Jensen spent much of his formative youth in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, before returning to the United States in 1965.

Jensen started his buffet career working as a manager at Sirloin Stockade and Ponderosa and Bonaza Steakhouse in Iowa in the 1970s.

[2] His parents helped arrange the takeover of the restaurant, but was blocked by other relatives that thought he was too young for the responsibility.

In 1984, Jensen starting opening more locations in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, eventually expanding its reach outside of Minnesota.

Disagreements within the company continued regarding southern United States expansion, and eventually led to Jensen and major investor and construction magnate Dermot Rowland to leave the company to start their own buffet chain, Homestyle Buffet.

[4] Jensen cited his "youth and entrepreneurial spirit" as reasons why he left the company so early in its development.

[citation needed] Jensen changed the name to Timber Lodge Steakhouse in 1994 when the company's reach expanded outside of Minnesota, with the exception of Paul Bunyan's in New York.

[10] Jensen's career has also included lobbyist efforts representing the National Restaurant Association in Washington, DC.