LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Texas Roadhouse has officially become the largest casual-dining restaurant chain in the United States, surpassing longtime leader Olive Garden.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based steakhouse chain saw its U.S. sales surge 14.7% last year to $5.5 billion, while adding 26 new locations to reach 664 restaurants nationwide, according to Technomic’s latest Top 500 restaurant chains report.
This growth pushed Texas Roadhouse past Olive Garden, which had held the top position since 2018. The Italian chain posted just 0.8% sales growth in 2024, reaching $5.2 billion in sales across its 923 locations.
Texas Roadhouse has found success by keeping price increases below inflation rates and pushing rapid expansion, industry analysts said. Meanwhile, Olive Garden has struggled to retain price-sensitive customers who have been disproportionately affected by inflation. The chain has responded by reviving promotions like its never-ending pasta offer to win back budget-conscious diners.
The casual-dining segment saw other significant shifts, with Chili’s leapfrogging Applebee’s for the third position thanks to 15% sales growth.
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LongHorn Steakhouse, also owned by Darden Restaurants alongside Olive Garden, moved past Outback Steakhouse to claim the sixth spot with 7.2% sales growth.
The top casual-dining chains showed mixed results overall, with four of the ten largest chains reporting sales declines, including Red Lobster, which filed for bankruptcy last year. It’s been tough for companies across the industry: Smaller chains TGI Fridays and Buca di Beppo also filed for bankruptcy protection last year, and Hooters as well as the Tex-Mex chain On the Border filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.
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