29 National Steakhouse Chains, Ranked Worst To Best

While steakhouses might not be as popular as they used to be, there's nothing quite like an expensive cut of meat expertly prepared and then served hot to your table. If you select the right steakhouse, you are almost guaranteed to love your meal and impress whoever you're with.

While there are a few fantastic national steakhouse chains in the United States, there are many steakhouse chains that might not be the smartest choice. If you don't know the difference, you could easily get ripped off. Since steakhouses usually cost a pretty penny, it's well worth the time and effort to learn which chains are the best and which are the worst. It doesn't matter if you're setting down at a fine-dining establishment or at a more casual steak eatery, you expect to get what you pay for, and we're here to help you do just that.

The following list ranks the national steakhouse chains, according to our own experience, with the best steakhouses we found located at the end of the list. Before you head out for a costly dinner, look over this ranking to make sure your taste buds will be pleased and your money will be well spent.

If you're craving a delicious steak, stay far away from Bonanza Steakhouse. This chain tries to combine the best attributes of a traditional steakhouse and a buffet restaurant — but fails spectacularly. Instead of steakhouse quality at buffet prices, you get steakhouse prices at buffet quality — and that's as bad as it sounds.

Beyond steak, Bonanza Steakhouse also serves a wide array of seafood, chicken, and other American favorites that completely and utterly underwhelm. If you're forced to order off of the menu, order anything but the steak. None of the food is good, mind you, but the steak is the worst of the worst. The best value at this steakhouse is actually their salad bar, oddly enough.

Be warned that Bonanza Steakhouse and Ponderosa Steakhouse are essentially the same thing, as both are owned by the same parent company. Do yourself a favor and avoid both with an equal amount of vigor.

There's no doubt that Steak 48 aims to impress. It's simply luxurious, from the prime meats to a wine list that spans just about every continent, according to What Now Los Angeles. But the air of extravagance doesn't necessarily lead to a satisfying experience. While landing a spot on some prime lists should put this exclusive establishment higher, it misses the mark in significant ways. 

For starters, the requirements for dining there have been polarizing. In 2021, the eatery began mandating a $100 minimum for each diner. Mind you, that's before tax and tip are collected, as Chron reports. Secondly, the steakhouse enacted a dress code that was ill-received both because of its rigidity and for its alleged targeting of non-white diners. Barring sweatpants and flip-flops, for example, is probably not unusual in these circumstances. But dress code no-nos like "bandanas worn as headwear" and vaguely defined disheveled-looking apparel carry the stink of stereotypes. 

Even if wet-aged beef and raw seafood sounds tempting — this Ribeye dressed with blue cheese certainly looks divine (via Reddit) — there are other eateries out there that offer fantastic service and steaks that won't set you back a small fortune. The fact that locations are limited to a couple of major cities means most consumers won't be able to visit one anyway. 

With more than 700 locations in the United States and catchy commercials with scrumptious-looking steaks to draw your attention, there's a good chance that you've been to an Outback Steakhouse. Unfortunately, that also means there's a good chance that you've been disappointed, as that is the prevailing emotion you may feel as you're leaving this restaurant. Not only is Outback Steakhouse way too expensive for what you get (especially compared to other restaurants of the same caliber), in our experience, the quality of the meat never lives up to what you see on the commercials.

Outback Steakhouse is primarily known for its Australian theme. If you buy into the hype, you'd think that this restaurant chain serves authentic food that Australians eat while they're tossing around boomerangs, boxing kangaroos, and avoiding dingoes. However, it turns out that the food is not real Australian cuisine at all. In fact, the founders had never traveled to the land down under prior to opening their first location.

Urban Farmer is a steakhouse that you will want to love. They take a lot of pride in sourcing their ingredients in order to minimize waste and advance sustainability. They call themselves a "modern steakhouse," and it's obvious that Urban Farmer is truly trying to make positive changes. Unfortunately, there's one overriding issue: Their food just isn't that good. The food is okay — but it's not worth the prices you'll have to pay. Even if you really value their sustainable ways, your final bill at Urban Farmer will cause you to think twice about ever coming back, especially because your taste buds won't be overjoyed with the experience.

If you want to support Urban Farmer, which has locations in various cities including Portland and Cleveland, order one of their tasty salads that are made with local ingredients. But, unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, go somewhere else for a steak.

Saltgrass Steak House is basically the opposite of Wolfgang's Steakhouse — both in good ways and bad ways. Saltgrass Steak House offers an extremely comfortable dining experience with friendly, attentive waiters. The prices at this restaurant are relatively low, and it has an impressive assortment of appetizers and desserts.

Unfortunately, the quality of the steaks at Saltgrass Steak House just isn't there. In an attempt to camouflage the disappointment, the restaurant covers all its steaks with a flood of yummy garlic butter. But while the garlic butter is a tasty gimmick the first time or two you have it, eventually, you will realize that the wool is being pulled over your eyes. Beneath the butter is a steak that lacks the flavor or the satisfying texture to survive on its own.

If you want to go to a Saltgrass Steak House, you won't have much luck on either the East Coast or the West Coast. Most of its locations are in Texas, but you can find this steakhouse throughout the heartland if you look hard enough.

Morton's The Steakhouse used to be a dependable destination if you wanted a world-class steak. It claims to have the best steak anywhere, and at one point in time, that may have been close to being true. However, these days, you're taking a gamble if you go to this steakhouse. Sometimes the steaks are outstanding — but other times, the steaks there are so rubbery that you'll have a difficult time swallowing. Unfortunately, the prices are the same, no matter what you end up with.

If you're headed to Morton's The Steakhouse, order the Filet Mignon, which it offers in three different sizes starting at six ounces. If you're lucky, you'll get an amazing steak that you will talk about for the rest of the week. But if your luck is bad, be prepared to be totally dismayed. If you get a steak that has a rubbery texture, all you can do is eat as much as you can and take the rest home for your dog. Fido will be thrilled, but you might be incensed.

Shula's Steak House was the creation of legendary NFL head coach Don Shula, who is best known for leading the Miami Dolphins to the only undefeated season in league history. You might think that a football coach knows a thing or two about filling up hungry people who love to eat — and you'd be right. While this steakhouse offers a fine dining experience (and the prices to match), the portions are large, and the steaks are worth the money you'll spend. If you go to Shula's Steak House with a big appetite, order the 48 oz. Porterhouse, and there's no way you'll leave without feeling stuffed.

What holds this steakhouse back from being higher in this ranking is the lack of quality options on the menu. While the steaks are really good, the seafood is mediocre, the appetizers are a letdown, and even the cocktails manage to underwhelm.

While most of the locations are in Florida, you can also find Shula's Steak House in a few other states, including Arizona and Illinois.

Black Angus Steakhouse has grilled and seasoned meats with style for over half a century. Established in Seattle by Stuart Anderson, the chophouse chain can be found in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, and New Mexico. While traditional, it's never stuffy or too big for its britches. The atmosphere and food are classy enough for special occasions, but the rugged Western theme gives it a casual edge that's appropriate for both date night and happy hour.

The price point is definitely on the higher side (a 12-ounce ribeye will set your wallet back $33, per the menu) but that's to be expected for a steakhouse of this caliber. Hefty cuts of prime rib and sirloin justify the big bucks you'll be spending, but the seafood is nothing to sneeze at, either. ManTripping adored the lobster tails soaked in butter and lemon. Part of what made those bites so delicious was thanks to steaming, as opposed to the more traditional method of cooking the protein via the oven. 

The saying "you get what you pay for" usually gets tossed out for an underwhelming experience, but in the case of Black Angus, you'll be paying for a great time and equally great food to make it worth your while. And if you come for the steak, you'll have to stay for the impressive beer menu and live music on Friday evenings.

Texas Roadhouse is the result of what would happen if Outback Steakhouse traded in its Australia theme for a Texas theme and actually prioritized the flavor of its food. It even has a better version of Outback's iconic Bloomin' Onion called a Cactus Blossom.

Texas Roadhouse is definitely a casual steakhouse (with casual steakhouse prices), but don't think the laid-back atmosphere means the steaks will disappoint. Far from it. In fact, their steaks are much better than you might expect considering their fairly low prices. The tenderness of the Dallas Filet will cause you to drool with delight. If you want something unique, try the Road Kill. While the name isn't the most appetizing, this steak is covered with jack cheese in addition to mushrooms and onions that have been roasted to perfection. 

Texas Roadhouse is an especially good steakhouse option if you're going with a family, as the kids menu will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. With locations in all but one of the 50 states, you can likely find a Texas Roadhouse near you, whether you're in Texas or any other state in the country.

Mastro's Restaurants is a marvelous steakhouse where you need to either go big or go home. Don't order the normal steaks on the menu. The Porterhouse, Bone-In Ribeye, and the New York Strip are all above average but not worth writing home about. If you're at Mastro's, you owe it to yourself to try one of the Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks. Sure, you'll spend a whole lot of money — but your taste buds will agree that it is well worth the hit to your wallet.

If you've never eaten A5 Wagyu, you should know that this is some of the highest quality meat on earth. Its soft texture and fantastic flavor will be a shock to your senses. Beware, though, that you might not be able to go back to regular steak again.

Mastro's Restaurants also has a lot of seafood options on the menu. But you'd be wise to stay away because these dishes aren't good enough to justify the inflated price tag.

If you want a fine dining steakhouse experience but don't want to risk paying an arm and a leg, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House is a great place to go. Everything about this steakhouse is fancy, from the decor to the wine list. 

While all their steaks are worth ordering at least once, it's the 45 Day Dry-Aged Prime Ribeye that steals the show.  It's not cheap, but this is a steak that is well worth the money. The amount of flavor packed into one slab of meat is almost criminal. Even if you order it extra well-done, the flavor will knock your socks off. 

Though Mastro's Restaurants has seafood that should be avoided, you can order the seafood from Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House with confidence. Their salmon and sea bass dishes are particularly outstanding.

The only issue with this steakhouse is the lack of tasty sides. The best side is the Creamed Spinach that has bacon, cheddar cheese, eggs, and mushroom. All their other sides, while fancy, are well below average.

If the steakhouse spectrum is represented by corporate chains and mom-and-pops, Houston's lies firmly in the middle. Chophouses tend to all feel the same after a while, but each location attempts to offer a distinct dining experience (via Nation's Restaurant News), making it feel a little more special in comparison to the dominant mall franchises. Plus, the dishes branch out from the usual fare one comes to expect from a steakhouse. 

Of course, the beef is fantastic, being USDA Prime and all, but the offerings are far from traditional. Think ribeyes coated in a Hawaiian-inspired pineapple sauce and the tastiest baby back ribs outside of any smokehouse. Sides are not strictly limited to mashed spuds with butter, as dirty rice or tabbouleh compliments a hearty filet, all the while taking a basic meal to grander heights. The grilled artichokes are a particular standout, both for being delectable and periodically available throughout the year. 

A few Tripadvisor reviewers were less than thrilled with the higher prices on the Houston's menu, so you could probably find somewhere cheaper to eat. But the dining space, combined with impeccable service and unique culinary touches, still makes it a solid place for savoring steak. And while it's not a restaurant behemoth by any means, the chain is relatively spread out around the country (per Houston's). 

How many steakhouses hand-carve meats right at your table? It's no surprise Fogo de Chão reigns as one of America's go-to spots for carnivorous excess, thanks in part to how meat is served up within its walls. The chophouse has all the makings of a top-tier joint: superb atmosphere, ingenious layout, and food that truly lives up to its reputation. Diners use tokens (green for yes, red for no) to communicate their cravings to trawling staff members, who are equipped with gigantic spits of sizzling meats that they carve tableside. 

Picanha, the churrascaria's signature cut, is a must-order if moist, finely-sliced sirloin makes your mouth water, while the leg of lamb and filet mignon are also ridiculously tender. To get your money's worth, hold off on the chicken and sausage. Similarly, save room for prime cuts by skipping the salad bar. With the exception of maybe a fresh green salad, too many add-ons could fill you up before you get to savor the prime attraction, the meats. You'll be in good hands no matter what you select, although the steak asado is probably worth passing on due to the chewy, fatty texture (via Insider).

Diners are charged around $39 for lunch and $56 for dinner at the time of this writing (per Fast Food Menu Prices) meaning it's far from the cheapest steakhouse option out there. The experience will be so unforgettable, however, that you'll feel happy you treated yourself. 

The Capital Grille is a lot like Ruth's Chris Steak House. Why is it a spot higher in the ranking? It comes down to the variety on the menu. While Ruth's Chris Steak House keeps it relatively simple, The Capital Grille has an ambitiously robust menu that doesn't disappoint. No matter which meal you select, you will walk out of this steakhouse with a giant smile on your face.

The Gorgonzola and Black Truffle Crusted Dry Aged Bone-In NY Strip is a mouthful just to order, but it's well worth the twisting of your tongue. This tender steak is popping with a unique flavor that everyone should taste at least once in their life. Also, the Dry Aged Porterhouse Steak from The Capital Grille is the best porterhouse you will ever eat.

Of any steakhouse on this list, The Capital Grille also has the best seafood. The Sushi-Grade Sesame Seared Tuna literally melts in your mouth, while the Pan-Seared Sea Scallops will cause you to fantasize about the next time you'll visit this steakhouse.