20 under 20 units

Restaurant Business, using Technomic data, identified 20 of the fastest-growing small chains that have fewer than 20 units, at least 20% sales growth from 2015 to 2016, and under $25 million in total sales. These emerging restaurant concepts are differentiating in a crowded market with everything from high-tech ordering options to community-minded missions to robust retail initiatives.

Here are the small-time players poised to join the big leagues soon. —Heather Lalley and Sara Rush Wirth