Sizzler

Sizzler is a longstanding American casual dining brand, best known for its grilled steaks, fresh seafood, and signature salad bar. The company was founded in 1958 by Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California, originally opening as Sizzler Family Steak House. Over the decades, Sizzler became a familiar name, reaching its peak in the 1980s and 1990s with more than 700 locations across the United States and abroad.

As of November 2025, Sizzler operates 84 restaurants, with its footprint concentrated in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Puerto Rico. The company’s headquarters remain in Mission Viejo, California. Sizzler’s current approach centers on selective expansion, prioritizing the renovation and modernization of existing restaurants rather than opening new units at a rapid pace. This strategy took shape following the company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2023, which was prompted by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The remodeling initiative has been a notable milestone for Sizzler in recent years. Updated locations have seen substantial sales increases, with some restaurants doubling their sales after renovations. These upgrades focus on creating brighter, more open dining environments and refining the menu to highlight high-quality steaks, fresh seafood, and the well-known salad bar. Sizzler has also begun experimenting with new formats, such as the ZZ food truck, to test menu innovations and reach new customer segments.

In the past five years, Sizzler has shifted from a period of contraction and restructuring to a more stable and focused growth posture. The company’s leadership, including CEO Christopher Perkins and Chief Growth Officer Robert Clark, has emphasized the positive momentum resulting from these changes. While international Sizzler locations in Japan and Thailand are managed separately, the U.S. business continues to build on its legacy with a measured, renovation-driven strategy that aims to strengthen its presence in core western markets and adapt to evolving consumer preferences.