2026 has been an unusually turbulent year for chain restaurants. Outback Steakhouse has closed locations, Smokey Bones shut down entirely in April and Del Taco continues to reduce its footprint. The result is an unpredictable restaurant landscape where familiar menus and locations feel less permanent, while nostalgia for menu classics remains strong.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 D92<6\FA 6IE6?5D H6== 36J@?5 E96 E9C66 C6DE2FC2?ED] #646?E 492:? 4=@DFC6D 2?5 =@42E:@? 4FED D9@H 9@H H:56DAC625 E96 C6EC6?49>6?E 92D 364@>6[ :?4=F5:?8 >2;@C 3C2?5D =:<6 $E2C3F4<D[ !@A6J6D 2?5 y24< :? E96 q@I] |6?’D y@FC?2= C6A@CE65 2E =62DE a__ A=2??65 4=@DFC6D 2E (6?5J’D[ !:KK2 wFE 2?5 !2A2 y@9?’D E9:D J62C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^:?7=2E:@?\8C@46CJ\D9@AA:?8^Qmx?7=2E:@?k^2m[ =23@C 4@DED 2?5 D9:7E:?8 4@?DF>6C 3692G:@C 92G6 AFE AC6DDFC6 @? C6DE2FC2?E AC@7:E23:=:EJ[ H9:=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>6?D;@FC?2=]4@>^7@@5^b\A@AF=2C\72DE\7@@5\492:?D\4=@D:?8\2E\=62DE\a__\=@42E:@?D\:?\a_aeQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmD@>6 492:?D 2=D@ 7246 E96 72==@FEk^2m 7C@> C2A:5 6IA2?D:@? 2?5 492?8:?8 >2C<6E 4@?5:E:@?D] %9:D 42FD65 2? :?5FDECJ\H:56 AF==324< E92E 4@F=5 =625 E@ 7FCE96C 4@?D@=:52E:@? 2D C6DE2FC2?ED 7@4FD @? E96:C DEC@?86DE =@42E:@?D 2?5 >@DE AC@7:E23=6 >2C<6ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@C 5:?6CD[ 9@H6G6C[ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96E2<6@FE]4@>^a`h`ecg^4=@D65\5@H?\492:?\C6DE2FC2?ED\=@42E:@?D\a_ae^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmC6DE2FC2?E 4=@DFC6k^2m 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J >62? E96 6?5 @7 >6?F 72G@C:E6D] pD !2C256’D 4@==64E:@? @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A2C256]4@>^7@@5^5:D4@?E:?F65\72DE\7@@5\3FC86CDQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm5:D4@?E:?F65 72DE\7@@5 3FC86CDk^2m D9@HD[ 9@>6 4@@<D 42? 62D:=J C64C62E6 >6?F :E6>D E96J >:DD E9C@F89 4@AJ42E C64:A6D 2?5 2446DD:3=6 :?8C65:6?ED]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm#6DE2FC2?E ?@DE2=8:2 ?6G6C =62G6Dk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm!6@A=6 5@?’E ;FDE C6>6>36C 492:?\C6DE2FC2?E 7@@5j E96J C6>6>36C E96 C@25 EC:A E92E 6?565 2E 2 72>:=:2C 3@@E9[ E96 3:CE952J 5:??6C E96J C6BF6DE65 6G6CJ J62C[ E96 =2E6\?:89E 5C:G6\E9CF CF? @C E96 72>:=J >62= E92E 3642>6 A2CE @7 2 C@FE:?6] %9@D6 2DD@4:2E:@?D 42? >2<6 2? @C5:?2CJ C6DE2FC2?E 5:D9 766= :CC6A=24623=6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 }2E:@?2= #6DE2FC2?E pDD@4:2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6DE2FC2?E]@C8^65F42E:@?\2?5\C6D@FC46D^C6D@FC46\=:3C2CJ^H92ETtaTg_ThhD\9@E\:?\a_ae\4@>7@CE\962=E9\2?5\G2=F6^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQma_ae (92E’D w@E rF=:?2CJ u@C642DEk^2m AFED E92E ?@DE2=8:2 :?E@ 4@?E6IE] }62C=J b__ 4967D 2?5 :?5FDECJ @A6C2E@CD :56?E:7:65 4@>7@CE 2?5 ?@DE2=8:2 2>@?8 E96 J62C’D =625:?8 7@@5 EC6?5D[ :?DA:C:?8 C6DE2FC2?ED E@ C6H@C< @C 3C:?8 324< 72>:=:2C 5:D96D E@ 8:G6 5:?6CD 2 D6?D6 @7 72>:=:2C:EJ 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 4@??64E:@?] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmzur C646?E=J C6\C6=62D65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?JA@DE]4@>^a_ae^_f^`d^=:76DEJ=6^<74\C6DFCC64ED\:4@?:4\A@A4@C?\49:4<6?\27E6C\72?\56>2?5D^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm!@A4@C? r9:4<6?k^2m 27E6C 72?D C6A62E65=J 56>2?565 :ED 4@>6324<[ H9:=6 |4s@?2=5’D 3C@F89E 324< :ED 5:D4@?E:?F65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@CA@C2E6]>45@?2=5D]4@>^4@CA>45^@FC\DE@C:6D^2CE:4=6^&$>6?FDA@EE6C]9E>=Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmr26D2C $2F46k^2m 7@C 2 =:>:E65 E:>6 27E6C J62CD @7 72? :?E6C6DE] %96 C6DA@?D6 D9@HD E92E 4FDE@>6CD 5@?’E D:>A=J 7@C86E E96 7@@5 H96? 2 C6DE2FC2?E C6>@G6D :Ej E96J C6>6>36C :E[ E2=< 23@FE :E 2?5[ D@>6E:>6D[ <66A 2D<:?8 7@C :E J62CD =2E6C]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmr@AJ42E C64:A6D 8:G6 C6DE2FC2?E 4=2DD:4D 2 D64@?5 =:76k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr@AJ42E C64:A6D 8:G6 C6DE2FC2?E 72G@C:E6D 2 =:76 36J@?5 E96 >6?F] %96J =6E 9@>6 4@@<D C64C62E6 7=2G@CD E:65 E@ 72G@C:E6 >6>@C:6D[ 4C2G:?8D 2?5 EC25:E:@?D[ 6G6? H96? E96 @C:8:?2= 5:D9 :D ?@ =@?86C 2G2:=23=6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms2G:5 |FCA9J @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@5?D6CG:46]4@>^Qmu@@5?$6CG:46k^2m D66D E92E 2D 2? 25G2?E286 7@C C6DE2FC2?ED] “r@AJ42E C64:A6D 2C6 2 =:76=:?6[” 96 D2:5] “(96? 2 72? 72G@C:E6 5:D9 5:D2AA62CD[ 9@>6 4@@<D 5@?’E 7@C86E E96 3C2?5j E96J @3D6DD @G6C C64C62E:?8 :E[ 2?5 :? 5@:?8 D@[ E96J <66A D2J:?8 E96 C6DE2FC2?E’D ?2>6 @FE =@F5 7@C J62CD] %92E’D 7C66 3C2?5 6BF:EJ]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr@AJ42E C64:A6D 2=D@ 8:G6 5:?6CD 2 AC24E:42= H2J E@ 6?;@J E96:C 72G@C:E6D H:E9@FE A2J:?8 C6DE2FC2?E AC:46D 6G6CJ E:>6] “r@AJ42E C64:A6D 8:G6 2 G2=F65 4@>A=:>6?E E@ C6DE2FC2?ED[” D2:5 $96=3J $E@G6C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7:E2D2>2>2362C]4@>^Qmu:E 2D 2 |2>2 q62Ck^2m] “%96J’C6 8:G:?8 A6@A=6 2 H2J E@ C64C62E6 E96:C 72G@C:E6 7=2G@CD 2E 9@>6 W@C 2E =62DE ECJPX[ H9:49 :D 6DA64:2==J 96=A7F= H96? >6?F :E6>D 5:D2AA62C @C 62E:?8 @FE 364@>6D F?277@C523=6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~?6 42? >2<6 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]62DJ9@>6>256=:76]4@>^:465\2>6C:42?@\C64:A6^Qm$E2C3F4<D x465 p>6C:42?@k^2m 2E 9@>6 :? 7:G6 >:?FE6D H:E9@FE A2J:?8 4276 AC:46D] #6A62E E9:D E9C@F89 E96 DF>>6C[ 2?5 2 D:8?:7:42?E D2G:?8D DE24<D FA @G6C E:>6]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm#6DE2FC2?E 4=2DD:4D H@CE9 >2<:?8 2E 9@>6k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr92:? C6DE2FC2?ED >2J 492?86 E96:C >6?FD[ 4=@D6 =@42E:@?D @C AF== 72? 72G@C:E6D[ 3FE 9@>6 4@@<D 42? <66A 5:D96D E96J =@G6 :? E96:C C68F=2C C@E2E:@?] (:E9 ~FE324< $E62<9@FD6[ (6?5J’D[ !:KK2 wFE 2?5 !@A6J6D 2>@?8 >2;@C 3C2?5D 8@:?8 E9C@F89 492?86D[ 4@AJ42E C64:A6D 8:G6 72?D 2 H2J E@ C64C62E6 72>:=:2C 7=2G@CD 2E 9@>6 H96?6G6C E96J H2?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~FE324< 72?D 5@?’E 92G6 E@ H2:E 7@C E96:C ?6IE C6DE2FC2?E G:D:E E@ 6?;@J @?6 @7 E96 492:?’D >@DE 4@>7@CE:?8 5:D96D] x7 J@F’C6 4C2G:?8 2 3@H= @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]62DJ9@>6>256=:76]4@>^@FE324<\A@E2E@\D@FA^Qm~FE324< !@E2E@ $@FAk^2m[ J@F 42? C64C62E6 @?6 2E 9@>6 :? >:?FE6D FD:?8 6G6CJ52J :?8C65:6?ED =:<6 82C=:4[ @?:@?[ 7=@FC[ 49:4<6? 3C@E9 2?5 962GJ 4C62>] $:>A=J >:I E@86E96C :? 2 A@E[ 255 E96 3@:=65 A@E2E@6D 2?5 7:?:D9 @77 H:E9 D9C65565 4966D6 2?5 324@? 3:ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 D2>6 8@6D 7@C 72? 72G@C:E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@AJ<2E]4@>^H6?5JD\49:=:\a^Qm(6?5J’D r9:=:k^2m] x?DE625 @7 >2<:?8 2 5C:G6\E9CF DE@A[ J@F 42? D:>>6C 2 962CEJ A@E 2E 9@>6 3J 4@>3:?:?8 8C@F?5 3667[ 362?D[ E@>2E@6D 2?5 DA:46D 7@C 2 G6CD:@? E92E E2DE6D C6>2C<23=J 4=@D6 E@ E96 @C:8:?2=] !:KK2 ?:89E :D ;FDE 2D 62DJ E@ 3C:?8 9@>6[ 2D :E’D D:>A=6 E@ C64C62E6 !:KK2 wFE’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@53=@82==:2?46]4@>^A:KK2\9FE\@C:8:?2=\A2?\A:KK2\C64:A6^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm~C:8:?2= !2? !:KK2k^2m 5@H? E@ :ED D@7E[ 496HJ 4CFDE 2?5 4C:DAJ 6586D H:E9@FE =62G:?8 J@FC <:E496?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp?5 :7 :E’D !@A6J6D’ D:8?2EFC6 5:AA:?8 D2F46 J@F’C6 27E6C[ J@F 42? DE:C E@86E96C 2 32E49 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]62DJ9@>6>256=:76]4@>^A@A6J6D\DA:4J\>2J@??2:D6^Qm!@A6J6D $A:4J |2J@??2:D6k^2m H:E9 :?8C65:6?ED 2=C625J :? J@FC A2?ECJ] yFDE 4@>3:?6 >2J@??2:D6[ DA:46D 2?5 G:?682C :? 2 3@H=[ 2?5 :E’D 8@@5 E@ 8@] $AC625 :E @? D2?5H:496D[ A2:C :E H:E9 7C:6D @C FD6 :E 2D 2 5:A H96?6G6C 2 72DE\7@@5 4C2G:?8 DEC:<6D]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm|6?FD 492?86[ 3FE C64:A6D 2C6 7@C6G6Ck^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm#6DE2FC2?E 492:?D H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6G@=G6 2D E96J C6DA@?5 E@ D9:7E:?8 E2DE6D[ C:D:?8 4@DED 2?5 492?8:?8 3FD:?6DD C62=:E:6D] qFE E96 5:D96D A6@A=6 C6>6>36C >@DE @7E6? @FE=:G6 E96 >6?FD E92E 7:CDE >256 E96> 72>@FD] p 8C62E 4@AJ42E C64:A6 EFC?D E92E ?@DE2=8:2 :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 >@C6 FD67F= E92? 2 >6>@CJi 2 5:D9 J@F 42? >2<6[ D92C6 2?5 A2DD 5@H? :? J@FC @H? <:E496?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmy6DD:42 w2882C5 :D E96 4C62E@C 369:?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]62DJ9@>6>256=:76]4@>^Qmt2DJ w@>6>256 {:76k^2m[ H96C6 D96 56G6=@AD 4@>7@CE 7@@5 7@C 6G6CJ52J >62=D 2?5 7@C 82E96C:?8 H:E9 E96 A6@A=6 J@F =@G6] $96’D 6DA64:2==J <?@H? 7@C C64C62E:?8 E96 C6DE2FC2?E 5:D96D C6256CD 42?’E DE@A E9:?<:?8 23@FE 2?5 C6G:G:?8 @=5\72D9:@?65 A@E=F4< 4=2DD:4D H@CE9 A2DD:?8 5@H?[ 6G6CJ C64:A6 E6DE65 2?5 A6C764E65 :? 96C @H? 9@>6 <:E496?] w6C H@C< 92D 366? 762EFC65 @? *29@@[ %96 (2D9:?8E@? %:>6D[ %96 q2=E:>@C6 !@DE[ r9:428@ $F?\%:>6D 2?5 $62EE=6 %:>6D]k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^4@AJ42E\C64:A6D\<66A\4=2DD:4D\2=:G6^Qmr92:? C6DE2FC2?ED D9C:?<[ 3FE 4@AJ42E C64:A6D <66A E96 4=2DD:4D 2=:G6k^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am
