Ten Restaurant Chains in the United States Where the Meal is an Experience
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Many people (myself included) see food as much more than the basic need to satisfy hunger, but rather as an enjoyable experience and an important part of the pleasure and success of a trip.
In a previous article, I presented the ten most recommended restaurant chains in the USA out of a selection of large-scale restaurant chains suitable for every style and budget. However, many times, beyond the food itself, the atmosphere, design, and entertainment during the meal are just as important as the quality of the food. In the USA, there are many restaurants that provide a unique experience beyond the food itself. Of course, there are unique restaurants without national distribution: a meal on a pirate ship, in a plane, a vintage car, or a magic castle. "Foodies" and novelty seekers will be able to find them wherever they travel. In this article, I will focus on ten chains where the meal is an experience worth trying at least once, especially if you are traveling with family.
Japanese "Teppanyaki" Steakhouse:
Restaurants where you sit around a table where the chef cooks the food right before the diners' eyes, accompanied by stunts, effects, and jokes. These include, among other things, making a volcano out of an onion, creating a beating heart from rice, catching an egg or food scraps in the chef's hat, and more. The menu is fixed and includes soup, sides (fried rice with eggs and vegetables, noodles and/or salad), and a main course of choice: chicken, steak, various seafood, or a combination of several options. The price is determined by the main course. Desserts and drinks are available for an extra charge. There is a children's menu with similar dishes at a significantly reduced price. It is an excellent place to celebrate a birthday or another festive event with an extended family (especially recommended for celebrating with children who receive chef hats and other surprises) or just to enjoy an experiential, amusing, and satisfying meal. Each restaurant has a large number of tables, usually designed for 6-10 diners. Of course, sushi lovers can order sushi to the table before the meal.
In the United States, there are both chains and independent restaurants in this style. The two large and leading chains are:
Benihana
A veteran Teppanyaki restaurant chain with a very wide distribution throughout the United States. The first branch opened as early as 1964 in New York, and today the restaurant has over 90 branches in the United States and several other international branches from Aruba to Brazil. The most branches are located in Florida, California, Texas, and New York, but there is even a branch in Alaska. The menu in the branches is quite similar, as are the stunts and the experience. The restaurants are usually large with many Teppanyaki tables, but they also have regular tables for meals based mainly on sushi.
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
A chain with wide distribution throughout the USA, but each state or restaurant has its own website. In Florida alone (where the link above leads), there are 12 different branches, 4 of them in Orlando. There are also branches in California, New York, Washington, Austin, and many other cities. The menu is very similar in all restaurants, and the experience is similar with the same stunts and atmosphere. Highly suitable for any group. Especially recommended for a family of 5-6 people or more who get a table to themselves with a private chef.
Brazilian "Churrasco" Steakhouse:
The Brazilian "Churrasco" style of cooking was born in southern Brazil, where local cowboys known as "Gauchos" used to celebrate with a meat feast called Churrasco. They slow-roasted meats over flames and ate them alongside a selection of vegetables and salads. The succulent meats were brought to the table of each group and carved in a festive display of skill. This style of dining, which became very popular in Brazil, was imported, initially to Texas and from there to all parts of the United States. Today there are private restaurants in various locations in the USA (with Texas leading the way, of course) along with Brazilian meat chains with wide distribution. The meal is usually "all you can eat," where waiters come to the table with giant skewers of different types of meat. Each time, a different waiter arrives with a different type of meat, chicken, Brazilian sausages, and even shrimp (and sometimes even grilled pineapple) and they carve the requested cut according to the size and desired level of doneness for the diner. The parade of skewers does not stop until you leave the table. Alongside the skewers, you receive various side dishes on the table such as vegetables, potatoes, and caramelized bananas, and you can eat salads, cheeses, breads, soups, and plenty of other sides at a large buffet (unlimited).
Two recommended chains with wide distribution are:
Texas de Brazil
The motto of this Brazilian steakhouse chain is Brazilian-style portions in generous Texan sizes. Texas is known for its massive portions (Texas loves to be the "biggest" in everything. Even its Capitol building is taller than the Capitol in Washington. The state has the largest United States flag in the world). The chain was founded by a Brazilian rancher who established the first branch in Texas. The parade of meat skewers is enormous and varied and includes fillet cuts alongside lamb chops, chorizo sausages, and more. Particularly popular dishes are garlic sirloin and picanha. The chain has over 50 branches throughout the United States with many branches especially in Florida, Texas, and New York, and over ten international branches in the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
Fogo de Chão
Another popular Brazilian steakhouse chain serving 16 types of meat alongside typical Brazilian sides such as cheese rolls, caramelized banana, and mashed potatoes. The restaurant has a rich salad bar. In the evening, the meal is all-you-can-eat at a fixed price that includes all meats, sides, and salads. Desserts and drinks are at an additional cost. There is a discounted lunch menu and a brunch menu on weekends. Children up to age 6 eat for free and those aged 7-12 at half price. The first restaurant in the chain opened in Brazil as early as 1975, and due to its success and the demand from American tourists in Brazil, the first US branch opened in Dallas, Texas. The chain's "flagship" restaurant, an impressive 3-story design, opened in New York in 2013. Today the chain has 55 branches throughout the United States and another 12 international branches in Brazil, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
"Theme" Restaurants
Famous for their design and decoration more than for their menu (all have a typical American menu). Four well-known chains are:
Rainforest Cafe
Each restaurant in the chain is designed as a rainforest with many animals ranging from elephants and tigers to monkeys, crocodiles, birds, and butterflies (all artificial, of course; many animals move, dance, sing, and make sounds), including special effects such as thunder and lightning, falling stars, and the sound of croaking frogs. The chain has branches in 16 US states, including the most popular family tourism destinations: Orlando (at Disney Springs), Las Vegas, Los Angeles (at Disneyland), Niagara Falls, and in large shopping malls such as the "Mall of America in Minneapolis" and "Sawgrass Mills" in Florida (the largest mall in Florida near Fort Lauderdale). The chain has many branches outside the USA as well, such as in Canada, England, and even the Emirates. Tip for families with young children who are not particularly daring: ask to sit near small, friendly animals and away from large and scary ones. Adjacent to the restaurant is a large theme souvenir shop that is not cheap. Try to treat it as a museum and promise the children souvenirs at cheaper stores (Dollar Tree and Five Below after the meal will do the job).
Hard Rock Cafe
A restaurant chain designed and decorated with inspiration from rock bands. On the walls are authentic memorabilia from famous musicians and bands: guitars, records, photos, and rock music plays (quite loudly) in the background. Adjacent to each restaurant is a nice (and not cheap) souvenir shop. It is essentially a "hall of fame for rock music" serving typical American food. The chain has a wide global presence, with 50 branches across the USA alone, including classic tourist destinations like New York, Niagara Falls, Miami, Orlando, and Los Angeles.
Planet Hollywood
Each branch in the chain is different from the other, but the principle is similar: a collection of memorabilia from famous movies and actors showcasing Hollywood at its best. The chain has only 4 branches in the USA, all in highly touristy destinations: Manhattan, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. The newest and most impressive branch in terms of design and size is located at Disney Springs in Orlando. There are international branches in Paris and London. Here, too, the menu is classic American with plenty of burgers, steaks, and fries.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
A chain with Southern food based primarily on seafood, especially varied shrimp dishes, as its name suggests. But even those who are not fans of seafood or fish will find a variety of other meat dishes, salads, and sides. The chain also prides itself on its margarita and a relaxed and happy atmosphere. The first branch of the chain opened in Monterey in 1996, inspired by the popular movie "Forrest Gump," with a design of a small town in Alabama featuring plenty of photos, sets, and decorations inspired by the iconic film. During the meal, you can test yourself with trivia questions from the movie and after the meal buy movie-related souvenirs at the adjacent shop. Today the chain has 23 branches in the United States, with a large presence in California and Florida (including popular tourist destinations like New York, Pier 39 in San Francisco, Miami, Universal in Orlando and Los Angeles, and more) as well as many branches throughout the world (from Europe to Asia).
Fondue Restaurant
In many US cities, there are Swiss fondue restaurants, but only one huge and popular chain:
The Melting Pot
A fondue restaurant chain with a vast presence throughout the USA, where the meal is a tasty, social, and interactive experience. It is recommended to go for a full meal that includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert, each in a separate fondue, but you can also go just for the dessert fondue if you are not very hungry. There are several menus, depending on the branch and the timing of the meal. In many branches, there are various special meal deals, and there is a discounted meal menu on Thursdays. In the full meal, the appetizer fondue is a cheese fondue (there is a choice from several options of mixtures of cheeses, wines, and sauces) where you dip breads, vegetables, and fruits.
The cheese mixture Spinach Artichoke, which combines several cheeses with garlic, spinach, and artichoke hearts, is highly recommended. For the main course, you choose a broth and what to dip in it: different types of meats, seafood, and even a vegetarian dish of various vegetables and dumplings.
You must leave room for the dessert fondue, which is based on various chocolate flavors to choose from with different sweet toppings, in which you dip cakes, cookies, and fruits.
The fondue pots are shared by all diners at the table, but each one receives a plate with the items to be dipped in the pot and small metal skewers, each in a different color, so separation can be maintained. The waitress prepares some of the dips right before your eyes and provides guidance on dipping times for each item with explanations of what each dish includes. Some meals also include salads. There is also an "a la carte" menu. The chain has over 90 branches in 31 US states and one branch in Edmonton, Canada. The largest number of branches is, as usual, in Florida (it seems they never stop eating out there), but there are of course branches in many popular tourist destinations such as: San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, Nashville, Savannah, Atlanta, Austin, and many others. It is not present in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
SUGAR FACTORY
A unique restaurant chain with classic American dishes such as burgers, fries, sandwiches and waffles, pastas, milkshakes, salads, and soups served in a special way with a cool design. An example of a lovely and photogenic dish: Sugar Factory Rainbow Sliders, an appetizer of mini burgers in buns in all colors of the rainbow.
Fittingly for its name, the chain is known for its desserts, especially the "Sundae" ice cream dishes. The chain's flagship dish: World Famous King Kong Sundae, designed for a dozen hungry diners and including 24 scoops of ice cream, caramelized bananas, donuts, cupcakes, waffles, various sauces, chocolate, whipped cream, gummy candies, cherries, and more.
The chain is also known for its enormous and varied cocktail menu. The menu varies slightly between different branches. The chain took dessert design a step further and turned desserts into fashion accessories that American celebs love to show off, such as sunglasses and bracelets with candy decorations that can be purchased at some branches alongside a selection of high-quality chocolates and sweets. The chain has 16 branches in 11 US states and several international branches in the United Arab Emirates and the Bahamas. The branches are located in popular tourist destinations such as South Beach in Miami, International Drive in Orlando, Las Vegas (including a small branch at the airport), in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, in Chicago, in Los Angeles and San Diego, and more.