Italian restaurant chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Olive Garden was the most searched italian restaurant chain in the United States, accounting for 82.8% of all searches among the five chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Maggiano's Little Italy showed up in every answer. Maggiano's Little Italy was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three responses.
Olive GardenShare of searches 82.8%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
North ItaliaShare of searches 9.1%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Carrabba's Italian GrillShare of searches 4.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Maggiano's Little ItalyShare of searches 3.3%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Bravo Italian KitchenShare of searches 0.67%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top italian restaurant chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Maggiano's Little Italy appeared every time. Maggiano's Little Italy was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three answers. Carrabba's Italian Grill was second, and Olive Garden was third. Bravo Italian Kitchen, which ranked fifth 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.
- Carrabba's Italian Grill3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Maggiano's Little Italy3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Olive Garden2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- North Italia2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Bravo Italian Kitchen0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about italian restaurant chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best Italian restaurant chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which Italian chain in the US has the best pasta?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular Italian restaurant chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“italian restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pasta 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 23, 2026.
Which italian restaurant chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each italian restaurant chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five italian restaurant chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Olive Garden, North Italia, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Maggiano's Little Italy. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Olive Garden | North Italia | Carrabba's Italian Grill | Maggiano's Little Italy | Bravo Italian Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 81.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.81% |
| Nov 2025 | 80.5% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.97% |
| Dec 2025 | 77.1% | 10.4% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 81.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.81% |
| Feb 2026 | 80.5% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.97% |
| Mar 2026 | 81.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.81% |
| Apr 2026 | 78.8% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 0.95% |
| May 2026 | 74.6% | 12.3% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 0.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 78.9% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 0.78% |
| Jul 2026 | 78.8% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 0.95% |
| Aug 2026 | 78.1% | 10.5% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 0.95% |
| Sep 2026 | 82.8% | 9.1% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 0.67% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 82.8% | 5M | +22.2% | +4.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 9.1% | 550K | 0% | -1.4 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 4.1% | 246K | -18.3% | -1.7 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 3.3% | 201K | -18.3% | -1.4 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.67% | 40.5K | -18.2% | -0.3 points |
82.8%
Held 1st. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +4.7 points.
9.1%
Held 2nd. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.
4.1%
Held 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.
3.3%
Held 4th. 201K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.
0.67%
Held 5th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among italian restaurant chains in the United States?
5 brands
In September 2026, Olive Garden was the most searched among italian restaurant chains in the United States, with an estimated 5M branded searches, 82.8% of all searches for the five we track. North Italia is in 2nd place, 73.7 percentage points behind at 9.1%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Garden | 81.3% → 82.8% | 82.8%Sep 2026 | 74.6%May 2026 | 1st |
| North Italia | 8.9% → 9.1% | 12.3%May 2026 | 8.9%Nov 2025 | 2nd |
| Carrabba's Italian Grill | 4.9% → 4.1% | 6.7%May 2026 | 4.1%Sep 2026 | 3rd |
| Maggiano's Little Italy | 4% → 3.3% | 5.7%Dec 2025 | 3.3%Sep 2026 | 4th |
| Bravo Italian Kitchen | 0.81% → 0.67% | 1.1%Dec 2025 | 0.67%Sep 2026 | 5th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olive Garden’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States increased from 81.3% to 82.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Carrabba's Italian Grill’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States decreased from 4.9% to 4.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Maggiano's Little Italy’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States decreased from 4% to 3.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olive Garden’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States peaked at 82.8% in September 2026 and was lowest at 74.6% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, North Italia’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States peaked at 12.3% in May 2026 and was lowest at 8.9% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Carrabba's Italian Grill’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States peaked at 6.7% in May 2026 and was lowest at 4.1% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Maggiano's Little Italy’s share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States peaked at 5.7% in December 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, North Italia and Bravo Italian Kitchen held steady: their share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States italian restaurant chains in September 2026?
5 changes
In September 2026, Olive Garden gained share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States, from 78.1% to 82.8%.
In September 2026, Carrabba's Italian Grill lost share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States, from 5.7% to 4.1%.
In September 2026, North Italia lost share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States, from 10.5% to 9.1%.
In September 2026, Maggiano's Little Italy lost share of searches among italian restaurant chains in the United States, from 4.7% to 3.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bravo Italian Kitchen in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 40.5K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Olive Garden vs North Italia: compare popularity
- Olive Garden vs Carrabba's Italian Grill: compare popularity
- Olive Garden vs Maggiano's Little Italy: compare popularity
- North Italia vs Carrabba's Italian Grill: compare popularity
- North Italia vs Maggiano's Little Italy: compare popularity
- Carrabba's Italian Grill vs Maggiano's Little Italy: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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