Who Owns The Habit Express?

The Habit Express traces its origins to The Habit Burger & Grill, which was founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California. The original restaurant was called "Hamburger Habit" and was opened by brothers Brent and Bruce Reichard. The restaurant specialized in chargrilled burgers cooked over an open flame, a cooking method that became the brand's signature.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, The Habit Burger & Grill grew slowly, remaining a regional California chain. The brand built a reputation for fresh, made-to-order burgers, sandwiches, and salads at affordable prices. The chargrilled preparation method, using USDA choice beef cooked over an open flame, distinguished The Habit from typical fast food competitors.

In the 1990s and 2000s, The Habit Burger & Grill accelerated its expansion. By 2009, the chain had grown its company-operated restaurant average unit volumes (AUVs) from approximately $1.2 million to approximately $1.9 million, a 53.9% increase. The chain expanded from 26 locations in California to 271 locations across 13 states by 2019, plus seven international locations. This growth represented a compound annual growth rate of 26.4%.

The Habit Burger & Grill went public in 2014, trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker HABT. The IPO valued the company at approximately $90 million. The stock performed well initially, with shares more than doubling on the first day of trading.

In March 2020, Yum! Brands completed the acquisition of The Habit Restaurants, Inc. for approximately $375 million in cash. The acquisition was announced on January 6, 2020, and closed on March 18, 2020. The deal brought The Habit Burger & Grill into Yum! Brands' portfolio alongside KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. At the time of the acquisition, The Habit Burger & Grill had nearly 300 restaurants across 13 states and internationally in China. The Habit Burger & Grill remained based in Irvine, California, and its management team continued to report directly to Yum! Brands' CEO.

Following the acquisition, Yum! Brands launched The Habit Express in 2021 as a quick-service concept designed to expand The Habit brand into faster service formats. The Habit Express features a simplified menu focused on The Habit's signature chargrilled burgers, with a smaller restaurant footprint than traditional Habit Burger & Grill locations. The concept targets high-traffic areas and locations where a full-size Habit Burger & Grill restaurant would not be practical.

Through 2022 and 2023, The Habit Burger & Grill brand continued to grow under Yum! Brands' ownership. The brand expanded its digital capabilities, including mobile ordering and delivery integration. Menu innovations included limited-time offers and value-oriented meal deals to attract price-conscious customers.

In 2025, the brand opened 21 new restaurants, including 11 during the fourth quarter. The chain reached over 400 restaurants by early 2026. Digital sales mix reached approximately 50% of total sales for fiscal year 2025, reflecting the brand's investment in digital ordering platforms and delivery partnerships. Same-store sales for The Habit Burger & Grill division were down 1% for full-year 2025, reflecting a competitive environment in the fast-casual burger segment.

In February 2026, The Habit Burger & Grill announced a core menu update that included retooled versions of its Sirloin Steak Sandwich and Grilled Chicken Sandwich, improvements to classic menu items, and a lineup of limited-time offers. The menu update also introduced a Baja Crispy Fish Sandwich and Cheesy Street Corn Tots as limited-time offerings, along with a Fish Friday promotion. The brand also added a Blue Wave Shake, a pineapple-coconut shake, to its lineup.

For the second consecutive year, The Habit Burger & Grill was recognized as the No. 1 Best Burger for its Double Char Burger and No. 1 Best Side for its Tempura Green Beans in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The brand also earned the No. 1 Best Fast Casual Restaurant designation for the first time.