The Toby Keith-Inspired Restaurant Chain You Probably Didn’t Know About

Toby Keith passed away on February 5 after a challenging battle with stomach cancer. The country singer-songwriter left a memorable legacy behind and inspired many, including a restaurant chain in Mesa, Arizona, with branches across the United States.

The food chain’s name was inspired by Keith’s “I Love This Bar And Grill” track that topped the charts in 2003. The song was about a saloon that had “winners, losers, chain smokers, and boozers” stopping by with the video shot at Cowboy Palace Saloon— or “the last real honky-tonk in Los Angeles.”

The Toby Keith-inspired restaurant chain

The first Toby Keith I Love This Bar And Grill joint opened in 2009 and has expanded over the years, serving live entertainment, booze, and bar foods. Some items on the menu have fitting names like Tumbleweed Onions, Calf Fries, Jailhouse Chili, fried bologna sandwich, and, of course, the classic T.K. Burger.

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Sadly, only two of the 20 Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill locations are left, and both are situated in Keith’s home state, Oklahoma. The Hal Smith Restaurant Group is managing them and has good ratings on TripAdvisor for the Oklahoma City one and Yelpers for the branch in Moore.

Why did most Toby Keith restaurants close?

Boomtown was in charge of the TKILTBAG chain until they got sued for over $28 million, leading them to close their outlets. Luckily, Keith was not caught in the crossfire as he did not own or partner with the company but leased the rights to his name and would often make appearances for entertainment.

Keith’s restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma, has paid tribute to the late star by asking fans to leave flowers on the outdoor performance stage during active hours. A Red Solo Party will also go on at the Landing Zone joint in Midwest City on Saturday as a tribute to Keith and his 2011 hit track, “Red Solo Cup.”