Yelp today launched its latest list of top U.S. businesses. Following similar efforts to rank the top SMBs, today’s report covers national brands. Yelp’s Top Brands are businesses with physical locations in local markets, but those that have a broader footprint, otherwise known as multi-location (MULO) brands.
To do this, Yelp uses all the data that flows through its system, including customer reviews (quantity and quality), repeat page visits, photo uploads, and other signals (see full methodology). Broadly speaking, the list recognizes the brands that deliver the most quality, consistency, and positive word-of-mouth.
Yelp’s top brandsthat scored highest (we name names in the next section) consistently created memorable experiences for customers. These lifestyle and experiential brands (think Cracker Barrel) generated the most foot traffic, repeat business, and overall buzz, as measured by the above factors.
But the key criteria that emerged in this year’s Yelp’s Top Brands list are reliability and consistency. This is reflective of the macro environment, where spending power is relatively low among average Americans. So they’re looking for experiences that are affordable, but also those that can consistently deliver.
“In a year defined by price sensitivity, earning customer loyalty is more important than ever,” Yelp’s VP and head of Enterprise sales Sarah Chang said. “Customers count on businesses to deliver their favorite menu items as expected or to complete services reliably every time.”
Naming Names
Going deeper into the Yelp’s Top Brands list itself, who scored the highest? Dave’s Hot Chicken took the top spot. It achieved this with 71 percent of its Yelp reviews assigning 4 or 5 stars. It also had a high number of repeat pageviews on Yelp. It wasn’t the highest on every criterion, but it got the best overall score.
Here are a few others we extracted from the report and summarized to save you time…
Comeback Brands: Legacy multi-location brands like Chili’s (#25), Olive Garden (#10), and Chuck E. Cheese (#49) are winning over consumers again by focusing on nostalgia, reliability, and comfort food, driving strong repeat business on Yelp. Both Chili’s and Olive Garden saw among the highest search volumes for brands.
Zillennial Brands: Social-savvy businesses with eye-catching branding like Shake Shack (#35), CAVA (#50), and Dutch Bros (#11) attract loyal fans by blending bold identities, limited-time offerings, and frictionless digital experiences that resonate with younger diners.
CAVA had one of the highest number of reviews per store.
Services Brands: Essential service brands like Valvoline Instant Oil Change (#16), Discount Tire (#37) and Quick Quack Car Wash (#41) earn top marks by saving customers time and money, turning routine errands into positive, valued experiences.
Nothing Bundt Cakes (#7) led in food quality and taste, while Trader Joe’s (#2) led in value and speed of service.
Sign of the Times
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Yelp’s AI-powered Review Insights were utilized as a measurement tool in this study. It analyzed review sentiment for criteria like food quality, taste, and value. Given AI’s growing role in tracking consumer sentiment, MULO brands are under more pressure than ever to deliver quality.
“This dedication to quality sets the Most Loved Brands apart, driving great reviews and, most importantly, repeat visits,” said Chang. “Every day, we see purchase-ready Yelp users reward outstanding experiences with positive feedback and ongoing business.”
