The Steakhouse Chain Boomers Prefer Over Texas Roadhouse And Longhorn

Baby boomers often display preferences for food and beverage brands that differ from Gen Xers and Millennials. When it comes to casual steakhouses, boomers prefer one steakhouse chain over the popular Texas Roadhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse restaurants, with Outback Steakhouse receiving the highest opinion rating among boomers for casual steakhouse chains.

According to YouGov, in 2026, 73% of boomers said they had a positive opinion of Outback Steakhouse. YouGov is a data company that tracks popularity and opinions across several major brands. The company does this by sending out surveys to a wide sample of people from all walks of life to discover which brands people feel positively about.

Outback Steakhouse, which is on our list of the eight best chain steakhouses to eat at when you're on a budget, is an Aussie-themed restaurant; however, Outback Steakhouse is not owned by an Australian company. It opened in Tampa, Florida, in 1998 and was acquired by Bloomin' Brands in 2026, also based in Tampa. Its menu is known for its signature steaks, such as filet mignon and New York strip, steak combos, seafood, and side dishes like the famous Bloomin' Onion, all served in a fun atmosphere. Interestingly, while Outback often gets high reviews for quality and service, one review in Business Insider suggests it doesn't consistently rate at the top, compared with the other two steakhouses. Yet, for boomers in 2026, it's still the most favorably viewed steakhouse among these three brands.

According to Numerator, a data company that tracks how people shop, baby boomers, who make up 36% of U.S. households, are the most brand loyal among the generations measured, while also being the least interested in trying new brands. So, one reason for the popularity of Outback Steakhouse might be tied to its marketing and longevity. Outback Steakhouse is a recognizable brand. According to a 2018 article on YouGov, the Outback Steakhouse brand saw an increase in the percentage of adult U.S. customers open to trying Outback Steakhouse. Simultaneously, an uptick in ad views means more top-of-mind recognition for the restaurant as a dining option. 

For one particular marketing campaign, Outback hired a company to increase visits and make it more visible among competitors. Using behavioral marketing and location targeting, display ads were sent to potential customers who were within a 10-mile radius of Outback Steakhouse and within 5 miles of other restaurants at times when people were getting hungry, which significantly increased online and in-store traffic.

Food trends in 2026 reveal that customers are interested in less processed, seemingly more authentic food, including red meat and steak. Boomers might be a part of this trend. And as 80% of boomers shop for clean-living products, often checking nutrition labels to avoid certain ingredients, the authenticity of steaks and other Outback menu option may appeal whole food eaters. It doesn't hurt that Outback Steakhouse can also be budget-friendly; Outback's bestselling steak cut, the Outback center-cut sirloin, is also the most affordable cut on the menu. So, boomers can dine on authentic food and save money at a restaurant with which they're familiar.