FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS, TX — May 12, 2026 — Black Box Intelligence, the leading provider of restaurant industry data and insights, today announced the official winners of the 2026 Best Practices Awards. The winners were initially unveiled to the industry during the State of the Restaurant Industry webinar.

Now in its 29th year, the Best Practices Awards remain the most prestigious recognition of top performance in the restaurant industry. Unlike other industry awards, the BBI Best Practices Awards are entirely data-determined and never based on subjective panels or voting. Winners are identified through a rigorous, quantitative analysis of Black Box Intelligence’s proprietary workforce, guest experience, and financial performance data the full year 2025.

A “True Testament to Data-Driven Leadership.”

“Earning a Best Practices Award means that the hard data strictly proves your organization is operating at the absolute forefront of the restaurant industry,” said Victor Fernandez, Chief Insights Officer at Black Box Intelligence (pictured left). “In a highly competitive landscape, this year’s winners have demonstrated unmatched resilience, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to exceptional workplace environments and guest experience.”

“Since the first awards were handed out in 1998, the Best Practices Awards have evolved right alongside the restaurant industry, but our core mission has remained unchanged. For nearly three decades, we have provided a purely objective, data-backed standard for operational excellence. Seeing these incredible brands continue to set new benchmarks year after year is a true testament to the enduring power of data-driven leadership.”

For the first time since the first Best Practice Award was given out in 1998, Black Box Intelligence has crowned a Brand of the Year. This pinnacle achievement recognizes the ultimate standard in holistic restaurant performance. The winner was selected through a rigorous analysis of both financial performance and guest sentiment—specifically measuring the gap in comp traffic growth compared to industry peers alongside the absolute lowest ratio of guest complaints per 100,000 guests.

• 2026 Brand of the Year Winner: Chili’s

The Employer of Choice award recognizes brands that have cultivated exceptional workplace cultures. Winners are determined using Black Box Workforce Intelligence (WI) data, heavily weighing management and hourly turnover rates, alongside critical metrics regarding gender and racial/ethnic diversity parity.

• Quick Service: Culver’s

• Fast Casual: City Barbeque

• Family Dining: Eat’n Park

• Casual Dining: Texas Roadhouse

• Upscale Casual: Mi Cocina

• Fine Dining: The Capital Grille

The Voice of the Customer award honors brands that consistently deliver unparalleled guest experiences. Winners are selected based on our extensive guest sentiment data, specifically measuring the highest average star rating of the median restaurant for each brand throughout the 2025 calendar year.

• Limited Service: Urbane Cafe

• Full Service: Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

• Global (Non-US): Coco Bambu