List of casual dining restaurant chains
This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately priced food in a casual atmosphere. Except for buffet-style restaurants and, more recently, fast casual restaurants, casual dining restaurants usually provide table service.
Casual
[edit]Casual dining usually have waited tables but may have some variations with counter or self service such as buffet.
| Name | Type | Location(s) | Number of locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abby's Legendary Pizza | Pizza | United States (Oregon and Washington) | 37 | |
| Adyar Ananda Bhavan | Indian foods and beverages | India, United States | 200+ | |
| America's Incredible Pizza Company | Pizza | United States, Mexico | 8 | |
| Anchor Bar | American | United States, Canada | 15 | |
| Angus Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United Kingdom | 6 | |
| Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant | Chettinad South Indian cuisine | Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, USA | 30+ | Privately owned Indian restaurant chain |
| Annalakshmi | Indian vegetarian | Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore | 4 | |
| Applebee's | Bar & grill | United States, worldwide | 1,586 (2022)[1] | |
| ASK Italian | Italian cuisine | United Kingdom | 112 | |
| Bahama Breeze | Caribbean | United States | 40 | Part of the Specialty Restaurant Group of Darden Restaurants[2] |
| Bakers Square | Family | United States (6 Mid-west states) | 32 | Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. |
| Bar Louie Restaurants | Bar | United States | 73 | |
| Baton Rouge | Steakhouse | Canada | 29 | |
| Becks Prime | Gourmet burgers | United States | 14 | Texas-based |
| Beef O'Brady's | Irish sports pubs | United States | 151 | |
| Beefeater | Pub | United Kingdom | 140 | |
| Belgo | Bar | United Kingdom | 7 | |
| Bella Italia | Italian cuisine | United Kingdom | 90 | |
| Benihana | Japanese cuisine, steakhouse | United States, worldwide | 116 | |
| Bennigan's | Irish pub | 12 in United States + 17 International | 29 | |
| Bertucci's | Italian | United States (predominantly Northeastern) | 58 | Earl Enterprises |
| Bickford's | Cafeteria | United States | 3 | Also operated the Foster's brand |
| Big Boy | Family and some casual | United States (primarily Michigan), Thailand | 77 | In 2020–21 added three franchisees, including one covering Southeast Asia and Australia. |
| Bill's | Casual dining | United Kingdom | 131 | |
| BJ's Restaurants | American | United States (27 states) | 205 | Pizza, grill, microbrewery |
| Black Angus Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States (Western) | 45 | Also known as Stuart Anderson's |
| Black-eyed Pea | Country casual | United States (Colorado & Texas) | 13 | Includes full alcohol service and bar |
| Bob Evans Restaurants | American | United States (18 Mid-west and Mid-Atlantic states) | 527 | Specializing in country-style cooking |
| Bob's Big Boy | Family, casual, and drive-in | Southern California | 5 | The original Big Boy chain founded by Bob Wian in 1936. Marriott and JB's Restaurants once used the Bob's name in other areas of the US including toll roads. Many Howard Johnson's restaurants were converted to Bob's. |
| Bonefish Grill | Seafood | United States | 215 | |
| Boomarang Diner | Family | United States | 55 | |
| Boston Pizza | Bar & grill | United States, Canada, Mexico | 388 | Known outside Canada as Boston's The Gourmet Pizza |
| Bread Ahead | Bakery | United Kingdom | 7 | British bakery and casual diner |
| Brewers Fayre | Pub | United Kingdom | 161 | A sister chain to Beefeater |
| Brio Tuscan Grille | Casual dining | United States | 118 | Part of Bravo Brio Restaurant Group |
| Brotzeit | Casual dining | Singapore, worldwide | 11 | Exotic Bavarian cuisine served at restaurants located in the Far East |
| Bubba Gump Shrimp Company | Seafood | Worldwide | 45 | |
| Buca di Beppo | Italian | United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates | 88 | |
| Buffalo Grill | Steakhouse | France, worldwide | 360 | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | American | United States, North America, Asia | 1,279 | American casual dining restaurant and sports bar |
| Buffalo Wings & Rings | American | United States, worldwide | 81 | This restaurant is similar to Buffalo Wild Wings and Buffalo's Cafe. |
| Buffalo's Cafe | American | United States, Asia, Middle East | 51 | Buffalo-Texan style |
| Burger Fuel | Burgers | New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, United States | 87 | |
| Byron Hamburgers | Burgers | United Kingdom | 69 | |
| Cabalen | Filipino | Philippines, United States | 18 | Buffet restaurant chain specializing in exotic delicacies such as betuteng tugak (stuffed frog), kamaru (crickets), adobong pugo (quail) and balut (developing bird embryo) |
| Cactus Club Cafe | Premium casual | Canada | 27 | |
| Café Rouge | French | United Kingdom | 120+ | |
| California Pizza Kitchen | Pizza | United States, Mexico, Asia-Pacific region, Western Asia | 200+ | |
| Camille's Sidewalk Cafe | Casual dining | United States | 146 | |
| Cantina Mariachi | Mexican | Spain, Portugal, United States, United Arab Emirates | 119 | |
| The Capital Grille | Steakhouse | United States | 57 | |
| Carino's Italian | Italian | United States | 84 | |
| Carlos'n Charlie's | Mexican | Mexico, Caribbean | 10 | Grupo Anderson's |
| Carluccio's Ltd | Italian | United Kingdom, worldwide | 400 | |
| Carrabba's Italian Grill | Italian-American cuisine | United States | 247 | |
| Carrows | Family | United States | 9 | Owned by Catalina Restaurant Group, Inc. |
| Champps Americana | Bar & grill | United States | 11 | Traded on NASDAQ under CMPP |
| Charlie Brown's Fresh Grill | Steakhouse | United States (New Jersey) | 2 | Once the largest steakhouse chain in New Jersey, only two locations remain |
| Cheba Hut | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 20 | Themed around cannabis culture |
| Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen | Casual dining | United States | 171 | Acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2017 |
| The Cheesecake Factory | American | United States | 210 | Mostly known for its cheesecake |
| Chevys Fresh Mex | Mexican | United States | 38 | Was owned by PFS (Pepsi) |
| Chickie's & Pete's | Bar & grill | United States (Delaware Valley) | 19 | |
| Chili's | American, Tex-Mex | United States, worldwide | 1,606 | Brinker Int'l. |
| Chiquito | Mexican | United Kingdom | 68 | |
| Chuck-A-Rama | Buffet | United States | 12 | |
| Chuck E. Cheese | Pizza | United States, worldwide | 600+ | |
| Chuy's | Tex-Mex | United States | 102 | |
| Cicis | Pizza | United States | 423 | |
| Claim Jumper | Steakhouse | United States (Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin) | 37 | |
| Coco's Bakery | Family | United States (western) | 49 | Owned by Catalina Restaurant Group, Inc. |
| Congo Grille | Filipino grill | Philippines | 10 | |
| Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants | Restaurant and winery | United States | 30 | Winery and tasting room |
| Copeland's | New Orleans cuisine | United States | 20 | |
| Cora | Breakfast and lunch | Canada | 130 | |
| Côte | Casual dining | United Kingdom | 94 | |
| Cotton Patch Café | Country casual | United States (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico) | 52 | |
| The Counter | Casual burgers | United States, worldwide | 45 | |
| Crabby Joe's Tap & Grill | Casual dining | Canada | 35 | |
| Cracker Barrel | Country casual | United States | 645 | A restaurant with gift shop |
| Dametra Cafe | Mediterranean | United States | 3 | |
| Dave & Buster's | Family, entertainment, arcade | United States, Canada | 122 | |
| Dave's Hot Chicken | chicken tenders and sliders | United States, Middle East | 107 | |
| Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 16[3] | |
| Dencio's | Bar & grill | Philippines | 30 | Owned by Pancake House Incorporation |
| Denny's | Family | United States, and 14 other countries | 1,700 | |
| Dick's Last Resort | Bar | United States | 13 | |
| Dickey's Barbecue Pit | Barbecue | United States | 560+ | |
| Din Tai Fung | Chinese | Taiwan, Asia, North America, Australia | 60 | |
| Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant | Chettinad South Indian cuisine | India, United Arab Emirates, France | 51 | |
| Dishoom | Indian café | United Kingdom | 7 | Founded in 2010 |
| Dixie Chili and Deli | Chili | United States | 3 | |
| Dunn's | Steakhouse | Canada | 6 | |
| Earls | Kitchen & bar | United States, Canada | 65 | |
| East Side Mario's | Italian | United States, Canada | 85+ | Prime Restaurants |
| Eat'n Park | Family | United States (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia) | 64 | A Big Boy franchise until 1974 |
| Eddie Rocket's | Family | Ireland | 42 | This restaurant is similar to Johnny Rocket's. |
| Eddie V's Prime Seafood | Seafood | United States | 21 | |
| Ed's Easy Diner | Casual dining | United Kingdom | 24 | 1950s-style diner |
| El Fenix | Tex-Mex | United States (Texas and Oklahoma) | 22 | |
| El Torito | Mexican | United States (California and Oregon) | 69 | |
| Famous Dave's | Barbecue | United States | 180 | |
| Feng Sushi | Sushi | United Kingdom | 8 | |
| Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | Steakhouse | United States | 69 | |
| Flunch | Family | France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Russia | 180, approximately | |
| Fogo de Chão | Churrascaria | United States, worldwide | 52 | Brazilian-style steakhouse based in the United States |
| Fox's Pizza Den | Pizza | United States | 250 | |
| Franco Manca | Pizza | United Kingdom | 40 | |
| Frankie & Benny's | Italian-American | United Kingdom | 250+ | |
| Fresh to Order | Casual dining | United States | 15 | |
| Friendly's | Diner | United States (Eastern) | 200 | |
| Frisch's Big Boy | Family | United States (Indiana, Kentucky, most of Ohio and Tennessee) | 120 | No longer affiliated with Big Boy Restaurants International, Frisch's owns the Big Boy trademark in its exclusive territory. Purchased by NRD Holdings in 2015. |
| Garduño's | Mexican cuisine | United States | 6 | |
| Gator's Dockside | American, sports bar & grill | United States (Florida) | 29 | |
| Gerry's Grill | Filipino grill | Philippines | 75 | |
| Giraffe World Kitchen | Café | United Kingdom | 44 | |
| Golden Corral | Buffet and grill | United States | 489 | |
| Golden Nugget Pancake House | Family | United States | 7 | |
| Gourmet Burger Kitchen | Gourmet burgers | United Kingdom, worldwide | 80 | |
| Graffiti Junktion | Casual dining | United States | 13 | |
| Grandy's | Country style | United States | 38 | |
| Ground Round | Family | United States | 22 | Franchisee cooperative (formerly owned by Howard Johnson's)[4] |
| Guzman y Gomez | Casual dining | Australia, Singapore, Japan | 107 | |
| Haidilao | Hot pot | China, United States, worldwide | 300 | |
| Happy | Casual dining | Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom | 27 | |
| Happy Joe's | Pizza | United States | 52 | |
| Happy's Pizza | Pizza | United States | 65+ | |
| Hard Rock Cafe | Restaurant with concert | United States, worldwide | 185 | Rock and roll theme |
| Harry Ramsden's | Seafood | United Kingdom, Ireland | 35 | |
| Harvester | Family | United Kingdom | 230+ | |
| Hash House a go go | Family | United States | 11 | |
| Hippopotamus | Family | France | 170 | |
| Hog's Australia's Steakhouse | Steakhouse | Australia, worldwide | 75 | |
| Hooters | Bar, cookout grill | United States, worldwide | 430 | Its mascot is an owl. |
| HopCat | Bar | United States | 17 | |
| Hoss's Steak and Sea House | Steakhouse, seafood | United States (Pennsylvania and West Virginia) | 36 | American ambiance |
| Houlihan's | Bar & grill | United States | 84 | |
| Houston's Restaurant | American | United States | 51 | |
| Huddle House | Family | United States (21 states, but mainly in the south) | 349 | |
| HuHot Mongolian Grill | Asian | United States | 70+ | Create your own stir-fry chain |
| Hurricane Grill & Wings | Chicken wings | United States | 71 | |
| Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries | Diner | United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates | 135 | |
| IHOP | Pancake house | United States, worldwide | 1,650 | |
| Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks | Burgers | United States (western) | 50+ | |
| J. Alexander's | Casual dining | United States | 46 | The company owns Stoney River. |
| Jack Astor's Bar and Grill | Casual dining | Canada | 41 | |
| Jensen's Bøfhus | Steakhouse, family | Denmark, Sweden, Germany | 33 | |
| Jim's Restaurants | Family | United States (Texas) | 18 | Owned by Frontier Enterprises, which also owns Magic Time Machine restaurants |
| Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville | Casual dining | United States | 23 | |
| Jimmy's Restaurants | Buffet | United Kingdom | 11 | |
| Jinya Ramen Bar | Ramen noodles | United States, Canada | 35 | |
| Joe's Crab Shack | Seafood | United States (28 states) | 57 | Owned by Ignite Restaurant Group |
| Joey's Seafood Restaurants | Seafood | Canada, North America | 100 | |
| Johnny Rockets | Family | Worldwide | 320 | 1950s-style diner |
| John's Incredible Pizza Company | Pizza | United States | 13 | |
| The Keg | Steakhouse | United States, Canada | 160 | |
| Kelseys Original Roadhouse | Bar & grill | Canada | 88 | Owned by Cara Operations |
| Ker's WingHouse Bar & Grill | Bar & grill | United States | 28 | |
| Kings Family Restaurants | Family | United States (Pennsylvania and Ohio) | 34 | |
| Kona Grill | Casual dining | United States | 46 | |
| La Porchetta | Italian | Australia, New Zealand | 200 | |
| La Tasca | Bar & tapas | United Kingdom | 6 | |
| Landry's Seafood | Seafood | United States | 20 | Landry's, Inc. owns 30+ casual dining restaurant chains |
| Larkburger | Casual dining | United States | 13 | |
| Las Iguanas | Casual chicken | United Kingdom | 53 | |
| Laughing Planet | Casual dining | United States | 13 | Internet café-like restaurant |
| Lawry's | Steakhouse | United States, worldwide | 98 | Also a brand by McCormick & Company |
| Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar | Bar & grill | United States (California) | 30[5] | |
| Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken | Chicken | United States, worldwide | 142 | |
| Legal Sea Foods | Seafood | East Coast of the United States | 35[6] | |
| Little Anita's | Mexican cuisine | United States | 13 | |
| Little Sheep Group | Chinese | China, worldwide | 300 | Owned by Yum China |
| Loch Fyne Restaurants | Seafood | United Kingdom | 25 | |
| Logan's Roadhouse | Steakhouse | United States | 230 | Acquired by CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries in 2018 |
| LongHorn Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States, Asia | 491 | |
| Luby's | Homestyle foods | United States | 129 | Currently owns Fuddruckers and the defunct chains Koo Koo Roo and Cheeseburger in Paradise |
| Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que | Barbecue | United States | 24 | |
| Maggiano's Little Italy | Italian | United States | 52 | |
| Maid-Rite | Casual dining | United States | 70 | Classic themed |
| Mandarin Restaurant | Canadian Chinese | Canada | 28 | |
| Marie Callender's | Family | United States (western, southwestern) | 58 | Home cooking ambiance |
| Marrybrown | Chicken | Asia, worldwide | 350 | |
| Mary Brown's | Chicken | Canada | 140 | |
| Max & Erma's | Casual dining | United States | 51 | |
| McCormick & Schmick's | Seafood | United States | 60 | |
| MCL Restaurant & Bakery | Family | United States (midwest) | 13 | Originally a cafeteria chain |
| Medieval Times | Medieval theme restaurant | United States and Canada | 9 | Live jousting and sword fights |
| Mellow Mushroom | Pizza | United States | 200 | |
| The Melting Pot | Casual dining | United States, worldwide | 167 | |
| Mikes | Italian | Canada | 70 | |
| Milano | Pizza | Ireland | 14 | A subsidiary of PizzaExpress |
| Milestones Grill and Bar | Bar & grill | Canada | 45+ | Owned by Cara Operations |
| Miller's Ale House | Bar & grill | United States | 78 | Owned by Roark Capital Group |
| Mimi's Cafe | French café, New Orleans, and American | United States | 145 | Owned by Bob Evans Farms, Inc. |
| Monical's Pizza | Pizza | United States | 60 | Central United States |
| Montana Mike's | Steakhouse | United States | 80 | |
| Montana's BBQ & Bar | Steakhouse | Canada | 94 | Owned by Recipe Unlimited |
| Moo Moo Restaurant | Buffet | Russia | 12 | |
| Morton's The Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States | 78 | |
| Moxie's Grill & Bar | Casual dining | Canada, United States | 67 | |
| Mr. Gatti's Pizza | Pizza | United States | 41 | Operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization since January 2019 |
| Mr. Mike's | Steakhouse | Canada | 49 | |
| Nickels Grill & Bar | Casual dining | Canada | 52 | |
| The Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub | American | United States | 97 | |
| Ocean Prime | Seafood and steakhouse | United States | 9 | |
| O'Charley's | American | United States | 230+ | |
| Ojos Locos | Sports bar | United States | 8 | |
| OK Diner | Roadside restaurants | United Kingdom | 8 | 1950s-style diner |
| Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom | Pizza | United States | 60 | |
| Old Country Buffet | Buffet | United States | 19 | Also known as HomeTown Buffet in some markets |
| The Old Spaghetti Factory | Italian | United States, Canada, Japan | 45 | |
| Olga's Kitchen | Family | United States | 27 | |
| Olive Garden | Italian | United States, worldwide | 892 | |
| On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina | Mexican | Worldwide | 150+ | |
| The Original Pancake House | Breakfast | United States | 150 | |
| Outback Steakhouse | Steakhouse, Australian | Worldwide (predominantly United States) | 1,002 | |
| P. F. Chang's China Bistro | Asian | United States | 305 | |
| Pamela's Diner | Family | United States | 5 | |
| Pancake Parlour | Family | Australia | 11 | |
| Pancho's Mexican Buffet | Tex-Mex | United States | 14 | |
| Panda Inn | American Chinese cuisine | Metropolitan Los Angeles | 4 | Older sibling of Panda Express, but has table service. Had more locations before Panda Express opened. |
| Pappadeaux | Seafood | United States | 80 | Part of Pappas Restaurants |
| Peppes Pizza | Pizza | Norway | 76 | |
| Perkins Restaurant and Bakery | Family | United States, Canada | 371 | |
| Peter Piper Pizza | Pizza | United States | 149 | Now owned by Chuck E. Cheese's |
| Phở Hòa | Vietnamese | Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, United States | 72 | |
| Pizza Boli's | Pizza | United States | 80 | |
| Pizza Celentano | Pizza | Ukraine | 150 | |
| Pizza Hut | Italian-American cuisine | United States, worldwide | 18,431 | Part of Yum! Brands |
| Pizza Inn | Italian-American cuisine | United States | 158 | |
| PizzaExpress | Pizza | United Kingdom, worldwide | 470 | Also owns Milano and Marzano |
| Planet Hollywood | Bar & grill | Worldwide | 6 | Backed by Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Po' Folks | Country-style comfort food | United States | 8 | At one time, had over 100 locations in 17 states before decline |
| Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses | Steakhouse | United States | 88 | |
| Prezzo | Italian | United Kingdom | 180 | |
| Primanti Bros. | American food | United States | 40 | |
| Pyongyang | Casual dining | North Korea, worldwide | 130 | |
| Quaker Steak & Lube | Steakhouse | United States (eastern) | 50 | Vehicle garage theme |
| Quanjude | Peking duck | China, worldwide | 52 | |
| Rainforest Cafe | Themed restaurant | United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the U.A.E., and Japan | 24 | Each restaurant has a rainforest theme. |
| Red Hot & Blue | Barbecue | United States | 17 | |
| Red Lobster | Seafood | United States, worldwide | 705 | |
| Red Robin | American food | United States | 538 | |
| Redneck Heaven | Sports bar | United States | 3 | |
| Redstone American Grill | American | United States | 9 | |
| Ricky's All Day Grill | Family | Canada | 67 | |
| Roadhouse Grill | Steakhouse | Italy, Bulgaria, Brazil | 53 | Formerly in the US |
| Romano's Macaroni Grill | Italian | Worldwide | 98 | Owned by Ignite Restaurant Group |
| Rosa's Cafe | Tex-Mex | United States | 42 | |
| Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles | Soul food | United States (Southern California) | 7 | |
| Round Table Pizza | Pizza | United States (western, Hawaii, Alaska) | 500+ | Founded in 1959 |
| Roy's | Seafood | United States | 27 | |
| Rua do Cunha | Casual dining | Macau, worldwide | 21 | |
| Ruby Tuesday | American food and drink | United States, worldwide | 540 | Acquired by NRD Capital in 2017 |
| Ruby's Diner | Family | United States | 58 | Pier-like restaurants |
| Russ' | Family | Midwestern United States, primarily Michigan | 12 | |
| Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern | American food and drink | United States | 23 | Founded in 2002 in Columbus, Ohio |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 100+ | Owned by Ruth's Hospitality Group |
| Saizeriya | Italian | Asia (predominantly Japan) | 1,000+ | |
| Salisbury House | Family | Canada | 16 | |
| Saltgrass Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 50 | |
| Sam Woo Restaurant | Hong Kong-style Chinese | United States, Canada | 12 | |
| Saravana Bhavan | Vegetarian South Indian cuisine | Worldwide | 82 | Hotel Saravana Bhavan is one of the largest vegetarian restaurant chains in the world. |
| Schnitz | Casual dining | Australia | 73 | |
| Scores | Rotisserie | Canada | 45+ | |
| Seasons 52 | Grill and bar | United States | 42 | |
| Señor Frog's | Mexican bar | United States, Mexico, Caribbean, South America | 21 | Grupo Anderson's |
| Shari's Cafe & Pies | Family | United States | 95 | Now owns Carrows and Coco's Bakery |
| Shoeless Joe's | Sports grill | Canada | 30 | |
| Shoney's | Family | United States (southeast, lower midwest) | 150, approximately | Once affiliated with Big Boy Restaurants; dropped in 1980s so company could expand beyond territorial restrictions |
| Sirloin Stockade | Steakhouse | United States, Mexico | 80 | |
| Sizzler | Steakhouse | United States | 270 | Company owns the Sizzler trademark inside the United States |
| Sizzler International | Steakhouse | Australia, Asia | 86 | Company owns the Sizzler trademark outside the United States |
| Skyline Chili | Chili | United States | 152 | Chili-based restaurant |
| Smitty's | Family | Canada | 85 | |
| Smoke's Poutinerie | Poutine | Canada, worldwide | 81 | |
| Smokey Bones | Barbecue | United States (eastern, central) | 66 | |
| Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse | Barbecue | Dallas–Fort Worth | 7 | A favorite of celebrities including Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, Dean Fearing, George W. Bush, Larry Hagman, Chuck Norris, and Jimmy Buffett |
| Sonny's BBQ | Barbecue | United States | 113 | |
| Souper Salad | Salads | United States | 25 | |
| Spaghetti Warehouse | Italian | United States | 8 | |
| Spur Steak Ranches | Steakhouse | South Africa | 333 | |
| St-Hubert | Rôtisserie | Ontario, Québec and New-Brunswick, but mainly in Québec | 121 | |
| Steak 'n Shake | Family | United States, Europe, Middle East | 842 | Known for hamburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes; favored by David Letterman and Roger Ebert |
| Sticks'n'Sushi | Sushi | United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany | 20 | |
| Stoney River Legendary Steaks | Steakhouse | United States | 13 | |
| Strada | Italian | United Kingdom | 21 | Also has its Coppa Clubs |
| Swiss Chalet | Family | United States, Canada | 200+ | Owned by Recipe Unlimited |
| Symposium Cafe | Casual dining | Canada | 30 | |
| Table Table | Food groups | United Kingdom | 105 | A restaurant group by Whitbread |
| Taco Palenque | Mexican | United States | 19 | |
| Tahoe Joe's | Steakhouse | United States | 10 | |
| Texas de Brazil | Steakhouse | United States, worldwide | 50+ | |
| Texas Roadhouse | Steakhouse | United States, Asia | 563 | Texas-themed steakhouse. Willie Nelson used to be their spokesman. |
| TGI Fridays | American | United States, worldwide | 870 | Founded in 1965. Known for big ribs, burgers and mixed drinks. |
| Thaï Express | Thai | Canada, United Kingdom | 250 | Not related to Singapore-based Thai Express |
| Thai Express | Thai | Singapore, Asia | 69 | Not related to Montreal-based Thaï Express |
| Tijuana Flats | Tex-Mex | United States | 130 | |
| Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery | Pub | United States, Canada | 47 | |
| Toby Carvery | Carvery | United Kingdom | 158 | |
| Tony Roma's | Barbecue | Worldwide | 150+ | Ribs |
| Trader Vic's | Polynesian-themed restaurants | United States, worldwide | 18 | Had more locations during the Cold War era. |
| Tumbleweed Tex Mex Grill & Margarita Bar | Mexican | United States (Kentucky and four Midwestern states) | 19 | |
| Twin Peaks | Sports bar | United States | 61 | |
| Uno Pizzeria & Grill | Pizza | United States | 102 | |
| Valentino's | Italian | United States | 36 | |
| Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States | 3 | Located inside the Golden Nugget Casinos |
| Village Inn | Family | United States | 212 | |
| Waffle House | Family | United States (25 states, but mainly in the south) | 2,100[7] | |
| Wagamama | Japanese cuisine | United Kingdom, worldwide | 150+ | |
| Wahaca | Mexican | United Kingdom | 27 | |
| Wahlburgers | Burgers | United States | 31 | Also has a TV series on A&E |
| Walker Bros. | Pancake house | United States | 7 | |
| Weathervane Restaurant | Seafood | United States | 6 | |
| Weber Grill Restaurant | Steakhouse | United States | 5 | Based on the Weber-Stephen business |
| Western Sizzlin' | Steakhouse | United States | 54 | |
| Wienerwald | Chicken Hendl and Schnitzel | Germany | 13 | At one time had 1,600 locations throughout Europe |
| Wildwood Kitchen | Italian | United Kingdom | 12 | |
| Wimpy | Diner | South Africa, United Kingdom | 500+ | Not to be confused with the similar named Canadian company |
| Wimpy's Diner | Family | Canada | 54 | Not to be confused with the similar named South African company |
| Wingstop | Chicken | United States | 1,000 | |
| Yard House | Sports bar | United States | 66 | |
| Zizzi | Italian cuisine | United Kingdom, Ireland | 100 |
Fast casual
[edit]This type usualy has a drive thru or counter service with tables inside, but no waiters.
| Name | Type | Location(s) | Number of locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| &pizza | Pizza | United States | 30 | |
| 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken | Fast casual Asian fried chicken | Singapore | 27 | Privately owned, operates throughout Southeast Asia |
| Al Farooj Fresh | Chicken and sandwiches | United Arab Emirates, worldwide | 35 | |
| Al Tazaj | Chicken | Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, worldwide | 100 | |
| Aladdin's Eatery | Lebanese cuisine | United States | 30 | Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states |
| Atlanta Bread Company | Cafe and bakery | United States | 32 | |
| Au Bon Pain | Breakfast and lunch | United States, worldwide | 204 | Now a subsidiary of Panera Bread |
| Azzip Pizza | Pizza | Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky | 6 | Expanding in the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state area |
| Baja Fresh | Tex-Mex | United States, Asia | 162 | |
| Barberitos | Tex-Mex | United States | 26 | |
| Ben & Florentine | Breakfast and lunch | Canada | 60 | |
| Big Apple Bagels | Bagels | United States | 50 | |
| Big Chicken | Gourmet chicken sandwiches, cookies as big as basketballs, with craft beers at some locations | United States | 18 | Restaurant chain founded by NBA star Shaquille O'Neal |
| Big Smoke Burger | Gourmet burgers and poutine | Canada, Middle East | 17 | |
| Billy Sims Barbecue | Barbecue | United States | 54 | Founded by Billy Sims and Jeff Jackson in 2004 |
| Biscuit Love | Breakfast and lunch | United States | 3 | |
| Blake's Lotaburger | Burgers | United States | 75 | |
| Blaze Pizza | Pizza | United States, Canada, West Asia | 300+ | Customer-designed pizza made within three minutes |
| Bobby's Burger Palace | Burgers | United States | 15 | |
| Boloco | Fast casual | United States | 9 | Based in Massachusetts |
| Boston Market | Chicken | United States | 16[8] | 1 in India[9] Used to have 1200 stores. Started as Boston Chicken |
| Bruegger's | Bakery/coffeehouse | United States | 216 | |
| Burger Lounge | Burgers | United States | 13 | |
| BurgerFi | Burgers | United States | 106 | |
| Burgerville | Burgers and fries | United States | 39 | American-classic style |
| Cafe Barbera | Coffeehouse | United States, Italy, worldwide | 49 | |
| Cafe Express | Bistro | United States | 19 | Was owned by Wendy's, but later sold back |
| Cafe Rio | Mexican grill | United States (western) | 120 | |
| Café Yumm! | Fast casual | United States | 23 | |
| California Fish Grill | Seafood | United States | 24 | |
| California Tortilla | Mexican | United States | 51 | |
| Capriotti's | Sandwiches | United States | 106 | |
| Captain D's | Seafood | United States | 526 | |
| Cava | Mediterranean | United States | 263 (in 2023) | Absorbed former Zoës Kitchen |
| Charleys Philly Steaks | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 600 | |
| Cheeburger Cheeburger | Burgers | United States | 25 | 1950s-style diner |
| Chez Ashton | Poutine | Canada | 25 | |
| Chick-fil-A | Chicken | United States, Canada | 2,200 | |
| Chicken Salad Chick | Chicken | United States | 269 | |
| Chi'Lantro BBQ | Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine | United States (Austin area) | 5 | |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | Mexican | United States | 2,250 | |
| Chopt | Salads | United States | 58 | |
| City Barbeque | Barbecue | United States | 41 | |
| Corner Bakery Cafe | Cafe and baked goods | United States | 192 | |
| Così | Breakfast and lunch | United States | 66 | |
| Country Cookin | Fast casual | United States | 13 | |
| Country Style | Breakfast and lunch | Canada | 400 | |
| Cousins Subs | Sandwiches | United States | 97 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based |
| Crispers | Fast casual | United States | 24 | |
| Culver's | Fast casual | United States | 694 | |
| Daphne's Greek Cafe | Fast casual | United States | 60 | |
| Darshini | South Indian cuisine | India | 120 | |
| Dig Inn | Fast casual | United States | 26 | |
| Donatos Pizza | Pizza | United States | 200 | Pizza delivery service |
| East of Chicago Pizza | Pizza | United States | 80 | |
| Eatsa | Quinoa bowls | United States (California) | 2 | Automat-style self-serve ordering process; owned by Keenwawa |
| Edo Japan | Japanese cuisine | Canada, United States | 105 | Established in 1979 |
| El Chico | Tex-Mex | United States | 78 | |
| El Meson Sandwiches | Sandwiches | Puerto Rico, United States | 37 | |
| El Pollo Loco (Mexico) | Chicken only | Mexico | 50+ | Not affiliated with the similarly named US company |
| El Pollo Loco (United States) | Chicken and Tex-Mex | United States | 480+ | Not affiliated with the similarly named Mexican company |
| El Taco Tote | Tex-Mex | United States | 23 | |
| Elevation Burger | Burgers | United States, worldwide | 50 | |
| Erbert & Gerbert's | Sandwiches | United States | 50 | |
| EXKi | Fast casual | Belgium, worldwide | 86 | |
| Extreme Pita | Pita sandwiches | United States, Canada | 175 | |
| Fairwood | Fast casual | Hong Kong | 98 | |
| Fast Eddys | Cafe | Australia | 51 | |
| Fatburger | Burgers and fries | United States, worldwide | 200+ | |
| Fazoli's | Italian-American cuisine | United States | 217 | |
| Firehouse Subs | Fast casual sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 1,160 | |
| Five Guys | Fast casual burgers | United States, Canada, Europe, Asia | 1,500+ | |
| Flunch | Cafeteria | France | 200 | Cafeteria-style restaurants |
| Flying Star | Fast casual | United States | 9 | |
| Foosackly's | Chicken | United States | 12 | |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers | Fast casual | United States | 300+ | |
| Freshii | Fast casual | Canada | 370 | |
| Fryer's | Fast casual | Canada, worldwide | 50+ | |
| Fuddruckers | American, family, grill | United States, Canada, Italy, Chile, Poland, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico | 223 | |
| Furr's | Family | United States | 21 | Buffet-style restaurants |
| Fuzzy's Taco Shop | Tex-Mex | United States | 150+ | |
| Genghis Grill | Mongolian barbecue | United States | 100 | |
| Gino's Pizza and Spaghetti | Italian-American cuisine | United States | 40 | Also shared with Tudor's Biscuit World |
| Giordano's Pizzeria | Pizza | United States | 21 | |
| Godfather's Pizza | Pizza | United States | 571 | |
| Gold Star Chili | Chili | United States | 321 | |
| Golden Chick | Chicken | United States | 180 | |
| Guthrie's | Fast casual | United States | 28 | |
| Guzman y Gomez | Mexican-Australian | Australia, Singapore, Japan | 107 | |
| Gyoza no Ohsho | Gyōza | Japan | 700 | |
| The Habit Burger Grill | Burgers | United States | 372 | |
| The Halal Guys | Halal | United States, worldwide | 200 | |
| Halo Burger | Burgers | United States | 8 | Based in Central Michigan |
| Hamburguesas El Corral | Hamburgers | Colombia | 208 | |
| Hattie B's Hot Chicken | Chicken | United States | 6 | |
| Hell Pizza | Pizza | New Zealand | 64 | Formerly had international locations in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, India, and South Korea |
| Honey Jam Cafe | Breakfast and lunch | United States | 3 | |
| Hot Chicken Takeover | Chicken | United States | 3 | |
| Hot Head Burritos | Mexican | Eastern United States, mainly Ohio | 79 | |
| Illegal Pete's | Mission burrito | United States | 11 | |
| Jason's Deli | Sandwiches | United States | 268 | |
| Jerry's Subs & Pizza | Sandwiches, pizza | United States | 28 | |
| Jersey Mike's Subs | Sandwiches | United States | 1973 | |
| Jimmy the Greek | Greek cuisine | Canada | 65 | First founded in 1985 by Jim Antonopoulos from Greece |
| Jollibee | Chicken | Asia, North America, Europe | 1,200+ | |
| Just Salad | Salads | United States | 31 | |
| Kenny Rogers Roasters | Chicken | Asia, worldwide | 156 | Formerly based in the United States |
| Kogi Korean BBQ | Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine | United States (Los Angeles area) | 2 | Two physical locations plus five food trucks |
| Koni Store | Japanese food | Brazil, Portugal | 32 | |
| Kopp's Frozen Custard | Custard and burgers | United States | 3 | |
| L&L Hawaiian Barbecue | Asian and Hawaiian cuisine | United States, worldwide | 200+ | |
| La Bamba Mexican Restaurant | Tex-Mex | United States | 8 | |
| La Bou | Cafe and bakery | United States | 26 | |
| La Madeleine | Cafe and bakery | United States | 86 | |
| La Salsa | Tex-Mex | United States | 23 | Not to be confused with Australia-based Salsa's Fresh Mex Grill |
| Leeann Chin | American Chinese | United States | 50+ | |
| Leon Restaurants | Breakfast, lunch and dinner | United Kingdom | 53 | Founded in 2004 |
| Little Greek Restaurants | Greek cuisine | United States | 23 | |
| Manchu Wok | Chinese cuisine | United States, Canada | 200 | |
| Marco's Pizza | Pizza | United States | 800 | |
| Matsuya Foods | Gyūdon, donburi and curry | Japan, China | 1,080 | |
| McAlister's Deli | Fast casual | United States | 400 | |
| Meatheads Burgers & Fries | Burgers & fries | United States | 17 | |
| Miami Subs Grill | Sandwiches, grill | International | 31 | |
| Michel's Patisserie | Cafe and bakery | Australia, worldwide | 360 | |
| MOD Pizza | Pizza | United States | 400+ | |
| Moe's Southwest Grill | Mexican | United States | 680+ | |
| Mooyah | Burgers | United States | 100 | |
| MOS Burger | Burgers | Japan, worldwide | 1,730 | |
| Nando's | Chicken | South Africa, worldwide | 1,000 | |
| Nathan's Famous | Hot dogs | United States | 1,400 | |
| Native Foods Cafe | Fast casual | United States | 100 | Vegetarian-style |
| Newk's Eatery | Coffeehouse | United States | 100+ | |
| Noodles & Company | Fast casual restaurant | United States | 410 | Fast casual restaurant that specializes in American and international noodle dishes |
| Noon Mediterranean | Fast casual | United States | 20 | |
| Pancheros Mexican Grill | Tex-Mex | United States | 71 | |
| Panera Bread | Bakery-Café | United States, Canada | 2,000+ | |
| Papa Gino's | Italian-American cuisine | United States, worldwide | 97 | The holding company for D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches also |
| Paradise Bakery & Café | Cafe and baked goods | United States | 60 | Now a subsidiary of Panera Bread |
| Pastamania | Pastas | Singapore, worldwide | 800 | |
| Paul | Cafe and bakery | France, worldwide | 677 | Based in France |
| Pei Wei Asian Diner | Asian | United States | 200 | |
| Penn Station | Cheesesteaks | United States | 300+ | |
| Pepper Lunch | Steak | Japan, worldwide | 226 | |
| Piada Italian Street Food | Italian-American cuisine | United States | 40 | Established in 2010 |
| Piccolo Cafe | Fast casual | United States, Asia | 4 | |
| Pick Up Stix | Chinese | United States (California) | 70+ | Owned by Lorne Goldberg, the owner of Leeann Chin and Mandarin Express |
| Pie Five | Pizza | United States | 100+ | |
| Pieology | Pizza | United States, Mexico | 140 | |
| Pizza Fusion | Pizza | United States | 13 | |
| Pizza Nova | Pizza | Canada | 140 | |
| Pizzaiolo | Pizza | Canada | 41 | |
| Pizza Ranch | Pizza | United States | 216 | |
| Pizza Studio | Pizza | United States, Brazil, Canada, Philippines | 26 | |
| Pollo Tropical | Caribbean | United States | 140+ | |
| Portillo's Restaurants | Chicago-style | United States | 60 | |
| Potbelly Sandwich Shop | Fast casual | United States | 413 | |
| Pret a Manger | Sandwiches | United Kingdom, worldwide | 450+ | |
| Primo Hoagies | Fast casual | United States | 95 | |
| Prince's Hot Chicken Shack | Chicken | United States | 2 | Founded in 1945 |
| Qdoba | Mexican | United States | 729 | |
| Quiznos | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 800 | |
| Ramen Street | Ramen noodles | Japan | 8 | Currently located at underground malls |
| Rax Roast Beef | Sandwiches | United States | 8 | At one time, the chain had over 200 locations in 25 states. |
| Ribs & Burgers | Gourmet burgers & ribs | Australia | 17 | |
| Rossopomodoro | Pizza | Italy, worldwide | 103 | |
| Rubio's | Tex-Mex | United States | 200 | |
| Saladworks | Salads | United States | 100 | |
| Salsa's Fresh Mex Grill | Mexican | Australia | 50+ | |
| Sandella's Flatbread Café | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 130 | |
| Saxbys Coffee | Coffeehouse | United States | 25 | |
| Sbarro | New York-style pizza | United States | 800 | |
| Schlotzsky's | Sandwiches | United States | 350 | |
| Serrano | Nordic Tex-Mex | Iceland, Sweden | 10 | |
| Shake Shack | Fast casual | United States | 200 | |
| Shakey's Pizza | Pizza | United States and Asia | 500 | |
| Shane's Rib Shack | BBQ | United States | 10 | |
| Slapfish | Seafood | United States | 11 | |
| Slim Chickens | Chicken | United States | 69 | |
| Smashburger | Fast casual | United States | 370 | |
| Sonic Drive-In | Drive-in restaurants | United States | 3,557 | Now owned by Arby's parent, Inspire Brands, as of 2018 |
| Spoleto | Italian cuisine | Brazil, worldwide | 267+ | |
| Steak Escape | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 100+ | Specializes in cheesesteak sandwiches |
| Stir Crazy | Asian stir-fry cuisine | United States | 4 | |
| Submarina | Sandwiches | United States | 50 | |
| Subway | Sandwiches | United States, worldwide | 42,431 | |
| Sukiya | Gyūdon | Japan, worldwide | 2333 | |
| Sushirrito | Sushi and burritos | United States | 8 | |
| Sweetgreen | Fast casual | United States | 75 | |
| Taco Cabana | Tex-Mex | United States | 176 | |
| Taco del Mar | Tex-Mex | United States | 260 | |
| Taziki's Mediterranean Café | Fast casual | United States | 82 | |
| Togo's | Sandwiches | United States | 200 | Formerly operated alongside Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins |
| Toks | Fast casual | Mexico | 200 | |
| Tom's BaoBao | Bao | United States | 2 | Owned by a Chinese chain called Ganqishi |
| The Training Table | Fast casual | United States | 5 | |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Smoothies | United States | 700 | |
| Tudor's Biscuit World | Breakfast and lunch | United States | 100 | Also shared with Gino's Pizza and Spaghetti |
| Umami Burger | Gourmet burgers | United States, worldwide | 25 | |
| Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint | Pizza | United States | 38 | |
| Upper Crust | Cafe and baked goods | United Kingdom, worldwide | 100 | |
| Upper Crust Pizzeria | Pizza | United States | 9 | |
| Vapiano | Italian | Germany and 26 other countries | 180 | |
| VeganBurg | Fast casual | United States, Singapore | 2 | Vegetarian-style |
| Veggie Grill | Fast casual | United States | 29 | Vegetarian-style |
| Wahoo's Fish Taco | Tex-Mex | United States | 100 | |
| Wayback Burgers | Burgers | United States | 133 | |
| Which Wich? | Sandwiches | United States | 431 | |
| Wild Willy's | Hamburgers | United States | 5 | |
| Xi'an Famous Foods | Chinese food | United States | 12 | |
| YO! Sushi | Sushi | United Kingdom, worldwide | 100 | |
| Yoshinoya | Noodle bowls | Asia and United States | 1,100+ | |
| Your Pie | Pizza | United States | 58 | |
| Zankou Chicken | Armenian Mediterranean | United States | 12 | |
| Zaxby's | Chicken | United States | 800 | |
| Zippy's | Fast casual | United States | 24 | Based on the inspiration of the brothers' car wash failure |
Nearly defunct former casual restaurant chains
[edit]This list contains chains that were much larger in the past, with some having several hundred locations at their peak, which have since been reduced to a single location.
| Name | Type | Location(s) | Number of locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Brothers Three | Pizza | Wisconsin | 1 (7 at peak) | Founded in 1972. At one time, had up to seven locations. |
| Casa Bonita | Tex-Mex | United States | 1 (3 at peak) | Has not re-opened since Colorado state mandatory closing in March 2020, but restaurant itself has not been sold or liquidated either, so true status cannot be determined as of November 2020[update]. In August 2021, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced in a video interview with the Governor of Colorado that they are in the process of buying the restaurant.[10][11] |
| Chi-Chi's | Mexican | Formerly United States, now single location in Austria | 1 (130 at peak) | At one time, it was the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States with 130 locations worldwide before bankruptcy forced sale of U.S. locations to Outback Steakhouse. All that remains of the former chain by the second decade of the 21st century is a single franchised location in Vienna. |
| Du-par's | Restaurant and bakery | United States (Southern California) | 1 (6 at peak) | Scenes from the 1983 movie Valley Girl were filmed at their Studio City location |
| Horne's | Southern-style | United States | 1 (60 at peak) | Many were located near gas stations by highways |
| Jerry's Restaurants | Family | United States | 1 (~50 at peak) | Was much larger, but sold most locations to Denny's in 1980s; was also parent company of Long John Silver's |
| Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon | Steakhouse | Formerly United States, currently Guam | 1 (267 at peak) | Last remaining location is in Guam |
| Timber Lodge Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States | 1 (85 at peak) | |
| York Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 1 (200 at peak) | At one time had nearly 200 locations |
Defunct chains
[edit]| Name | Type | Location(s) | Peak number of locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arab Udupi | Indian | United Arab Emirates | 15 | In Abu Dhabi and other locations; Udupi cuisine |
| Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill | Sports bar | United States | 14 | |
| Bill Knapp's | Family | United States | 60 | |
| Blue Boar Cafeterias | Cafeteria | United States | 21 | |
| Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse | Steakhouse | United States, Worldwide | 30 | |
| Cheeseburger in Paradise | Burgers and margaritas | United States | 23 | At its peak, the chain had locations in 14 states. Named after the Jimmy Buffett song "Cheeseburger in Paradise". |
| China Coast | American Chinese | United States | 51 | Owned by General Mills and later Darden |
| Clifton's Cafeteria | Cafeteria | United States | 10 | Replaced by bar called Clifton's Republic in 2018 |
| Coon Chicken Inn | Chicken | United States | 3 | Located in the Western United States during the early 20th century. Its trademark was a smiling blackface caricature of an African-American porter. The chain folded by mid-century due to its cultural and racial offensiveness. |
| Don Pablo's | Tex-Mex | United States | 120[12] | |
| Eatza Pizza | Pizza | United States | 115 | Ended in 2008 |
| Elephant Bar | Scratch kitchen bars | United States | 7 | |
| ESPN Zone | Casual dining | United States | 2 | Sports-themed |
| Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour | Ice cream and sandwiches | United States | 120 | 1900-themed ice cream parlor that also served sandwiches and was known for its theatrics when serving extremely large sized ice cream treats such as the Pig's Trough, Volcano and Zoo to accompaniment of drums, whistles, sirens and singing staff. |
| Fashion Cafe | Fashion-themed | United States, England, South Africa, Mexico, Spain | 5 | Fashion-themed restaurant chain that was backed by famous supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington |
| Fresh Choice | Buffet | United States | 50 | |
| Hamburger Hamlet | Gourmet hamburgers | United States | 24 | Had locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC metro areas. Movie and TV actors frequented the original Hollywood location. |
| Harvey House | Casual | United States | 84 | Company originally started in 1876 as a chain of railroad eating houses along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway which later evolved into a chain of casual roadway restaurants along U.S. Highways and state tollroads before the growth of interstate highways finally killed the business. |
| Hen House Restaurants | Casual | United States | 40 | Had locations near interstate highways. |
| Howard Johnson's | Family | United States | 1,000+ at peak | One of the first restaurant chains. At one time, had over 1,000 locations across the U.S. Final location closed in 2022.[13] |
| How Do You Roll? | Sushi | United States | 12 | |
| JB's Restaurants | Family | United States | 104 | A Big Boy franchise until 1987. One restaurant in the chain was named "Galaxy Diner". |
| Koo Koo Roo | Chicken | United States | 38 | Owned by Luby's |
| Lee Roy Selmon's | Casual dining | United States | 3 | Its original location closed in 2018 after 17 years. |
| Little Chef | Roadside restaurants | United Kingdom | 439 | Ended in 2018 |
| Lum's | Family | United States | 273 | |
| Mao | Asian cuisine | Ireland | 9 | Last location closed in 2024. |
| Morrison's Cafeteria | Cafeteria | United States | 151 | |
| Mr. Steak | Steakhouse | United States, Canada | 282 | |
| Nickerson Farms | Family | United States | 6 | Usually found near interstate highways |
| Official All Star Café | Sports-themed | United States | 10 | Partially owned by Planet Hollywood International |
| Pasta Bravo | Pizza and Pasta | United States | 16 | Owned by Yum! Brands |
| Piccadilly Pub | Bar & grill | United States (Massachusetts) | 13 | |
| Pizza Corner | Pizza | India | 70 | Ended in 2014 |
| Richtree Market | Casual dining | Canada | 11 | Ended in 2020 |
| Rio Bravo Cantina | Mexican | United States | 100 | Ended in 2002 |
| Roadhouse Grill | Steakhouse | United States | 20 | |
| The Royal Canadian Pancake Houses | Pancake house | United States | 5 | |
| Rustler Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 110+ | Ended in 1984 |
| Sambo's | Family | United States | 1,000+ | The chain mostly ended in the early 1980s due to financial mismanagement. At around the same time, disaffection with the name "Sambo's", which was viewed as racially derogatory, led to some locations being rebranded with names including "No Place Like Sam's" and "Jolly Tiger".[14] By 1984, all but one location was either closed or sold to other chains, including Bakers Square and Denny's. The one remaining Sambo's location was the original one, in Santa Barbara; in 2020 it was renamed to Chad's.[15] |
| ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen | Asian | United States | 15 | Owned by Chipotle; an attempt into the Asian fast casual restaurant industry |
| ShowBiz Pizza Place | Pizza | United States | 90 | Started in 1980 as a direct competitor to Chuck E. Cheese. In 1984, the company that owned ShowBiz Pizza Place bought the Chuck E. Cheese chain, and in 1992 all ShowBiz Pizza Place locations were rebranded as Chuck E. Cheese. |
| Sisters Chicken & Biscuits | Chicken and biscuits | United States | 79 | Wendy's chicken restaurant subsidiary that existed during the mid-1980s |
| Soul Daddy | Soul food | United States | 3 | Once owned by Chipotle Mexican Grill; its creation was the prize for its founder in winning the reality show America's Next Great Restaurant |
| Souplantation | Buffet | United States | 104 | Operated as Sweet Tomatoes outside California; the chain filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy on May 7, 2020, and closed permanently on May 8, 2020, due to losses and health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with salad bars and buffets.[16] |
| Steak and Ale | Steakhouse | United States | 58 | Ended in 2008 |
| Taybarns | Buffet | United Kingdom | 7 | Ended in 2016 |
| Toddle House | Family | United States | 40 | |
| Valle's Steak House | Steakhouse | United States | 32 | |
| Victoria Station | Steakhouse, BBQ | United States (northeastern) | 100 | Brand still exists in Japan, but owned by a different company |
| VIP's | Family | United States (western) | 53 | Oregon-based chain that operated in five western states; not to be confused with a chain of the same name (but without an apostrophe) in Mexico operated by Walmart de México y Centroamérica |
| Wag's | Family | United States | 90+ | Once owned by Walgreens |
| Zoës Kitchen | Fast casual | United States | 258 | Merged into Cava |
See also
[edit]
- Fast casual restaurant
- List of defunct restaurants of the United States
- List of buffet restaurants
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of fast food restaurant chains
- List of hamburger restaurants
- List of ice cream parlor chains
- List of pizza chains
- List of restaurant chains
- Lists of restaurants
- List of revolving restaurants
- Types of restaurant
References
[edit]- ^ A data company, ScrapeHero (26 December 2022). "Number of Applebees International stores in the United States in 2022". ScrapeHero. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Darden Restaurants Reports First Quarter Diluted Net Earnings Per Share of 78 Cents; Declares a Quarterly Dividend of 43 Cents Per Share". Darden Restaurants. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Locations Search". Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "GroundRound Franchise – History". groundroundfranchise.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Lazy Dog Restaurants". lazydogrestaurants.com. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Restaurants By State". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ Matthews, Lauten (16 January 2016). "12 Things You Didn't Know About Waffle House". Country Living. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Kreiter, Rachel P. (18 August 2021). "'South Park' Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone Are Buying Casa Bonita, but for What?". Eater.
- ^ Trey & Matt's Conversation with Colorado Governor Jared Polis. South Park Studio. 13 August 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Gibson, Richard (23 September 1998). "Applebee's Hopes to Determine Direction For Ailing Rio Bravo Chain by Year End". The Wall Street Journal (Eastern ed.). p. B11C. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015.
[Lawrence M. Folk] resigned in August from Apple South Inc., where he had been president of its Don Pablo's Mexican restaurant division. Until recently, Apple South was the largest franchisee of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants, but decided to shed its Applebee's outlets to concentrate on what it considered better growth opportunities, among them Don Pablo's. Don Pablo's now has 117 units, second only to closely held Family Restaurants Inc.' Chi-Chi's chain in the Mexican-style restaurant sector.
Alternate Link(subscription required) via ProQuest. - ^ Valinsky, Jordan (1 June 2022). "America's last Howard Johnson's restaurant has closed". CNN Business. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Romano, Andrew (30 June 2014). "Pancakes and Pickaninnies: The Saga of 'Sambo's,' The 'Racist' Restaurant Chain America Once Loved". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Palminteri, John (15 July 2020). "It's official – Chad's replaces Sambo's after 63 years in Santa Barbara". KEYT-TV. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Stone, Ken (7 May 2020). "San Diego's Iconic Souplantation Buffets Closing Permanently, CEO Says". Times of San Diego.