McDonald’s is one step closer to reigning king in the US after its top rival shuttered hundreds of restaurants last year.

Though the Golden Arches is the world’s largest fast-food chain, Subway actually comes out on top in the US with nearly 19,000 restaurants across the country. McDonald’s has close to 14,000.

But the sub shop quietly shuttered 729 US locations last year – shrinking its long dominant footprint for the 10th year in a row. It now boasts 18,773 restaurants, all run by franchisees.

A Subway spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the closures are part of a strategy “focused on ensuring restaurants are in the right locations, with the real estate, visibility and operations that set franchisees up to succeed long-term.”

Subway did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Though the fast-food giant is still hanging on to its top spot in the US, its pattern of closures over the past decade represent a significant downsizing.

In 2015, Subway had more than 27,000 stores nationwide. It has shuttered more than 8,000 locations since then.

The company was acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital in 2024 for roughly $9.6 billion. 

It tapped industry vet Jonathan Fitzpatrick — who worked in leadership roles at Burger King — as its new CEO last July.

Like many other fast-food companies, Subway has been leaning into affordability in an attempt to hold onto inflation-battered customers.

In April, it rolled out its first-ever value menu, offering 15 items under $5 — including $4.99 six-inch subs, meant to imitate the famous $5 Footlong deal that ended in 2014.

McDonald’s has been leading the value menu wars, with its uber-popular Meal Deal combos and a new Under $3 menu including items like a Sausage McMuffin or 4-Piece Chicken McNuggets.

Subway and McDonald’s have also been doubling down on new specialty drink items to win over younger customers.

Meanwhile, Subway has been expanding overseas, opening more than 1,000 new locations globally last year. It plans to open 12,000 additional restaurants over the coming years.

The sandwich chain has more than 35,000 locations around the world, including Europe, the Middle East and Asia.