The

3

best

Steakhouse & Grill

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

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Steakhouse&Grill

Steakhouse and grill franchises operate in the full-service dining segment, offering grilled proteins, casual dining experiences, and bar-driven menus.

These concepts typically require larger footprints, higher build-out costs, and more complex operations than quick-service models, making system scale, revenue durability, and unit-level efficiency especially important when evaluating performance.

Below are the top steakhouse and grill franchises based on overall system strength and unit economics.

Moe’s Southwest Grill

7.6
/
10

Fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant franchise offering a variety of customizable burritos, tacos, and bowls, featuring fresh and flavorful ingredients with a Southwest flair.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

591
+
-7%
-7%
Franchise fee

?

$30,500
Investment

?

$625,000 - $1,850,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,167,000

+
5.9%
5.9%
Operating Profit

?

10.2%

Our score
7.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Moe’s Southwest Grill operates a fast-casual, grill-focused concept with a nationally established brand and broad unit base.
Its ranking is driven by strong system scale and solid unit-level economics despite recent contraction.

  • Large system with 591 franchisees
  • Average investment of ~$1.24M
  • Reasonable 1.06x payback
  • Slightly negative -7% franchisee growth tempers ranking

Famous Dave’s

7.2
/
10

Famous Dave's is a barbecue restaurant franchise known for its flavorful smoked meats, sauces, and classic BBQ dishes, offering a delicious and authentic barbecue dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

77
+
-15%
-15%
Franchise fee

?

$45,000
Investment

?

$465,000 - $4,511,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$2,707,000

+
-8.8%
-8.8%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Famous Dave’s delivers barbecue-focused casual dining with strong brand recognition and consistent revenue performance.
Its ranking reflects dependable unit economics offset by declining system size.

  • Mid-sized system with 77 franchisees
  • High average investment of ~$2.49M
  • Solid 0.92x payback
  • Declining -15% franchisee growth limits upside

Applebee’s

7.0
/
10

Applebee's is a casual dining restaurant franchise that serves a variety of American dishes, including appetizers, burgers, and entrees, offering a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere for dining out with friends and family.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

1460
+
-7%
-7%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$1,767,000 - $5,823,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$2,640,000

+
-1.5%
-1.5%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Applebee’s is a nationally recognized casual dining chain offering grill-centric American fare.
Its ranking benefits from unmatched scale but is weighed down by high capital requirements.

  • Massive system with 1,460 franchisees
  • Very high average investment of ~$3.80M
  • Slower 1.44x payback
  • Negative -7% franchisee growth impacts momentum

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