Prody
Audio By Carbonatix
As with upscale dining spots, Dallas is right in the mix when it comes to restaurant expansions.
Restaurant Business just released its annual report of the country’s fastest-growing small chains, and both chicken and coffee dominated the Future 50 list for 2025. The company’s editorial team along with its sister data firm, Technomic, compiles this list highlighting the industry’s biggest up-and-coming businesses. It’s an interesting list as it offers a glimpes of where the fast-food industry is heading.
Smaller Bites
Second on the on the list of emerging chains is Houston-born Smalls Sliders.
This cheeseburger slider chain has already broken ground in North Texas with its first location in McKinney (1681 N. Hardin Blvd.), which opened in the spring of this year. The fast-casual chain serves cheeseburger sliders, signature waffle fries, and a variety of shakes and drinks, including a new Dr Pepper swirl shake (see Instagram video below). The company more than doubled its size in the last year. It must be good, right?
A second location is in the works in Arlington (4921 S Cooper St.). No opening date yet, but we’ll update when we know more.
There are four other locations open in Texas. One is in El Paso, and three others are in the Houston area. The reviews for each location all average around 4.2 stars.
Chicken and Doughnuts
Parlor Doughnuts, which we’re no strangers to, came in at No. 4 on the list and is worth a drive out to the suburbs to try its signature layered doughnuts. Their only location in DFW is at 5100 Stacy Road in McKinney. (Feels like there’s room for more.)
Layne’s Chicken, No. 6 on the list, was founded by Mike Layne in 1994 in College Station. It now has three locations in Dallas-Fort Worth (Lewisville, Frisco and Allen) and is predicted to surpass 80 locations in 2026.
Those aren’t the only businesses with footholds in the North Texas Market. Summer Moon Coffee ranked at No. 8; The Henry ranked at No. 24; Van Leeuwen Ice Cream came in at No. 27 and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken helped round off the list at No. 46.
