Brandwave

How popular isSonny's BBQ?

In September 2026, people searched for Sonny's BBQ by name about 246,000 times in the United States, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 13.5% of all United States BBQ chain searches, placing Sonny's BBQ third out of seven chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about BBQ chains, Sonny's BBQ appeared in one of the four answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Sonny's BBQ is the third most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Mission BBQShare of searches 36.9%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. City BarbequeShare of searches 33%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. Sonny's BBQShare of searches 13.5%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. Dickey's Barbecue PitShare of searches 8.1%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-QShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+2 more

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Top BBQ chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Sonny's BBQ was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Sonny's BBQ is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Mission BBQ1st
  2. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q2nd
  3. City Barbeque3rd
  4. Dickey's Barbecue Pit4th
  5. Famous Dave's5th
  6. Sonny's BBQ6th
  7. Pappas Bar-B-Q7th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Mission BBQ3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • City Barbeque3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Dickey's Barbecue Pit3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Pappas Bar-B-Q2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Famous Dave's2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Sonny's BBQ1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about BBQ chains

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.

Which BBQ chains compete with Sonny's BBQ?

Sonny's BBQ against BBQ chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Mission BBQ, City Barbeque, Sonny's BBQ, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q, Pappas Bar-B-Q. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMission BBQCity BarbequeSonny's BBQDickey's Barbecue PitRudy's Country Store and Bar-B-QPappas Bar-B-QFamous Dave's
Oct 202538.1%27.8%13.9%12.4%4.2%3.4%0.11%
Nov 202538.7%28.3%11.6%12.7%4.3%4.3%0.09%
Dec 202534.3%30.7%15.3%11.2%4.6%3.8%0.1%
Jan 202639.3%28.7%14.3%10.6%3.5%3.5%0.09%
Feb 202639.3%28.7%14.3%10.6%3.5%3.5%0.09%
Mar 202639%28.5%14.2%10.4%4.3%3.5%0.09%
Apr 202635.2%31.5%15.8%9.5%4.7%3.2%0.1%
May 202636.9%33%13.5%8.1%4.9%3.3%0.11%
Jun 202639.3%28.8%14.4%8.6%5.3%3.5%0.09%
Jul 202632.4%35.4%14.5%8.7%5.3%3.6%0.12%
Aug 202635.2%31.5%15.8%9.5%4.7%3.2%0.1%
Sep 202636.9%33%13.5%8.1%5%3.3%0.1%

  1. 1.Mission BBQ

    36.9%

    Held 1st. 673K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.

  2. 2.City Barbeque

    33%

    Held 2nd. 602K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  3. 3.Sonny's BBQ

    13.5%

    Held 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.

  4. 4.Dickey's Barbecue Pit

    8.1%

    Held 4th. 148K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.

  5. 5.Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q

    5%

    Held 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  6. 6.Pappas Bar-B-Q

    3.3%

    Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  7. 7.Famous Dave's

    0.1%

    Held 7th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Sonny's BBQ and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Sonny's BBQ

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Sonny's BBQ changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Sonny's BBQ in the United States held steady at 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sonny's BBQ’s share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States peaked at 15.8% in April 2026 and was lowest at 11.6% in November 2025.

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

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Mission BBQ gained share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 35.2% to 36.9%.

  2. In September 2026, City Barbeque gained share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 31.5% to 33%.

  3. In September 2026, Sonny's BBQ lost share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 15.8% to 13.5%.

  4. In September 2026, Dickey's Barbecue Pit lost share of searches among BBQ chains in the United States, from 9.5% to 8.1%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are Sonny's BBQ’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sonny's BBQ’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.

  • sonnys bbq

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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