BJ’s Restaurants posts seventh straight traffic gain as sales rise 2.9%

BJ’s Restaurants kept drawing more guests, and that is the kind of growth restaurant workers can feel on the floor. Total revenue reached $358.1 million in the first quarter, up 2.9% from a year earlier, while comparable restaurant sales rose 2.4% on 2.2% traffic growth. That marked the chain’s seventh straight quarter of traffic gains, a notable run in casual dining where a busier dining room usually means steadier shifts, more table turns, and better tip chances for front-of-house staff.

The mix matters as much as the top line. BJ’s said restaurant-level operating profit held at $57.2 million, with margin steady at 16%, signaling that the company is still pushing for disciplined execution even as traffic improves. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $37.7 million, up $2.4 million, and margin expanded 30 basis points to 10.5% of sales. For restaurant employees, that combination usually points to a tighter operation, with management leaning on labor control, training, and pace rather than deep discounting to fill seats.

Costs were not standing still. Food costs were 25.1% of sales, up 10 basis points from beef inflation, and labor expense was 36.3% of sales, up 20 basis points, partly because of higher workers’ compensation costs. Those details matter in the kitchen and on the floor because they shape scheduling, staffing pressure, and how much breathing room managers have when the rush hits. BJ’s has also been rolling out an activity-based labor model, and it said that system had reached about one-third of its stores.

The quarter ended March 31, 2026, and BJ’s held its earnings call on May 5. Management said momentum carried into the second quarter and reiterated full-year 2026 comparable sales guidance of 1% to 3%, with average check expected to be flat to up 1%. That suggests the company is betting on traffic, not just price increases, to keep the business moving.

Menu innovation appears to be helping bring those guests in. BJ’s said burger sales were up about 30% since the Smashburger launch last June, while pizza category sales were up about 20% since their introduction. About half of its locations set new daily sales highs on Valentine’s Day, and 14 locations set weekly records. For a chain with more than 215 restaurants in 31 states, founded in 1978 and in craft brewing since 1996, those are the kinds of numbers that can translate into fuller sections, busier expo lines, and a more predictable week for crews.

BJ’s also cut net funded debt to $39.3 million from $61.2 million at year-end 2025 after repaying $23 million, repurchased 151,000 shares for $5.3 million, and spent $15.8 million on maintenance capital and five remodels. New openings are planned for Buckeye, Arizona, and Joliet, Illinois. After a fourth quarter that already showed $355.4 million in revenue and 2.6% comparable sales growth, the latest quarter looks less like a one-off than a traffic-led pattern.