Ever asked for a Coke at Taco Bell only to hear, “Is Pepsi okay?” There’s a reason why you can’t get your favorite cola at certain restaurants. The soft drink rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi runs deeper than TV commercials and taste tests. It’s a behind-the-scenes battle that has split the fast food world into two camps. And if you’re a die-hard Coke fan, you’ll need to plan your fast food stops carefully or be ready to switch to Pepsi when visiting certain chains.
Why restaurants only serve one cola brand
You might think restaurants would want to offer both Coke and Pepsi to make all customers happy. But there’s a simple reason they don’t: money. Restaurants make their highest profits on drinks, and soda companies offer big discounts to places that agree to sell their products exclusively. These exclusivity deals help restaurants save money, which is super important in an industry with thin profit margins. When a restaurant signs with Pepsi, they’re saying goodbye to Coke products for years.
These deals benefit everyone except the customer who wants a specific drink. The restaurant gets cheaper supplies, and the soda company gets guaranteed sales without competition. For fast food chains, these savings add up fast across hundreds or thousands of locations. And once a restaurant picks a side in the cola wars, they rarely serve both. Only smaller, independent restaurants sometimes offer both brands when they don’t have exclusive contracts.
The Pepsi-serving fast food giants
The biggest names in the Pepsi camp have something in common: many were once owned by PepsiCo itself. Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut were all part of PepsiCo until 1997, when they were spun off into a separate company. But the soda connection stuck, and these major chains continue to serve Pepsi products exclusively in the US. When you visit these restaurants, you’ll find Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and other PepsiCo drinks, but no Coca-Cola products in sight.
These three chains alone represent thousands of locations across America where Coke isn’t available. Their parent company, Yum! Brands, maintains strong ties to PepsiCo even decades after the split. The historical connection between these brands runs deep. Pizza Hut and KFC both started serving Pepsi in the 1960s, while Taco Bell joined the Pepsi family in 1978. For loyal customers who’ve grown up with these restaurants, Pepsi is just part of the experience.
More restaurants where you’ll only find Pepsi
Beyond the former PepsiCo chains, several other popular fast food and casual dining spots serve only Pepsi products. Arby’s, once a Coca-Cola partner, switched to Pepsi years ago. Subway, with over 37,000 locations worldwide, serves Pepsi despite being the largest restaurant chain by store count. Dunkin’ chose Pepsi over Coke too, so your morning coffee comes with Pepsi options. Jersey Mike’s, Papa John’s, and Dairy Queen round out the list of major chains where you’ll need to adjust your soda expectations.
Bojangles, a popular southern chicken chain, is another Pepsi-exclusive restaurant. What’s interesting is that many of these chains serve different Pepsi products depending on the location. While the core offerings like Pepsi and Diet Pepsi are standard, you might find Mountain Dew at one location and Starry (Pepsi’s lemon-lime soda that replaced Sierra Mist) at another. Some locations even offer Pepsi’s Dr. Pepper alternative or various Tropicana juices as part of their drinks menu.
What drinks you’ll find at Pepsi restaurants
When you visit a Pepsi-exclusive restaurant, you’ll have options beyond just regular Pepsi. The standard lineup includes Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and often Cherry Pepsi. Mountain Dew, one of PepsiCo’s most popular drinks, is almost always available. For lemon-lime fans, Starry (which replaced Sierra Mist in 2023) is the Sprite alternative. Root beer drinkers will find Mug instead of Barq’s. Many locations also serve Dr. Pepper, which, despite being owned by neither company, is often distributed by PepsiCo in restaurants.
The drink selection will vary by restaurant and location. Some places might have unique offerings like Tropicana juices, Lipton iced tea, or seasonal Mountain Dew flavors. If you’re looking for something specific, it’s worth checking the restaurant’s website or app before visiting. Many chains now list their complete beverage options online, saving you the disappointment of arriving only to find your favorite drink isn’t available. And keep in mind that fountain drinks often taste different from bottled versions, even within the same brand.
When international locations break the rules
Here’s where things get interesting for travelers: just because a restaurant serves Pepsi in the US doesn’t mean it does everywhere. International locations of the same chain might serve Coca-Cola products instead. This happens because beverage contracts are often negotiated by country or region, not globally. So that KFC in another country might actually serve Coke! Different distribution networks, local preferences, and market competition all play a role in determining which soda brand a restaurant serves outside the US.
For example, some international locations of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut serve Coca-Cola products despite being Pepsi-exclusive in America. The reverse happens too – some McDonald’s locations outside the US serve Pepsi even though the chain is firmly in the Coca-Cola camp stateside. This inconsistency can be surprising for American travelers who expect their favorite chain to serve the same drinks everywhere. Next time you’re traveling abroad, you might actually find a Coke at that Pepsi-only restaurant you know from home.
When restaurants switch soda brands
Sometimes restaurants do switch sides in the cola wars, though it doesn’t happen often. When it does, customer reactions can be intense. Culver’s, a popular midwest chain, recently switched from Pepsi to Coca-Cola, causing an uproar among loyal Pepsi fans. These changes usually happen when contracts expire and the competing soda company offers better terms. For chains with strong regional followings, these switches can be particularly controversial because their customers tend to be more loyal and resistant to change.
The restaurant industry watches these switches closely. When Buffalo Wild Wings switched from Coca-Cola to Pepsi, it was considered a major win for PepsiCo. Similarly, when Costco ended its PepsiCo partnership in favor of Coca-Cola in 2023, it made headlines. These changes affect millions of customers and represent shifts in the balance of power between the two soda giants. While Coca-Cola currently dominates the restaurant business overall, Pepsi continues to maintain strong relationships with several major chains.
So next time you’re craving a Coke and heading to a fast food place, check if they’re in the Pepsi camp first. You might save yourself some disappointment. While the cola wars might seem silly to some, they’ve created a clear divide in the restaurant world that affects what you can drink with your meal. And honestly, is it really that bad if you have to drink Pepsi once in a while? Maybe it’s a chance to try something different – or bring your own Coke in a thermos if you’re that dedicated to your favorite soda!
