By It appears that those Outback Steakhouses you see around Korea and other Asian nations may have their days numbered due to lagging sales:
The parent of Outback Steakhouse has decided to put up for sale its Asian stores in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, according to an SEC filing. It’s the next part of an ongoing effort to raise money to pay down debt and reinvigorate the chain in the United States. In 2009 Tampa-based OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. generated $3.3 million in net income on annual sales of $240 million from its Asian operations. Like the rest of the sit-down casual restaurant industry, same-store sales in the United States continued to be down at three of OSI’s four chains in the quarter ended Dec. 31 despite easier comparisons from a year ago. Sales were up 1 percent at Bonefish Grill but declined 6 percent at Outback, 4 percent at Carrabba’s Italian Grill and 6 percent at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Winebar. [St. Petersburg Times]
I was never impressed with Outback Steakhouse in Korea just because how expensive it was compared to getting good Korean BBQ at a much lower price. However, in Korea at least I never saw an Outback with the wrong Australian flag. I was eating at a Outback Steakhouse stateside with my Australian buddy because he wanted to see what these steakhouses are like since they don’t have them in Australia. Inside of the steakhouse they had a huge Australian flag on the wall that was missing the Commonwealth (Federation) Star. That would be like someone displaying a US flag missing its 50 stars. Needless to say, my buddy wasn’t impressed.
2:52 am on January 20th, 2010 1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_Anti-Tr…
4:13 am on January 20th, 2010 2
I go to Outback in Korea only occasionally, but except for that period right before lunch, they are always jam-packed. This despite the aggressive expansion they've had. So if they are selling off Korean units to save ailing units in the US, I'd say that's foolhardy on the order of Carrefour's exit from Korea.
For what it's worth, the very few times I've been in Outback were all in Las Vegas, where it was also jam-packed, including two weeks ago (a cousin likes them).
4:48 am on January 20th, 2010 3
I went to Outback exactly once when I was in Korea. I ordered medium rare, and an uncooked piece of meat came out. I told the waiter this was not medium rare. The waiter spoke with disdain: "We prepare our food as Westerners are used to it, so it may be different from your expectation."
I pulled out my California driver's license and told him I have lived in America for more than a decade. The steak went back, and came back out medium well — probably slathered saliva as well.
4:58 am on January 20th, 2010 4
"probably slathered saliva as well."
Oh yummy! That ought to help reduce the lunchtime crowding.
5:41 am on January 20th, 2010 5
Good riddance. The US is the great Kingdom of The Mediocre, and that's all that they export. I'm sick of it.
6:35 am on January 20th, 2010 6
I think that's rather unfair. There are many people who like convenience and familiarity, and US-based chains provide that. Yeah, to some degree some of the corporations engineer that conformity, but this is also a case of entrepreneurs giving the public what they want.
But now maybe we can go the next step, maybe using the Internet through sites like Yelp (and their myriad Korean equivalents) to bring non-chain restaurants into the mainstream by allowing for ways for people to get something they want at non-chains but without so much risk that you're throwing your money away. Chains will have to adapt or die, and that might mean upping quality or innovating menus: if they don't have what the public wants, they couldn't survive anyway.
8:49 am on January 20th, 2010 7
I like them in Korea. And as Kushibo mentioned they are always full. Are they expensive? Sure they are, but I used to share one meal with the wife, split a salad and maybe add an appetizer. The serving sizes are huge. Also they do have constant specials where you can mix/match several plates for a reasonable price.
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How does it compare with Korean BBQ? It doesn't, they are not the same so why compare them. Most of the time I will go with the BBQ, sometimes I want a steak.
How do they stack up to Korean Steak places? Pretty well from my experience in consistency and price (That Austrailian Beef pretending to be Hanwoo is expensive!). How do they stack up to US Military Base steaks? Much better and you don't have to deal with the often snotty and never to be found staff.
I have always had very polite service at Outback in Korea. However much like The Korean's experience, I had an undercooked steak in Guam and the weak staff just nuked it which dried it out. Very un-sat. I think this is a store by store issue.
9:07 am on January 20th, 2010 8
the very few times I’ve been in Outback were all in Las Vegas
–> the very few times I’ve been in Outback in the States were all in Las Vegas
And I tend to get stuff other than steaks at Outback. I like the unique-ish things they have, like the Alice Springs Chicken and what-not.
9:22 am on January 20th, 2010 9
Hey All -
Just to clarify, Outback Korea is not going anywhere. The business in Korean is actually doing extremely well and has been ranked as the #1 casual dining chain in Korea. The potenital sale is related to the US parent company's desire to find a partner who can more fully invest in growing the brand in Korea and elsewhere in Asia as well as its desire to use some of the proceeeds to further invest in revitalizing Outback in the US. So while a potential sale would result in a new "owner" for the Korean restaurants, it would only have a positive impact on them as there would be greater resources to invest in the brand.
9:32 am on January 20th, 2010 10
I hope this "positive impact" doesn't end up making us say, "Well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
9:52 am on January 20th, 2010 11
I've been to the Outback in Daegu twice if I recall. I found the service to be above par and the steak and other items were prepared properly and to (or above) expectations. I might have just got lucky and had a good server. Even though it is not the custom in Korea, I left a respectable tip; which I do not normally do here as it isn't expected. Of course it's comparatively pricey but then again look at what you are getting and where you are getting it. The only thing is after all these years over here I'm not a big steak eater. I might partake 4-6 times a year, if that.
9:56 am on January 20th, 2010 12
Went to Outback in Gangnam last week. Was very disappointed to discover that the Bloomin' Onion is no longer on the menu. That was the one unique item that they offered that kept me going there. They just lost a customer as there is no reason to go there anymore. Pretty much everything else they have can be found elsewhere (except perhaps the Alice Springs Chicken, which is good, but not good enough to make it worth going there). They almost lost me when they dropped prime rib from the menu a year or two ago, but this time they lost me as a customer for good.
9:59 am on January 20th, 2010 13
No more blooming onion?!?!?!?
What the hell? What's the overhead on that item? It's like a 500% money maker.
10:00 am on January 20th, 2010 14
I've been to Outback a few times here in Seoul and each time it's been a mediocre experience. The beef is okay as far as quality goes, but when I cut into a steak I want it to bleed (yes, I order rare / medium rare). Consistently, Outback and other Korean steak houses have their beef utterly bled dry and with that….flavour is out the window. Better off in kalbi joint.
10:38 am on January 20th, 2010 15
I like the steak house at Osan, the one on Yongsan is inconsistant with their food. I have eaten at the outback's in Korea but never really was impressed with their food.
10:46 am on January 20th, 2010 16
When the topic of Outback comes up, I keep a straight face and say…
"Oh… they have the best kangaroo steaks."
The Koreans look at me with puzzlement.
"You didn't know? That isn't beef. You will never see 'beef' on the menu. It always says 'steak'. It is kangaroo steak."
I get a look of heavy consideration.
"The logo… it's a kangaroo, not a cow. You never saw a cow anywhere there, did you? Everything is kangaroo."
That usually does 'em in… such seductive logic.
Once I got 'em, I tell 'em truth… and I get the relieved look.
Sometimes, though, I let it ride.
I'm curious how the "Asian operation" can bring in a quarter of a billion dollars but only make 3 million. Somebody, for some reason, is cooking the books.
12:03 pm on January 20th, 2010 17
They make a huge profit because they serve American beef, just like every restaurant in Korea.
1:58 pm on January 20th, 2010 18
Now they have coconut onion rings. It's about the same price for about a dozen rings…So, imagine what the profit is on those.
2:04 pm on January 20th, 2010 19
My problem with Outback is that I feel like the stuff is loaded with MSGs after I eat there.
3:48 pm on January 20th, 2010 20
@ #3 " I ordered medium rare, and an uncooked piece of meat came out. I told the waiter this was not medium rare."
I've found this is the norm for steak (or made-to-order burgers) in Korea, even on the U.S. military bases. My rule of thumb is to order one step more well-done than what I really want–then it is usually pretty close.
5:40 pm on January 20th, 2010 21
I order well-done. I've been served steak that was rare when I ordered well-done.
6:58 pm on January 20th, 2010 22
CH
ROFLAMO
Great one I gotta remember that "it just says Steak" the next my brother in law comes over, he loves OutBack.
8:10 pm on January 20th, 2010 23
"For some reason" Actually that part is quite easy, you only pay taxes on profit. It happens everywhere, that is why cash is still king.
The fraud goes much deeper in Korea where they can list US bacon, list it as an operation cost and substitute Chinese bacon. Outback is pretty stuck since they list Austrailian beef, but the Hanwoo places make out like bandits.
8:54 pm on January 20th, 2010 24
You are so correct…without going into any detail tonight.
9:05 pm on January 20th, 2010 25
I ordered them once, and they are not good. KJI on the spot leadership not good and that is as close to profanity I wish to come to. Coconut Shrimp, pretty good, Coconut onion rings….just there for the rubes and a stain on Outback's honor. Alice Springs Chicken though, good enough for two!
9:10 pm on January 20th, 2010 26
Hamilton,
I imagine you are absolutely right. One wonders if that is official policy or if someone local at some level is pocketing some cash.
As I recall, the Subway up in Songtan stopped buying their ingredients from Subway to cut costs… and there wasn't much corporate could do about it.
Then the same owner opened one in Anjung-ri without even buying the franchise… just had a sign made and a copied interior.
Subway finally opened one on base just to put them out of business and be done with them.
10:34 pm on January 20th, 2010 27
Nothing wrong with kangaroo, I would eat at Outback more if they did serve kangaroo.
11:08 pm on January 20th, 2010 28
TD Impale them now! The judge has spoken!
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My coffee was weak and the waitress smelled of elderberries, a witch!
6:05 am on January 21st, 2010 29
Queen’s burger outside Camp Casey in the 1990s, they white-outed the Burger King titles on their menus. Not bad burgers though..
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Rule of law is about, and biting Korea in the Ass. The Chinese are stealing everything and progressives are suddenly concerned with lawlessness or prosecutional issues after having 10 years of a free bye.
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Sorry got way way ahead of my self, only the chinese issue might make a difference.
6:21 am on January 21st, 2010 30
It was too rubbery and gamey for me. Then again, I might be confusing it with the kiwi or whatever other critters they served up when I went to Sydney….
9:01 am on January 21st, 2010 31
Are you sure it wasn’t a New Zealand Flag?
10:24 pm on January 21st, 2010 32
If the kangaroo was gamey that was because it was not marinated properly. If you marinate it properly and don't over cook it on the barbeque it comes out tasting great.
10:31 pm on January 21st, 2010 33
No because your flag is easy tell because it has the southern cross with red stars. We brought the flawed flag to the attention of the management. They said they would get it fixed. Aussies have a good sense of humor so my buddy got a good laugh from it all.
4:22 pm on January 23rd, 2010 34
Good riddance if they do go! Outback restaurants are pretty mediocre, at best, and offer no value for money. Their steaks are average, their other stuff is almost edible. The only positive thing about the place is that the bread is better than most (though by no means all) places in Korea.
Overpriced rubbish, cooked and consumed by people who do not know what a steak should taste like.
For value in Korea, you're far better of going to a quality Kalbi grill place (some of them serve fantastic meat) or a restaurant that's owned by a foreigner. Koreans generally cannot cook steak well, it is always either charcoal or raw, I like mine medium and seemingly no Korean is capable of doing that. Medium does not mean raw uncooked meat in the centre!
5:58 pm on April 18th, 2010 35
Steakhouse including the famous Ouback restaurant: http://hiexpat.com/blogs/the-first-expats-guide-t…