A chef shares five restaurant chains known for their house-made soups.
When you’re craving a bowl of soup, you don’t always have to head to a neighborhood restaurant or make a pot at home. Some restaurant chains have built a reputation for soups that are made with care and have become staples on their menus. Eat This, Not That! asked Therese Buchanan, home chef, food blogger & recipe developer at Tessie’s Table,
which chains she thinks do house-made soup especially well. Here are her top five.”
Panera Bread
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Panera Bread has made soup a central part of its menu, with a selection that changes throughout the year. The soups are offered alongside the chain’s sandwiches, salads, and other cafe staples. “Panera has built a loyal following around its soups, and Broccoli Cheddar is still the one most people think of first,” says Buchanan. “It’s creamy, packed with broccoli, and rich enough to be a meal on its own, especially when it’s served in a bread bowl.”
The Cheesecake Factory
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With an extensive menu that spans everything from pasta to burgers and seafood, The Cheesecake Factory also keeps several soups in rotation. Its daily selection gives diners a chance to find a different option depending on when they visit. “The Cheesecake Factory’s Soup of the Day changes regularly, so there’s always something different to try,” Buchanan explains. “Whether it’s Chicken Tortilla or Clam Chowder, the soups have a homemade feel that fits well with the restaurant’s made-from-scratch approach.”
Jason’s Deli
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Soup has been a longtime part of Jason’s Deli’s menu, complementing its sandwiches, salads, and other deli favorites. The selection can vary by location and season, giving regulars plenty of options to choose from. “Jason’s Deli has always been one of my go-to spots for soup,” Buchanan shares. “The Chicken Pot Pie Soup is especially good, with tender chicken and vegetables in a rich, creamy broth, but the Irish Potato Soup and Broccoli Cheese are just as popular with regulars.”
Legal Sea Foods
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Founded in Massachusetts, Legal Sea Foods has long drawn inspiration from New England’s coastal food traditions. That influence is particularly evident in the restaurant’s seafood-focused menu. “Legal Sea Foods is famous for its New England Clam Chowder, and it’s easy to understand why,” Buchanan says. “Every spoonful has plenty of clams and potatoes, and the broth is creamy without being overly thick, so the seafood is still the first thing you taste.”
Olive Garden
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Olive Garden offers several soups alongside its Italian-American entrees, giving diners a few options before the main course. They’re also a key part of the chain’s popular soup, salad, and breadsticks offering.
“Olive Garden’s soups have a loyal following, and many people go there just as much for the soup as they do for the pasta,” according to Buchanan. “Zuppa Toscana is the standout, but Chicken & Gnocchi, Pasta e Fagioli, and Minestrone have all become customer favorites over the years.”
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