Seven new shops open, 10 franchisees signed as operator-driven growth powers 28 percent sales surge
Denver, CO (Restaurant News Release) Teriyaki Madness (TMAD), the Seattle-style teriyaki franchise kicked off 2026 with a 28 percent year-over-year increase in systemwide sales for the chain with over 200 teriyaki shops across the country making this one of the highest first-quarter growth performances in the fast casual industry.
Fueled largely by existing franchisees expanding their footprints and referring friends and family, that momentum builds on a 46 percent increase in total shop count over the past two years. Proving the brand’s growth isn’t just aggressive, it’s coming from inside the system. Teriyaki Madness is on a tear to open a projected 46 shops this year with a strong showing in the first quarter.
Operators of other brands have taken notice. TMAD signed 10 new franchisees set to open 18 new locations, with multiple new franchisees coming through referrals from existing franchisees. This also reflects a broader trend: a growing share of franchise expansion is being driven by existing franchisees choosing to scale and bring others into the madness.
Built for growth, Teriyaki Madness has sets its sights on opening another 100 units in the next 18 months by adding to its franchise support teams in Q1 with several key hires:
- Lindsay Dvorak, franchise development marketing manager
- Brittani Moore, new shop opening trainer
- Demitris Padgett, digital marketing coordinator
- Sydney Haith, development project coordinator
- Oliver Mason, IT analyst
Additionally, promoting two existing team members:
- Karen Barrios to vice president of legal ops
- Liz Worley to vice president of digital marketing
“We’ve spent the past year tightening operations and improving unit-level performance, and now we’re seeing that discipline show up in the numbers,” said Michael Haith, chief executive officer of Teriyaki Madness. “What’s even more exciting is where that growth is coming from. The operators coming into this system aren’t experimenting; they’re executing, and the ones already in it are referring others, finding ways to move faster and open more shops. When you build something that works at the unit level, growth stops being a question and starts becoming a byproduct. It is our job to ensure we invest in all of the resources needed by our franchisees, before they need it!”
Menu innovation also contributed to the strong first-quarter performance. The introduction of Double Protein bowls quickly gained traction, accounting for 7.3 percent of entrée purchases. More importantly, the new menu addition is also a huge profit generator for franchisees. Double Protein bowls are already slated to become a permanent menu item immediately.
In even bigger news, Teriyaki Madness announced a systemwide partnership with Toast to support operations across its more than 200 locations. The platform includes point-of-sale, kitchen display systems and digital ordering tools designed to improve efficiency and support continued expansion.
“The focus is on giving operators tools that drive both traffic and profitability,” said Jodi Boyce, chief marketing officer at Teriyaki Madness. “When you combine menu improvements like Double Protein with upgraded technology and a growing base of franchisees, it creates a model that is easier to operate, more profitable to run and built to scale across markets.”
TMAD received plenty of industry recognition in Q1 with Aunna Macias, manager of restaurant tech at Teriyaki Madness, earning the 2026 Top Women, Rising Stars in Restaurant Technology Award from Hospitality Technology. The brand also took home Food On Demand’s Outstanding Operator Award.
With new franchisees entering the system, existing operators expanding and sales trending upward, Teriyaki Madness continues to build more momentum than almost every other fast casual restaurant brand heading into the remainder of 2026.
For more information, visit TeriyakiMadness.com.
About Teriyaki Madness
Teriyaki Madness (TMAD for short) is a fast casual Seattle-style Japanese concept founded in 2003. Known for its crazy delicious teriyaki bowls, TMAD offers a customizable, protein-packed menu featuring marinated chicken, steak, salmon, tofu, and fresh veggies over rice or Yakisoba noodles, complemented by signature sauces and sides like eggrolls and edamame. This isn’t your “average teriyaki” – it’s huge bowls of bold, healthy (or not – we don’t judge), over the top awesomeness. Cravings encouraged, chopsticks optional, and fair warning: these bowls are highly addictive. With over 200 shops across 40 states, the brand is rapidly expanding nationwide. Teriyaki Madness is actively seeking dedicated franchise operators of all backgrounds to bring fresh, delicious teriyaki bowls to their neighborhoods. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit franchise.TeriyakiMadness.com. To explore the menu and learn more, visit TeriyakiMadness.com or follow Teriyaki Madness on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Josiah Kinman
Champion
936-615-8979
jkinman@championmgt.com