- Raising Cane’s plans to open 14 new US restaurants in December, pushing its total to over 950 locations.
- The chicken finger chain has added nearly 100 restaurants in 2025 and is targeting 1,600+ locations nationwide long-term.
- New openings include its first-ever theme park location at Universal City in California.
- Raising Cane’s continues to compete in a crowded chicken category alongside Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and others.
Ending The Year With A Surge
Raising Cane’s is closing out 2025 on a high note, as reported by CoStar. The fast-growing chicken finger chain announced plans to open 14 new restaurants nationwide in December. The rollout brings the Plano, Texas-based brand to over 950 restaurants, with nearly 100 new locations opened this year alone.
A company spokesperson noted a “steady rhythm of grand openings” is expected to continue into 2026 as Raising Cane’s grows its national footprint.
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New Markets And Milestones
One of the highlights of the December expansion is Raising Cane’s first-ever theme park location at Universal City in California. The list of new locations also includes a broad geographic mix, from Orlando, FL and Las Vegas, NV, to Worcester, MA and Indianapolis, IN.
Here are the cities welcoming new restaurants in December:
- California: Redding, Canoga Park, Universal City
- Florida: Orlando (2 locations)
- Georgia: Cumming
- Illinois: Peoria
- Indiana: Indianapolis
- Iowa: Sioux City
- Maryland: College Park
- Massachusetts: Worcester
- Nevada: Las Vegas
- New Jersey: Edison
- Tennessee: Memphis
Additionally, New Jersey will see three more locations in the coming months in Fairfield, Hamilton, and Watchung.
Crowded Coop
Raising Cane’s faces stiff competition in a booming chicken segment. While it specializes in chicken fingers, it shares space with both niche players like Layne’s Chicken Fingers and national brands like Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, KFC, and even fast-food giants such as McDonald’s and Burger King, all vying for chicken-loving customers with sandwiches, tenders, nuggets, and more.
Looking Ahead
The December openings mark another step toward Raising Cane’s long-term goal of 1,600+ US restaurants. With brand momentum showing no signs of slowing, the company appears well-positioned to expand its footprint in 2026 and beyond—cementing its place in America’s ongoing chicken wars.
