Behind the steak
If you want to discover a restaurant’s hidden gems, ask the people who know the menu best.
At Texas Roadhouse, one of America’s most popular steakhouse chains, you’ll quickly discover that even the executives behind the brand don’t always choose the hand-cut steak.
Vice president and head of international Tim Getty reaches for the grilled pork chop. The Bistro Group president Jean Paul Manuud never skips the Buffalo Wings. Texas Roadhouse chief business and administrative officer (International) Chris Colson heads straight for the ribs, while The Bistro Group COO Guia Abuel orders the Cowboy Roast Beef, a local favorite. Their choices reveal a side of the menu that many regular guests—including this writer after a decade of dining there—have overlooked.
From favorite dishes to global honors, Texas Roadhouse executives celebrate a decade of record-breaking success in the Philippines.
Getty, who has worked with the brand for more than three decades, joked that he orders the pork chop because “we eat steak almost every day when we visit the restaurant.” After sampling the brand’s signature steaks regularly, his recommendation of the pork chop is hard to ignore.
Those recommendations came during the recent visit of the Texas Roadhouse USA leadership team to Manila, where they celebrated the strong performance of Texas Roadhouse Philippines and presented the local team with a series of global awards.
Joining Getty and Colson were Texas Roadhouse chairman Greg Moore, director of global operations Mark Stephens, and director of international marketing Joe Pzalgraf, who met with counterparts from The Bistro Group during the visit. Together, they presented the Philippine team with multiple global awards recognizing a decade of growth, operational excellence and commitment to the brand’s food, service and hospitality.
A recipe for success
The visit was not just about awards, but also a chance for the Texas Roadhouse USA leadership team to reflect on what has made the Philippine operation one of the brand’s strongest international markets.
The local team was recognized for unprecedented growth and operational excellence on the global stage, coinciding with Texas Roadhouse Philippines’ celebration of a decade of serving legendary food and service in the country.
For Getty, the milestone reflects both the strength of The Bistro Group as a partner and the universal appeal of the brand.
“What we do in the United States—what’s core to our brand—works around the world, including the Philippines,” he said. “We have a great partner here that’s helped develop the brand.”
Manuud traced the success to more than a decade of learning and cultural alignment between both organizations.
“When we opened our first Texas Roadhouse, we were still learning—from understanding steaks and wines to bringing the brand’s culture to life,” he said. “There were challenges along the way, but those experiences made us a stronger organization.”
He added that shared values have been central to their growth.
“People build the restaurant,” he said. “We take care of our people, and Texas Roadhouse does the same. That alignment has been a big part of our success.”
With 25 restaurants, the Philippines has become Texas Roadhouse’s largest market in Asia, while Asia remains the brand’s fastest-growing region outside the United States.
Recognition on the world stage
Those achievements translated into a historic set of global honors for Texas Roadhouse Philippines, recognizing both rapid expansion and operational excellence.
The International Milestone Award was presented to The Bistro Group for reaching 25 Texas Roadhouse restaurants in the country—the first time the distinction has been awarded by Texas Roadhouse International.
The Global Ambassador Award recognized the Philippine market’s contribution to the brand’s international performance and its role in extending Texas Roadhouse culture beyond its home market.
Operational excellence was further underscored by the Legendary Achievement Award, following a 38-percent increase in guest count in 2025.
In another measure of consistency, 22 of 25 restaurants set all-time sales records, contributing to 45 record-breaking sales achievements across the network.
The recognition underscores a partnership built on expansion, execution and a shared commitment to the guest experience.
And while Getty will likely continue reaching for the grilled pork chop, the bigger story is what has been built alongside it—a restaurant brand that has grown into one of Texas Roadhouse’s strongest international markets, driven as much by people and culture as by anything served on the plate.
