The Only Top 10 Chain That Won’t Open in Minnesota
Minnesota has a pretty solid lineup when it comes to chain restaurants. Whether you're craving a burrito the size of your head or a bottomless basket of breadsticks, you can usually find a familiar spot nearby.
Still, there’s one major chain that has somehow never set up shop here. You’ll see it all over the country, and people rave about it online, but for some reason, Minnesota has been left off the map.
Top 10 Casual Dining Chains - One That's Nowhere in MN
RestaurantBusinessOnline.com recently released its list of the Top 10 casual-dining chains in America. Texas Roadhouse landed the top spot, followed by Olive Garden and Chili’s. All three have multiple locations throughout Minnesota.
The rest of the top 10 also have a presence in the state, except for one.
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LongHorn Steakhouse: Popular but Missing
Coming in at #6 on the list is LongHorn Steakhouse, and it’s noticeably absent from Minnesota. With nearly 600 locations across 37 states, plus Puerto Rico and even the Philippines, this popular steakhouse has never found a home in the Land of 10,000... well, everything but LongHorn.
LongHorn was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1981 in a former adult bookstore. The brand grew rapidly through the 1990s and was acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2007, the same company that owns Olive Garden and The Capital Grille.
While LongHorn is planning to open new locations in California, Florida, and Georgia in 2025, there’s still nothing in the works for Minnesota. If you’re looking to try it for yourself, you’ll have to head across state lines. Locations are available in Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota.
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