Casual dining chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse was the most searched casual dining chain in the United States, accounting for 19.6% of all searches among the ten chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory showed up in every answer. The Cheesecake Factory was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three responses.
Texas RoadhouseShare of searches 19.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Chili'sShare of searches 17.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Buffalo Wild WingsShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Olive GardenShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Applebee'sShare of searches 11.8%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 Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions, Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory appeared every time. The Cheesecake Factory was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three answers. Texas Roadhouse was second, and Olive Garden was third. Buffalo Wild Wings, which ranked third in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Texas Roadhouse3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Chili's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Olive Garden3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
The Cheesecake Factory3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
LongHorn Steakhouse2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Cracker Barrel2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Buffalo Wild Wings0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Applebee's0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Red Lobster0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
TGI Fridays0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about casual dining chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which casual dining chain is the best in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best sit-down restaurant chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which restaurant chain in the US is best for a family dinner?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sit down restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“casual dining restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each casual dining chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten casual dining chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
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
| Month | Texas Roadhouse | Chili's | Buffalo Wild Wings | Olive Garden | Applebee's | LongHorn Steakhouse | The Cheesecake Factory | Cracker Barrel | Red Lobster | TGI Fridays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.6% | 18.4% | 13.8% | 11.2% | 12.3% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5% | 4.1% | 0.83% |
| Nov 2025 | 22.8% | 20.5% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 0.76% |
| Dec 2025 | 23.6% | 17.4% | 13% | 10.6% | 11.7% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 0.78% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.8% | 17.6% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 0.79% |
| Feb 2026 | 23.8% | 17.5% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 0.79% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.1% | 17.8% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 8.9% | 6% | 4% | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 0.75% |
| May 2026 | 23.7% | 17.5% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 14.3% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 5.8% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 0.75% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0.74% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0.74% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.6% | 17.6% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 11.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.79% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 19.6% | 7.5M | -18.2% | -3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 17.6% | 6.7M | 0% | +1 points | |
| 3, moved from 4th to 3rd | 13.1% | 5M | 0% | +0.8 pointsmoved from 4th to 3rd | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 13.1% | 5M | +22.2% | +3 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 3rd to 5th | 11.8% | 4.5M | -18.2% | -1.8 pointsmoved from 3rd to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 7.2% | 2.7M | -18.2% | -1.1 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 7.2% | 2.7M | 0% | +0.4 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 4.8% | 1.8M | 0% | +0.3 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 4.8% | 1.8M | 0% | +0.3 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 0.79% | 301K | 0% | 0 points |
19.6%
Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -3 points.
2.
Chili's17.6%
Held 2nd. 6.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.
13.1%
Moved from 4th to 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
13.1%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3 points.
11.8%
Moved from 3rd to 5th. 4.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
7.2%
Held 6th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
7.2%
Held 7th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
4.8%
Held 8th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
4.8%
Held 9th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
10.
TGI Fridays0.79%
Held 10th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among casual dining chains in the United States?
10 brands
In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse was the most searched among casual dining chains in the United States, with an estimated 7.5M branded searches, 19.6% of all searches for the ten we track. Chili's is in 2nd place, 2 percentage points behind at 17.6%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Roadhouse | 20.6% → 19.6% | 24.1%Mar 2026 | 19.6%Sep 2026 | 1st |
| Chili's | 18.4% → 17.6% | 20.5%Nov 2025 | 16.6%Jul 2026 | 2nd |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | 13.8% → 13.1% | 13.8%Oct 2025 | 10.7%May 2026 | 3rd |
| Olive Garden | 11.2% → 13.1% | 13.1%Sep 2026 | 8.7%May 2026 | 5th → 4th |
| Applebee's | 12.3% → 11.8% | 14.3%May 2026 | 11.2%Nov 2025 | 4th → 5th |
| LongHorn Steakhouse | 7.5% → 7.2% | 8.9%Mar 2026 | 6.9%Nov 2025 | 6th |
| The Cheesecake Factory | 6.2% → 7.2% | 7.2%Sep 2026 | 5.5%Apr 2026 | 7th |
| Cracker Barrel | 5% → 4.8% | 5.6%Nov 2025 | 3.9%May 2026 | 8th |
| Red Lobster | 4.1% → 4.8% | 5.8%May 2026 | 3.8%Nov 2025 | 9th |
| TGI Fridays | 0.83% → 0.79% | 0.83%Oct 2025 | 0.74%Jul 2026 | 10th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Texas Roadhouse’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 20.6% to 19.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chili's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 18.4% to 17.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 13.8% to 13.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olive Garden’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States increased from 11.2% to 13.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 12.3% to 11.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Cheesecake Factory’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States increased from 6.2% to 7.2%.
- 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, Texas Roadhouse’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 24.1% in March 2026 and was lowest at 19.6% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chili's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 20.5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 16.6% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 13.8% in October 2025 and was lowest at 10.7% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olive Garden’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 13.1% in September 2026 and was lowest at 8.7% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 14.3% in May 2026 and was lowest at 11.2% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 8.9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 6.9% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Cheesecake Factory’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 7.2% in September 2026 and was lowest at 5.5% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cracker Barrel’s share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 5.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 3.9% in May 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olive Garden rose from 5th to 4th among casual dining chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's fell from 4th to 5th among casual dining chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel and TGI Fridays held steady: their share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States casual dining chains in September 2026?
8 changes
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.
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.
In September 2026, Chili's gained share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 16.6% to 17.6%.
In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 22.6% to 19.6%.
In September 2026, Applebee's lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 13.5% to 11.8%.
In September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 8.3% to 7.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Cracker Barrel in the United States fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.2M to 1.8M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for TGI Fridays in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
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