The 30 Sit-Down Chains Making the Most Money Per Restaurant

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The Cheesecake Factory
Slice of Peppermint Bark Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.
High performers

There's no question that COVID has changed the entire game for the full-service segment. 

Gone are the days when restaurants can rely solely on their dine-in traffic. The pandemic has fast forwarded the sector into an era of convenience and an emphasis outside the four walls. 

The FSR 50 looked into the performance of the biggest casual-dining chains in the U.S. prior to COVID, including changes in average unit volume, or AUV—a number that shows how restaurants were faring across their system before the pandemic began.

CHECK OUT THE QUICK-SERVICE RANKINGS

These 30 restaurants earn the most per store, among the 50 top-grossing full-service chains in the country as defined by total systemwide sales.

Note: The data is by U.S. restaurants as of 2019 year end.

 

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The Cheesecake Factory
A slice of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.
1. The Cheesecake Factory

Average sales per unit (thousands): $10,765

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,180

Unit count: 204

Total change in units from 2018: 3

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Fogo de Chão
Fogo de Chão
2. Fogo de Chão

Average sales per unit (thousands): $9,259

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $375

Unit count: 43

Total change in units from 2018: 5

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
3. Cooper's Hawk Winery

Average sales per unit (thousands): $8,500

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $340

Unit count: 46

Total change in units from 2018: 12

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Pappadeaux Seafood
Pappadeaux Seafood
4. Pappadeux Seafood Kitchen

Average sales per unit (thousands): $8,375

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $335

Unit count: 40

Total change in units from 2018: 0

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Capital Grille
Capital Grille
5. The Capital Grille

Average sales per unit (thousands): $8,017

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $469

Unit count: 59

Total change in units from 2018: 1

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Yard House
Yard House food.
6. Yard House

Average sales per unit (thousands): $7,922

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $610

Unit count: 79

Total change in units from 2018: 4

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Maggiano's Little Italy
7. Maggiano's Little Italy

Average sales per unit (thousands): $7,905

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $415

Unit count: 53

Total change in units from 2018: 1

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Texas de Brazil Churrascaria
Texas de Brazil employee cutting meat.
8. Texas de Brazil Churrascaria

Average sales per unit (thousands): $6,435

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $370

Unit count: 62

Total change in units from 2018: 9

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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BRIO Tuscan Grille
9. Brio Tuscan Grille

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,833

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $315

Unit count: 50

Total change in units from 2018: –8

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris
10. Ruth's Chris Steak House

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,625

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $765

Unit count: 136

Total change in units from 2018: 0

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
Strawberry Shortcake Pizookie
11. BJ's Restaurants

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,610

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,150

Unit count: 208

Total change in units from 2018: 6

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Texas Roadhouse
The exterior of a Texas Roadhouse restaurant.
12. Texas Roadhouse

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,359

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,886

Unit count: 544

Total change in units from 2018: 11

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Olive Garden
An 11.5-inch long Giant Chicken Parmigiana is part of Olive Garden's new Giant Italian Classics menu.
13. Olive Garden

Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,045

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,351

Unit count: 867

Total change in units from 2018: 9

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Miller's Ale House
Miller's Ale House
14. Miller's Ale House

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,865

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $450

Unit count: 97

Total change in units from 2018: 9

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Dave & Buster's
Four customers cheers beer glasses inside a Dave & Buster's with sports playing on TVs in the background.
15. Dave & Buster's

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,488

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $570

Unit count: 135

Total change in units from 2018: 16

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Wikimedia Commons/Cheddar's
The exterior of a Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen restaurant.
16. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,414

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $715

Unit count: 166

Total change in units from 2018: 8

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
A platter of dishes from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
17. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,345

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $302

Unit count: 69

Total change in units from 2018: –1

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Michael Rivera/Wikimedia Commons
Exterior of a Chuy's restaurant.
18. Chuy's

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,266

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $433

Unit count: 103

Total change in units from 2018: 3

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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P.F. Chang's
19. P.F. Chang's

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,130

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $890

Unit count: 216

Total change in units from 2018: 1

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks new tailgate food.
20. Twin Peaks

Average sales per unit (thousands): $4,076

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $342

Unit count: 85

Total change in units from 2018: 2

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Saltgrass Steakhouse
Saltgrass
21. Saltgrass Steakhouse

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,973

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $296

Unit count: 76

Total change in units from 2018: 3

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel
22. Cracker Barrel

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,834

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,525

Unit count: 662

Total change in units from 2018: 7

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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LongHorn Steakhouse
A grilled steak and asparagus at LongHorn restaurant.
23. LongHorn Steakhouse

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,626

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,864

Unit count: 518

Total change in units from 2018: 8

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse's Three Cheese Steak Dip.
24. Outback Steakhouse

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,608

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,630

Unit count: 725

Total change in units from 2018: –8

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Red Lobster
Red Lobster surf and turf.
25. Red Lobster

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,494

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,350

Unit count: 670

Total change in units from 2018: –5

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Golden Corral
The exterior of a Golden Corral restaurant.
26. Golden Corral

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,392

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,635

Unit count: 475

Total change in units from 2018: –14

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen's Take and Bake Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage pizza.
27. California Pizza Kitchen

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,136

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $635

Unit count: 200

Total change in units from 2018: –5

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings four plates of wings.
28. Buffalo Wild Wings

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,054

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,700

Unit count: 1,215

Total change in units from 2018: 7

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Red Robin
Red Robin introduces the Bacon Curry Burger, Zen Chicken burger and Sparkling Berry Twist to its menu for a limited-time.
29. Red Robin

Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,004

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,675

Unit count: 561

Total change in units from 2018: 7

Read more in the FSR 50 here.

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Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill Lobster and Shrimp Roll.
30. Bonefish Grill

Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,970

U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $585

Unit count: 197

Total change in units from 2018: 0

Read more in the FSR 50 here.