The Top 'Casual Dining Chain' in America Has 3 Maine Locations

This popular restaurant chain, with a handful of locations in Maine, was recently named the #1 casual dining chain in America.

Listen, what even makes a dining chain ‘casual’? What are the actual rules here—and if we’ve got casual dining chains, does that mean somewhere out there, someone’s working on launching an ‘advanced dining chain' or maybe even a ‘competitive dining league' for restaurants?

That said, how is the top casual dining chain in the country even decided? What metrics are used to determine that?

For years, Olive Garden held the crown as the top casual dining chain in America, dishing out endless breadsticks and unbeatable brand recognition. But according to new data from Technomic’s annual ranking of the 500 largest restaurant chains, measured by systemwide sales, a new name has officially taken the top spot.

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And with all of that in mind— which chain has officially surpassed Olive Garden to take the top spot?

According to new data from Technomic, Texas Roadhouse has taken the lead, with a nearly 15% jump in sales last year that pushed it to $5.5 billion, just ahead of Olive Garden’s $5.2 billion — ending its run at the top since 2018.

Credit: Google Maps

There you have it! Texas Roadhouse, with locations in Bangor, Augusta, and Scarborough, is now the top casual dining chain in the country.

What are your thoughts on this news about Texas Roadhouse? What’s your favorite casual dining chain? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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