Chaz Cooper of T and T Signs repairs one of the signs at a local McDonald's restaurant.

The largest restaurant chains, in order, are:

1. McDonald's, $32.4 billion in 2010 sales, up 4.4 percent from the prior year
2. Subway, $10.6 billion in 2010 sales, up 6 percent
3. Starbucks, $9.1 billion in 2010 sales, up 8.7 percent
4. Burger King, $8.7 billion in 2010 sales, down 2.5 percent
5. Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, $8.3 billion, down 0.6 percent

Source: Technomic consulting firm, March 2012