Nostalgic Restaurant Chain Big in the '80s Is Plotting a Comeback
Sizzler was a popular restaurant chain in the 1980s and 1990s, although it officially launched in 1958.
When it started, Sizzler's goal was to make a steakhouse that was affordable, as a fast-food craze swept the U.S. QSR Magazine argues it helped invent the fast-casual category of dining. Many people who grew up with Sizzler remember the chain's all-you-can-eat salad bar.
However, like other restaurants, Sizzler started to experience a downturn that almost put it out of business.
- As of June 2025, there were 74 Sizzler restaurants located in the U.S., mostly in California. According to MLive, the chain once had 700 restaurants throughout the U.S.
- The brand's highest number of restaurants was in the 1990s. The chain had 109 restaurants in 2020, when the pandemic prompted it to file for bankruptcy, according to Restaurant Business.
Now, according to QSR Magazine, Sizzler is aiming for a "rebirth."
Sizzler's Chief Growth Officer Says the Chain Made a Mistake by Trying to Change Too Much
Robert Clark, the chief growth officer for Sizzler, told QSR Magazine that the brand made a mistake trying to change what it was known for (fast-casual dining), and is now going to double down on the staples.
Of the strategy of trying to change with the times, “it just never worked,” Clark told the magazine. “Our current leadership is much more focused on hey, let’s take the best of Sizzler and let’s make it even better.”
(Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Clark told QSR that the brand has been updating restaurants and is seeing an uptick in sales in those restaurants. The chain launched into a major brand "excavation," revisiting everything from the logo to how it interacts with customers, the magazine reported.
“We feel like we have a really great brand here,” Clark told QSR Magazine. “And our results have been very solid. We constantly pop up in pop culture. I think what we’re trying to do with the remodel is really stay relevant and have facilities and assets that meet our reputation. We understand that remodeling is probably the single biggest driver of guests in the restaurant. It’s the most important thing I think we could do aside from a lot of other operational things we’re doing as well.”
Sizzler USA Filed for Bankruptcy During the Pandemic
Sizzler struck bottom during the pandemic when the company filed for bankruptcy in 2020, according to Restaurant Business.
The chain "had been in decline before it sought debt protection," but the pandemic "pushed the company over the edge," that site reported. The company faced pressures, including "higher labor costs and local taxes," according to Restaurant Business.
According to Restaurant Business, the Sizzler chain, which took off in the 1980s, was popular enough that it ended up in movies, notably 1992's White Men Can’t Jump.
The chain first filed for debt protection in 1996, Restaurant Business reported, adding that Sizzler is not the only chain struggling in its space. Competitor chains like Ponderosa and Luby’s have had struggles as well, according to Restaurant Business.