Limited-Service Restaurants
Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to the customer's location. Some establishments in this industry may provide these food services in combination with selling alcoholic beverages. Illustrative Examples: Delicatessen restaurants Pizza delivery shops Family restaurants, limited-service Takeout eating places Fast-food restaurants Fast casual restaurants Takeout sandwich shops Limited-service pizza parlors
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Accommodation and Food Services 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Accommodation and Food Services sector comprises establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption. The sector includes both accommodation and food services establishments because the two activities are often combined at the same establishment. Some establishments that provide food and beverage services are classified in other sectors. Excluded from this sector are civic and social organizations. These establishments are classified in Sector 81, Other Services (except Public Administration). Amusement and recreation parks, dinner theaters, and other recreation or entertainment facilities are classified in Sector 71, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. Motion picture theaters are classified in Sector 51, Information. |
| 722 | Food Services and Drinking Places 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Food Services and Drinking Places subsector prepare meals, snacks, and beverages to customer order for immediate on-premises and off-premises consumption. There is a wide range of establishments in these industries. Some provide food and drink only, while others provide various combinations of seating space, waiter/waitress services, and incidental amenities, such as limited entertainment. The industries in the subsector are grouped based on the type and level of services provided. The industry groups are Special Food Services, such as food service contractors, caterers, and mobile food services; Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages); and Restaurants and Other Eating Places. Food and beverage services at hotels and motels, amusement parks, theaters, casinos, country clubs, similar recreational facilities, and civic and social organizations are included in this subsector only if these services are provided by a separate establishment primarily engaged in providing food and beverage services. Excluded from this subsector are establishments operating dinner cruises. These establishments are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, because they utilize transportation equipment to provide scenic recreational entertainment. |
| 7225 | Restaurants and Other Eating Places 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Food Services and Drinking Places subsector prepare meals, snacks, and beverages to customer order for immediate on-premises and off-premises consumption. There is a wide range of establishments in these industries. Some provide food and drink only, while others provide various combinations of seating space, waiter/waitress services, and incidental amenities, such as limited entertainment. The industries in the subsector are grouped based on the type and level of services provided. The industry groups are Special Food Services, such as food service contractors, caterers, and mobile food services; Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages); and Restaurants and Other Eating Places. Food and beverage services at hotels and motels, amusement parks, theaters, casinos, country clubs, similar recreational facilities, and civic and social organizations are included in this subsector only if these services are provided by a separate establishment primarily engaged in providing food and beverage services. Excluded from this subsector are establishments operating dinner cruises. These establishments are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, because they utilize transportation equipment to provide scenic recreational entertainment. |
| 72251 | Restaurants and Other Eating Places 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated (i.e., waiter/waitress service) and pay after eating; (2) providing food services to patrons who generally order or select items (e.g., at a counter, in a buffet line) and pay before eating; or (3) preparing and/or serving a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies) and/or nonalcoholic beverages (e.g., coffee, juices, sodas) for consumption on or near the premises. |
| 722513 | Limited-Service Restaurants 6-digit U.S. detail | This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to the customer's location. Some establishments in this industry may provide these food services in combination with selling alcoholic beverages. Illustrative Examples: Delicatessen restaurants Pizza delivery shops Family restaurants, limited-service Takeout eating places Fast-food restaurants Fast casual restaurants Takeout sandwich shops Limited-service pizza parlors |
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Classification References
- 01Preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption using cafeteria-style serving equipment, known as cafeterias--are classified in U.S. Industry 722514, Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets;
- 02Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating--are classified in U.S. Industry 722511, Full-Service Restaurants;
- 03Selling a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, candy, cookies) or nonalcoholic beverage, except from mobile vehicles, for consumption on or near the premises--are classified in U.S. Industry 722515, Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars;
- 04Retailing confectionery goods and nuts not packaged for immediate consumption--are classified in U.S. Industry 445292, Confectionery and Nut Retailers;
- 05Retailing baked goods (e.g., pretzels, doughnuts, cookies, and bagels) not baked on the premises and not for immediate consumption--are classified in U.S. Industry 445291, Baked Goods Retailers;
- 06Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages, known as bars, taverns, or nightclubs--are classified in Industry 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages); and
- 07Restaurant meals order and delivery services (i.e., independent order and delivery services)--are classified in Industry 492210, Local Messengers and Local Delivery.
Index Items
Cafes, limited-service
Carryout restaurants
Delicatessen restaurants
Diners, limited-service
Drive-in restaurants
Family restaurants, limited-service
Fast casual restaurants
Fast-food restaurants
Pizza delivery shops
Pizza parlors, limited-service
Pizzerias, limited-service (e.g., takeout)
Restaurants, carryout
Restaurants, fast-food
Sandwich shops, limited-service
Steak houses, limited-service
Sub shops, limited-service
Takeout eating places
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System optimizes inventory of perishable ingredients and trackable food safety data, reducing waste through automated expiration monitoring.
The Order Management System consolidates orders from diverse dine-in and delivery channels into a single view, accelerating fulfillment and improving peak hour throughput.
The Transportation Management System optimizes last-mile delivery routes and vehicle loading for cold chain logistics, ensuring timely service delivery and minimizing fuel costs.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 722513.
National Restaurant Association
The leading trade association providing advocacy and resources for the restaurant industry, including limited-service outlets.
U.S. Department of Labor - Restaurant Jobs
A government page offering career information and job listings for workers in the restaurant and food service sector.
The F&B Journal
An industry directory and resource hub featuring news, data, and insights specifically focused on the limited-service restaurant market.
