Jaggers is a fast-casual restaurant brand created by Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH), one of America’s most consistently profitable casual dining companies. Launched in 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky, Jaggers has grown from a single test concept into a 16-location chain with an active franchise pipeline targeting accelerated expansion in 2026 and beyond. For master franchise investors evaluating the fast-casual segment, Jaggers represents a rare opportunity backed by a publicly traded parent company with over $7.5 billion in annual systemwide sales.
Jaggers is a fast-casual restaurant concept developed by Texas Roadhouse, Inc. that serves scratch-made burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fresh salads, and hand-spun milkshakes. The brand operates 16 restaurants across the United States, with both company-owned and franchise locations.
Jaggers benefits directly from the operational DNA of Texas Roadhouse, a brand that has delivered positive comparable restaurant sales growth for 16 consecutive years. Every Jaggers menu item follows the same scratch-made philosophy that built Texas Roadhouse into a $7.5 billion brand — but in a smaller, faster format designed for today’s convenience-driven consumer. The approximately 3,000-square-foot footprint with drive-thru capability means lower build-out costs, fewer staff, and faster returns compared to full-service dining.
Texas Roadhouse reported record Q1 2026 revenue of $1.63 billion, underscoring the parent company’s financial strength and operational discipline that directly supports Jaggers’ growth trajectory.
The Jaggers menu focuses on a tight selection of high-quality items: hand-pressed burgers, crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, hand-breaded chicken tenders, freshly prepared salads with homemade dressings, and hand-spun milkshakes. Every item is made to order, differentiating the brand from most fast-casual competitors that rely on pre-prepared ingredients.
Texas Roadhouse has accelerated Jaggers development after signing its first franchise agreement with The Saxton Group, a major multi-brand restaurant operator, for 10 locations across east and central Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Saxton Group has already opened locations in Katy and Longview, Texas, with a third planned for Texarkana in 2026. The parent company is also planning 4 additional domestic Jaggers openings in 2026, bringing total system growth to approximately 20+ locations by year-end.
The expansion strategy prioritizes the Heartland region — states adjacent to Kentucky — for company-owned development, while franchise growth targets broader U.S. markets. This dual-track approach mirrors the disciplined rollout that Texas Roadhouse CEO Jerry Morgan has championed across the parent brand.
Unlike larger fast-casual chains that have expanded rapidly through aggressive franchising, Jaggers has taken a deliberate, quality-first approach. The brand competes in the premium burger-and-chicken segment alongside concepts like Shake Shack, Raising Cane’s, and Chick-fil-A — but with a key differentiator: its parent company’s 30+ years of proven restaurant operations, supply chain infrastructure, and real estate expertise.
The fast-casual franchise segment continues to attract investor interest globally, and Jaggers occupies a compelling niche as a smaller-format, drive-thru-enabled concept backed by institutional-grade operational support.
While Jaggers has not yet announced international expansion plans, the brand’s compact format, simple menu, and drive-thru model are well-suited for adaptation in high-growth Asian and Middle Eastern markets where American fast-casual brands continue to gain consumer traction. The parent company Texas Roadhouse already operates international franchise locations, providing a tested framework for cross-border expansion that could eventually extend to Jaggers.
For master franchise investors seeking an early-stage American fast-casual brand with blue-chip backing, Jaggers offers a compelling combination of proven product quality, an operationally disciplined parent company, and a scalable format designed for both domestic and international growth. The brand remains in the early stages of franchise rollout, which presents a potential first-mover advantage for qualified operators in untapped markets.
Jaggers is a fast-casual restaurant brand created by Texas Roadhouse, Inc. that serves scratch-made burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fresh salads, and hand-spun milkshakes in a compact drive-thru format.
As of early 2026, Jaggers operates 16 locations across the United States, including 10 company-owned and 6 franchise restaurants, with additional openings planned throughout the year.
Jaggers is wholly owned by Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH), a publicly traded casual dining company with over 750 restaurants worldwide.
This article was prepared by the VF Franchise Consulting editorial team — with over 30 years of experience in international franchise development, master franchise advisory, and brand expansion across Asia and the Middle East.
