Fast food ties US and China in growing bilateral trade

American fast‑food chains are expanding rapidly in China, with Church’s Texas Chicken opening its first Shanghai outlet last month and planning at least 600 more locations across the country. Wendy’s expects to open 1,000 restaurants in China over the next decade, while McDonald’s plans 1,000 new outlets this year and 10,000 total by 2028. Burger King, which entered China in 2005, aims to triple its store count to 4,000 by 2035.

Chinese brands are also making inroads in the United States. Mixue, a global fast‑food chain with more than 53,000 locations worldwide, opened its first three U.S. stores in December and has announced at least two dozen additional sites across four states. Other Chinese chains such as Heytea, Luckin Coffee, and Wallace have also expanded in the U.S., offering soft‑serve ice cream, fruit teas, milk tea, and American‑style chicken and hamburgers.

Market‑research firms highlight the growing cultural bridge between the two nations. Yaling Jiang of ApertureChina notes that consumerism “builds a safe, introductory channel for contemporary Chinese culture and can be a great way to elevate China’s soft power.” Shaun Rein of the Shanghai‑based China Market Research Group and Sory Park of Daxue Consulting emphasize that Chinese partners help American chains find locations and share financial risk, while tailoring menus to local tastes.

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