Overview
Texas Roadhouse is an American casual dining chain built around steaks, ribs and a lively, Western-themed restaurant environment. Its core offer includes hand-cut steaks, freshly baked bread, substantial side dishes and table service. The proposition sits between lower-priced family dining and premium steakhouses, with an emphasis on generous portions and an accessible night out.
The business is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and its parent company, Texas Roadhouse, Inc., trades on Nasdaq under the ticker TXRH. Unlike many large restaurant brands, it operates most of its restaurants directly. Franchising remains part of the system, but it is not the principal ownership model across the domestic estate.
History and growth
Founder Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. Despite the name and Texan imagery, the brand originated in Indiana rather than Texas. Its early development established the combination of steak-led dining, an informal atmosphere and attentive service that still defines the concept.
The company went public in 2004, providing an important milestone in its expansion. Growth has subsequently come largely through opening restaurants rather than transforming the concept through major acquisitions. The parent also developed Bubba’s 33, a sports-themed restaurant concept, and Jaggers, a fast-casual business. These are separate brands: figures for the listed group should not automatically be presented as the number of Texas Roadhouse restaurants.
Global footprint
Texas Roadhouse had around 700 branded restaurants worldwide at the end of 2023. Its footprint remained overwhelmingly American, with restaurants across a broad range of US markets. The parent company reported 741 restaurants across all its concepts at that date, including company-operated and franchised locations; that larger figure is not a Texas Roadhouse-only count.
International expansion has used franchise partners, with established markets including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Philippines. These operations show that the format can travel beyond its US home market, although menus and operating practices may require local adaptation. For a prospective partner, the availability of a specific territory matters more than the headline size of the network.
How the franchise model works
Texas Roadhouse combines a large company-operated network with a smaller group of franchised restaurants. Domestic franchising has not been its main expansion engine, and the brand should not be treated as a routinely available US single-unit franchise opportunity. International development has relied more heavily on operators able to establish and manage restaurants within an agreed market.
Franchisees operate under contractual brand standards rather than simply purchasing the right to use the name. Restaurant design, food preparation, service, training and operating controls are central to maintaining consistency. International arrangements can also involve territory development obligations. Rights, opening schedules and support depend on the agreement, so existing franchise operations do not demonstrate that equivalent opportunities are currently available to new applicants.
Investment and requirements
There is no single publicly advertised investment package that can reliably be applied to every prospective Texas Roadhouse franchise worldwide. The company’s public reporting describes franchise arrangements, but it is not a substitute for a current, territory-specific offer. Prospective franchisees should request the relevant franchise disclosure documents, where applicable, and detailed investment and development requirements directly from the company.
A full-service steakhouse requires substantial premises, kitchen equipment, dining space and staffing. The eventual budget depends on property arrangements, construction costs, restaurant size, local labour conditions and supply-chain requirements. Pre-opening training, inventory and working capital also need consideration. An international development agreement covering several restaurants is a different undertaking from financing one outlet, and historical fee references should not be mistaken for current terms.
What franchisees should consider
The central operating challenge is delivering a consistent steakhouse experience at sufficient volume. Beef purchasing, product quality and kitchen execution have a direct bearing on the proposition. Labour scheduling is also important because table service, food preparation and peak-period demand make the format more operationally involved than many limited-service restaurant concepts.
Location selection must reflect the catchment, access, parking where relevant and the demand needed to support a sizeable dining room. International operators face additional questions around approved suppliers, imported ingredients, local tastes and regulation. Applicants should establish which responsibilities sit with the brand and which remain with the partner, particularly for recruitment, training, procurement and development. Strong brand recognition does not eliminate the need for experienced local management.
Competitive landscape
LongHorn Steakhouse and Outback Steakhouse are particularly close competitors because both target mainstream steakhouse occasions. Texas Roadhouse also competes with broader casual dining chains, including Chili’s and Applebee’s, for customers seeking an informal, full-service meal. Independent steakhouses and local restaurant groups add competition that varies considerably by market.
The brand’s distinctive combination of steaks, bread, side dishes and energetic service gives it a recognisable position, but customers can readily compare meal prices and perceived value. Competition extends beyond the menu to waiting times, hospitality and consistency. For investors considering restaurant brands, ownership models also differ: a strong consumer competitor is not necessarily an available franchise alternative in the same territory.
Outlook
Texas Roadhouse’s development rests on expanding a recognisable concept while protecting its operating consistency. Its substantial company-operated estate means the parent remains directly exposed to restaurant-level execution, rather than depending predominantly on franchise royalties. International partners provide a separate channel for bringing the brand into additional markets.
The enduring issues are practical: suitable sites, experienced managers, dependable beef supply and a customer proposition that remains attractive as costs change. Expansion should therefore be assessed through individual markets and operating capacity rather than assumed from global brand awareness. For prospective franchise partners, the first question is whether the company is seeking an operator in the intended territory; investment discussions follow from that, not the other way round.
Texas Roadhouse franchise: frequently asked questions
How much does a Texas Roadhouse franchise cost?
There is no single publicly advertised investment range applicable to every Texas Roadhouse franchise market. Costs depend on the site, restaurant specifications and whether the agreement covers one or several locations. Prospective operators should request current franchise disclosure documents, where applicable, and territory-specific fee, capital and development requirements directly from the company.
Can you open a Texas Roadhouse franchise in the United States?
Texas Roadhouse has franchised US restaurants, but its domestic network is predominantly company-operated. It should not be viewed as a routinely available single-unit franchise opportunity. Anyone considering the brand should confirm current availability directly with the company rather than assuming that the existence of established franchisees means new US applications are being accepted.
How many Texas Roadhouse locations are there?
There were around 700 Texas Roadhouse-branded restaurants worldwide at the end of 2023. The parent company reported 741 restaurants across all its concepts at that date, including company-operated and franchised units. That group total also covered Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, so it should not be used as the steakhouse brand’s standalone count.
Where was Texas Roadhouse founded?
Kent Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse in 1993, opening the first restaurant in Clarksville, Indiana. The name reflects the restaurant’s Western and Texan-inspired identity rather than its state of origin. The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and its publicly listed parent trades on Nasdaq under the ticker TXRH.
Does Texas Roadhouse offer international franchises?
Yes. Texas Roadhouse has expanded internationally through franchise partners, including in markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Philippines. Availability depends on territorial rights and the company’s development priorities. Prospective partners should establish whether their proposed market is open and what operating experience and development commitments are required.
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Figures are approximate and based on publicly reported information as of 2025. Franchise costs and terms change; prospective franchisees should obtain the brand’s current disclosure documents and take independent legal and financial advice. Profile updated October 2026.