Even the most seasoned home cooks admit that steaks always taste better in restaurants. Of course, this begs the question: Where do you go for dinner? You might be surprised to learn that many of the more expensive chain restaurants aren’t exactly worth the money, while some other steakhouses seem to be struggling from the edge. However, somewhere in the middle is a mid-priced dining destination that’s lauded for its value and quality, so it’s no surprise that it currently dominates the U.S. steakhouse market.
If you guessed Texas Roadhouse, you’re right. In 2024, the chain’s sales will be approximately $5.49 billion, an increase of nearly 15% from the previous year (via Restaurant Business Online). The numbers not only put Texas Roadhouse firmly ahead of its steakhouse rivals, including LongHorn Steakhouse ($3.01 billion in sales last year) and Outback ($2.72 billion in sales alone), but also secure its position as the best-selling casual dining chain in every category, from burger joints to seafood joints.
Texas Roadhouse’s massive sales growth has led it to officially overtake Olive Garden as the most profitable casual restaurant chain in the U.S., a title the Italian concept has held since 2018, according to Technomic’s 2024 report. We guess those freshly baked cinnamon butter rolls finally caught up with Olive Garden’s unlimited breadsticks. But even compared to similar steakhouse chains, it’s easy to see why Texas Roadhouse stands out.
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Texas Roadhouse is one of the hottest chains in the game
Texas Roadhouse logo on mobile phone with rising graphic in background – IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock
Although named Texas Roadhouse, it was actually founded in Clarksville, Indiana in 1993 and is now headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Of course, there are currently more than 730 branches worldwide, with numerous locations in Texas (including the company’s largest) and every other state except Hawaii. The chain has been carving a niche in the casual dining space for years. As early as 2023, Texas Roadhouse was selected as the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the United States and the world by a report by Brand Finance, with its brand valuation increasing by 56% year-on-year. As the company continues to expand into new markets and open new locations, its momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
Die-hard Texas Roadhouse eaters clearly appreciate the quality of the food they get at such a reasonable price. In fact, all of the chain’s beef is USDA Choice grade. This is only one level below Prime, which is the highest level you can get with a single cut. It just means the meat has less marbling than the best meat. Considering you can get a thick porterhouse steak for about $35, the lack of prime cut may not be an issue. These restaurants also employ staff to hand-cut each steak and use aging and seasoning processes to bring out the best flavor in the beef—just part of what makes Texas Roadhouse steaks so delicious.
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Read the original article about Mashed.