Abstract
This study examines the connection between the income of Chinese residents and the expansion of restaurant chains from 2005 to 2021. It employs multiple methodologies, such as an evaluation index system, the entropy value method, and the coupled coordination degree model. There are sixteen indicators divided into two groups: residents' income and expenditures, and restaurant chain expansion. The analysis reveals the following trends: instability from 2005 to 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis; regional disparities from 2010 to 2014; and coordinated development from 2015 to 2021 as a result of government policies that stimulate domestic demand. This research contributes to strategic planning and decision-making in the hotel, catering, and tourism industries by assessing the effect of Chinese residents' stable income and expenditures on restaurant chains.