8 Chain Restaurants That Have The Best Loaded Baked Potatoes, According To Customers

Potatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables in the U.S. The tubers didn't make it to the country until the 1600s, but quickly took hold as a main source of nutrition. That remains true today, with many Americans eating them at least once a week, according to a consumer report conducted on behalf of Potatoes USA, a national research and marketing organization dedicated to the vegetables. People's favorite ways to make them are mashed and baked, and adding a variety of toppings to those baked potatoes is an especially popular option. 

Those loaded baked potatoes are popping up on more restaurant menus, and fans can't get enough of them. The spuds on this list are repeatedly praised for crispy skin, fluffy interiors, and the great taste of their toppings. Some of the potatoes have salt crusts that customers love, and you can get similar results at home by soaking them in a brine solution before baking. And if you follow the late, great Dolly Parton's advice, you don't even need to pierce or wrap the spuds before they go in the oven. 

The first McAlister's Deli was started in 1989 as a classic deli serving sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Today, there are more than 580 locations where customers can try high-protein, vegetarian, or GLP-1 friendly items. One of the most popular things on the menu is the chain's giant spuds. In fact, in 2024 the brand sold nearly six million of the potatoes, according to Restaurant Business. The company only buys Idaho Russets of a particular size and weight to ensure everyone gets a large portion, and Chowhound reports they sometimes combine two potatoes to make a single larger one. The restaurant rotates different toppings for its limited time offers, but seven spuds are permanently on the menu, including two vegetarian options. 

People are impressed by the potatoes, calling them some of the largest they've had. Several diners say they rarely finish them all at once, but still appreciate the flavor and texture of the oversized spuds. One fan suggests carb-lovers try out the potatoes when the next craving hits, and all the potatoes are popular, but the veggie spud gets especially high praise. 

Texas-based Jason's Deli has been serving sandwiches and sides made from high quality ingredients since the mid-1970s. The chain's nearly 240 locations focus on natural foods without artificial dyes, flavors, and high-fructose corn syrup (excluding some fountain drinks). The brand accommodates vegetarians and gluten sensitive customers, as well as those craving meat options. 

The menu highlights various pastas, salads, and specialty sandwiches, and the chain has one of the best French dip subs in the country. Rivaling the roast beef in popularity is the restaurant's oversized baked potatoes. They come in a standard loaded version, Texas style with barbecue beef, a grilled chicken and ranch option, and the Pollo Mexicano, which has grilled chicken, pico de gallo, and spices in addition to the standard loaded toppings. 

Diners say the potatoes are among the largest they've had in a restaurant, while praising the taste and combinations of the generous portions of toppings. They're a go-to order for some, and with the size of the spud, you won't be hungry afterward. Many customers eat them for several meals, and one person was impressed with how crispy the spud's skin was, calling it delicious and wanting to return for another. Fans also appreciate the value of the potato, citing the size and flavor as worth the price. 

Texas Roadhouse makes as much of its food from scratch as possible. Established in 1993, the brand is known for its fresh bread, hand-cut steaks, and incredible sides that can often be upgraded with simple hacks. There are more than 800 locations serving sautéed mushrooms and onions, seasoned rice and corn, and baked regular and sweet potatoes. The regular baked version can be topped with chili, bacon bits, cheddar, sour cream, or buttery spread, or whatever combination of them the customer likes. The basic potato costs $3.99 at the Fresno, California location, with the other additions costing from $0.50 to $1.79. 

Diners enjoy the salt-coated skin so much they search for ways to duplicate it at home because they remember the spuds long after they've dined at the restaurant. In fact, the potatoes are a part of many people's go-to orders at the chain. Diners also appreciate the combination of the toppings, and some people suggest getting the chili to go with the potato for an extra kick of flavor and texture. Fans have called the potatoes mouthwatering, and one diner said they were among the best spuds out there. The taters are big enough that people can bring part of it home to eat later, but customers with dietary restrictions should know the potatoes are rubbed with bacon fat to help get them crispy. 

Dave Thomas created Wendy's in the late 1960s and watched it grow from a single restaurant to 1,000 in its first decade. Today, there are hundreds of locations in Canada, around 1,000 internationally, and 7,000 individual spots in the U.S. While the chain might be best known for its iconic square beef patties, it's also among the only fast food franchises that sells baked potatoes alongside fries and salads. In fact, there are five kinds to choose from, including plain, bacon cheese, sour cream and chive, cheese, or chili & cheese. 

One fan on Reddit said they hope the potatoes are never taken off the menu, and others quickly agreed, saying they enjoy the spuds in all of their iterations. Customers note the potatoes are tender, and many have nostalgic memories of the baked potatoes from childhood and college. One person called the combination of crisp skin and the cheese, bacon, and sour cream toppings divine, while reporting it was beautifully cooked. Fans say it's hard to stop eating the potatoes once they've started, but the fact they're served so hot can help. If you're not near a Wendy's location, or just prefer making your spuds at home, using Sloppy Joe mix as a topping can closely replicate the restaurant's chili option. 

LongHorn Steakhouse has been dedicated to serving fresh, never frozen, flame-grilled steaks since it was first established in 1981. The brand's philosophy paid off, and now there are more than 500 locations across the nation, serving cuts of beef like the porterhouse, ribeye, sirloin, and New York strip. In addition to steaks, the restaurant has fried and grilled seafood and a selection of nearly a dozen sides, including corn on the cob, rice pilaf, brussels sprouts, and several versions of potatoes. The loaded baked option is quite popular and comes with sour cream, smoked bacon, cheddar, scallions, and butter. In California, Maryland, the whole thing costs $3.49, with the option of adding a parmesan crust for $2.99 more. 

Customers enjoy the spuds, saying the toppings are plentiful and the whole thing is flavorful. People also call the potatoes fresh and the toppings tasty, with other diners noting the baked taters were well cooked. Customers often prefer LongHorn's potatoes over competitors, saying they've never been disappointed by the restaurant or the spuds silky interiors.  Don't worry if you're not able to finish it at the restaurant because fans say they reheat well and taste great as leftovers. 

When Red Lobster first opened its doors in 1968, no one knew the restaurant would grow into a worldwide chain. The company has encountered trouble in recent years, having declared bankruptcy in 2024 and closing over 160 locations in 2026. Even with that, the brand still has an impressive 540 restaurants open, and is still running popular promotions like endless shrimp and Crabfest. Red Lobster has plenty of ways to hack the menu, especially with one of its many sides. Aside from turning the Cheddar Bay Biscuits into sliders, you can make one of its baked potatoes into a loaded option or add lobster for even more creamy decadence. 

Fans of the lobster baked potatoes said the chain had really come up with something special when they debuted in the early 2020s. The diners reported the spuds were tasty and that they were happy to have tried them. Others agreed, with one person even saying the potatoes were a game changer for how they viewed lobster. Most customers simply call it yummy or delicious, though. The regular loaded potatoes also get praise for the toppings and tender interior. 

Founded in 2000, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is dedicated to creating scrumptious food that's cooked over open flames. The chain is described as "polished-casual" and has more than 50 locations from coast to coast. In addition to grilled shrimp and a variety of steaks, the restaurant also serves wood-fired fish and chicken alongside an assortment of sides. One of those is the loaded baked potato, which you can get as part of the regular lunch menu, the perfect pair lunch menu, or at dinner. The customizable potato costs $7.50 at the Annapolis, Maryland location and comes with whipped butter, smoked cheddar, sour cream, green onions, and applewood smoked bacon bits. 

Diners love the chain's technique of salt crusting the potato's skin, which creates a crunchy, well-seasoned exterior. People say the potatoes are incredible and delicious and are large enough to have on their own. Customers enjoy the entire potato, thanks to its combination of flavors and textures. One person said it was the highlight of their meal, with another noting the spud was cooked to perfection. Diners say the potatoes are generously topped with cheddar, bacon, and sour cream, and that the smoked bacon was a standout. 

Ocean Prime is an upscale dining chain with just over 20 locations. One of the most expensive seafood chains in the country, the first restaurant opened in 2008 in Troy, Michigan. Despite being far from an ocean, the eatery thrived and continues to do so today. The menu includes responsibly sourced seafood, such as king crab legs, lobsters, tuna, and sea scallops. There's also a selection of steaks and various sides, like the smoked Gouda tater tots, parmesan truffle fries, a twice-baked potato, and a loaded baked potato. The loaded version costs $16 at the Washington, D.C. location, as does the twice baked option. 

Customers praise the loaded baked potato, saying it's among the largest spuds they've encountered in a restaurant and that it comes smothered in melty cheddar, with a generous amount of bacon and chives. Others agree, with one person reporting that all three people in their party shared the potato and still had enough to take some home with them. Reviewers call the potatoes amazing and note that it's cooked very well, with a tender, fluffy interior. 

Deciding which loaded baked potatoes should be on this list involved narrowing down dozens of different chains across the country. I had to examine multiple factors, such as the overall customer experience, the value and taste of the potatoes, whether the spuds were regularly available, and the prices.

I then searched through social media posts, comment threads, professional reviews, and user review sites. Only the potatoes with the most positive customer reviews across several platforms were chosen for the final list, and the ranking was based on the number of positive reviews the loaded taters had on those various platforms.

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