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ByKristina Vänni
Taste of Home's Editorial Process
Updated: Jun. 28, 2024
We ranked the best steakhouse chains in the U.S.—how does your favorite restaurant measure up?
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An evening out at a steakhouse is an occasional indulgence we like to enjoy now and then. It’s a great way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or maybe to impress a first date. Since meals at a steakhouse tend to be pricier than your average restaurant, it’s important to choose wisely from one of the many steakhouse chains across the U.S.
Some chains are the equivalent of a fine-dining establishment, while others are more casual steakhouses. Both can be delicious experiences, but diners should know what to expect from the restaurant they choose. We based our ratings on the quality of the food, service and value of the dining experience to find the best chains around the country. Now your wallet and your stomach can dine assured that your reservation was the right one for you.
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11. Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-themed restaurant with just under 700 locations in the United States. While everyone loves the sizzling steaks and Aussie accents from its commercials, it turns out that the cuisine is not authentically Australian at all. In fact, the founders had never even visited Australia before opening their first location!
These restaurants are definitely on the casual end of the steakhouse spectrum, but some have found that the prices are higher than they expected from this type of establishment. That being said, Outback Steakhouse did introduce the world to the original Bloomin’ Onion, and for that, we are grateful.
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10. Sizzler
The first ever Sizzler opened in California in 1958 and has been an iconic American steakhouse chain ever since. Even Anthony Bourdain visited a location on one of his episodes. It has always been known for generous, quality portions at a budget-friendly price just slightly above a fast-food meal.
It offers hand-cut steaks, as well as surf and turf steak combos. There are also ribs, chicken and fish dishes on the menu, so no matter what, there is something to satisfy the whole family. Customers love the cheesy bread to start off the meal and the generous salad bar brimming with options. Ultimately, this steakhouse is great for the whole family to enjoy a satisfying dinner without breaking the bank.
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9. Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is one of the fastest growing steakhouse chains in America, with more than 580 locations and counting. These restaurants specialize in steaks in the style of Texan and Southwestern cuisine, and the casual steakhouse chain is known for its low price points and fun atmosphere.
Tender and juicy Dallas filet is a standout on the menu here. As are the soft and fluffy dinner rolls, which are baked fresh every five minutes and arrive warm with their irresistible honey cinnamon butter. Texas Roadhouse prides itself on taking no shortcuts and making everything from scratch all the way down to the croutons, bacon bits and dressings. This restaurant is another great option for families since there is something for everyone and the bill won’t break the bank.
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8. Morton’s
Morton’s The Steakhouse is a chain of restaurants that was founded in the Chicago steakhouse tradition. With over 60 restaurants today, this chain is dedicated to providing genuine hospitality along with consistent, high-quality food.
Here, they are all about the steaks—but the french fries are so delicious they are also worth the trip. Not only does the chain take its spuds seriously, but it also offers some of the highest quality cuts of prime beef in the country. The Chicago-style bone-in ribeye is one of many standouts on the menu here. The restaurant feels elegant and offers expansive wine collections to add to the celebratory splurge of visiting a steakhouse. Whether you are dining here for a business lunch or a dinner celebration, Morton’s always rises to the occasion in terms of quality and service.
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7. LongHorn Steakhouse
If you are looking for casual steakhouse prices but high-end steakhouse quality, LongHorn Steakhouse is for you. Since there are over 500 locations nationwide, it is likely there is a location not too far from wherever you are.
Here, the outlaw ribeye is a standout on the menu. This 20-oz. premium, marbled cut of bone-in ribeye is coated with LongHorn’s signature smoky char seasoning and fire-grilled to bring out the ultimate flavor in every bite. We like the combination of affordability and welcoming atmosphere at these restaurants. With high-quality products on the menu, it is no surprise that LongHorn Steakhouses are owned by the same parent company as the Capital Grille, a more fine dining-style steakhouse also on our list.
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6. Fleming’s
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has an epic menu filled with tantalizing appetizers all the way through to decadent desserts. While this is a classical fine dining-style steakhouse, the extensive menu and family-style sides makes the experience feel more communal and relaxed than other restaurants. We highly recommend ordering a medium-rare filet mignon to enjoy a sample of Fleming’s high quality beef, and to save room for an appetizer or dessert too.
Fleming’s is committed not only to bringing diners an unparalleled steak experience, but it is also incredibly enthusiastic about its eclectic wine collection. The food and wine menus go hand in hand. Each red, white and sparkling wine was hand-selected to elevate every dish on the menu. With such stellar service, there will certainly be someone available to guide you to the perfect pairing whether you are a novice or experienced wine enthusiast.
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5. Ruth’s Chris
Ruth’s Chris Steak House is one of the best chain restaurants in America, period. It has mastered the art of serving flavorful steaks down to a science. This steakhouse chain understands the value of simplicity, serving its meat on a sizzling 500°F plate with nothing more than salt, pepper and a sprinkle of parsley.
At Ruth’s Chris, the USDA Prime cuts are sourced from cows that start on grass-fed diets before switching to corn, unlocking a specific flavor profile. The cowboy ribeye is a majestic steak that is a real standout on the menu. It is 22 ounces of mouth-watering goodness that is satisfying down to the last bite. Should you want to go for a surf and turf, the petite filet and shrimp is a classic favorite. In the end, Ruth’s Chris has a reputation for spectacular food. If you are looking to impress, this chain doesn’t disappoint.
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4. The Capital Grille
The Capital Grille offers an ambitious and robust menu that never disappoints. If you want to venture beyond the typical steak, try the Gorgonzola and black truffle crusted dry-aged bone-in New York strip or the porcini rubbed bone-in ribeye with 15-year-aged balsamic. Also, their dry-aged porterhouse steak might be the best porterhouse you will ever eat.
Yet, even if you aren’t a meat eater, The Capital Grille offers the best seafood of all the restaurants on this list. The sushi-grade sesame-seared tuna alone is worth the trip. With the gilded facade and classically elegant service, the ambiance at The Capital Grille feels like a celebration.
This steakhouse chain is revered for the quality of its meats and the company is passionate about sourcing the highest quality cuts. In fact, customers can even take the same fresh-cut steaks home to grill for themselves at leisure. So whether you are dining in or carrying out, there are many options for a high-quality meal at this iconic steakhouse.
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3. Smith & Wollensky
This classic steakhouse has come to represent the ultimate in American fine dining. The original Smith & Wollensky opened in 1977 in Manhattan, with the name of the restaurant coming from two random names found in the New York City phone book.
This steakhouse chain is best known for its unique dry-aging process. Chefs at each location procure USDA Prime beef from the top 2% in the nation, with each cut prized for the rich and even marbling. In fact, this steakhouse goes the extra mile with its sourcing by partnering with cattle farms to ensure the utmost level of sustainability, animal welfare and quality.
Smith & Wollensky offers a wide range of signature steaks along with an impressive collection of fresh seafood and award-winning wines. Lobster arrives daily, with all sides and pastries made from scratch. While this is a chain restaurant, each of the 10 locations across America and abroad offer memorable dining experiences as unique as their city. If you enjoy dining at one location, it’s worth visiting another location for a whole new ambiance.
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2. The Palm
The upscale steakhouse chain, The Palm, began in New York City, but has since opened 21 locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico. You will never regret splurging on an elegant meal at this restaurant. From the incredible starters, to the center-cut filet mignon, the outstanding lamb and perfect seafood dishes, everything on the menu is sure to satisfy. There is also an impressive wine and co*cktail list as well as decadent desserts. That is, if you have any room left at the end of the meal!
All of the beef served at The Palm is corn-fed and carefully selected by an expert to ensure only the best of the best makes it to their kitchens. In addition, all of their beef is aged for at least 35 days, resulting in mouth-watering steaks that blow the competition out of the water. If you want to go all out and celebrate a special moment in your life, The Palm won’t disappoint.
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1. Fogo de Chão
In the end, our favorite is the Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão. With gigantic spits of sizzling steaks, you can sample a seemingly endless variety of meats for a fixed price. The system here is also flawless. Diners use cards at their table to signal to servers when they are ready for more meaty treats. When the green side is up, cuts of finely-sliced sirloin, leg of lamb or filet mignon will be delivered almost constantly. When you are ready for a break, simply flip the card over to the red side, and rest up for the next round.
It’s important to note that Fogo de Chão also has arguably the most epic salad bar of any restaurant on this list. In fact, we love that ultimately there is something for everyone here. Even if someone in your group is a vegetarian, they will depart satisfied. We also appreciate that it is easier to budget in advance when visiting this steakhouse since the experience is a fixed price, and you won’t be tempted to order add-ons of sides or appetizers. With locations all over the United States and even the world, there is undoubtedly a Fogo de Chão near you or near a vacation destination.
Originally Published: June 14, 2023
Author
Kristina Vänni
Kristina has been in the food-writing space for more than a decade. Apart from freelancing for food and lifestyle sites like Taste of Home and The Kitchn, she’s also working on her first cookbook. She is the owner and on-air host of Cooking Contest Central, an online community for cooking and recipe contests.
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