The Cheesecake Factory has long been a staple of the American dining scene.
I went there to celebrate an anniversary in college, plenty of friends celebrated early career milestones there, and I’m sure you have your own stories of great times eating fantastic cheesecake.
(Best story wins in the comments!)
Now, here’s the thing: The Cheesecake Factory is great. No doubt about it.
But the restaurant wars are heating up, and it has a ton of competition today.
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
Including lots of great restaurants whose fans would argue they’re better than The Cheesecake Factory.
Are they right?
Well, that’s for you to decide.
But I’ve gathered together some of the strongest contenders.
These are of course in no particular order, so let’s get started with:
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: 49 states (sorry, North Dakota)
All about the food: From the delicious steaks and famous “Bloomin’ Onion” to the “Chocolate Thunder from Down Under” for dessert…Outback has got the goods, mostly at great prices.
It doesn’t have the variety of The Cheesecake Factory, but what it does, it does well!
Outback is always a great option.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Maggiano’s is in 23 states with about 50 locations total, so generally you’ll find it in the biggest city in each state. (Atlanta, Kansas City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, you see the trend.)
All about the food: Maggiano’s was always the place my family went for really special occasions – like my high school graduation, or when dad got a promotion at work. I’ve never had any food that was less than fantastic, and the portions are incredibly generous. Beyond their more basic Italian offerings, their chicken saltimbocca is an old favorite (chicken with prosciutto and truffle cream, what’s not to love?), and Vera’s cookies are a nice light dessert if you’ve already eaten a ton.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Bonefish Grill is in 27 states, but it’s much thicker on the ground than Maggiano’s – it has almost 50 locations in Florida alone!
All about the food: Truly fantastic seafood. I recommend the Cod Imperial (it’s stuffed with seafood, mozzarella, and parmesan) and their tacos.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Melting Pot is in 30 states (especially the big ones; Montana, Maine, and North Dakota – not so much).
All about the food: Fondue is for when you want a fun experience with your meal – who doesn’t like dipping bread in cheese, then a protein in court bouillon, and then finally a dessert in chocolate? Get the flaming turtle chocolate fondue for an extra delicious treat, and thank me later.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: P.F. Chang’s has hundreds of locations across 39 states, plus DC – so pretty much anywhere there’s a minimum concentration of people in the US.
All about the food: It may seem a little weird to put a Chinese restaurant as a direct competitor to the Cheesecake Factory, but The Cheesecake Factory has its share of Chinese food on its vast menu (e.g. Orange Chicken).
Also, I think they cater to a pretty similar “upscale chain” clientele – and their vibe is certainly pretty similar in its own way. I highly recommend Chang’s Mongolian beef bowl with the lettuce wraps as an appetizer, followed by the Great Wall of Chocolate if you’ve got the room for it.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: 28 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, with a little under 200 locations total.
All about the food: It’s all excellent and made from quality ingredients – you can tell the difference. I highly recommend the Wisconsin cheese bites, honey butter croissants, and queso fries for appetizers. Get the ribeye if you’re hungry (not all that many places serve it anymore, in my experience), or the Monte Cristo if you’re feeling adventurous.
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Capital Grille is in 30 states with about 70 locations; you’ll find them clustering around population centers (Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, DC).
All about the food: Their tenderloin with butter poached lobster tails is the best “surf and turf” I’ve ever had, hands-down. And get the cheesecake if you have room (I’d argue it’s BETTER than anything at the Cheesecake Factory). Everything is expensive, and everything is worth it. But you’re going to drop over two hundred bucks, easy, so just be ready.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: LongHorn has nearly 600 locations across 43 states – they’re just about everywhere but the Pacific Northwest.
All about the food: Great steaks, large appetizers, good prices, excellent value. LongHorn is one of the “fancier” chain restaurants I’ve been to (but not Capital Grille fancy) – it’s a serious place where the staff take their jobs and the food seriously. The porterhouse is the real deal.
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Carrabba’s has a little over 200 locations across 29 states; basically they’re everywhere in the lower 48 but the upper plains states, the Pacific Northwest, the upper Northeast, and New Mexico, Arkansas, and West Virginia.
All about the food: Great Italian food with generous portions. If you’ve never been, start with the shrimp scampi or calamari, then either chicken piccata or chicken parmesan, and finish up with either their tiramisu or the sogno di cioccolata (“chocolate dream”) cake…such a wonderful name!
Shutterstock
Where they’re located: Chili’s has over 1,200 locations in 49 states (the only state missing? Oregon, weirdly enough).
All about the food: Chili’s has really upped their game recently; their “3 for Me” meal deal is fantastic and has brought all kinds of fans out of the woodwork. Any time I go to Chili’s, I’m getting either a burger or their fajitas.
Shutterstock
I couldn’t leave without giving the Cheesecake Factory its due! After all – there’s a reason so many restaurants are compared to it.
Where they’re located: 41 states, centered on big metros.
All about the food: I mean, it’s in the name! Actually, that’s not quite fair – Cheesecake Factory has all kinds of great food. But where they really stand out is in their amazing cheesecake flavors. (My personal favorite? Cookie dough lover’s cheesecake with pecans, with the Godiva chocolate cheesecake a close second.)
Shutterstock
So here we are – with ten competitors whose fans would certainly claim they’ve beaten Cheesecake Factory.
And each of them has an argument to make, for sure – whether it’s price point, variety, quality, each of them has wonderful attributes to recommend them.
But here’s the big question:
Shutterstock
Do you like any of them better than The Cheesecake Factory?
Or is it still you favorite go-to, despite not being America’s favorite date-night restaurant?
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Shutterstock
Leave a Comment