One of the most beloved US fast food restaurants is set to plant their roots on British soil for the first time, as its first restaurant locations have been announced.

We’ve all heard the same fast food chains in TV shows and films growing up, whether it be Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Popeye’s or Chick-fil-A.

The latter is the only one that is yet to open chains in the UK, though in the past few years, the other three have opened their first chains as they have branched out and given us an opportunity to savour the greasy American goodness.

Its first locations have been announced (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

It’s nice to know what all the fuss is about across the pond, but now it’s time to add Chick-fil-A to our list of potential cheat meals, as its famous waffle fries and chicken sandwiches are finally within touching distance.

That’s not all though, as the business‘ expansion into the UK will also introduce a number of food items on the menu that wouldn’t ordinarily be available in existing chains, such as savoury biscuits and of course – ranch dipping sauce.

It’s enough to make your mouth water.

The only time that Brits have been given a taste of the chicken specialists was back in 2019, when the chain opened a temporary pop-up in Reading.

But years on, after the chain had previously stated that it intended to invest $100 million (£74.6 million) in the UK over the next 10 years, five permanent stores will be opened across a number of locations.

The legendary Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich (Chick-fil-A)

The Sun reports that these will start to open from 2025 until 2027, adding to their 3,000+ sites across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Chick-fil-A have also opened applications for those looking to take on a franchise, with around 400 new jobs set to be created for Brits from this expansion.

These are the confirmed locations for the UK’s first Chick-fil-A stores:

Belfast (two stores)

Leeds

Liverpool

London

The Chief International Officer at Chick-fil-A, Anita Costello, said to The Sun: “Serving communities is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to bringing Chick-fil-A’s delicious food and signature hospitality to Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London, and continuing our long-term investment in the UK.

“From job creation to supporting local causes, we are excited about the positive impact our first restaurants will have in the communities they serve,” she concluded.

Hopefully we’ll soon see what the fanfare is all about (Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The first British chains plan to use chicken and free-range eggs fully sourced from the UK and Ireland, from welfare-certified farms.

It is expected that the first branch will open its doors in the first quarter of 2025.

Chick-fil-A was founded by devout Christian Samuel Truett Cathy in 1946, who followed ‘biblical principles’ when running his business, and it is still owned by the Cathy family today.

Their official corporate mission statement is ‘to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.’

Existing stores do not open on Sundays, as per Christian beliefs, which is also expected to continue with UK chains according to reports.

McDonald’s is the first port of call for most Brits who are craving a burger, but another fast food chain from across the pond is hoping to corner the market as it opens a host of new branches.

Although you might usually be enticed into having a cheat day by seeing the glow of the Golden Arches, a sign featuring a grinning redhead little girl in pigtails might be what persuades you to pull over and grab a treat from now on.

Some of us will already be quite familiar with the food this US restaurant chain has to offer, seen as though it made a grand return to the UK in 2021 after a hiatus of more than two decades.

We first got a taste of the popular fast food firm in the 1980s and 1990s, but all of its branches were shut down in 2000 – until the bigwigs at Wendy’s realised there was still a huge hunger for it over here.

And now, three years after Dave Thomas’ delicious offerings made a successful comeback in the UK, a host of new locations are set to open across the country – which is music to the ears of fast food fans.

A quick scroll on social media will tell you all you need to know about how Brits feel about the expansion of the chain, as people said they were convinced it’s better than its rivals after just one bite.

One said in a post on X: “Just ate at @wendysuk for the first time and I’ve got to say – it’s better than McDonald’s.”

Fast food fans reckon Wendy’s has the best burgers around. X/@wendysuk

Another wrote: “I tried Wendy’s today. 8/10 for a fast food place. Burger was very good. Better than Burger King!”

And a third added: “Wendy’s is better than McDonald’s by a landslide but some people aren’t ready to admit that.”

Much to the delight of all these lot who think the American firm are killing the fast food game, Wendy’s has announced that there will soon be even more spots for you to get your burger fix from soon.

Brits already have 30 restaurants and delivery-only branches to grab some grub from, but a new 24-hour location will soon be joining the fold, while a string of drive-through restaurants are also in the pipeline.

Wendy’s, which is famed for its square beef patties and iconic Frosty desserts – a milkshake/ice cream hybrid – will soon be landing in Newcastle city centre on Grainger Street.

Reports say that the application for it suggests that it would be open 24 hours, seven days a week from 6am to 6am, so there is plenty of opportunity to tuck into a treat.

The managing director of Wendy’s UK and Europe, Michael Clarke, also recently revealed that the company have a ‘really strong pipeline’ of locations which will open in the next few years.

Brits will notice more branches cropping up in the future. Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

He told The Caterer that they ‘want to open as many restaurants as we can’.

Clarke explained: “We think there are loads of opportunities across the whole of the UK for us to open drive-through restaurants. In terms of accessibility, it’s actually great for the customer.

“Our plan is, how do we get Wendy’s to as many people as possible across the UK? We will open anywhere and everywhere that our customers want us to.

“We’re just trying to stay focused in our lane. We know the rates will go down, the utilities will get better and everything will improve. We’ve got to make sure we stay true to our mission, which is to be the most-loved hamburger brand in the UK.

“We just feel like we’ve got a really good foundation to grow and to hang around forever.”

Chick-fil-A is heading to the UK and the menu is looking pretty good, as long as you love chicken.

The American fast-food chain – with 2,973 locations across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico – announced that there’ll be restaurants opening ‘throughout the UK’ very soon.

KFC currently dominates the fried chicken scene in the UK, but with the likes of Popeye’s and now Chick-fil-A coming over, Colonel Sanders might have to watch out.

Chick-fil-A is heading to the UK (Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Though I doubt Mr Sanders will be massively concerned with 928 stores in our ends.

Far from a KFC rip off, however, Chick-fil-A was founded in 1967 by Truett Cathy in Atlanta, Georgia, and is known for its high-quality chicken sandwiches and special sauce.

Chief International Officer at Chick-fil-A, Anita Costello, told The Sun: “Serving communities is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to bringing Chick-fil-A’s delicious food and signature hospitality to Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London, and continuing our long-term investment in the UK.

“From job creation to supporting local causes, we are excited about the positive impact our first restaurants will have in the communities they serve.”

They plan to cross over to the UK next year.

So what can we expect from Chick-fil-A, well take a look at their menu.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich

This is the sandwich that made Chick-fil-A famous, consisting of a breaded and seasoned chicken breast filet served on a buttered bun with dill pickle slices.

Sounds simple, but it’s their most popular menu item.

Chick-fil-A Nuggets

If you fancy a change from Maccies’ nuggets, here are bite-sized pieces of boneless, breaded chicken breast, seasoned, then pressure-cooked in peanut oil.

There are normally eight or 12 in a portion.

Here is the menu (Chick-fil-A)

Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Those Nando’s hot sauce lovers might want to opt for a spicier version of the original sandwich.

Waffle Potato Fries

It’s hard to go wrong with crispy, criss-cross fries, which are made from real potatoes, serving as side dish with any sandwich or nuggets.

A lot of options here (Chick-fil-A)

Chick-fil-A Sauce

Perhaps what makes the fast-food chain stand out from the crowd is its signature sauce, consisting of a combination of honey mustard, barbecue sauce, and ranch, for a tangy and sweet flavour.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

If fried food isn’t really your style, then there is an healthier alternative sandwich with a marinated, grilled chicken breast served on a multigrain bun with lettuce and tomato.

Chick-n-Strips

The strips are breaded and fried with your choice of dipping sauce.

Mac & Cheese

Chick-fil-A’s creamy mac and cheese is made with blend of cheeses, like cheddar, parmesan, and romano.

Chicken Biscuit

The popular breakfast item consists of a seasoned chicken filet inside a buttery biscuit.

Lemonade

Chick-fil-A’s lemonade is made with just three ingredients: lemons, water, and sugar, giving it a refreshing taste.

Frosted Lemonade

A mix of their lemonade and vanilla Icedream (yes, Icedream), creating a sweet and tart milkshake-like treat.

Icedream Cone

Chick-fil-A’s soft-serve vanilla dessert could satisfy that sweet tooth.

So, are we looking forward to Chick-fil-A landing in the UK?

A fan favourite fast-food chain has launched a brand new breakfast menu across some of its UK branches, and people are desperate to get their hands on it.

The UK is set to be treated to a whole selection of new items at one of its most highly rated US fast food restaurants.

Just three years on from opening its first chain in the UK, the restaurant now has just short of 30 branches nationwide.

This is nowhere near the number of chains in the US though, which sits at upwards of 3,700, and growing.

The full list of new menu items and locations serving them below

The fast food chain is none other than Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, best known for its – you guessed it – fried chicken.

The fast food joint has now treated its fans to a brand new menu that features 22 items that was rolled out across more locations yesterday (20 February).

Popeyes

Popeyes has introduced a breakfast menu to select UK branches, featuring a number of delicious bites for those craving a tasty brekkie before work.

The likes of breakfast rolls, muffins, sides, and even sweet treats will now be available across the country, with the menu being revealed back in March last year.

Fans of the chain can pick up the renowned Big Cajun Breakfast Roll from £4.99, which consists of a sausage patty, cajun hash brown, a free range egg and four smoked streaky bacon rashers.

For those with a sweet tooth, Popeyes’ signature Louisiana Biscuit (similar to a scone on this side of the pond) is available in Nutella, Hartley’s strawberry jam, cinnamon and honey flavours, starting from just £1.50.

Popeyes

Other stand-outs are the egg and cheese muffin for £3.50, a Cajun hash brown for £1.50, and an English muffin with Hartley’s strawberry jam for £1.99.

If these aren’t enticing enough, there’s a deal where foodies can get a bacon roll, hash brown and a drink for just £1.99 until 20 March.

Adding a hash brown and drink to a roll or muffin costs just an extra £1 too.

The menu is available until 11.00am, when the chain reverts back to its regular menu, though some notable Popeyes sites are still not serving breakfast, such as chains in Westfield Stratford, Derby, Ilford and Ealing to name a few.

However, the Popeyes chains that do sell breakfast items are:

• Metrocentre, Newcastle
• Oxford
• Richmond
• Rotherham Drive Thru
• Woolwich, London
• Northampton Drive Thru
• Cardiff Bay Drive Thru
• Barrhead Drive Thru
• Barnsley Drive Thru
• Kilburn, London
• Croydon, London
• Manchester Piccadilly
• Meadowhall, Sheffield
• Lewisham, London
• Hammersmith, London
• Nottingham
• Liverpool
• Brighton
• Cambridge
• Reading
• Cardiff
• Plymouth

And here’s the full run-down of the new breakfast menu:

Breakfast Rolls

• Big Breakfast Roll – Plain/Brown Sauce/Ketchup/Cajun Ketchup – £4.50
• Big Breakfast Roll – Plain/Brown Sauce/Ketchup/Cajun Ketchup Meal – £5.75
• Big Cajun Roll – £4.99
• Big Cajun Roll Meal – £5.99
• Bacon Roll – Plain/Brown Sauce/Ketchup/Cajun Ketchup – £1.99
• Bacon Roll – Plain/Brown Sauce/Ketchup/Cajun Ketchup Meal – £2.99

Breakfast Muffins

• Egg and Cheese Muffin Vegetarian – £3.50
• English Muffin with Hartley’s Strawberry Jam – £1.99
• Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffin – £3.50
• Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffin Meal – £4.50
• Sausage Egg and Cheese Muffin – £3.50
• Sausage Egg and Cheese Muffin Meal – £4.50
• Double Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffin – £3.99
• Double Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffin Meal – £4.99
• Double Sausage Egg and Cheese Muffin – £3.99
• Double Sausage Egg and Cheese Muffin Meal – £4.99

Sweets

• Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit – £1.75
• Biscuit with Honey – £1.50
• Biscuit with Nutella – £1.99
• Biscuit with Hartley’s Strawberry Jam – £1.99

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