10 Restaurants Where the Side Dish Became Just as Famous as the Main
You walk into a restaurant planning to order a steak, some seafood, or a juicy chicken sandwich. But before the main course even arrives, you’re already thinking about the bread, fries, or that one appetizer you absolutely refuse to skip.
Sound familiar? Some restaurants have created side dishes so popular that they’ve become attractions in their own right. In a few cases, these extras have even topped individual main dishes in reported ordering rankings.
From endless breadsticks to crispy waffle fries, here are 10 restaurants where the sides have earned a loyal following of their own.
Red Lobster: Cheddar Bay Biscuits
The biscuits that became a reason to visit
You might arrive at Red Lobster thinking about shrimp or lobster, but those warm, cheesy biscuits can easily steal your attention. The famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits have become one of the seafood chain’s most recognizable offerings.
According to company-sourced reporting, the biscuits debuted in 1992 and were originally served to customers waiting in the lobby. They proved popular enough to move to restaurant tables.
Their appeal eventually expanded beyond dining rooms. Red Lobster now sells branded biscuit mixes and frozen biscuits, meaning fans can enjoy a version of the restaurant favorite at home.
Related: 8 American Overpriced Foods That Aren’t Worth the Hype
Olive Garden: Breadsticks
The free refills people remember
For many Olive Garden customers, the meal doesn’t feel complete without a basket of warm breadsticks. Pasta might be the main attraction, but those garlic-seasoned sticks have become part of the restaurant’s identity.
According to a 2025 Fortune report, the tradition began shortly after Olive Garden opened in 1982. When large crowds slowed food service, employees began offering free breadstick refills.
What started as a practical solution developed into the chain’s famous never-ending first course. Today, customers can also purchase breadsticks separately, including bake-at-home options.
Texas Roadhouse: Fresh-Baked Rolls
The bread basket worth saving room for
A steakhouse might seem like the last place where bread could compete for attention. Yet Texas Roadhouse has made its fresh-baked rolls with honey cinnamon butter a recognizable part of the experience.
The company says its rolls are baked fresh every five minutes. Paired with the sweet, buttery spread, they’re the kind of starter that makes saving room for dinner a challenge.
Their popularity has also inspired officially licensed frozen retail rolls. Those supermarket versions come with honey cinnamon glaze rather than the restaurant’s familiar butter, but they show how far the bread’s appeal extends.
Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin’ Onion
The appetizer that became a spectacle
Steaks may headline the menu, but Outback Steakhouse has another famous attraction: the Bloomin’ Onion.
Created by cofounder Tim Gannon in 1988, this appetizer features an onion cut into approximately 200 petals, breaded, fried, and served with dipping sauce.
Its popularity is more than a catchy name. In a June 2024 announcement, Outback said it sold more than 8 million Bloomin’ Onions annually.
It’s not technically a side dish included with dinner, but this shareable starter has certainly earned a reputation of its own.
Related:Chicago Stole New York’s Steakhouse Crown And Meat Lovers Are Booking Flights to the Windy City
Zankou Chicken: Garlic Sauce
The little container with a big following
Sometimes the smallest addition makes the biggest impression.
Southern California’s Zankou Chicken is known for rotisserie chicken and Mediterranean dishes, but its creamy garlic sauce, a version of toum, has become closely associated with the restaurant.
The sauce is so popular that customers can purchase extra portions separately.
In December 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that a company representative estimated the 13 locations discussed used more than 1 million pounds of garlic sauce annually.
That’s an impressive amount of sauce for something served alongside the main meal.
Bonefish Grill: Bang Bang Shrimp
The starter that earned a permanent spot
At Bonefish Grill, fresh fish and seafood entrées are central to the menu. However, its Bang Bang Shrimp has developed a following that makes it a major attraction.
The dish features crispy shrimp coated in a creamy, spicy sauce.
According to Bonefish Grill, Bang Bang Shrimp originally appeared as a special before customer enthusiasm helped earn it a permanent menu spot.
The restaurant even built a recurring promotion called Bang Wednesday around the appetizer, although offer terms and participation vary.
It’s a good example of a starter becoming much more than something to order before dinner.
Cracker Barrel: Hashbrown Casserole
The comfort-food side guests keep choosing
Cracker Barrel offers plenty of familiar country-style meals, but its Hashbrown Casserole deserves special attention.
Made with shredded potatoes, Colby cheese, onions, and seasonings, this baked side has become a distinctive menu favorite.
In 2023, Cracker Barrel placed the original Hashbrown Casserole at the top of its guest-favorite sides list.
Its popularity has also inspired loaded versions and larger dishes built around the casserole concept.
When a side inspires additional menu creations, it’s clearly doing something right.
KFC: Cole Slaw
The cold side with a surprising sales history
Fried chicken is obviously KFC’s main attraction, but its finely chopped coleslaw has a history worth remembering.
Made with cabbage, carrots, onions, and a sweet-and-sour dressing, the chilled side provides a different flavor and texture alongside the chain’s chicken.
A 1997 newspaper column reported that KFC sold more than twice as much coleslaw by weight as mashed potatoes and gravy. It also described customers buying the coleslaw without ordering chicken.
Those figures are historical, not a confirmed current ranking, but they illustrate how a humble side developed an independent following.
Chick-fil-A: Waffle Potato Fries
The fries that topped regional ordering lists
Chicken sandwiches might define Chick-fil-A, but waffle fries have repeatedly demonstrated their own appeal.
Introduced in 1985, these distinctive lattice-cut fries have become a familiar companion to the chain’s chicken meals.
In 2021, reported company rankings placed waffle fries as the most-ordered menu item across all six Chick-fil-A regions.
Customers also paid close attention when the company changed the recipe in late 2024. Following criticism, Chick-fil-A confirmed in 2026 that it had removed the added pea starch.
That’s a remarkable amount of attention for something ordered on the side.
McDonald’s: World Famous Fries
The classic side that topped an ordering ranking
Few restaurant sides are as instantly recognizable as McDonald’s World Famous Fries.
Interestingly, McDonald’s didn’t always serve french fries. According to its official history, the company replaced potato chips with fries in 1949.
Over time, those thin, crispy fries became an essential part of the McDonald’s experience.
Reporting on the company’s 2022 FANual placed fries first in its ordering ranking, ahead of cheeseburgers and McChicken sandwiches. The figures reflected reported ordering activity rather than a nationwide popularity survey, but they still make a strong case for the side’s popularity.
And really, how many people order a burger without at least considering fries?
The takeaway: A great main course might bring customers through the door, but sometimes it’s the little extras that make them eager to return.
