Melbourne becomes hottest spots for fast-food restaurants
Australia continues attract global QSR players.
Melbourne has surpassed Sydney in total quick-service restaurant locations, marking a first in the history of GapMaps’ Annual Fast Food & QSR Network Report.
The city saw a total of 1,522 restaurants in 2025, an increase of 4.1% compared to the year before. Meanwhile, Sydney, which had the largest number of QSR restaurants, now only has 1,507.
Meanwhile, Brisbane has 953 QSR locations, Perth 822, and Adelaide 414.
Net restaurant openings rose from 178 in 2024 to 250 in 2025, an increase of 72 locations, representing a 40.4% year-on-year growth, the strongest year on record in a decade.
In a separate report by Rabobank, Australia is emerging as an increasingly competitive quick-service restaurant (QSR) market, driven by rising foreign investment and the expansion of local store networks.
The country continues to attract global QSR brands, supported by expectations that a growing share of discretionary spending will be directed toward eating out over the long term.
Major U.S. chains such as Wendy’s, Popeyes, Chuck E. Cheese, Firehouse Subs, and Shake Shack are entering or planning to enter Australia as part of broader international growth strategies, hinting at the possibility of another record-breaking opening year.
