Africa, home to over 1.5 billion people and a median age below 20, is rapidly emerging as a key growth market for the global fast-food industry, driven by a young, urbanizing population with increasing demand for quick, affordable meals.
According to nairametrics, from Lagos to Nairobi, international quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains and homegrown brands alike are racing to feed a young, urbanizing population whose appetite for convenience, affordability, and brand-name meals is reshaping the continent’s food economy.
Driven by franchising models that enable rapid expansion and consistent branding, fast-food chains are now visible across major cities and secondary markets. Nigeria, with a population approaching 240 million, leads the charge, but Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are close behind, providing fertile ground for business growth.
This surge reflects more than just shifting eating habits. It’s a story of economic transformation, one where rising consumer demand, a youthful workforce, and digital food delivery are fueling the proliferation of Western-style fast food across Africa.
Below, we explore 10 of the largest restaurant chains making their mark across the continent, and the socio-economic forces driving their expansion.
1 KFC
Presence: 25+ countries
Country: International (U.S.)
Scott Mezvinsky, Chief Executive Officer of KFC, continues to steer the iconic fried chicken brand through global expansion, with Africa playing a critical role in its growth strategy. Known for its signature “finger lickin’ good” recipe created by Colonel Harland Sanders in the 1940s, KFC now operates over 20,000 restaurants in 118 countries.
As of 2025, the brand is present in 25 African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, and Malawi. KFC’s African footprint has grown steadily, reflecting the continent’s rising demand for fast food and its expanding urban middle class. From opening 63 new African outlets in 2012 to now managing over 1,300 restaurants across the region, the brand’s commitment to long-term investment is clear.
2 Pizza Hut
Presence: 10+ countries
Country: International (U.S.)
Pizza Hut, the world’s largest pizza chain, continues to grow its international presence, including a steadily expanding footprint across Africa. Founded on May 31, 1958, by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas, the brand has grown into a global powerhouse with 19,866 restaurants in over 100 countries as of 2023.
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Pizza Hut is known for its signature pan pizzas and family-friendly dining experience. Part of Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut has rapidly expanded across East, West, and Southern Africa, with a major presence in over ten countries, including Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. This expansion reflects a growing appetite for international fast-food brands across the continent, particularly in urban centers with rising middle-class populations.
3 Burger King
Presence: 10+ countries
Country: International (U.S.)
Burger King, the American multinational hamburger chain, is steadily expanding its footprint across Africa, now operating in at least eight countries. Originally founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida, the brand has evolved into one of the world’s most recognized fast-food franchises, headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
In Africa, Burger King launched in South Africa in 2013 and has since expanded to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mauritius. Its Nigerian presence has grown rapidly, with 12 outlets in Lagos, one in Ibadan, and three in Abuja, making it the largest burger chain in the country, ahead of competitors like The Burger Place, Johnny Rockets, Steers, and Quick Shake.
4 Domino’s Pizza
Presence: 5+ countries
Country: International (U.S.)
Domino’s Pizza, the American multinational pizza chain founded in 1960 and led by CEO Russell Weiner, has grown into one of the world’s largest pizza brands, with over 15,000 outlets in 83 countries. The company began operations in Africa in 2012, with its first store opening in Nigeria on August 29 that year. Eat ‘N Go holds the master franchise rights for Domino’s Pizza in both Nigeria and South Africa, playing a key role in its regional expansion.
Today, Domino’s is active in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Mauritius. In Nigeria, it operates in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, and Abeokuta, where it competes directly with South African rival Debonairs Pizza. Known for its tech-enabled delivery services and digital ordering platforms, Domino’s has successfully tailored its global strategy to suit Africa’s dynamic, fast-growing food service market.
5 Debonairs Pizza
Presence: 13 African countries
Country: South African
Debonairs Pizza, one of Africa’s largest pizza franchises, continues to lead the continent’s fast-food industry with more than 700 outlets across 15 countries as of 2025. Headquartered in Johannesburg, the South African brand has carved out a dominant presence, with the bulk of its restaurants located in South Africa. Its reach also extends into key markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Lesotho, and the United Arab Emirates.
Founded in 1991 by university students Craig MacKenzie and Andrew Harvey with just R6,000, Debonairs was born in the back of a Spar supermarket in Pietermaritzburg. Inspired by a gap-year trip to Los Angeles, MacKenzie brought home the idea of a delivery-driven, youth-focused pizza chain, a bold move that would later define the company’s identity.
Today, Debonairs remains a flagship brand in Africa’s fast-casual space, celebrated for its inventive menu, localized flavors, and strong delivery infrastructure.
6 Chicken Inn (Simba Group)
Presence: 10+ countries
Country: Zimbabwean
Chicken Inn, a proudly Zimbabwean quick-service brand under Simbisa Brands, now operates 121 outlets across Africa, including key markets such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since opening its first outlet in Harare in 1987, Chicken Inn has built a reputation for offering signature fried chicken pieces, rotisserie chicken, spicy wings, and hand-cut chips.
Despite significant market challenges, Simbisa Brands posted a 6% revenue increase for the year ended June 30, 2024. Operating profit before impairment, depreciation, and amortization declined by $1.9 million (4%), impacted partly by the absence of a one-time $2.8 million Treasury investment income from the prior year.
The group maintained strong cash generation, converting 112% of operating profit to cash, highlighting resilient operational efficiency. Improved foreign currency translation gains, boosted by a stronger Kenyan Shilling and the disposal of subsidiaries in Zambia, Mauritius, and Ghana, further supported the bottom line.
7 Galito’s
Presence: 15+ countries
Country: South African
Galito is a South African fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in flame-grilled peri-peri chicken that has grown into an international franchise with more than 210 locations across 17 countries.
Founded in 1996 by Louis Germishuys, a former Nando’s franchisee, Galito’s began as a bold entrepreneurial pivot. When Nando’s went public and started buying out local franchise operators, Germishuys chose to strike out on his own. With the help of a colleague, Felix Mokoena, he began developing Galito’s now-signature sauces in his home garage.
Today, Galito’s has a presence across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and North America. The brand operates in countries including Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Serbia, part of an increasingly global portfolio that reflects its ambition to become a major player in the competitive flame-grilled chicken market.
8 Spur Steak Ranches
Presence: 13 African countries
Country: South African
Spur Steak Ranches, a South African restaurant chain known for its casual dining experience and affordable, family-style meals. With outlets in 13 African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius, Eswatini, and Namibia, the brand continues to grow under the umbrella of Spur Corporation Limited.
Founded in 1967 by Allen Ambor with the opening of the original Golden Spur in Cape Town’s Newlands suburb, the company has grown into a multinational group with a diversified portfolio of restaurant brands. Today, Spur Corporation operates more than 726 franchised restaurants in 15 countries globally, the bulk of which are located across Africa.
Spur Steak Ranches remains the flagship brand, accounting for nearly half of the group’s total revenue. Known for its steak, burgers, and vibrant, Western-style décor, the chain has adapted its offerings over the years to meet local tastes, including takeaway and delivery options in select markets.
9 Nando’s
Presence: 6 African countries
Country: South African (International reach)
Founded in Johannesburg in 1987, Nando’s has grown from a single storefront into a global fast-casual powerhouse, known for its Portuguese-style flame-grilled peri-peri chicken and vibrant branding. With over 1,200 outlets across 20 countries, the South African-born chain has cemented its place on the international culinary map.
The company, whose logo features the iconic Rooster of Barcelos, a nod to its Portuguese roots, has built a loyal following with its spicy marinades and laid-back dining experience. While Nando’s enjoys a strong presence in Western markets like the United Kingdom and Australia, its African footprint remains a key part of its identity. The chain operates in multiple African nations, including Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius, and its home base of South Africa.
Once wholly owned by South African billionaire Dick Enthoven until his death in 2022, Nando’s remains in the hands of his family
10 Chicken Republic
Presence: 2 African countries
Country: Nigeria
Chicken Republic, a Nigerian quick-service restaurant chain, is rapidly expanding its footprint across West Africa. Founded by Deji Akinyanju, the first restaurant was established in Apapa, Lagos, in 2004. The brand now operates over 150 locations across Nigeria and Ghana, with plans to nearly triple its presence to 430 restaurants. The company boasts a customer base of over 10 million.
Owned by Food Concepts Plc, which also manages PieXpress and Chop Box, Chicken Republic exemplifies the growth potential within Nigeria’s fast-growing consumer market. Food Concepts has delivered impressive sales growth exceeding 40% annually since 2015.
Note: This is not a ranking, and the fast-food chains listed did not request or solicit inclusion. The selection was curated based on publicly available information, with the earliest reference dates beginning in 2024. We acknowledge that there are many other fast-food restaurant chains actively contributing to the growth of the QSR industry across Africa. Feedback is welcome, and periodic reviews will be conducted to ensure accuracy and representation.
