Limited-Service Restaurants in Cook County, IL — Market Data (2023)
4,656 limited-service restaurants operate in Cook County, IL, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 9.153 establishments per 10,000 residents, 13.5% above the national average of 8.0644 per 10,000 residents for limited-service restaurants. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 4,656 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 9.153 |
| Employment | 71,531 |
| Annual payroll | $1,691,721,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 15.4 |
| County population (2023) | 5,087,072 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower limited-service restaurants density than Cook County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Salt Lake County, UT: 9.091 per 10,000 residents (1,078 establishments)
- Collin County, TX: 9.018 per 10,000 residents (1,078 establishments)
- Tarrant County, TX: 9.002 per 10,000 residents (1,965 establishments)
- Allegheny County, PA: 8.989 per 10,000 residents (1,101 establishments)
See the full Limited-Service Restaurants by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Other industries in Cook County, IL
Establishment counts and density for other tracked business types in Cook County, IL, 2023 CBP.
- Full-Service Restaurants: 4,330 (8.512/10k)
- Doctors Offices: 2,992 (5.882/10k)
- Home Remodelers: 2,888 (5.677/10k)
- Dentists: 2,725 (5.357/10k)
- Child Day Care Centers: 1,633 (3.21/10k)
- Hair Salons: 1,535 (3.017/10k)
- Auto Repair Shops: 1,457 (2.864/10k)
- Grocery Stores: 1,345 (2.644/10k)
- Coffee Shops: 1,245 (2.447/10k)
- Landscaping Companies: 1,241 (2.44/10k)
- Bars: 901 (1.771/10k)
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 632 (1.242/10k)
- Chiropractors: 555 (1.091/10k)
- Nail Salons: 522 (1.026/10k)
- Auto Body Shops: 511 (1.005/10k)
- Family Clothing Stores: 502 (0.987/10k)
- Tax Preparation Services: 479 (0.942/10k)
- Pet Grooming and Boarding: 342 (0.672/10k)
- Veterinary Clinics: 332 (0.653/10k)
- Dry Cleaners: 330 (0.649/10k)
- Optometrists: 319 (0.627/10k)
- Sports and Recreation Instruction: 288 (0.566/10k)
- Car Washes: 267 (0.525/10k)
- Self-Storage Facilities: 239 (0.47/10k)
- Funeral Homes: 224 (0.44/10k)
- Bakeries: 215 (0.423/10k)
- Florists: 167 (0.328/10k)
- Barbershops: 161 (0.316/10k)
- Weight Loss Centers: 31 (0.061/10k)
Frequently asked questions
How many limited-service restaurants are there in Cook County, IL?
4,656 limited-service restaurants operate in Cook County, IL, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the limited-service restaurants market in Cook County, IL saturated compared to the national average?
Cook County, IL has 9.153 limited-service restaurants per 10,000 residents, which is 13.5% above the national average of 8.0644 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a limited-service restaurant business in Cook County, IL?
The average limited-service restaurant business in Cook County, IL has about 15.4 employees (71,531 total employment ÷ 4,656 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for limited-service restaurants?
Yes — Salt Lake County, UT has a lower density (9.091 per 10,000 residents) than Cook County, IL, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.