Brandwave

How popular isRed Lobster?

In September 2026, people searched for Red Lobster by name about 1.8 million times in the United States, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 4.8% of all United States casual dining chain searches, placing Red Lobster ninth out of ten chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about casual dining chains, Red Lobster did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Red Lobster is the ninth most searched of 10 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. Texas RoadhouseShare of searches 19.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Chili'sShare of searches 17.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. Buffalo Wild WingsShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. Olive GardenShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. Red LobsterShare of searches 4.8%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top casual dining chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Red Lobster did not appear in any of the three answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. The Cheesecake Factory1st
  2. Texas Roadhouse2nd
  3. Olive Garden3rd
  4. Chili's4th
  5. LongHorn Steakhouse5th
  6. Cracker Barrel6th
  7. Buffalo Wild Wings–
  8. Applebee's–
  9. Red Lobster–
  10. TGI Fridays–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

See every answer about casual dining chains

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Which casual dining chains compete with Red Lobster?

Red Lobster against casual dining chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden, Applebee's, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTexas RoadhouseChili'sBuffalo Wild WingsOlive GardenApplebee'sLongHorn SteakhouseThe Cheesecake FactoryCracker BarrelRed LobsterTGI Fridays
Oct 202520.6%18.4%13.8%11.2%12.3%7.5%6.2%5%4.1%0.83%
Nov 202522.8%20.5%12.6%10.3%11.2%6.9%5.6%5.6%3.8%0.76%
Dec 202523.6%17.4%13%10.6%11.7%7.1%7.1%4.8%3.9%0.78%
Jan 202623.8%17.6%13.1%10.7%11.8%7.2%7.2%3.9%3.9%0.79%
Feb 202623.8%17.5%10.7%10.7%11.8%8.8%7.2%3.9%4.8%0.79%
Mar 202624.1%17.8%10.9%10.9%11.9%8.9%6%4%4.9%0.8%
Apr 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.6%8.3%5.5%4.5%5.5%0.75%
May 202623.7%17.5%10.7%8.7%14.3%8.7%5.8%3.9%5.8%0.79%
Jun 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.6%8.3%5.5%4.5%5.5%0.75%
Jul 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.5%8.3%6.8%4.5%4.5%0.74%
Aug 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.5%8.3%6.8%4.5%4.5%0.74%
Sep 202619.6%17.6%13.1%13.1%11.8%7.2%7.2%4.8%4.8%0.79%

  1. 1.Texas Roadhouse

    19.6%

    Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -3 points.

  2. 2.Chili's

    17.6%

    Held 2nd. 6.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  3. 3.Buffalo Wild Wings

    13.1%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  4. 4.Olive Garden

    13.1%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3 points.

  5. 5.Applebee's

    11.8%

    Moved from 3rd to 5th. 4.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.

  6. 6.LongHorn Steakhouse

    7.2%

    Held 6th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  7. 7.The Cheesecake Factory

    7.2%

    Held 7th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  8. 8.Cracker Barrel

    4.8%

    Held 8th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  9. 9.Red Lobster

    4.8%

    Held 9th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  10. 10.TGI Fridays

    0.79%

    Held 10th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Red Lobster and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Red Lobster

15 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Red Lobster changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Red Lobster in the United States held steady at 1.8M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Red Lobster’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States increased from 4.1% to 4.8%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Red Lobster’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 5.8% in May 2026 and was lowest at 3.8% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for United States casual dining chains in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings overtook Applebee's to rank 3rd among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Olive Garden overtook Applebee's to rank 4th among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Chili's gained share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 16.6% to 17.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 22.6% to 19.6%.

  5. In September 2026, Applebee's lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 13.5% to 11.8%.

  6. In September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 8.3% to 7.2%.

How are Red Lobster’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Red Lobster’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • red lobster

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Red Lobster compete?

Red Lobster is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Casual dining chains9th of 104.8%Shown above
Seafood chains1st of 749.4%Show ranking
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