5 Restaurant Chains With The Best Chocolate Lava Cake
Few desserts capture the heart (and taste buds) like a perfect chocolate lava cake.
That moment when your fork breaks through the cake’s exterior and warm chocolate oozes out?
Pure magic! I’ve spent years—probably too many—on a personal quest to find the most decadent, ooey-gooey chocolate lava cakes at restaurant chains across America.
Ready to discover where to satisfy your molten chocolate cravings?
These five restaurant chains serve lava cakes that’ll make you close your eyes and sigh with chocolate-induced bliss.
1. Chili’s Molten Chocolate Cake
Holy mother of chocolate! The first time I tried Chili’s Molten Chocolate Cake, I nearly fell off my chair. This isn’t just a dessert—it’s a religious experience wrapped in a warm chocolate blanket.
The cake itself strikes that perfect balance between fudgy and fluffy, but the real star is that river of molten chocolate that flows like lava when you dig in. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts slightly from the cake’s warmth, creating this hot-cold contrast that’s basically dessert nirvana.
What makes this lava cake special is that Chili’s doesn’t skimp on portion size. You get a genuinely shareable dessert that’s consistent across locations—I’ve ordered it in three different states and it’s been identical every time. Worth every calorie!
2. Applebee’s Triple Chocolate Meltdown
The name doesn’t lie—Applebee’s Triple Chocolate Meltdown is indeed a chocolate apocalypse on a plate. Last Valentine’s Day, when my date and I shared this dessert, we barely spoke for five full minutes. Just silent, chocolate-induced euphoria.
What sets this lava cake apart is its three-chocolate approach: a chocolate cake exterior, molten chocolate center, AND a drizzle of chocolate sauce on top. It’s like Applebee’s is daring you to find a spot on the plate that isn’t chocolatey. The accompanying vanilla ice cream isn’t just a garnish—it’s essential for cutting through all that richness.
Fun fact: I once tried to recreate this at home and ended up with what can only be described as a chocolate pancake. Some things are best left to the professionals, and this magnificent chocolate beast is definitely one of them.
3. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Pizookie
Technically, BJ’s Chocolate Chunk Pizookie isn’t labeled as a lava cake—but the warm, gooey center of this fresh-baked cookie absolutely qualifies it for this list. The first bite of this skillet-baked wonder changed my definition of dessert perfection forever.
Served in a hot cast-iron skillet that keeps the center molten while creating crispy edges, this cookie-cake hybrid delivers that same magical moment when your spoon breaks through to reveal melty chocolate chunks that flow like volcanic chocolate rivers. The vanilla ice cream on top creates these amazing little pools of warm cookie dough and melted ice cream that I dream about regularly.
My pro tip: ask for it slightly underbaked. The servers know exactly what this means, and you’ll get an even more lava-like center that’ll make you want to hug your server.
4. Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake
Surprise, surprise! A pizza chain makes one of the best chocolate lava cakes you’ll ever taste. Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cakes are these adorable little bundles of joy that arrive at your doorstep alongside your pepperoni pie.
Unlike fancier restaurant versions, these bad boys sport a crispy exterior that gives a satisfying crack before revealing that gooey chocolate center. The contrast between the slightly crunchy outside and the warm, flowing interior creates this textural masterpiece that keeps me ordering them way too often.
My roommate and I have a standing Saturday night tradition: pizza and these lava cakes while binging terrible reality TV. The portion size is perfect—just enough to satisfy your chocolate craving without feeling like you’ve consumed a week’s worth of dessert in one sitting.
5. Olive Garden’s Chocolate Lava Cake
After unlimited breadsticks and pasta, somehow I always find room for Olive Garden’s Chocolate Lava Cake. The Italian restaurant chain might be famous for its savory offerings, but they’ve quietly perfected this classic dessert.
Their version features a warm chocolate cake with a surprisingly light texture that contrasts beautifully with the rich, flowing chocolate center. What makes Olive Garden’s interpretation special is the hint of espresso in the cake batter that intensifies the chocolate flavor without tasting coffee-forward. The presentation with a dusting of powdered sugar and that signature raspberry sauce drizzle adds a touch of elegance.
During my last visit, our server timed the dessert perfectly with our meal, ensuring the cake arrived at optimal temperature—not too hot to burn your mouth but warm enough for maximum lava flow. Now that’s service!