Fast-growing Raising Cane's is aiming for a nationwide takeover with the recent reveal that it is opening nine new restaurants across the United States, including a major push to the West Coast. The company is set to begin unveiling the new locations later this month as it races to cement itself as one of America's fastest-growing fast food brands.
The expansion comes after Raising Cane's opened more than 100 restaurants in 2025, with the company showing little sign of slowing down in 2026. A spokesperson for Raising Cane's told the Sun that 2026 would be 'another exciting chapter' for the company as it pushes toward its long-term goal of reaching 1,600 restaurants nationwide.
One of the latest locations is scheduled to open on May 12 in El Centro, California, according to reports. The California growth push does not stop there, with another restaurant already under construction along Hollywood Boulevard as the chain continues to expand its footprint in the state.
The Louisiana-founded brand has rapidly expanded beyond its Southern roots in recent years, becoming a growing rival to other major chicken chains. In fact, Raising Cane's surpassed the longstanding KFC in annual US sales in the third spot in 2025, only trailing Chick-fil-A and Popeyes.
The company had a rapid expansion in 2025, posting a 10.6 percent increase in sales to $5.48 billion and growing its footprint by 10.3 percent to 913 locations, according to Restaurant Business. Although growth slowed from the chain's remarkable 32 percent sales surge in 2024, Raising Cane's still outperformed most major restaurant brands.
Since 2018, the company has expanded from 400 restaurants and $1.18 billion in sales to become the 16th-largest restaurant chain in the United States. Founder Todd Graves has said the company aims to become a top 10 restaurant brand nationwide.
Founded in 1996, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers initially focused its growth on Louisiana and Texas, steadily expanding to roughly 200 locations before launching a nationwide push in 2015. That same year, the chain followed a strategy similar to rival Chick-fil-A, which began expanding beyond its Southern stronghold and opening a location in Manhattan.
Since then, Raising Cane's has increasingly established itself as a national fast-food powerhouse, fueled by packed grand openings, viral social media attention and long drive-thru lines. That includes the company's celebrity-driven marketing campaigns, including a collaboration with rapper and Law & Order SVU actor Ice-T for National Iced Tea Day, as well as the high-profile event hosted at the Miami Grand Prix last weekend, attended by influencers such as McKenna Grace and Alix Earle.
In nearly 30 years, its menu has changed very little, continuing to focus on chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and its signature Cane's sauce. Even its sandwich reflects that minimalist strategy, featuring three chicken fingers, lettuce and Cane's sauce on a bun. Rather than dramatically expanding its food offerings like many competitors, Raising Cane's has leaned into limited-time seasonal beverages, including items such as the Peach Milkshake.
The company's aggressive growth plans continue with new restaurants slated for Oklahoma City, Jonesboro, El Centro, Laurelton, Lexington, Greensboro, Owings Mills, Gainesville, and Akron.
