McDonald's Dominates Israeli Burger Market, Data Reveals Geographic Disparities

McDonald's holds a commanding presence in Israel's burger market, operating nearly half of all national chain restaurants, according to a new report by geographic analysis firm Points. The company boasts 238 branches across 96 locations, representing a 45.3% market share. This figure surpasses the combined total of the next six largest burger chains. Burger Ranch ranks second with 55 branches, followed by Burgerim (47) and Burgers Bar (42).

The report, which surveyed 526 restaurants from 14 national chains in 114 localities, highlights significant geographic and socio-economic disparities in the distribution of these establishments. While Tel Aviv-Yafo leads in the sheer number of branches with 31, its ratio of 0.14 branches per thousand households is relatively low. Eilat, however, stands out with the highest ratio of 0.64 branches per thousand households, despite having only 15 branches in total. Other cities with notable presence include Haifa, Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion, Netanya, and Be'er Sheva.

The data also reveals stark differences across various sectors of Israeli society. Out of 526 branches, 491 are located in areas classified as the general sector. The Arab sector has only 21 branches across 142 surveyed localities, with Nazareth having the most at five. The ultra-Orthodox sector shows the most extreme disparity, with just five branches found in 24 surveyed localities, primarily in Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh. Cities like Elad and Modi'in Illit have no national burger chain presence at all.

Reasons cited for the limited presence in the ultra-Orthodox sector include complex kashrut requirements, different family consumption patterns, price sensitivity, and competition from local businesses tailored to community needs. The report also noted that while the industry saw a net increase of 17 branches between August 2025 and August 2026, growth is primarily occurring outside the central region, with cities like Haifa leading expansion, while Tel Aviv experienced closures.

Yafit Ben Haim, CEO of Points, stated that the Israeli public views burger chains as a routine food option or for leisure. She added that the report serves as a competitive map for chains, identifying saturated markets and areas with expansion opportunities.