I remember going to steakhouses as a kid (only for special occasions, of course) and being so excited when the food came to the table. Not for my kids’ meal – although it was usually pretty good – but for the moment that my dad would carve off a piece of his steak and let me try a bite.
(And sometimes I could even finagle a second one. But only if I’d been extra good, of course.)
I know my experience isn’t uncommon – because, let’s face it, America loves beef. (And especially steak.)
In fact, the average American eats 67 pounds of beef a year according to USDA. (And some other independent estimates go as high as 82 pounds a year!)
But of course, that begs the question…
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
America loves steak…
But where do Americans love to get it?
Which steakhouses are top of mind whenever we’re ready to get some food?
Fortunately, the good folks over at YouGov compiled data from Q1 of 2025, and – I’ve gotta say – I was surprised.
Shutterstock
I was sure that Outback or Golden Corral would be the top-ranked steakhouse in America.
I mean, Outback has been around forever! And let’s face it, they have a great product…
While Golden Corral would win nostalgia points! (Or maybe even Ponderosa for even MORE nostalgia!)
Or, barring them, maybe a Ruth’s Chris because of that one time you got to eat there on the company dime after closing a big sale.
But none of them won!
And it’s just worth noting…
Shutterstock
YouGov’s survey looks at what percent of Americans know a brand and what percent of Americans like that brand…
But of course that inherently biases us toward “well-known” restaurants. Think about it this way –
If 100% of Americans know a brand and 50% like it…
Is that brand really more popular than one where, say, 50% of Americans know it and 49% like it?
Probably not, right?
So I divide the percent who like it by the percent who know it – a measure I call “true popularity.”
It means some smaller regional chains that are doing an amazing job end up in the rankings – but I can tell you right now that it didn’t change the overall winner.
Which, again – not Outback or Golden Corral.
So let’s talk about America’s favorite steakhouses, starting with an old favorite at #12…
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 71%
Percent of Americans who like it: 38%
True popularity: 54%
My take: Sizzler has fallen on hard times and is really a shadow of its former self, with restaurants open mostly on the West Coast and in Puerto Rico. I always enjoyed their taco bar and endless wings buffet. (The steaks were only ever pretty so-so in my view.)
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 56%
Percent of Americans who like it: 31%
True popularity: 55%
My take: Logan’s is pretty typical for a cheaper steak place. It’s solid food and plenty of it, but I’ve never found it all that memorable.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 40%
Percent of Americans who like it: 23%
true popularity: 58%
My take: Smith & Wollensky operates just a dozen or so locations worldwide (in the US, it’s places like Boston, DC, Chicago, and Vegas), and it’s probably the least chain-like of any of the restaurants on this list. It’s delicious, the food quality is fantastic, and just in general it’s an amazing experience. I love their duck confit.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 48%
Percent of Americans who like it: 28%
True popularity: 58%
My take: Capital Grille is probably not all that well-known because…it’s so expensive! It’s certainly a “special occasion” kind of place. Of course the steaks are excellent, but my personal favorite dish is their excellent creme brulee. You can also order steak grill boxes there so you can go grill their steaks at your own house.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 61%
Percent of Americans who like it: 36%
True popularity: 59%
My take: Morton’s is expensive (similar to Ruth’s Chris) but absolutely worth every penny. Doesn’t feel like a chain at all – you’re wined and dined like royalty. (And the bill reflects that!)
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 46%
Percent of Americans who like it: 28%
True popularity: 61%
My take: Saltgrass is mostly in Texas and Oklahoma with outposts in surrounding states, so it’s very much still an “up and coming” concept. It’s got some nice Texas flair but is generally a replacement-level chain steakhouse with prices that are a little on the expensive side.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 39%
Percent of Americans who like it: 24%
True popularity: 62%
My take: Sirloin Stockade is an all-you-can-eat buffet that also serves up some steak options. It’s not super well-known (just over 1/3 of Americans know it), and it’s shrunk from 80+ restaurants a decade ago down to less than ten today. I ate there once (I have family in Carthage, MO, where one of the few Sirloin Stockades remains)…and I was not particularly impressed.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 65%
Percent of Americans who like it: 40%
True popularity: 62%
My take: Black Angus is only active in five states right now – Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington State – but it’s pretty popular! (And surprisingly well-known.) The fact that they age every steak for at least 21 days is certainly a differentiator…(or if you’re in the mood for something else, try the Outlaw burger).
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 68%
Percent of Americans who like it: 42%
True popularity: 62%
My take: Expensive to the point of being borderline ridiculous, Ruth’s Chris has an awesome steak…that you’ll only be able to afford if someone else is paying. (Or if you get a gift card!) It explains why Ruth’s isn’t all *that* well known.
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
Percent of Americans who know it: 50%
Percent of Americans who like it: 32%
True popularity: 64%
My take: Fleming’s is one of the best of the “fancy steakhouse” category, in my opinion. The steaks are great, of course, but my personal favorite dish is the chilled shellfish tower. It packs a visual punch – and at $102 (or $189 for a larger starter intended for 3-4 people), it had better!
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 87%
Percent of Americans who like it: 56%
True popularity: 64%
My take: LongHorn is probably the “nicest” of the chain steakhouses before you get up to, like, a Ruth’s Chris or a Morton’s-tier steakhouse. (With the resulting extraordinarily steep bill.) I like LongHorn quite a bit – it doesn’t feel too “chain-y”, the steaks are good, some of the appetizers and sides are quite innovative, and service is solid. And most Americans agree – a whopping 64% of people who have heard of LongHorn like it! That’s saying something.
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 92%
Percent of Americans who like it: 61%
True popularity: 66%
My take: I like Outback’s steaks just fine – but the real winner in my book is their appetizers (or “Aussie-tizers” as they call them). From their famous Bloomin’ Onion and Gold Coast coconut shrimp, to some excellent cheese fries, to fun new ideas like their Bloomin’ fried shrimp, Outback does a great job end to end. And with a true popularity score of 66%, it only narrowly lost out to America’s favorite steakhouse…
Shutterstock
Percent of Americans who know it: 93%
Percent of Americans who like it: 66%
True popularity: 71%
My take: Fun atmosphere, loud music, great appetizers, good steak – and lots of it. What’s not to love about Texas Roadhouse? And given that it scored the highest in “true popularity” across America – it’s no wonder that it’s growing so quickly!
Shutterstock
So there you have it – America’s 12 favorite steakhouses, according to data gathered by YouGov.
And as you can see – each of them (aside from Lone Star) has a good argument to make for why it could one day be the best!
But here’s the BIG question…
Shutterstock
Is America right?
Is Outback Steakhouse the best?
Or are you more of a Texas Roadhouse fan? (Personally, I’m all LongHorn all the way.)
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Shutterstock
Leave a Comment